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Culture Tours
Visitors may spend days upon days marvelling at the excellent craftsmanship of the ancient monuments built 500 years ago or earlier in Kathmandu Valley. Inscribed by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since October 26, 1979, the valley encompasses an area of 360 square kilometers and is a fascinating showcase of a very rich culture, art and tradition. Nowhere else in the world can one find a blend of monuments and shrines dedicated to both the Hindu and the Buddhist gods within the same area.
Scenic Tours
Around The Rim Of Kathmandu Valley there are numerous places offering magnificent views of the Himalayan range. The drive through scenic terraced hills and villages takes around one hour to get to any one of them. Kakani, Dhulikhel and Nagarkot are all synonymous to overnight excursions for sunrise and sunset spectacles. Other interesting places are Panauti that has some very lovely temples and houses, Palanchowk Bhagwati has a 5th Century temple with 3 foot idol of the Goddess Bhagwati, and Namo Buddha a hamlet on a hilltop with a Buddhist stupa.
Two hundred kilometers west of Kathmandu is the magnificent Pokhara Valley nestled beneath the splendid Annapurna range, home to some of the most beautiful mountain peaks of Nepal and the serene Phewa Lake. Midway to Pokhara, one may choose to break the jouney by sidetracking either to Bandipur or to Gorkha, both places offer a remarkable vista of the Nepal central Himalaya. And further west lies another idyllic town, Tansen, again with spectacular views.
In the southern foothills of the country is Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha and a major pilgrimage destination for Buddhists worldwide. The ancient Chinese travelling monk Huen Tsang wrote in his accounts, "Lumbini - where the Lord was born is a piece of heaven on earth, and one could see the snowy mountains amidst a splendid garden embedded with stupas and monasteries."
The highway north of Kathmandu wends itself all the way into the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China and along the way there are several noteworthy towns and settlements. Charikot is a small village situated on a ridge offering spectacular views of the mountains, particularly that of Mt. Gauri Shanker. Nearby is the town of Dolakha which is an hour away by foot. An ancient Newari town, Dolakha was, in the past, the entrepot for the trade that took place between Tibet and the Kathmandu Valley.
Trekking
Ever since H. W. Tilman of Britain became the first Westerner to be given permission to walk the Nepal Himalaya in 1949, Nepal has seen thousands follow in his footsteps trying to capture the spirit of adventure and awe. Trekking in Nepal is not simply a business of walking from one stop to another heading towards a final destination. It is more a gradual experiencing of Nepal's diversity in terms of geography, of peoples, of religions, and of cultures.
River Rafting and Kayaking
The more than 800 kilometers of Himalayan range that have attracted mountaineers and trekkers from all over the world feed some of the world's finest rafting and kayaking courses. As a matter of fact, it's not surprising now to see that white water sports has become a popular activity in Nepal providing yet another exciting outdoor adventure to the visitor.
Wildlife Adventure
Some of the best arranged Asian wildlife programs can be found in the jungle resorts of Nepal. In the Royal Chitwan National Park there are many such facilities. Chitwan is a very popular wildlife safari destination on account of it's thriving wildlife population and also because it is easily accessible from both Kathmandu and Pokhara. Visitors have the opportunity for close encounters with the ferocious One Horned Rhinoceros on elephant back; a thrilling and frightening experience but not really dangerous as both the elephants and their handlers are well experienced. The park is home to an immense variety of wildlife so there are a lot more other creatures to see besides the rhino. That, including good facilities for accommodation and jungle activities makes the Royal Chitwan National Park well worth a visit. Avid wildlife enthusiasts may choose to venture into the other wildlife parks such as the Royal Bardia, Suklaphanta and Koshi Tappu also equipped with similar facilities but their distant proximity from Kathmandu will be a deterrant. |
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