Nepal a small but exceptionally beautiful Himalayan kingdom is a land of assortment where variances lies everywhere. Situated in the lap of the majestic Himalayas, Nepal is known for its strikingly beautiful natural landscapes, amazing historical monuments and beautiful temples, and a unique and vibrant culture. There are many worth visiting travel destinations in Nepal on your fascinating Nepal tour. Some of the most famous travel destinations in Nepal among hundreds are highlighted under. You can find adventure, religion, architecture & heritage on the same platter of this incredible nation.
Annapurna, a collosal masiff is placed as the tenth tallest mountain in the world. Kali Gandaki river segregates Annarpurna mountain range from the great gorge that slices through the Himalayas. Range of Mount Annapurna holds huge glaciers on its slopes.
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Fast Facts
Location: Central Nepal Himalayas
Altitude: 8,091m
Importance: 10th Highest Mountain In The World
Best Time To Visit: March-May; September-December
Major Peaks of The Annapurna Range
- Annapurna I 26,545 ft. 8,091 m.
- Annapurna II 26,040 ft. 7,937 m.
- Annapurna III 24,786 ft. 7,555 m.
- Annapurna IV 24,688 ft. 7,525 m.
- Gangapurna 24,457 ft. 7,455 m.
- Annapurna South 23,684 ft. 7,219 m.
Highlights
The trek to Annapurna mountain takes the tourists very very close to nature. The trek is a marvellous combination of being spiritually soothing and highly adventurous. The following places are the trek's highlights.
- Pewa Lake Pokhara
- Gurung Villages, Landru and Ghandrk
- Hinko Cave
- Bamboo Forests
- Machapuchare Base Camp
- Annapurna Base Camp
- Poonhill
- Ghandruk
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Want to experience the intense pleasure of being alive, aware and adventurous...set yourself to a trekking and mountaineering expedition to the world's mightiest peak Mt. Everest. Set against the brilliant blue sky, the view of Mount Everest's radiant snow peaks is jaw dropping. And how it feels like being so close to the sky is a thrill beyond imagination.
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Fast Facts
Age of Everest : 60 million years
Elevation: 8,848 meters (29,028 feet)
Range : Khumbal Himal
Easiest Route: South Col (Nepal)
Nearest Access: Kathmandu
Normal Weather Conditions 5°C to 20°C
Medical / Emergency Facilities: Small Health Care Facilities available in most of the trail
Rescue Operations: Helicopter Flights from Kathmandu (Normally within 50 Minutes)
Communication Facilities: Telephones available at several places
Best time to visit: March-May; September-December
Other Facts
- Radhanath Sikdar, an Indian mathematician and surveyor from Bengal, was the first to identify Everest as the world's highest peak in 1852, using trigonometric calculations based on measurements of "Peak XV".
- Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa from Britain were the first to climb Mount Everest successfully in 1953.
- In Nepal, the mountain is called Sagarmatha meaning 'Goddess of the Sky'. This name was invented in the early 1960s by Baburam Acharya when the Nepalese government realized that Mount Everest had no Nepalese name.
- Everest has been named after Sir George Everest in 1865, the British surveyor-general of India. The mountain was once known as Peak 15.
Quotes-Unquotes
"Everest for me, and I believe for the world, is the physical and symbolic manifestation of overcoming odds to achieve a dream" - Tom Whittaker
"The highest of the world's mountains, it seems, has to make but a single gesture of magnificence to be the lord of all, vast in unchallenged and isolated supremacy"-George Mallory
"Everest is a matter of universal of human endeavor, a cause from which there is no withdrawal, whatever loses it may demand"-G O Dyrenfurth
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Wild roars of tigers, chirping of jungle birds, soothing breeze and the splashing ripples of the river Rapti... a visit to the Royal Chitwan National Park may sound dream-like but reality speaks for itself. Visit Chitwan if you believe the above statement and all the more if you doubt it.
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Fast Facts
| Location : |
120 km South West Of Kathmandu, Nepal |
| Area Coverage : |
932 sq km |
| Wildlife Attractions : |
One-Horned Rhino, Royal Bengal Tiger |
| Temperature : |
Max- 34°C & Min- 1°C |
| Best Time to Visit : |
From October to February |
| Nearest Access : |
Bharatpur |
Striking Features
- There are more than 43 species of mammals, over 450 species of birds, and more than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles in the park.
- One of the most important sub-tropical parks in Indian sub-continent.
