100 Reasons to Visit Nepal
Nepal, officially the Federal
Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country located in South
Asia. As most people around the world are aware, on April 25th 2015,
Nepal was shaken by an earthquake that measured over 7.8 magnitude on
the richter scale. This disaster of colossal proportion was then
followed by a large aftershock on May 12th, again bringing much of Nepal
to a standstill. Well, here are 100 reasons why you should still
definitely visit Nepal, and why there really is no time like the
present.
Deepesh Sharma
-
1
It’s safe to go
Shortly after
the earthquake, Intrepid worked with the Nepalese Government and
earthquake engineering specialists Miyamoto International to assess the
damage, testing 30 bridges, 250 buildings, and numerous popular trails.
2
Beautiful Temples
From beautiful architecture to divine serenity, the temples in Nepal are truly worth a visit.
3
Not all is gone
While Kathmandu,
Bhaktapur and Patan Durbar Square faced devastation of some of the most
important national monuments, Nepal still has 8 world heritage sites
enlisted by UNESCO, out of which only these 3 were affected.
4
Nepal is still Beautiful
Nepal didn’t
lose any of its beauty despite the devastating earthquake. Nepal is
still stunningly beautiful with its snow capped mountains, beautiful
forests, icy waterfalls, and rich flora and fauna.
5
Nepal is calling you
Tourism is very
important to the Nepalese Economy. The tourism industry provides
employment and income for tens of thousands of people in Nepal. The
devastating earthquake has done much harm to human lives, monuments and
the countryside.
6
Great Food At Even Better Prices
There is no
shortage of restaurant choices in Kathmandu. Momo, otherwise known as
mouth-watering Nepalese dumplings are something everyone must try before
they leave Kathmandu.
7
Unique Modes of Transportation
Manila has the
jeepney. Bangkok has the tuk tuk and Kathmandu has the bemo. If you
want to check out a unique form of public transport, jump onto a bemo in
Kathmandu.
8
FCO (Foreign & Commonwealth Office - UK) Has Given the All Clear
The Foreign and
Commonwealth Office has lifted their restrictions on travel in Nepal,
declaring it safe for travel in all main tourist and trekking areas. You
can come here with their blessing – and along with it the security it
promises.
9
Medieval Neighborhoods
Land-locked Nepal has seen little outside influence or investment prior to the last few decades.
10
Diverse Ethnicity
More than 150
ethnic groups with diverse culture, tradition and lifestyle flourish in
the land of Nepal. This place, known as the land of gorkha, has some of
its villages situated in the greatest
altitude of the world’s.
altitude of the world’s.
11
Trekking in Nepal is still amazing
Only two out of
Thirty five trekking routes were affected by the earthquake. Most of
the trekking routes, including the most popular treks Everest Base Camp
Trek, are open for trekkers.
12
Less Busy roads and places
Those beautiful trekking routes won’t be crowded like before. You will be able to enjoy the nature to the fullest.
13
Phewa Lake
Located south of
Pokhara Valley, the emerald waters of Phewa Lake lie at the foot of the
verdant Queen’s Forest. Rent a dunga (boat) to capture stunning shots
on the open water.
14
Eastern culture at its most mysterious
While Nepal is
known as the world’s only Hindu Kingdom, Buddhist as well as Hindu
beliefs predominate here, with both religions co-existing in harmony.
With more than 100 languages spoken and 93 individual ethnic groups,
Nepal is a rare example of religious tolerance not found elsewhere, and
it makes it a uniquely chilled out and balanced place to spend time.
15
Clear Christmas Skies
Though cold at
night, December offers one of the best times to trek the Everest region.
Clear skies – likely the clearest all year.
16
Scrumptious Nepalese Food
Nepalese cuisine
has Tibetan, Indian and Thai origins. From the native dal-bhat-tarkari
(lentils, rice and vegetables) to a wide variety of momos served by
street vendors, everything you eat here is bound to be delicious.
Sel-roti, a traditional doughnut shaped sweet is a must try.
17
Experience Nepal in a different light
You don’t walk
into a place like this often which has been shaken badly by one of the
worst imaginable natural calamity. Observe Nepal in a different light,
see the aftermath of the earthquake, interact with the local people and
communities, listen to their stories and understand the real situation.
18
Trekking on the foothills of Himalayas
Nepal is considered as trekking paradise with numerous trekking opportunities for all the travel and adventure lovers.
19
Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley
The Kathmandu
Valley lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has
at least 130 important monuments, including several pilgrimage sites for
Hindus and Buddhists. There are seven World Heritage Sites within the
valley.
20
The Serenity
Nepal has been
regarded as a sacred place for hundreds of years. The tranquility of the
area will have a positive effect on anyone that is able to experience
it.
