Places to Visit in Nepal :

Kathmandu valley is a representational model of cultural and architectural excellence, the picturesque town of Pokhara is the scenic gateway to adventures in the Annapurna Mountains. The Valley has tranquil lakes, waterfalls and caves. Chitwan, another tourism hotspot is a wildlife safari experience to rival the best available elsewhere in the world but closer home in Asia! The National Park houses One horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger and other endangered species. 

Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha is a must visit destination of every Buddhist It is said in the Parinibbana Sutta that Buddha himself identified four places of future pilgrimage: the sites of his birth, enlightenment, first discourse, and death.

Recently, several beautiful shrines have been built by devotees from Buddhist countries around the world and the Thai Vihara at Lumbini is really awesome. A visit to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is not only for spiritual enlightenment but also for solace and peace of mind that one achieves in such a calm and peaceful environment.

Excursions in Kathmandu Valley:

Kirtipur, a sleepy and ancient Newari town, is located on top of a small hillock. A bastion of genuine Newari traditions, this old fortress is famous for the bravery they displayed in the wars with Conqueror Prithivi Narayan Shah. A visit to Kirtipur is cultural rewarding as well.

Thimi, a medieval town, is located east of the capital. It is famous for clay pots and masks. The town is also well known for its national black cap, the haku topi and its special yoghurt.

The Royal Botanical Gardens at Godavari, offers an exotic collection of Himalayan trees, shrubs, orchid houses, and a herbarium. Open daily, the quiet wooded setting of the garden offers wonderful spots for picnics and light trails for hikes.

The Balaju Water Gardens are a water place with the twenty two seadragon headed spouts. Built during the mid-eighteenth century, the gardens have ponds, fountains, and the reclining figure of lord Vishnu. Opens daily.

Palanchowk Bhagawati Temple is a very important religious site to the Hindus. The pagoda-style construction was completed recently compared to the hundreds of years that people have offered prayers and sacrifices there. This place also acts as a trekking trailhead.

Namobuddha Stupa is among the most photogenic in the country. A mountain-biking trip is ideal as the road leading to it has been excitingly furrowed by huge tractors. Take the Arniko highway and go through Dhulikhel on the way up, but return through the town of Panauti.

Nagarkot is at an altitude of 2,175 meters above the sea-level. This resort offers panoramic views of eastern Himalayan peaks, including Mt. Everest. Numerous guest houses, stunning views of terraced fields, and thatched cottages of mid-country Nepal, spread out along the main road.

Kakani lies on the northern rim of the Valley. The hill looks out to the Ganesh Himal and makes an excellent overnight destination. Be sure to have your camera ready to capture the colors of the evening sun.

Dhulikhel is an old Newari town. The Bhagawati shrine on the hill-top is about the most peaceful resting place if there are no picnickers. In the monsoon, billowing clouds, cold drizzle, and the rushing wind simply takes your breath away.

Swayambhu is the best place to observe religious harmony between Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus. The stupa is one of the most ancient in this part of the world, and its worshippers come from diverse ethical backgrounds. Situated on top of a hill, it provides an excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley. Huge prayer wheels and fine Buddhist paintings are displayed in the monasteries as well as the largest Buddha statue in the country. Special butter lamps can be lit after monetary gifts are offered to the images.

Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in South Asia and the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism. Colored white, it looms thirty-six meters in height. Many centuries ago, Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here. Colorful scroll paintings, Tibetan Jewellery, handwoven carpets, masks, and khukuri knives are sold in the stalls that surround the stupa.

Pashupatinath: The holiest Hindu pilgrimage place in Nepal, Pashupati has received the attention of worshippers for at least fifteen hundred years. Dedicated to Shiva, the Lord of Destruction, the temple is situated on the banks of the Bagmati River. A Circuit of the Pashupati area takes visitors past a sixth century statue of the Buddha, an eighth century statue of Brahma the Creator, freshly painted skeletal images guarding temple gates, and other magnificent temples dedicated to various deities in the complex.

Changu Narayan: A couple of hours' drive from Kathmandu takes you to the hilltop temple of Changu Narayan. The temple, built around the third century, was made in honour of Lord Vishnu the Preserver. Some of the best samples of stone, wood, and metal craft in the Valley are found in the temple compound. A sixth century stone statue shows the cosmic form of the Preserver and dragons, bells, handsome devas, and griffins stare from the walls and steps.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: The square teems with life as vendors, children, tourists, and others crowd around the temples of the Living Goddess Kumar, Goddess Taleju, and the Kastamandap Resthouse. Many pay homage to the monuments of Kal Bhairab, Lord Hanuman, and to the images of Shiva and Parbati. The buildings here are the greatest achievement of the Malla dynasty and they resulted from the great rivalry between the three palaces of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhakatapur. Most wood carvings, statues, and architecture in this area are exceptionally fine.

Patan Durbar Square: The streets in this region are homes to metal sculptures of the present day and some of the best pieces of sculpture are in the Golden Temple. This place is a monastery with wall paintings, fourteenth century statues, and ancient scriptures, also to see are the Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple, the Mahaboudha Temple in terra cotta, and the Oku Bahal.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Initially built in the late twelfth century by King Ananda Malla, this town offers spectacular sights of the famous Golden Gate, the palace of fifty-five windows, and the magnificent Chowkot palace, constructed in the early sixteen century. The square itself is a dream for art connoisseurs. Nearby are the Duttatreya Square, a treasure-house of ancient wood carvings, and the Nyatapola temple, among the tallest pagoda structures in the Valley.

Museums

The National Museum situated near Swayambhu houses early Nepalese arts, historic items, and ancient military weapons. Opens from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm daily except on Tuesday and holidays.

