As y’all know, I’ve been writing for India for a long time but now it’s time to explore the whole world and write about all other beautiful thing,s and what else would be good than Nepal to make an offbeat opening?
Nepal is a nation between India and China, known for its temples and Himalayan mountains, which include Mt. Everest. Kathmandu, the capital, has a mazelike old quarter filled with Hindu and Buddhist shrines. Around Kathmandu Valley are Swayambhunath, a Buddhist temple with resident monkeys; Boudhanath, a massive Buddhist stupa; Hindu temples and cremation grounds at Pashupatinath; and the medieval city of Bhaktapur. In conclusion, there are mostly temples which are good to get some peace in this intensified world for travelers!
The Nepal Himalaya is the ultimate goal for mountain lovers. Some of the Himalayas ’ most iconic and accessible hiking is on offer here, with rugged trails to Everest, the Annapurnas, and beyond. Nowhere else can you trek for days in incredible mountain scenery, secure in the knowledge that a hot meal, cozy lodge, and warm slice of apple pie await you at the end of the day. Then there’s the adrenaline kick of rafting a roaring Nepali river or bungee jumping into a yawning Himalayan gorge. Canyoning, climbing, kayaking, paragliding, and mountain biking all offer a rush against the backdrop of some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes.
Other travelers prefer to see Nepal at a more refined pace, admiring the peaks over a sunset gin and tonic from a Himalayan viewpoint, strolling through the medieval city squares of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, and joining Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims on a spiritual stroll around centuries-old stupas and monasteries. Even after the 2015 earthquake, Nepal remains the cultural powerhouse of the Himalayas; the Kathmandu Valley, in particular, offers an unrivaled collection of world-class palaces, hidden backstreet shrines, and sublime temple art. Nepal is also a great place to learn about everything from Tibetan Buddhism to how to make the best momos (dumplings).
Few countries in the world are as well set up for independent travel as Nepal. Wandering the trekking shops, bakeries, and pizzerias of Thamel and Pokhara, it’s easy to feel that you have somehow landed in a kind of backpacker Disneyland. Out in the countryside lies a quite different Nepal, where traditional mountain life continues at a slower pace, and a million potential adventures glimmer on the mountain horizons. The biggest problem you might face in Nepal is just how to fit everything in, which is one reason why many people return here over and over again.
South of Nepal’s mountains lies something completely different: a chain of wild and woolly national parks, where nature buffs scan the subtropical treetops for exotic bird species and comb the jungles for rhinos, tigers, and crocodiles. Choose from a luxury safari lodge in central Chitwan or go exploring on a wilder trip to remote Bardia or Koshi Tappu, stopping en route to visit the birthplace of Buddha on the steamy plains near Lumbini. Whether you cross the country by mountain bike, motorbike, raft, or tourist bus, Nepal offers an astonishingly diverse array of attractions and landscapes.
White-water rafting trips follow mountain rivers such as the Sun Koshi and Seti. In the southern Terai lowlands are Chitwan and Bardia national parks, home to rhinos and tigers, and jungle safaris by Jeep or on elephant-back. Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace, has monasteries and monuments and is a Buddhist pilgrimage site. Annapurna Circuit treks start in Kathmandu and stop in Pokhara, a relaxed lakeside town with yoga centers and waterside cafes.
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Regards
Khushi Anand