- More than 43 mammal species, 450 bird species, and more than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles.
- Known for diversity of eco-systems. Within the park are Churia hills, ox-bow lakes, and the flood plains of Rapti, Reu and Narayani rivers.
Fauna and Flora
Mammals
There are more than 50 species of mammals in the park. The park is famous for conservation of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, gharial, gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard, and python. Some other animals found in the park are sambar, chital (deer), hog deer, barking deer, sloth deer, common leopard, ratel, palm civet, wild dog, langur and rhesus monkeys.
Amphibians
More than 45 species of amphibians and reptiles live in the park, more famous of which are the marsh crocodile, cobra, green pit viper and various species of frogs and tortoises.
Birds
There are more than species of birds in the park. Counted among the endangered birds are the Bengal florican, giant hornbill, lesser florican, black stork and white stork. Few common birds are peafowl, red jungle fowl, and different species of egrets, herons, kingfishers, flycatchers and woodpeckers. The best time for watching birds is in March and December.
Flora
One fifth of the park is comprises the floodplain of the Narayani, Rapti and the Reu Rivers. It is covered by dense Elephant grass interspersed with forests of silk cotton (Kapok), Acacia and Sisam trees.
Adventure Activities
Watching the wonders of Nature
Watching unique birds and animals from atop an elephant can be quite exciting. Here is a list of activities that can make your trip to the Royal Chitwan National Park more memorable.
Canoeing
Canoeing on Chitwan rivers is an excellent way of seeing waterfalls. The park's dolphins and crocodiles, however, are seldom seen. The high temperatures experienced in the park make bathing in the river an attractive pastime. Water-holes are also lure for a swim. Watching the elephants showering is very interesting.
Elephant Tracking
Elephant rides is a major Chitwan attractions. Wild boar, red deer and other creatures of the jungle can be seen, in the morning and evening especially, from from atop the tall pachyderms. One more advantage is that rhinos can be approached without danger. Apart from the animals, luxuriant vegetation and jungle chorus - different sounds in different parts of the day - make the ride a memorable experience.
Jeep Safari
Jungle safaris make it possible to explore the length and breadth of the National Park.
White- Water Rafting
White-water rafting expedition and jungle safari together represent the ultimate adventure. The river trip itself takes two to three days, commencing at or upstream of Mugling and ending in Narayanghat.
Animal Watching from Hides
Apart from safaris on foot and elephant back, hides offer animal watchers another way of getting what they want. Called machans in local language, these wooden towers are usually erected in clearings crossed by game paths. Best time to watch red deer and rhinos is early morning and evening.
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Pashupatinath Temple, with its astonishing architectural beauty, stands as a symbol of faith, religion, culture and tradition. Regarded as the most sacred temple of Hindu Lord Shiva in the world, Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'.
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Fast Facts
| Location : |
5 km north-east of Kathmandu |
| Category : |
UNESCO listed World Cultural Heritage Site |
| Era : |
Prior to 400 A.D |
Unique Features
- Only four priests, appointed by the King, can touch the idol of Lord Shiva.
- The priests are always from south India.
- It is believed that this tradition have been started by Sage Shankaracharaya in 6th century.
What to See
- Gold-painted images of guardian deities
- Chaturmukha (four-faced statue)
- Chadeshvar, an inscribed Licchavi linga from the 7th century
- Brahma Temple
- Dharmashila, a stone where sacred oaths are taken
- Arya Ghat
- Gauri Ghat (holy bath)
- Pandra Shivalaya (15 shrines)
- Gorakhnath and Vishwarup Temples
- Guhyeshwari (Guhjeshwari) Temple
- Kirateshwar Mahadeva Mandir and Surya Ghat
Architecture
- The two level roofs of the temple are embellished with gold and the four main doors are adorned with silver.
- The temple is famous for its awe-inspiring and astounding pagoda architecture.
- The western door has a statue of a large Bull, Nandi, is ornamented in gold. This black stone idol, about 6 ft in height and circumference, adds to the beauty and charisma of the temple.
- The present architectural nature of Pashupatinath temple came into existence as a result of renovation by Queen Gangadevi during the reign of Shivasimha Malla (1578-1620 AD).
