Introduction:
Firstly, Nepal travel or traveling in Nepal an enjoyable and delightful destination for all kinds of holidays that one can choose. Nepal offers various types of outdoor activities from leisure cultural, heritage tour, trekking, climbing, and jungle safari to adventure sports.
A perfect destination for all age groups from family, school/college groups, to corporate executive, as well for a daring adventurer. A great country where one can experience an amazing holiday in the close harmony of the staggering high Himalayan mountain range.
Besides various opportunities for travelers, Nepal is also a hiker’s paradise for adventurous visitors seeking wilderness and solitude. Travelers can relive the days in a lovely mountain lodge, resorts with ample time to
explore lovely villages, and discover what awaits you.
Nepal at a Glance:
Nepal, area of 147, 576 sq. km sandwiched between Tibet-China towards North with India in the south, east and west. Nepal with an only International airport in the capital Kathmandu at present, where some large airport is on a pipeline.
Kathmandu, also a commercial hub of Nepal, where all travelers first reach to Nepal on landing at Kathmandu international airport. Nepal one of the world’s most amazing countries in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and height variation. Altitude ranges from below 60 m above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 m.
All within a close distance of 150 km that results in dramatic changes of climate from Sub-tropical-alpine to Arctic temperatures. Nepal population of more than 23 million, Nepali is national and official language with ancient Devanagari inscription.
Where travel-trade people understand and can communicate in the English
language very well as well with various other foreign languages if needed.
Various aspect for Travelers:
Nepal covers only 0.03 % part of the earth but enriched with world 02 % of all flowering plants. A paradise for nature lovers, where one can witness 600 indigenous plant families; 319 species of exotic orchids.
A country with 08 % of the world’s bird’s population of more than 857 different species in all seasons of the year. Nepal treasures 04 % of mammals on earth; 11 of the world’s 15 families of butterflies (more than 500 species). Which makes Nepal a fascinating holiday destination, where the world 8th highest peaks out of 14 located within Nepal Himalaya.
Travel in Nepal for various reasons, the main flows of visitors are for adventure walks, regarded as the world’s best trekking country. Where one can choose trek for a few days to a month in close vicinity of the high
towering snow-capped peaks.
Although, Trekkers can find great comfort in mountain lodges or camping with great
services of the locals with a friendly, warm environment.
Nepal for all Seasons:
Nepal has four major seasons, namely, (1) Spring (2) Summer: June to August, (3) Autumn / Fall: September-November, (4) Winter: December-February. Nepal can be visited all year round. In spring and summertime Hills and valleys are alive and vivid with wildflowers in full blooming season.
Nature lovers and interested travelers can enjoy trek nearly all the time of the season to catch beautiful views of Himalayan peaks. The best time to visit Nepal in spring, autumn/fall, and pre-winter times for trekking and other various adventure.
For leisure tours where one can travel throughout the year except monsoon wet months of June to August. It also depends upon your choice of interest from moderate, adventurous to challenging treks or climbs around Nepal Himalaya. For a moderate, adventurous trek that does not involves crossing High Mountain the pass can trek nearly all months of the year.
For a challenging, demanding adventure that includes traversing over high passes, the best time is from March to May and September to early December.
Low and off-season travel in Nepal Himalaya:
For some travelers willing to visit Nepal during off / low season will be interesting with less number of tourists. The months of June to August during the heavy rainy season of monsoon times fall as low time for tourism in Nepal.
Similarly middle of cold winter months from mid-December to early February is the low tourism season, however, few travelers do visit.
Where days are crystal clear with blue sky of views and pleasant walks, freezing temperatures in the morning and night time.
During offseason of monsoon best time for naturalist and botanist, hills are lush and green with exotic flora and fauna. The views of Himalayan peaks will be obstructed most of the days during this low season of monsoon. But enjoyable encountering fewer people, sometimes in low tourist season you
can get a discount on hotels and lodge.
Places to travel during Off-Season during Monsoon and Middle of Winter:
Few places in the high Himalaya region of Nepal where travelers can visit even in wet times of monsoon period.
The region like Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Humla and Limi Valley as well to Tibet from Nepal during the low wet season. As these areas fall within rain-shadow beyond high Himalaya range where monsoon dark rain clouds blocked by the massive mountain range.
A windblown, arid, and barren country, all these high territories beyond Himalaya which is an extension of Tibetan great plateau. As heavy rain hardly hits the other side of Himalaya, which makes it possible to travel during wet monsoon times.
During monsoon time where hills and valley are many greeners with enough moisture and oxygen to breathe in high altitudes. The middle of winter times in Nepal is pleasant and most of the day is clear on the southern side of Himalaya.
