2022
Why you must Visit Nepal once in your lifetime?
Who doesn’t want to take the privilege to be proud about being on the top of the world? Who doesn’t want to acclaim their pride for traveling to a country where Buddha was born?
It is definitely worth going to Nepal for countless varying reasons. Usually globe trotters come to this beautiful nation to pursue trekking owing to its massive mountain peaks, but there are other places that should certainly not be overlooked. Travelers whose interests lie in other activities apart from walking and trekking, will surely enjoy their sojourn in this Himalayan country with abundant memories to take back home, which is worth your hard-earned bucks.
If you are into viewing wildlife, the southwestern part of the country is highly recommended with Bardia National Park as the spotlight. Comparably, it is far way better than Chitwan but the only drawback about it is, it takes a longer time to get there unless you catch a flight. If Nepal’s golden triangle of popular destination fascinates you, i.e. Kathmandu – Pokhara – Chitwan, then you could easily hop to Lumbini from Chitwan and head back to Kathmandu. If you are a Buddhism devotee, then you will have an opportunity to visit more than two dozen of famed monasteries in Nepal.
Small ancient city of Bhaktapur won’t leave you indifferent. Spend at least, a couple of nights in Bhaktapur city, a world heritage site, where people usually go for the day, but the place really clears of tourists in the evening and the whole town changes. Nice lake in Pokhara will surprise and amuse you with its extravagant beauty and innate tranquility. Incredible mountains around the lake city will settle down in your heart forever. Everyone, for one reason or the other, will find something very personal in this tiny mountain country.
For those travel freaks, it is not news that in 2017, Lonely Planet crowned Nepal as world’s ‘best value destination’. On a similar mandate, in the same year, it also placed Nepal on the 5th position on the ‘top 10 countries to visit’. Now, for those who are still thinking hard whether to place Nepal in their travel bucket list or not, stop racking your brain and give it a serious thought about Lonely Planet’s assumption and consideration. There must be something, isn’t it? On an informative note, Nepal is the only destination in South Asia that has been featured in Lonely Planet’s Top Ten Destinations Guidebook. The book quotes, “Even Natural disasters can’t keep Nepal down for long. The 2015 earthquake caused devastation, but what is most striking from a traveler’s perspective is not how much was lost but how much remains.” It further adds, “Nepal has all the skills required to repair monuments and infrastructure, but what it does need is income. By visiting Nepal now and supporting local culture and people, you could help a nation rebuild and bounce back even stronger.” For many travelers who have been to Nepal already, there is a real feeling of supporting the people and the economy by going back and encouraging others. These tourists really respond to that, which is possibly one of the reasons that this landlocked mountain kingdom regularly features on these holiday destination lists.
Nepal may have suffered a lot in recent years, but it is still one of the most popular places for adventure travel for which the credit goes to the diverse geography of the country – it really does offer everything, at least something for everyone! The Nepalese Himalayas with eight of the 10 highest mountains in the world lies in the northern region of the country. Hundreds of thousands of trails crisscross the land providing limitless opportunities for walking enthusiasts to get away from it all. In the tropical southern region with its low elevation and humid climate, there is abundance of forest reserves, which is the perfect destination for wildlife tourism. The most popular highlights include Safaris to witness Royal Bengal tigers, Indian one-horned rhinoceros and elephants, clouded leopards and red pandas. Bird watchers need not look any further than this country with over 900 species fluttering around its doorstep, which includes Danphe, a type of pheasant and the national bird of Nepal, and the spiny Babbler, which is unique to Nepal.
It is not just about the heights. The magnificent sceneries, an assortment of diverse vegetations, the sporadic flora and faunas, the anecdotal temperatures and climates, the convivial locals, the ecstasy delights the trails hold, the sumptuousness and the satisfaction – these are totally incomparable. Where would you expect to find these in the world? Well, stop your search – this is one of the several varieties this small nation holds. Nepal has it right here – you just name it.
NOW, why travel in Nepal is a genuine question to visitors who ask a value for money? Most of the travelers’ imagination comes true after touching the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest, the deepest gorge Kali Gandaki, Lumbini, the holy birthplace of Lord Buddha and an untainted blessing from the Living Goddess, Kumari. Rapid white water rafting, wildlife safari, exhilarating bungee jumping, trekking in the Himalayas, day tours to world heritage sites, spectacular mountain flights and age-old Nepalese traditions, art, architecture, cuisine and hospitality is beyond implausible.
Let us now be clear with the intention about each traveler. Because when the objective of a traveler’s quest is satiated, then the worthiness of traveling can be questioned. Those traveling just for adventurous trip or those looking ahead for a peaceful time to enjoy natural bliss, Nepal could be second to none. An ample of options to tease you ranges from expeditions, thrilling mountain biking or kayaking, to name a few. For avid hikers, who wish to avert boring easy paced trips, there are some of the world’s most fascinating trekking trails like Annapurna trek, Everest trek, Langtang trek etc. And for those seeking tranquility and time to relax could spend time visiting places like the Lake city of Pokhara, the city of temples, Kathmandu, birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini and Chitwan National Park.
