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Nepal
The serenity and grandeur of Nepal attracts nearly one-half
million visitors every year. This small, ancient, land-locked
country (147,181 Sq. Kms.), nestled between two giants, India
and China, is home to more than 20 million people, 40 ethnic
groups, 70 spoken languages, and many religions.
From the north—Nepal's sky high border with Tibet—to
the south, where the Terai's jungles buzz just above sea level,
Nepal offers the visitor so many different environments to
explore, even in a short time. We are the only country to
have 7 (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites, many situated within
a 20 kilometer radius! After you have experienced ancient
Kathmandu, you can take a day trip around the Kathmandu Valley,
spend a weekend in the jungle of Chitwan National Park
(a World Heritage Site), or trek deep into the Himalayas.
Trekking options include: Everest Base Camp, Annapurna Sanctuary,
Rara Lake (in Western Nepal's "wild west"), or the
seldom-visited Nymba Valley, to name just a few. And because
of Nepal's diverse terrain and climate: from the world's deepest
gorge (Kali-Gandaki) to the highest point on earth (Mt. Everest),
one can explore this magnificent country all year round.
Nepal, although small in size, possesses some of the most
outstanding bio-diversity in the world, ranging from sub-tropical
rain forests to alpine deserts. Climate ranges from tropical
in the low lands, to arctic in the higher altitudes. Our seasons
are Winter (December-February), Summer (March-May), Monsoon
(June-August), Autumn (September-November). With regards to
the Monsoon period, it mostly rains at night, leaving the
following days clean and fresh. Most of the northern belt
of the Trans-Himalayan zone is rain-shadowed, therefore ideal
for trekking.
Nearly 14% of Nepal's total area is set aside as national
parks and wildlife reserves. Although Nepal has less than
1% of the world's land mass, we have 10% of its birds (more
than 800 species.) Impean Pheasant (Danphe) is our national
bird, and the Rhododendren arboreum(Lali Gurans) our national
flower. Nepal is also the home of many endangered species
and wildlife. The Bengal Tiger, One-Horned Rhino, Snow
Leopard, Clouded-Leopard, Red Panda, Buffalos, Blue Bull,
Brown Bear, Crocodiles, Assamese Macaque, Gangetic Dolphin,
Wolf, Wild Elephants, Swamp Deer, Wild Yak, Tibetan Antelope--and
the list goes on.
We are a living cultural heritage, as dynamic and alive as
the terrain: Shamanism, Pan-animism and Witch-craft are still
practiced in remote regions. Temples, shrines, monuments and
monasteries are very active with devotees burning butter-lamps,
singing hymns, chiming temple bells and playing drums. Kathmandu
Valley consists of 3 ancient cities: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur
and Patan. Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal and also the
political, cultural, and commercial hub of the Kingdom. Its
major places of interests are the Basantpur (or Hanuman Durbar
Square complex), Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, Swayambunath,
Bouddhanath, the Rana palaces, and the historic city of Kirtipur.
Patan, famous for its bronze and silverware, is located at
the southern end of the Kathmandu Valley. Major highlights
of Patan are the Patan Durbar Square, Krishna Mandir,
Bath, Kumbheshwor Temple, the Golden Temple, and many other
ancient, historic and artistic landmarks.
Bhaktapur is located in the eastern end of the Valley, and
is about 12 kilometers away from Kathmandu. It is a semi-fortified
city that is famous for its Palace of 55 windows, the Golden
Gate, Nyatapola Temple, Dattatreya Square and other historic
monuments and heritage sites. Bhaktapur, renowned for its
intricate woodcarvings and terra-cotta artistry, still preserves
its precious culture and history. It is one of many "must-see"
places of our country.
Yet, as much as we love to show visitors our home country,
we equally enjoy guiding them through neighboring regions
of Bhutan, India's Darjeeling & Sikkim, and Tibet with
Holy Mt. Kailash's grandeur waiting to intoxicate travelers
with its magical beauty and culture. We can talk forever about
the wonders of Nepal and the Himalayas, but we hope that you
will see for yourself this splendid part of the world.
For a list of excursion options, please see our list of |