Early Travelers in Nepal:
Way back in 1950’s travelers come to Nepal for exploration, to pioneer fresh
Trans Himalaya Salt / Caravan routes to Tibet. Visitors came to Nepal for various reasons like mountaineering climb to world highest peaks that Nepal abounds.
Some came in search of Yeti or just to explore new routes before commercial trekking started since the early 1970s. Before the 1950’s Nepal was closed for the outside world, where only a few diplomats and archaeologists and explorers visited Nepal.
The country was under the aristocrat Rana regime for hundred years till it was freed from them in mid-1950. Royal Shah Monarch then continues to rule Nepal till the country turned into Republic with Multi-Party Democracy at present. In the early days, Nepal was not ready to receive the mass flow of travelers.
Trekkers and explorers had to support themselves foods and other
provisions to travel quotes on remote and high Himalaya destination.
Accommodation and Comfort while traveling in Nepal:
Nepal in and around larger cities and towns, travelers can find a range of
accommodation comfort from the budget, standard to luxury star hotels, and resorts. Besides in urban areas, travelers can find good lodges and inns around mountain and hill villages with a choice from budget to luxury standard.
In early days till today accommodation in Nepal Himalaya villages where the lodge was called ‘Teahouse’ with basic simple facilities. Around popular trekking regions like Annapurna, Everest, and Langtang to Manaslu, travelers can enjoy comfort and hospitality around the village lodge.
Serving trekkers with excellent services providing good foods and nice cozy rooms with the warm hospitality of the local villagers.
Travelers will be surprised on treks to find accommodation from budget to five- star deluxe hotels around the high Himalayan region. In early days trekkers had to spend nights in tented camps, but at present, one can
find the comfort of a nice cozy lodge
Camping facilities still required in some places of high Himalaya adventure
destination, where Tea-House and lodge do not exist. Camping equipment needs to be carried by porters or pack animals by mules or yaks around remote mountain regions.
Travelers Holiday Destinations:
Nepal has always been a favorite among travelers where one can enjoy various exciting holidays in the close shade of high Himalayan peaks.
Visit of Queen Elizabeth-II in 1964-1980, Prince Charles in the 1980s as well travel of Princess Diana in the 1990s.
Further highlighted Nepal image as a country of fascinating Himalayan destination enriched with colorful striking culture and scenic landscapes. Former US president Jimmy Carter visited Nepal and trekked to Everest base camp in the 1980s, as well Hollywood star Robert Redford enjoyed the adventure around Everest.
Similarly, other celebrities traveled to Nepal for exciting holidays from sightseeing tour to adventure walks around high Himalayan hills. Besides various exciting leisure holiday destinations and trekking to mountaineering, Nepal also a leading country for various adventure sports.
Where travelers can enjoy treks, climbing peaks, white-water rafting, and wildlife safari in the deep dense jungle to mountain biking.
Nepal also offers daring thrills in adventure sports like para-gliding, bungee
jumping, skydive, ultra-light flight, and Zip Flyer. An amazing country where travelers find fascinating moments, with no destination in Nepal devoid of high Himalayan mountain scenic views.
A Country of most world highest peaks:
Apart from impressive world heritage sites and culture with ancient historical monuments, Nepal is famous for awesome views and panorama of Himalayas. From 14th world highest peaks, 8th of them are located in Nepal with number one Mt. Everest.
Includes other 8,000 m above peaks Mt. Kanchenjunga, Mt. Lhotse, and
Mt. Makalu, Cho-Oyu, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Manaslu with 10th Mt. Annapurna. The high Himalaya mountain range covers from East to West, thus making Nepal one of the most sought adventure destinations on this planet.
Besides the world highest mountains, Nepal is also famous for lesser trekking peaks where all interested adventurers can enjoy the climb.
All mountains top and high passes are highly respected and regarded as the
abode of natural spirits and mighty gods.
The word Himalaya comes from ancient Sanskrit language means ‘Him’ for snow and ‘Laya’ the range, in Himalaya every mountain has meaningful names. In Nepal where adventurer and trekkers can choose various 8,000 meters mountain base camp that leads you into complete wilderness.
Trekking in Nepal:
The main flow of travelers to Nepal is for trekking as the country boasts most of the highest peaks on this planet. World foremost country for all types of adventure tourism as it offers from leisure, moderate, adventurous to challenging walks and climb. The main characteristic of Nepal is friendly people where all guest either individual or in groups finds very safe to travel.
The charm and great smiles of Nepalese make travel much enjoyable and worth visiting all the beautiful areas of Nepal. Where all visitors are treated and received with great honor. So, travelers will never forget the warm hospitality of Nepalese.