21
The Annapurna Region
Nepal is home to the Annapurna Region which is known for having some of the world’s best trekking routes.
22
The Elevation Change
Nepal is the
only country in the world where the elevation will change from 60 meters
to over 8,000 meters above sea level. It’s quite the experience.
23
Ultra light flight
Capture the
scenic beauty of Pokhara, the lakes, forests, villages and the mountain
ranges as you fly over the Pokhara city in an ultra light flight.
24
Backpackers heaven Thamel has everything for tourists
Thamel is
distinguished by its narrow alleys crowded with various shops and
vendors. Commonly sold goods include food, fresh vegetables/fruits,
pastries, trekking gear, walking gear, music, DVDs, handicrafts,
souvenirs, woolens, clothes. Travel agencies, small grocery stores,
budget hotels and restaurants also line the streets. Jeeps, cars, cycle
rickshaws, two-wheelers and taxis ply these narrow streets alongside
hundreds of pedestrians.
25
Architectural handicrafts and art works for souvenir
26
The Casinos
Nepal is the
place for those who like to gamble. Spend your time at the slot machines
or, if you’re a little more ambitious, grab a stool, find a place on a
table and play some roulette or even poker.
27
Sagarmatha National Park
Located at 3000 m
in Solukhumbu District of Sagarmatha Zone, and spread over 1,148 sq km,
it is the highest national park in the world. Rugged terrain and gorges
of the high Himalayas go to make its landscape, with some of the
world’s tallest peaks in its immediate vicinity, including Mount
Everest.
28
Nagarkot
Nagarkot provides a scenic beauty and divine peace far from heat, dust, smoke and city’s hustle bustle.
29
Tourism is good as before
“We are broken,
not finished” is the slogan of every touristic place in Nepal which
shows Nepali people are waiting to serve you again.
30
Closer to nature
35% of the land
in Nepal is covered by forest, with much of the remaining terrain taken
up by paddy fields, mustard plantations and, of course mountains.
31
Dhulikhel
This quite
sleepy little cute town is loved for its peaceful ambience and the
superb vantage points to observe the high Himalaya, From the edge of the
ridge, a breathtaking panorama of peaks above 500m unfolds.
32
Festivals
It’s believed
that every day a festival of some kind is celebrated at least in one
territory of Nepal. Nepal, a culturally and ethnically diverse nation is
always in the festive mood.
33
The accommodation and campsites are high quality!
While trekking
in the Himalaya you have options of lodging, such as staying in private
eco-campsites that combat important problems such as deforestation,
mountain employment and logging.
34
Be a part of Nepal’s great rebuilding process
Just by coming
to Nepal and visiting the amazing places it has to offer, you will
contribute towards the long-term rebuilding process of Nepal.
35
Nepal contains one of the ten best rivers in the world for rafting
36
Chadani Dhara Bridge-Pedestrian Power
This is one of
the longest Multispan Bridges in Nepal and is located at Kanchanpur
district in the Mahakali Zone, in the Far Western Development Region of
Nepal.
37
A country with 500 butterfly species
On record, Nepal
has 11 out of the 15 families of butterflies in the world, or over 500
soecies, and even today in the 21st century, new species keep entering
the glittering show.
38
There’s more to Nepal than trekking
Though the
country is rightfully renowned as a trekking destination, it offers far
more activities that will satisfy your adventurous soul. From traversing
the Annapurnas by mountain bike, to white water rafting down the Kali
Gandaki, or kayaking along jungle lined pristine riverbanks.
39
Wool, Cashmere and Pashmina
If you love
shopping for textiles, then you will love Kathmandu. Cashmere, pashmina
and wool scarfs seem to be everywhere throughout the Thamel tourist
district in Kathmandu.
40
The Gurkhas
Gurkha soldiers of Nepal are among some of the bravest warriors known to man.
41
The High Peaks
Seven of the
world’s highest peaks are situated within Nepal. All of the peaks reach
over 20,000 ft. You may not actually be on top of the world, but it will
sure feel like you are.
42
Diverse Cultures
Over 35
different ethnic groups call Nepal home. This means there are multiple
religions, languages, musical influence, and foods.
43
Nepal is absolutely beautiful
44
Everyday journeys are adventurous too
45
Mountain Flight - Everest
There are mainly three airlines doing Everest experience flights - Guna Air, Buddha Air and Yeti Air.
46
English is widely spoken
47
Birthplace of Lord Buddha
Siddhartha
Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C. in the famous gardens of
Lumbini, which soon became a place of pilgrimage.
48
Nepal is relatively safe for tourists
49
Paragliding in Pokhara
50
Zip flyer
Experience the
world’s longest, steepest and fastest zip flyer that is located in one
of the most beautiful location of the world. The rush that you get as
you zip down at speeds of up to 140 km per hour on a 1.8 km long cable
is absolutely nerve shaking.