The Tribhuvan Museum, opens from 10 am to 5 pm except Tuesday and holidays, celebrates the life of Late King Tribhuvan in pictures and artwork. Your ticket entitles you to climb the Basantpur Tower and look out over the temples of Durbar square. Cameras are not allowed inside the museum.

The Museum of Natural History near Swayambhunath exhibits animals, butterflies, and plants preserved by chemicals and the texidermist. Opens from 10 am to 5 pm daily.

The National Art Museum is housed in the old Malla palace of Bhaktapur and displays ancient thangka paintings and other art forms and relics. Except on Tuesday and holidays, the museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily.

The National Woodworking Museum in Bhaktapur is the pujari Math building itself. Some of the finest newari wood carvings, including the famous peackock window, are on display at the Dattatreya Square. Open from 10:30 am to 4 pm daily except Tuesday and holidays.

The National Brass and Bronze Museum, also situated at Dattatreya square, exhibits a collection of domestic and religious metal artifacts. Except on Tuesday and holidays, the museum opens daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

Whether it is a casual coffee house or the art-excelling pagoda temples next door, the energy that adorns Kathmandu is vibrant and colorful. No wonder the city has been a favorite among all visitors, for the sophisticated traveler and the hippies of flower generation all alike, from the time it opened its doors in the early 50s. Even for the Kathmanduite of many generations, Kathmandu is truly a unique city with its many facades of the past and the present and millions stories untold. The Kathmandu valley presents a microcosm of Nepal's rich cultural past and abounds in breathtaking architectural wealth with 7 UNESCO designated World Heritage Sites within a radius of 20 kilometers. These are:
Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Baudanath, Syombunath and Changunarayan.

Adventure and Eco tourism was born, came of age and has deep roots in Nepal. While trekking, mountaineering, rafting, bungy jumping and big game watching have long been popular, an entire range of other exiting possibilities have been introduced and popularized in recent years Mountain Biking, Fishing, Rock Climbing, Ultra light aircraft, Boating, Pony treks, Canyoning - the list is endless.

The Nepal's Himalaya is crowned by eight of the world's 14 highest mountains including the jewel in the crown, Mt. Sagarmatha or Everest, as it is popularly known, standing tallest at 8,848m the highest point on earth. Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, hill stations 30 kms from Kathmandu, offer a good vantage point for viewing the mountains including the Everest on a sunny and clear day. A one-hour Mountain flight from Kathmandu also offers spectacular views of the Himalaya including the closest possible aerial views of Mt. Everest and the other "eight thousanders".

Festivals are an integral part of Nepalese life that draws out tremendous local participation. Festivals also offer visitors a valuable opportunity not only of having fun but, gaining deeper insight into various aspects of Nepalese life and culture.

Cuisine is another attraction of Nepal. Dal Bhat Tarkari Achar or Rice, Lentil Soup Green Vegetables and Pickle cooked with exotic Himalayan Spices is the staple diet of the Nepalese. However, Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and other tourist areas offer an incredible selection of dining options: from Italian to Indian, Mexican to Malay, American to African and everything in between.

Whether one is on vacation, business, leisure or adventure, Nepal is for all; for all seasons and all reasons. Various Research and Surveys conducted by Nepal Tourism Board speak volumes about the visitor's positive sentiment and the fulfillment of aspirations as a fun filled destination.

Nepal as seen by the world

• Nepal among 50 places to see before one dies- by BBC
• Climbing Mount Everest among BBC’s 50 things to do before you die
• Everest Base Camp listed in the 20 Journeys of a Lifetime by The UK’s Observer
• Annapurna trail of Nepal declared one of the 12 best walks in the world by   Modern Maturity, USA’s largest circulated travel magazine.
• Explore voted Annapurna Circuit as No.1 in Explore’s Hiking & Trekking Trips.
• Best Eco tourism Destination in the world by Tourism Market Trends.
• Sirubari Village Tourism Project won the prestigious PATA Gold Awarding Heritage & Culture at the PATA Gold Awards 2001.

Travel Documents: A valid passport with two passport sized photographs is necessary. A visa is necessary to enter Nepal which can be obtained at the Royal Nepalese Embassy abroad or at the entry points in Nepal.

Visa Fee of 30 US$ for 60 days and Visa can be renewed for as long as 150 days by paying 30 US$ for each 30 consecutive days at a time.

Entry/Exit Points By Land
All visitors entering Nepal by air must use Tribhuwan International Airport and by land visitors must use no entry points other than (1) Kakarbhitta (2) Birgunj (3) Belhiya, Bhairahawa (4) Nepalgunj (5) Dhangadi and (6) Mahendra Nagar  in the Nepal-India border and (7) Kodari in the Nepal-China border. The overland tourists entering the Kingdom with their vehicles must possess an international carnet.

Currency: Nepalese Rupees is the currency of Nepal. However, US $, Euros, Travellers Cheques and Credit Cards are accepted. 1 US$ equals Nepalese Rupees 70 (Approx).  

Language: Nepali is the official language of Nepal. However, English is widely used in the travel trade.

Climate: Nepal has four major seasons, namely: Winter from December to February, Spring from March to May, Summer from June to August and Autumn from September to November. Nepal can be visited the whole year round. Light weight clothing is recommended for May through October. Warm garments are required in October-March. An umbrella or a raincoat is a must for the rainy season.

Airport Departure Tax: NRs 1356 per person for departure to SAARC (South Asian) countries and NR 1695 for departure to other international destinations.

Nepal Information

• Places to Visit
• Visitor Information
• Travel in Nepal
• Trekking in Nepal
• Nepal Famous Points

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