Trekking in Nepal, one can choose various options from short to long duration all in the comfort of nice village lodge or in tented camping.
Where traveler can enjoy an eyeful of an expensive mountain range with ancient history and splendor of charming mountain villages.
Walk on high cooler hills filled with beautiful alpine forest with every turn of the corner reveals another sublime mountain scenery.
Various sites and delightful places for travelers in Nepal:
Nepal has more to offer for all types of travelers from high Himalayan panorama to impressive culture and ancient historical sites. Where-ever you travel in Nepal, leads to a mesmerizing journey with ample time
to marvel beautiful landscapes in the harmony of friendly villagers.
A country full of diversity and fascination, from low sub-tropical dense jungle of Terai belt to high Himalaya around Yak and Yeti trail. Nepal, with scenic landscapes of high green hills dotted with farm villages, giant
mountains, raging glacial rivers, and dense jungles.
Low land jungles of Terai offers exciting wild-life safari at Chitwan, Asia’s best national park, one can enjoy elephant ride. Various Jungle activities on the lookout for rare and endangered Royal Bengal Tiger, one-horned rhinoceros, and other mammals.
Tropical jungles of low land a paradise for bird watchers includes more than 600 species of exotic bird-life. Travelers can enjoy jungle safari in various national parks of Nepal at Chitwan Bardiya, Kosi Tappu wild-life a bird sanctuary.
Nepal with many holy pilgrimage places for interested travelers:
Probably, the only country in this world where two great ancient religions Hindu and Buddhism blend in perfect harmony. Nepal with 60 % of the Hindu population and 35% Buddhism, rest a small portion of Christian, Jain, Sikh, and Islam religions.
However, the country offers various pilgrimage spots for Hindu and Buddhism followers within the city and town areas to high Himalayan destinations.
A major and popular pilgrimage destination for Hindu followers, after a visit of important religious sites holy Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu.
Beside many holy sites in Kathmandu valley, a pilgrimage to Muktinath located in Nepal Far North West within the district of Mustang. Muktinath temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, one of the main three gods in Hindu
religion Muktinath means a place for Nirvana or Liberation.
Other important sites are Damodar Kund, an icy glacial pond situated amid
Mustang Himal further north-west from Muktinath. Holy Gosainkund another popular pilgrimage destination around the high Himalaya mountain range, located north of Kathmandu within Langtang Himal.
Where thousands of Hindu and some Buddhist pilgrims visit Gosainkund once a year in August during the full moon.
‘Jani Purnima’ a religious event changing of holy thread for Hindu men, pilgrim visits the glacial pond of Gosainkund for holy bath. Belief is that it delivers one into paradise and drink of its holy water relinquishes the sins of a hundred lifetimes.
Nepal where Lord Buddha was born:
Travel to Nepal, one can include a tour to Lumbini at Buddha’s birthplaces and other historical sites. Lumbini traditional birthplace of Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, known as ‘The Light of Asia’ born in the 6th Century B.C. Located Nepal Far South West within low sub-tropical, one can reach either by flight or taking an overland journey to Lumbini.
Around Kathmandu valley, one can enjoy a tour of world heritage sites in cities of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. Nepal is also famous for Buddhism pilgrimage sites visit with many monasteries and monuments in the heart of Kathmandu city.
Tour of old Swayambhunath Stupa the oldest monuments of more than 2,600 years history as well the landmark of Kathmandu and Nepal.
Buddhism tour continues to huge dome stupa of Bouddhanath an interesting place to observe pilgrims on deep prayer and religious rites.
The area around Bouddhanath also known as Little Tibet, due to many Tibetan origin people that reside around this holy spot. Buddhist pilgrimage tour includes a visit to Pharping and Namobuddha, After that short drive to the south of Kathmandu valley rim to reach Pharping.
A farm village with the holy cave where 7th Century Guru Padmasambhava meditated for many years. Enjoying peaceful and serene moments at Pharping within Buddhist holy site. The next tour takes you east beyond Kathmandu valley at Namobuddha.
Few hours of drive to reach old Dhulikhel town and then at Namobuddha, a
sacred Buddhist site. At Namobuddha, visit impressive religious monuments. History recalls that these renowned Buddhist sites are also known as the Three Stupas in Nepal.
Nepal Travel for great holidays and in all seasons:
Moreover, In this beautiful world with many exciting holiday destinations. Nepal is one of the exceptional and perfect places to choose from. Finally, a small and landlocked country, it offers a wide range of dramatic and scenic views.
As well as, enjoy a pleasant cultural tour and mental relaxation with all kinds of flavors. From leisure to adventurous hike, or just relax and enjoy the panorama of the snowcapped mountain.
#Travel in Nepal