51
Hassel free visa and low cost travel
Tourists can get
their visa on arrival at Tribhuwan International Airport. Getting
Nepalese visa is easy and known for its low cost travel that saves your
money compared to other destinations.
52
Everest Skydive
Everest Skydive
not only take you to the dizzying heights of 29,500ft over Mount Everest
– the highest in the world, it also takes you to the heart of the
Sherpa country into the Everest region.
53
The deepest gorge (1200 meters) in Kaligandaki
54
The culture and people of Nepal are amongst the friendliest in the world
The Nepalese
people are renowned for their welcoming, friendly and hospitable nature.
No matter where you’re from, you can be assured that you’ll be welcomed
with a Namaste and a warm smile.
55
World Heritage Sites
Nepal is home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites which further adds to the cultural charm.
56
The Lakes
The various
lakes of Nepal are known not only for their outstanding beauty but also
for their spiritual importance. There are over 200 lakes in Nepal with
glacier origin.
57
Rock climbing
Climb up, down
or across the rock formations with a goal to reach the summit or the
endpoint. An exciting yet dangerous adventure activity in Nepal with
varieties of options for climbing!
58
Value For Money
Nepal is surprisingly affordable.
59
The Bird Watching
With over 856 known species, Nepal is a bird watcher’s paradise. That’s almost 10% of the world’s total bird population.
60
Chitwan National Park
Nepal’s first
national park and home of the Bengal tiger, gharial crocodile and
one-horned rhinoceros, Chitwan is a rich Mecca of biodiversity.
61
Kopan Monastery
Kopan Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery near Boudhanath, on the outskirts of Kathmandu.
62
Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake,
Phewa Tal or Fewa Lake is a freshwater lake in Nepal located in the
south of the Pokhara Valley that includes Pokhara city; parts of
Sarangkot and Kaskikot.
63
Langtang National Park
The Langtang
National Park is the fourth national park in Nepal and was established
in 1976 as the first Himalayan national park.
64
Muktinath
Muktinath is a
sacred place both for Hindus and Buddhists located in Muktinath Valley
at an altitude of 3,710 meters at the foot of the Thorong La mountain
pass, Mustang.
65
Mountains still smile from the distance
Be it Mt. Everest or Mt. Manaslu, all mountains are intact and are welcoming you to visit them.
66
Patan Museum
The Patan Museum
is a museum located in Patan, Nepal. The museum falls under the
UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. The Patan Museum was inaugurated in 1997
by Late King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah.
67
Dakshinkali Temple
Dakshinkali
Temple or Dakshin Kali Temple, located 22 kilometres outside Kathmandu
and about 1 kilometre outside the village of Pharping, is one of the
main temples of Nepal dedicated to the goddess Kali.
68
Manaslu
Manaslu is the
eighth highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres above sea level. It
is located in the Mansiri Himal, part of the Nepalese Himalayas, in the
west-central part of Nepal.
69
Wildlife Safaris
70
Spiritual Awakening
71
Pokhara
Pokhara is the
second largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu. It is the headquarters of
Kaski District, Gandaki Zone and the Western Development Region. It lies
200 km west of Kathmandu; its altitude varies from 780 m to 1350 m.
72
Kala Patthar
Kala Patthar,
meaning 'black rock' in Nepali and Hindi, is a notable landmark located
on the south ridge of Pumori in the Nepalese Himalayas.
73
Gokyo Lakes
Gokyo Lakes are oligotrophic lakes in Nepal's Sagarmatha National Park, located at an altitude of 4,700–5,000 m above sea level.
74
Helambu
Helambu is a
region of highland villages in Nepal, about 30 km from Kathmandu. It is
the home of the Hyolmo people. The word Helambu derives from the word
Hyolmo.
75
Khumbu Glacier
The Khumbu
Glacier is located in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal between
Mount Everest and the Lhotse-Nuptse ridge. With elevations of 4,900 m at
its terminus to 7,600 m at its source, it is the world's highest
glacier.
76
Begnas Lake
Begnas Lake is a
freshwater lake in Lekhnath municipality of Kaski district of Nepal
located in the south-east of the Pokhara Valley. The lake is the second
largest, after Phewa lake, among the eight lakes in Pokhara Valley.
77
Khumbu
Khumbu is a
region of northeastern Nepal on the Nepalese side of Mount Everest. It
is part of the Solukhumbu District, which in turn is part of the
Sagarmatha Zone.
78
Dharahara
Dharahara, also called Bhimsen Tower, was a nine-storey, 61.88-metre-tall tower at the center of Sundhara in Kathmandu.
79
National Museum of Nepal
The National
Museum of Nepal is a popular attraction of the capital city of
Kathmandu. About a century old, the museum stands as a tourist
destination and historical symbol for Nepal.
