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INTRODUCTION
Nepal is known as the abode of the gods. For
many years a secret, unknown country, it was, in the 1950s, faced with
making a leap from the 11th century to modern times. Visited first by
mountaineers and trekkers, it later became the haunt of hippies. In
1989, restrictions barring several areas to tourists were lifted. The
Nepalese Government has set aside more than 35 per cent of the total
area of the country as natural sanctuaries. There are now nine
National Parks and three wildlife reserves, located both in the
mountainous zones as well as in the tropical plains. The Terai
lowlands in the south form the richest habitat in the country. Five
protected areas are located in the region and many species of
wildlife, including the rare Royal Bengal tiger and leopard, can be
observed.
KATHMANDU
Kathmandu, the capital and also the cultural, commercial and
business hub of the Kingdom, is a magical place. In the centre is
Durbar Square where there is a wonderful collection of temples and
shrines, both Buddhist and Hindu. They are generally built in the
pagoda style with a mass of intricate exterior carving. The old
Royal Palace is in the square, as is the Statue of Hanuman the
Monkey God, clad in a red cloak. Here also is the house of the
living goddess - the Kumari. A few kilometres from Kathmandu is the
hugely impressive Bodnath Stupa. It has become a centre of
Tibetan exile culture and is a good place to buy Tibetan handicrafts
and artefacts. Climbing upwards from the city one can reach the famous
Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath, popularly known as the Monkey
Temple. There are a great many steps leading up to the temple,
which is frequented by an even greater number of monkeys. The monkeys
should be treated with some caution since their behaviour can be
unpredictable. The monkey temple is noted for its large staring eyes.
There are also a number of monasteries. Respect should be shown for
local sensitivities when visiting religious sites or temples.
EXCURSIONS :
Just 5km (3 miles) west of the city, below the
Nagarjun Forest, are the Balaju Water Gardens, with a
reclining statue of Lord Vishnu and a 22-headed seadragon fountain.
Around 19km (12 miles) south of Kathmandu, and accessible by taxi, are
the Godavari Royal Botanical Gardens housing trees, shrubs and
beautiful orchids in an idyllic setting.
THE KATHMANDU VALLEY
BHAKTAPUR:
Kathmandu was once one of three equal cities,
the other two being Patan and Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur (also known as the
‘temple city’) is located some 12km (7.5 miles) from Kathmandu in the
eastern part of the valley. The Kathmandu Valley’s rich cultural and
natural heritage has prompted UNESCO to list seven World Heritage
Sites in the area. The National Art Gallery, located in the old
Malla Palace, has unusual, colourful animal paintings on the
second floor which are worth a look. Other museums in Bhaktapur are
the National Woodworking Museum, showing fine examples of
Newari woodcarving (for which the city is renowned), and the Brass
and Bronze Museum, both in Dattatreya Square.
PATAN :
Patan is located at the southern end of the Kathmandu Valley and is
famous for its bronze and silverware. The city contains many ancient
historic and artistic landmarks, including Patan Durbar Square
(also the location for the interesting Patan Museum),
Krishna Mandir, the Royal Bath, the Kumbheshwor Temple
and the Golden Temple. Patan has the Jawalakhel Zoo,
housing exotic South Asian animals.
ELSEWHERE :
There are shrines for every purpose in the
valley, such as the Shrine of Ganesh the Elephant God, reputed
to bring good luck. There are four Ganesh temples in the valley, each
a masterpiece of Nepalese architecture - one in Kathmandu’s Durbar
Square, one in Chabahil, one in Chobar and one near
Bhaktapur. Lumbini, being the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is one
of the world’s most important pilgrimage sites. The Royal Chitwan
National Park, Nepal’s first national park, is a jungle
overflowing with wildlife. There are many lodges here offering visitor
accommodation, canoeing, white-water rafting and elephant rides.
Nagarkot Village, situated on rice steppes in magnificent
countryside, provides spectacular views of Mount Everest, mist
permitting. The hill town of Gorkha is the ancestral home of
the Shah Dynasty and residence of the original Gurkha soldiers. There
is a lively bazaar and the Royal Trek to Pokhara begins here.
POKHARA
The secluded town of Pokhara lies 200km (125 miles) west of
Kathmandu in the centre of Nepal on Lake Phewa. No other place
in the world commands such a view of the Himalayas. It is a starting
point for mountaineers and trekkers, and was at one time the home of
JRR Tolkien.
Pokhara, an enchanting city nestled in the tranquil valley (827
m), is the starting point for many of Nepal's most popular trekking
and rafting destinations. The serenity of Phewa lake and the
magnificence of Fishtail (Machhapuchhre 6,977 m) rising behind it
create an ambience of peace and magic. The valley surrounding Pokhara
is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, clear lakes and the world
famous views of the Himalayas. Pokhara is a place of remarkable
natural beauty.
THE MOUNTAINS
One of the principal
reasons for visiting Nepal must be either to see or to climb the
mountains, especially Mount Everest. Located in Sagarmatha
National Park in the Khumbu region bordering Tibet, the mountain’s
appropriate Nepalese name is Sagarmatha (Head of the Sky). The Sherpas
and Tibetans worship it as Chomolongma (Mother Goddess of the Earth).
At an altitude of 8848m (29,022ft), Everest is the world’s highest
peak and has been opened for commercial mountaineering for decades. It
is part of the Great Himalayan Range, which stretches for some
800km (500 miles) and which includes a further eight peaks above 8000m
(26,240ft). The countryside offers an astonishingly varied topography
as the snowy mountain peaks give way to intricately green terraced
hills, scenic rivers and tropical jungles in the interior.
For walkers and trekkers, Nepal is a true paradise: the picturesque
hamlets and mountain villages are linked by hundreds of trails that
have been used for centuries, with little change noticeable even
today. The practicalities for trekking are now easy to arrange (see
Sport & Activities section for further details). Numerous temples and
Buddhist shrines can be also be discovered en route and visitors
should make sure that, when visiting them, they stick to the proper
religious protocol (see also Social Conventions in the Social Profile
section). |