Sherpas are one of the default images of Nepal due to their remarkable history with Mt. Everest. Sherpa means ‘Man from the East’, and they are believed to have traditionally crossed the Himalayas from Tibet to settle in the Khumbu valleys near Everest. Their hard-working, entrepreneurial spirit, coupled with an extraordinary selflessness on mountain expeditions has made them legendary around the world. This courage and honor are also associated with the Gurkhas, the hill tribesmen who fought the British in 1814 during the Gorkha Wars and had a reputation for their fearless military prowess. Such is the legend of Nepal built around the people who live here.
Nepal is overrun with tourists, dirty and politically unstable. Nevertheless, it is worth the effort and there are some interesting sights to see in this magnificent country. With such a rich and densely woven tapestry of culture dating back thousand of years, Nepal is known as the land of a thousand temples. There are nearly three thousand temples in the Kathmandu valley alone. Visitors face another limitless choice of heritage and history to explore.
Nepal still has that exotic appeal and is a mecca for adventure activities, mountains and wildlife. It is a real adventure and going into the Himalayas has the cachet of being a trip into the wild. The endless possibilities in such a small country, is what really makes Nepal such a good value for money. There is no doubt that Nepal has capitalized on its reputation for being warm, inviting and helpful. You will rarely come across anyone who does not mention about the characteristic Nepalese people.
In terms of mixed cultures, access to adventure tourism, mountains, traditional locations and the national character, Nepal is pretty unrivaled – there’s nowhere quite like it. For those in the know, Nepal has always been a top destination for once-in-a-lifetime holidays. The following few facts about this wonderful country is worth a know:
- Major part of the Himalayas is in Nepal
- Nepal has never been under any foreign invasion, so it has no ‘Independence Day’
- Nepal is the only country with a non-rectangular flag. The basic design of this flag is over 2000 years old
- Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha
- About 60% people in Nepal surf internet with a speed which is below 256 kbps, standing second after Libya for low internet connection as a country
- The only living goddess in the world “Kumari” can be found in Nepal
- Nepal Gurkhas have been a part of the British Army since 1816
- Nepal holds a number of world records which makes a high profile for this small country. Mt. Everest – the highest peak of the world, Tilicho Lake – the highest lake on earth, Shey Phoksundo Lake – the deepest lake (at high elevation of 3600m), Kali Gandaki – the deepest gorge in the world, Arun Valley – the highest valley on earth, Chandra Bahadur Dangi – the shortest human adult (54.64cm), Hotel Everest View – the highest altitude hotel at a record height of 3962m.
- Not a single drop of blood has ever been shed in Nepal in the name of religious and ethnic riot
- Nepal has over 80 ethnic groups and 124 languages
Nepal is a beautiful country rightfully called a paradise on earth. It is definitely worth going to Nepal. However, if you need to be insisted to visit this paradise, below mentioned are the major reasons why you should visit Nepal once in your lifetime:
- Because Nepal is absolutely beautiful
- Because guests are treated as gods (Athithi Devo Bhavah)
- Because the world’s best trekking route Annapurna region is here
- You take your breath away from the natural bungee jump above 160 meters
- Everyday journeys are not less adventurous either
- Because Nepal is affordable
- Nepal has been a center for spiritual awakening, yoga and meditation for several years
- Because Lord Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal
- Because in Nepal, every day is a festival
- And you can’t afford to miss the beautiful Kathmandu valley
- We all know that the tallest peak is there, but Nepal also has other highest peaks of the world
- Don’t worry if you can’t climb Mt. Everest, you can experience it with your naked eyes by mountain flights
- Because Nepal bandhs are fun sometimes
- Because you don’t want to miss one of the friendliest people on earth
- It is less than 2 hours flight from New Delhi, India
- You can be amazed to see the religious harmony among Nepalis
- Because English is widely spoken
- Because Nepal has several UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Because heaven exists and it is truly here in Pokhara
- Because this small village, Bandipur in the west of Nepal has so much to offer
- Visiting southern Nepal is differently beautiful
- Because the living goddess “Kumari” lives here
- Because you can travel to Tibet from here easily
- Because Nepalese loves foreigners
- Nepal is relatively safe for tourists
- Bhedetar, in eastern Nepal, not only because Prince Charles was here, but it is also a perfect hill station
- Because mountain biking is challenging, yet fun in Nepal
- Because Wildlife Safari experience in several National Parks can be an unforgettable experience in Nepal
- Nepal is home to more than 200 beautiful lakes below the majestic mountains
- Because they offer you Dal-Bhaat-Tarkari (main food), wherever you go
- Because you can see the World Cup in Nepal, i.e. World Elephant Polo Championship
- Because one of the world’s greatest Hindu shrines Pashupatinath temple is here
- Because Paragliding in Pokhara can truly be a lifetime experience
- Tenzing – Hillary Airport, Lukla, Gateway to Mt. Everest. Because it is rated as the most extreme airport in the world and your heart will never beat faster than this
- Backpackers’ heaven, Thamel has everything for tourists
- Because this is an ultimate experience: Everest Skydive
- Seeing Nepal through water is a great idea, rafting in Nepal’s amazing rivers
- Because you can take the most amazing pictures here