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With the thrills of
outdoor activities Nepal also offers city fun for its visitors. While
visitors enjoy the rustic by simply beholding spectacular sights and
partaking in the activities of exotic cultures, in cities like
Kathmandu and Pokhara some entertainment is on par with western world.
Visitors have a choice from a potpourri of amusements. They can:
partake in cultural shows that include theater and local art; wine and
dine at premier hotels that provide excellent service; enjoy music and
dance at newly-opened discotheques; try a luck at rummy or blackjack
at one of our casinos; or just watch a movie as cozy twosome in one of
our movie theaters.
Kathmandu, which is generally a quiet city after twilight bustles with
life till the wee hours of morning in the narrow alleys of Thamel and
other selected places. Bars and pubs, many of which feature live music
stay open till late night while discotheques function to keep boredom
at bay for the young Nepali crowd and tourists out for the night.
A taste of Nepali culture is still sought by tourists. Visitors are
fascinated by ethnic ambience in local restaurants that serve
authentic Nepali food. Art galleries and museums of the Valley
exhibiting cultural treasures are also among preferred tourist
choices. Health clubs and gymnasium are available for sports lovers.
While latest Nepali and Hindi movies run in most movie theaters, a
theatre in Kathmandu also runs good English movies. Video and DVD
stores offer wider range of choices.
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CASINO
Kathmandu is one of the famous casino cities in the Indian
subcontinent. Customers gamble away small fortunes at pontoon,
roulette, flush, rummy, black jack, baccarat, slot machine all hours
every day in the casinos of Kathmandu. The minimum stake is low enough
for novices to start. U.S., Indian and Nepali currency, traveler's
cheques and major credit cards are accepted. The alluring atmosphere
in the non-stop gamble party tempts visitors to stay longer than they
intend. However, it is up to guests to either play or stay an observer
away from action. The casinos in the top hotels of Kathmandu even
entitle guests to breakfast, lunch or dinner and taxi ride back to the
guests' hotels.
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GOLF
One of the most expensive sports of the world, golf was started in
Nepal by the Royal families. The history of golf in Nepal goes back to
the time when a delegation of Rana ministers returned home with golf
clubs from a visit to Scotland. They started playing golf in what is
today's Gaucharan. The first real golf tournament Lava Cup was started
in 1920. The several golf courses in Nepal are: Gokarna Forest Golf
Resort and Royal Nepal Golf Course in Kathmandu, Himalayan Golf Club
and Fulbari Resort Golf Course in Pokhara and Nirvana Country Club in
Dharan. The best time for a play is during the dry season between
October and March. Golf clubs in Kathmandu and Pokhara offer excellent
courses with magnificent view of the Himalayas.
The Gokarna Forest Golf Resort, is one of the finest in South Asia. It
is a 72-course golf area with 18 holes. The course is set in an old
forest area of the Valley. Near the resort is Harmony Spa, for
soothing golf senses. For more information visit: www.gokarna.com or
e-mail gokarna@mos.com.np. Established in 1829, Royal Nepal Golf
Course in Kathmandu's Til Ganga is one of the oldest of Nepal and of
Asia. The course was conferred the title of 'Royal' in 1911. The
Himalayan Golf Club in Pokhara situated about 6 kilometers away from
the city is a recently completed pro-championship designed 9 holes
golf course which is located in a beautiful amphitheater like setting
of a river canyon scene with a panoramic view of the Annapurna
Himalayan range.
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SHOPPING
Shopping in Nepal is easy. With a little money and some time one
can obtain the best buys this little kingdom has to offer. It will be
helpful to have a Nepali for company if a huge shopping project is at
hand. Common tourist shopping items include souvenirs and trinkets
like gems and jewelry. However, one should be careful while buying
jewelry as assessing their quality is difficult. Hand-weaved cotton
fabric is a popular buy among visitors. Some buy pashmina that this
Himalayan region is famous for and some also buy fresh tea and spices.
Popular buys among visitors are local craft and artwork. Among these
are the Tibetan and Newar Thangka and Paubha paintings that belong to
the time when these cultures were at their peak. Visitors buy Newari
woodcrafts of picture frames, windows, statues and carvings. Carpets
that represent the age-old folk art of the Tibetans are also very
popular. Shops have rugs on display, however, carpets can be custom
made by contacting the manufacturer. Traditional Nepali paper is
popular as writing pads and bound journals, calendars and lampshades.
There are government restrictions that visitors should be aware of
before purchasing items to take home. Antiques are not permitted to be
taken out of the country. Hence inspection by the Department of
Archeology is required for export of antiques. To be on the safe side,
visitors should have all material examined by the Department of
Archeology and obtain a certificate from the office before leaving
Nepal.
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DINING
Kathmandu offers dining varieties that range from the exotica of
five-star menus to roadside café experience. The best part about it is
that the price range is easily affordable for most tourists.
Restaurants in Kathmandu and around the Valley have improved a great
deal in the last several years. Indian, Chinese, continental and
enough other varieties are available to satisfy the palate of a food
connoisseur. Visitors, also enjoy authentic taste of indigenous
cuisines in the ethnic ambience of Nepali restaurants. Restaurants and
food joints in the nooks and corners of Thamel are very popular among
Western visitors. In some restaurants of Kathmandu and Pokhara,
traditional songs and dances are performed by local artists during
meals.
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DISCOTHEQUE
Kathmandu, which is generally a quiet city after twilight bustles with
life till the wee hours of morning in the narrow alleys of Thamel and
other selected places. Bars and pubs, many of which feature live music
stay open till late night while discotheques function to keep boredom
at bay for the young Nepali crowd and tourists out for the night. Some
popular nightlife hubs are Galaxy in Hotel Everest, Rox Bar at the
Hyatt Regency, Royal Disco in Durbarmarg, Fire Club in Thamel and
Platinum in Hotel Yak and Yeti. Frequent private parties are also
organized at various places especially during weekends and public
holidays.
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