80
Ama Dablam
Ama Dablam is a
mountain in the Himalaya range of eastern Nepal. The main peak is 6,812
metres, the lower western peak is 6,170 metres.
81
Imja Tse
The peak was
named Island Peak in 1951 by Eric Shipton's party since it appears as an
island in a sea of ice when viewed from Dingboche.
82
Shechen Monastery
The Shechen
Monastery is one of the six primary, or "mother," monasteries of the
Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, in Tibet and Nepal.
83
Nuptse
Nuptse is a
mountain in the Khumbu region of the Mahalangur Himal, in the Nepalese
Himalayas. It lies two kilometres WSW of Mount Everest. Nuptse is
Tibetan for "west peak", as it is the western segment of the
Lhotse-Nuptse massif.
84
Hiunchuli
Hiunchuli is a
peak in the Himalayas of central Nepal. The mountain is an extension of
Annapurna South. Between this peak and Machapuchare is a narrow section
of the Modi Khola valley that provides the only access to the Annapurna
Sanctuary.
85
Gokyo Ri
Gokyo Ri, aka
Gokyo Peak, is a peak in the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalayas. It is
located on the west side of the Ngozumpa glacier, which is the largest
glacier in Nepal and reputed to be the largest in the whole Himalayas.
86
Tribhuvan Museum
Tribhuwan
Museum, also known as Hanuman Dhoka Museum because of its location, at
Kathmandu Durbar Square emphasizes on the life of the Shah Kings.
Different wings of the museum highlights the life and history of
different kings, however, special emphasis is given to King Tribhuwan,
father of the nation.
87
Natural History Museum of Nepal
The Natural
History Museum of Nepal is located near the World Heritage Site of
Swayambhunath. The museum was established in 1975. Since then the museum
has collected 50,000 specimens of Nepal’s flora and fauna.
88
Ngadi Chuli
Ngadi Chuli is a
high peak in the Mansiri Himal, also known as the Gurkha Massif, in
Nepal. It is flanked by Manaslu to the north and Himalchuli to the
south. Despite its top 20 height, Ngadi Chuli has only been climbed once
or twice.
89
Imja Tsho
Imja Tsho is a
glacial lake created after melt water began collecting at the foot of
the Imja Glacier in the 1960s. A 2009 study described this lake of melt
water as one of the fastest-growing in the Himalaya.
90
Pokalde
Pokalde Peak is a
mountain peak of Nepal situated 12 km southwest of Mount Everest.
Pokalde Peak is one of the shortest and easiest trekking peaks in the
Everest Region.
91
Taboche
Taboche is a
mountain in the Khumbu region of the Nepalese Himalaya. Taboche is
connected to Cholatse by a long ridge. Taboche lies directly across the
Imja River from Ama Dablam and above the villages of Pheriche and
Dingboche.
92
Singu Chuli
Singu Chuli is
one of the trekking peaks in the Nepali Himalaya range. The peak is
located just west of Ganggapurna in the Annapurna Himal. A climbing
permit from the NMA costs $350 USD for a team of up to four members.
93
Natural Bungee Jump from 160 meters
94
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking in Nepal definitely deserves a spot on every rider's bucket list.
95
Cholatse
Cholatse is a
mountain in the Khumbu region of the Nepalese Himalaya. Cholatse is
connected to Taboche by a long ridge. The Chola glacier descends off the
east face.
96
South Col
The South Col
usually refers to the sharp-edged notch or pass between Mount Everest
and Lhotse, the highest and fourth highest mountains in the world.
97
Patan
Known by art
lovers for it’s carvings of wood and stone, architecture, dozens of
temples and monuments. The Palace of the Malla Kings and Patan Durbar
Square are two of the highlights of a visit to Patan. Traditional
carpets may be purchased at the Tibetan Refugee Camp on the edge of
town.
98
Lukla
A popular stop
for visitors to the Himalayas. There are lodges and shops providing
trail supplies. For most trekkers Lukla is two days from Namche Bazaar.
There are also daily scheduled flights between Lukla and Kathmandu in
good weather.
99
Do Meditation
Take a
meditation course in Lumbini, Bhairahawa or in Bouddha, Kathmandu. There
are specialized centers offering meditation course, accommodation, and
food. Visit the outstanding meditation center located in Lumbini,
Bhairahawa.
100
Light, Camera, and Action
- Become a photographer in Nepal. Capture Nepali people, places, culture, traditions, and breath-taking Himalayas and greenery valleys in your camera. Light conditions are extreme, shot early for great photos. Create your documentaries on the culture, religion and traditions of many ethnic groups who live in the remote parts of Nepal in a perfect coherence, embrace the untouched valleys and the views that Nepal has to offer.
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