Legends
There are many legends describing as to how the temple of Lord Pashupatinath came to existence here. Some of them are narrated below:-
The Cow Legend
Legend says that Lord Shiva once took the form of an antelope and sported unkown in the forest on Bagmati river's east bank. The gods later caught up with him, and grabbing him by the horn, forced him to resume his divine form. The broken horn was worshipped as a linga but overtime it was buried and lost. Centuries later an astonished herdsmen found one of his cows showering the earth with milk. Digging deep at the site, he discovered the divine linga of Pashupatinath.
The Linchchhavi Legend
According to Gopalraj Vamsavali, the oldest ever chronicle in Nepal, this temple was built by Supus Padeva, a Linchchhavi King, who according to the stone inscription erected by Jayadeva 11 in the courtyard of Pashupatinath in 753 AD, happened to be the ruler 39 generations before Manadeva (464-505 AD).
The Devalaya Legend
Another chronicle states that Pashupatinath Temple was in the form of Linga shaped Devalaya before Supus Padeva constructed a five storey temple of Pashupatinath in this place. As the time passed, the need for reparing and renovating this temple arose. It is learnt that this temple was reconsturcted by a mediaeval King named Shivadeva (1099-1126 AD). It was renovated by Ananta Malla adding a roof to it.
Festivals
- Pashupati area is regarded as one of the most important places of pilgrimages for the followers of Hinduism. Thousands of devotees from within and outside the country come to pay homage to Pashupatinath every day. And on special occasions like Ekadasi, Sankranti, Mahashivratri, Teej Akshaya, Rakshabandhan, Grahana (eclipse), Poornima (Full moon day) the whole atmosphere turns festive and mirthful as people congregate here in a far greater number.
- During the Shivaratri (also spelled Shivratri) festival Pashupatinath temple is lit with ghee lamps throughout the night and the temple remains open all night. Thousands of devotees take ritual baths in the Bagmati river on the day of the festival and observe a fast for the whole day. Hundreds of sadhus (sages) from different parts of Nepal and India come here on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.
Auspicious Days to Visit
In August, during the Teej festival, thousands of women visit the temple to bathe in the holy waters of the Bagmati River. Because this ritual is meant to bring a long and happy marriage, many women dress in red saris, which are traditionally worn for wedding ceremonies. Full moon and New moon days are also considered auspicious to visit the temple.
Good to know
According to a legend recorded in local texts, especially the Nepalamahatmya and the Himavatkhanda, the Hindu Lord Shiva once fled from the other gods in Varanasi to Mrigasthali, the forest on the opposite bank of the Bagmati River from the temple. There, in the form of a gazelle, he slept with his consort Parvati. When the gods discovered him there and tried to bring him back to Varanasi, he leapt across the river to the opposite bank, where one of his horns broke into four pieces. After this, Shiva became manifest as Pashupati (Lord of Animals) in a four-face (chaturmukha) linga.
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Bouddhanath Stupa, the biggest stupa in Nepal, lies about 7 km east of the capital. The Bouddhanath stupa, also called by many as Khasti Chitya, is one of the oldest stupas in the country. After 1959, many Tibetans arrived and settled in Bouddhanath area. The stupa, a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site, is included in World Heritage Cultural site list by UNESCO.
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Fast Facts
| Location : |
7 km east of Kathmandu |
| Category : |
UNESCO world Heritage Site |
| UNESCO Listed : |
In 1979 |
Structure
With diameter of about 100m and 40m height, Buddhanath holds its place among the largest stupas in the world. The Buddhanath stupa covers a vast area. It has a round path at the bottom while another path is made of three-tier plinth. The stupa resembles Swayambhunath stupa to some extent. The most impressive part of the stupa is the eyes of the Buddha which are painted with red, white and blue colors.
Festivals
Lhosar, the Tibetan new year festival, is the most popular festival celebrated at Bodhanath Stupa. Lhosar festival begins with prayers and worship. Thousands of Tibetans dress in traditional attire and dance after expressing reverence for Buddha. Number of Tibetans come from Laddakh, Sikkim, Bhutan to take part in this festival.
Attractions
In Buddhanath Stupa, there are many monasteries or Gompa attractions. They are all impressively adorned and colorfully painted. Anyone can visit the monasteries and take visuals. It is advisable to give small donation if you take photographs.
Tit-Bits
- The whole structure has a diameter of about 100 meters and a height of approximate 40 meters.
- Legend holds that King Manadeva erected the Bouddhanath stupa during the Lichavi period. It has been refurbished many times. The present stupa was renovated in the seventeenth century.
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