Vacations are a truly amazing phase of everyone’s lives. Be it school children who wait for them eagerly every time or even adults who are looking forward to taking a break from their hectic schedule. Holidays become all the more enjoyable when a trip is planned for an amazing location. People plan trips to places like Kulu-Manali-Shimla, Kashmir or even to foreign destinations like Europe. However, has anyone thought of how a trip to our own neighbouring country Nepal would be? The minute we hear the word Nepal, the next immediate thing which comes to our mind is the lovely Himalayan ranges which are a sight to see. A beautiful country famous for tourism, and also for film shoots; there are many other places of sight-seeing. What are these? Let’s have a look.
- How to get there: The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu has very good air and road connectivity. Tourists can reach Kathmandu by the most convenient mode of transport possible for them and can start touring.
- Visit Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu: Whenever we hear about famous temples of Nepal, the first thing which always comes to our minds is Pashupatinath temple. Situated in Kathmandu itself, this is one of the most sacred temples in Nepal and also very old. It is famously known for the deity of Pashupati, the lord of all Pashus, which include all living and non-living beings. This is definitely a hot tourist spot and people who visit Nepal should definitely visit this age-old temple in order to seek His On reaching Kathmandu, the first thing which can be done is visiting this temple. It is also beautiful during the night with lovely lighting arrangements all around.
Pashupatinath temple
- Thamel: Located in Kathmandu itself, this place has many restaurants where traditional Nepali, as well as international cuisines, is served. It is a must-visit place for all foodies looking to try out a variety of dishes. People looking to buy some woollen clothes or mountaineering gear can do so at this place. People who may be interested in listening to live music can go to this place as it is very famous for the same. Basically, it is well-known for its nightlife. Apart from this, there are shops selling music DVDs. People who wish to buy some souvenirs for their friends and relatives back home can do it so from this place. This again should definitely be on your list if you are visiting Kathmandu.
Thamel
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage sights and the Durbar squares, Kathmandu: A local tour operator can be of great help in this matter. With his assistance, tourists can visit all the UNESCO World Heritage buildings and the Kathmandu Durbar Square (Royal square). Tourists can give a check with the local people regarding the Durbar square as many buildings within the same are reported to be destroyed during the 2015 earthquake which majorly rocked Nepal.
- Lumbini: Known as the birthplace of Buddha, this place should definitely be visited if you are traveling for the first time to Nepal. It is a 10-hour drive from Kathmandu.
Lumbini
- Pokhara: From Kathmandu, tourists can proceed towards Pokhara. This is a city located on Phewa Lake, in central Nepal. Some of the places which can be visited at Pokhara are:
Pokhara
- Phewa Lake: Like the city, it is located on the banks of this lake; this is definitely a good tourist attraction.
- Davis Falls: This place is known for waterfalls which pass through tunnels, a very famous tourist location.
- Paragliding in Pokhara: For people interested in mountaineering, paragliding with the Himalayan views is definitely a must.
- Chitwan National park: People interested in wildlife or people traveling with kids can make a visit to this zoo which contains some of the rare species of animals like Bengal tigers, wild elephants and many more. This is located in Terai lowlands of South-central Nepal.
- Everest region: Nepal is well-known for its Himalayan beauty. However, people who are into trekking will definitely look forward to doing some trekking at this place. The quickest way to enter this region is via a flight to a place called Lukla, which itself is at 8383 feet. The flight journey may not be a very comfortable one, however, do catch a glimpse of the beautiful mountains.
- Annapurna Region: Again this is a place famous for trekking. Trekkers who are looking forward to some fun should definitely reach this place. There are many treks with varying levels of difficulty. Consider what is best suited for you and accordingly decide where to trek.
- Yoga Retreat: Nepal is one of the most famous places in the world for yoga. There are many yoga ashrams who give a different type of yoga teacher training and retreats. If you have 2-3 days, then you should definitely go for a yoga retreat and live the yogic life.
Above listed are some of the major attractions of Nepal. Depending on your time-availability and comfort, there are a few more places which can be visited accordingly:
- Nagarkot: A lovely hill station close to Kathmandu. People can visit this place for one day and spend a night there in oder to enjoy its scenic beauty. Sunrise is extremely beautiful to view from here.
- Bandipur: Nepal’s largest cave, Siddha Gufa is located in this place. Bandipur comes in between Kathmandu and Pokhara, therefore, if you are traveling to Pokhara from Kathmandu, you can visit this place and spend a day there.
- There are a few other trekking valleys which are comparatively less crowded like Langtang valley trek, Mohare Danda Trek, Lower Mustang and Dolpo regions. Again, these places will be interesting only from a trekker’s point of view.
- Bhaktapur: Situated about 13km from Kathmandu, the Bhaktapur square is located here. In case you have time, you can definitely visit this place.
Best time to visit Nepal:
- In winter, there might be heavy snowfall in some trekking areas; therefore, these places might be closed.
- March-May is the best time for visiting Nepal. Tourism is the highest during this period.
- It is best to avoid traveling here in the rainy season as trekkers may find it extremely difficult during this time.
- September-November is also good to visit this place.
So friends, now that you know when and which all places you can cove in Nepal, its best to start planning in advance. Happy traveling folks!!!
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