Nepal is one of the friendliest nations on earth. On the roof of the world, the scenic beauty quite literally takes your breath away, with nearly 250 peaks, including Mount Everest; the world’s highest at 8848m. But Nepal is also a deeply spiritual and culturally diverse country steeped in a fascinating history and is a spiritual place of pilgrimage for many worshippers.
Over 2500 years ago Nepal’s spiritualisation commenced when Prince Siddharta Gautama renounced his claim to royal power and devoted his life to meditation and attained enlightenment as Buddha. Today, Buddhists are mainly found close to Tibet, where the landscape conceals sacred shines. Hinduism is the most practised religion in the country, although most Nepalese temples serve both Buddhist and Hindu worshippers.
Nepal has also become ever more popular with adventure travellers and outdoors enthusiasts looking to do everything from trekking in the foothills of the Everest or Annapurna regions to white-water rafting, and from observing wildlife to taking part in religious ceremonies. This rise in demand of tourism has fuelled the growth of sprawling cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara, and there has been an explosion of new hotels and restaurants opening up to serve this new thriving audience. And with the increasing popularity, job prospects, and opportunities in the local communities has improved – not to mention the education and health improvements of this desperately poor nation.
Outside of the main cities, Chitwan National Park provides a haven for Wildlife observation. Here visitors can search for the native species including the Royal Bengal Tiger, the one-horned Indian rhino, and the Indian elephant.
The capital Kathmandu is the main driver of modernity and social change in Nepal. Politically, Nepal has undergone massive transformation in recent years, having overcome its war with rebel Maoists and shifted from a monarchy to a democratic republic in 2008. But turmoil has continued, and in 2015, a different force came into play when Nepal was hit by a massive earthquake, which killed thousands of locals and tourists. Thousands were left homeless and Nepal reached out to the rest of the world to ask for help to assist with the rebuilding of this intricate country.
Nepal is a destination that can be visited throughout the year however, the climate does vary. From September to April is when the skies are generally clear the temperatures are warm, there is little rain and the weather is commonly pleasant however, be prepared for chilly nights in December and January. Throughout these months, the conditions are great for sightseeing, trekking, viewing the scenery and visiting the cities, towns and villages. Pre-monsoon starts mid-April and the full monsoon season kicks in from June until September. Over this period expect high temperatures and plenty of rain.
All nationalities apart from Indians need a visa to enter Nepal. A visa is available from embassies aboard, at various land borders and on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport. If you do choose to obtain a visa on arrival at the airport it can take a while due to lengthy queues. A visa to enter Nepal costs between $25 - $90 USD and is to be paid in cash only.
Nepal has a diverse and unique culture which has changed over the eras. Many different ethnic groups exist within Nepal however, the main influences over the years has been by Mongolian, Indian and Tibetan culture. The multifaceted traditions include the arrays of Nepal’s folkloric, ancestral and community groups which is displayed in music, art, languages, literature, philosophy, food, celebration and religion, with Hinduism the main belief. Though less severe than India, the caste system is still profoundly deep-rooted in Nepal. Getting married for love as opposed to an arranged marriage has become more common however, caste and status still generally controls who the Nepalese people may marry, where they can dwell and who they can mix with.
Nepal has an array of cuisine due to its cultural diversity however, the strong cuisine influences have come from both India and Tibet. A huge variety of flavours can be found in many dishes that comprise of ingredients such as rice, potatoes, lentils, curries, vegetables, meats and various spices. Furthermore, the cost for food in Nepal is fantastic for a traveller on a budget. Food to try includes dal bhat (lentils and rice), momo (dumpling) and chatamari (Nepali pizza). Tea is widely drunk within Nepal however; the type of tea varies depending on the region. These include chai, butter tea and lemon tea. Beer is widely available with local beers such as Everest and Gorkha worth a try.
The most ideal place to shop in Nepal is in Kathmandu. Here you’ll find plenty of luxury boutiques, shopping centres, outlets and markets. Whilst visiting you’ll encounter unique Nepalese handcrafts, jewellery, prayer flags, Nepalese clothing, pashmina and singing bowls. Prices are great and the items are guaranteed to be perfect for presents and souvenirs.
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Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
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