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, three conservation areas and two 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 center 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 kilometers from Kathmandu is the hugely impressive Bodnath Stupa. It has become a center of Tibetan exile culture and is a good place to buy Tibetan handicrafts and artifacts. 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 behavior 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 sea-dragon 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 Bhaktapur and Patan. 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, colorful animal paintings on the second floor that 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. The secluded town of Pokhara lies 200km (125 miles) west of Kathmandu in the center 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.

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. 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 Travel Tips section).

Kathmandu - Nepal

Activities

Trekking
The trekking season is generally from September to May, but the best periods are October to December and March to April. The countryside is mostly rugged and the trails are loose, but trekking is by far the best way to enjoy Nepal’s spectacular landscape. Different types of trips with varying degrees of difficulty can be arranged. Some foreign travel agencies can book trekking packages in advance in collaboration with the Nepalese trekking agencies. In Kathmandu, there are many local officially registered trekking agencies that can provide a fully organized trek, complete with porters, guide, cook, food tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, transport to and from the starting and finishing points, flight arrangements, permits and insurance. They also provide participants with a choice of itineraries.

Trekking formalities
As of July 1999, trekking permits are no longer required for the general trekking areas designated by the Department of Immigration (such as the Annapurna, the Everest, the Langtang and Rara). Permits are required for the Baihang District, Dolpa, Gorkha District, Humla District, Kanchanjunga, Makalu, Mugu District and Rasuwa District and Upper Mustang and they can be obtained from the Department of Immigration located at New Baneshwar, Kathmandu (see Passport/Visa section for further details) or trekking agencies and tour operators. Trekking to Dolpa, Kanchanjunga, Makalu and Upper Mustang can only be undertaken through a registered trekking agency. Entrance fees are levied for the national park areas and wildlife reserves; these range up to NRs2000 per person per day. Children under 10 are exempt. Higher fees are payable for filming and helicopter landing permits. Further information can be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board (see Top Things To Do).

Trekking advice
The Nepal Tourism Board gives the following advice to trekkers: use authorized guides and porters only; be careful with matches around wooded or grassy areas as forest fires can cause serious damage; be economical with all fuel, especially local firewood (campfires are not recommended); prioritise tour companies and lodges which do not use firewood; trekkers are strictly forbidden to cut any green forest reserve or kill any wildlife; use washing and toilet facilities provided or, if none are available, make sure to be at least 30 meters away from any water source; use biodegradable items as much as possible; when visiting temples or Buddhist shrines, respect local religious customs (see Social Conventions in the Travel Tips section); take necessary precautions when suffering from altitude sickness (for details, see the Health section).

Note
In the past, the authorities have discouraged women from trekking on their own. Some Nepalese trekking agencies, however, are now keen to provide a service for female trekkers who can also hire female guides and porters.

Pony treks
Ponies have been a means of transport for people and materials for centuries in Nepal and are today used extensively for trekking. Pony treks follow nearly the same routes as normal treks and are offered mostly in the western region around Pokhara, as well as in the hinterlands of Dolpo and Lo Manthang.

Scenic flights
Most of the domestic airlines arrange flights in light aircraft over Mount Everest. Flights are also available from Pokhara and other locations west of the capital, flying over the spectacular Annapurna range. Flights do not operate during the monsoon season (June to September).

Mountaineering
To scale any of the mountain peaks in Nepal, climbing permits are required. They can be obtained from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (tel: (1) 425 6232/31/28) or the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) (tel: (1) 434 525. Further information can also be obtained from the Nepal Tourism Board (see Top Things To Do).

River rafting
Rafting permits are not required for the general areas; however, to raft the Himalayan rivers, a permit must be obtained from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (tel: (1) 425 6232/31/28).

Golf
The popularity of golf is on the increase in Nepal, which has seven golf courses including the Gokarna Forest Golf Course, the Royal Nepal Golf Club, the Yeti Golf Club and the Himalayan Golf Course. For further information, contact the Nepal Tourism Board (see Top Things To Do).

Adventure sports
The tourist potential of adventure sports has not escaped the Nepalese authorities, and the Nepal Tourism Board is now promoting a range of high-adrenalin activities that can be pursued in the country’s spectacular landscapes. Ballooning and hang-gliding are among the newest additions, as Kathmandu has just opened its skies for commercial ballooning, which does provide the opportunity to get excellent aerial views of the city and its panoramic surroundings. Trips over Mount Everest are rare, but also possible. Hang-gliding, which uses an ultra-light, one-person glider system, is popular in Pokhara and in the Langtang region. Bungee jumping and canyoning are also popular. Paragliding and power paragliding are available in Pokhara.

The Nepal Yeti
The existence of the famous Nepal Yeti, a giant, gorilla-sized hairy snowman that eats yaks and sheep, remains strongly questionable. Only a few people, including the father of Tenzing Norgay (the first Sherpa to conquer Mount Everest), claim to have seen it. Popular myth recounts that those who did spot the creature got sick and died within a few days. For Yeti enthusiasts wishing to try their luck, the abominable snowman is said to make random appearances around the Khumbu region (in the foothills of Mount Everest).