Introducing Nepal
Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is where the ice-cold of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Indian plains. It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best trekking on earth. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great minikingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage.
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Behind the Vishnu shrine of Ichangu Narayan, northwest of Swayambhunath in the Kathmandu Valley, rises the 'Abode of Snows' (Himalaya in Sanskrit), a magnet for trekkers and mountaineers the world over. Only in Nepal can you trek for weeks without the need even for a tent. No longer does your name have to be Tenzing or Hillary to set foot in Everest Base Camp. Out of the mountains, get your adrenaline kick from world-class white-water rafting, kayaking and mountain biking, or from the spine-tingling sight of your first tiger or rhino in Chitwan National Park.
Nepal is not just a bungee-jumping, apple-pie eating Shangri-la. It's also one of the poorest countries on earth. However, many visitors, drawn to Nepal by the promise of adventure, leave equally enchanted by the friendliness and openness of the Nepali people.
From the natural rhythm you ease into on a trek to the rhythm of a tabla drum at one of Kathmandu's palace restaurants, Nepal is an amazingly diverse country that offers something for everyone. One journey through this land is rarely enough. The first thing many people do after a visit is start planning the next one.
Make it happen
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- trek the historic route to Everest Base Camp
- trek the Annapurna Circuit
- get the best of Nepal
- take a short Everest Trek and discover Sherpa culture
Like the sound of these tours? We've got more here.
Last updated: Sep 30, 2009
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Recent posts
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Travelling companion in Nepal
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Hotels & Hostels in Nepal
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The Dwarika's Hotel
Kathmandu
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Hotel Blue Horizon
Kathmandu
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Nepal
Our Top Picks For Nepal
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1 Pokhara
Hang out by Phewa Tal and gaze across the lake towards the Annapurnas
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2 Annapurna Circuit
Hit the Apple Pie Trail on Nepal's most popular trek, or just enjoy short hikes from Jomsom
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3 Tansen
Tour ancient temples, visit traditional villages and hike to hilltops with Himalayan views
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4 Lumbini
Meditate on the nature of existence amidst a sea of monasteries at the birthplace of the Buddha
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5 Bandipur
Soak up the medieval atmosphere and the views in this living museum of Newari architecture
Fast Facts about Nepal
- National colour Crimson (Simrik)
- Pseudonym for Swayambhunath Monkey temple
- Literacy rate 48.6%
- Nepalese Proverb A smart jackal is no match for an old tiger
- Nepalese word for cabbage (phonetic) ban-dah-ko-bi
- National animal Cow
- Life expectancy
62 years
- By law, what kind of enemy is a Gurkha forbidden to fight? One of Hindu belief
- Original (pre-British) name of Mt Everest
Sagarmatha (Nepalese); Chomolungma (Tibetan)
- Population 29.5 million
Related Groups
Our favourite Nepal Blogs (beta)
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Eight Great Eats in Kathmandu
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 17 July 2010
One thing that we absolutely loved when we arrived at Kathmandu, Nepal was the variety of food. Once you have spent weeks eating Dal Baht (Traditional Nepalese Dish) while climbing to Mount Everest Base Camp or trekking around the Annapurna Region, it is heaven to be able to arrive back in Kathmandu and sample all the international cuisine. Here is a list of the best places we ate at in Kathmandu.
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Three Years and Counting
Blog: Trail of Ants - 30 June 2010
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Inspirational People We’ve Met in our Travels.
Blog: Canada's Adventure Couple - 29 June 2010
One of the things we love the most about travel is meeting new people. While we could compile a list of a hundred people that we have met that have become great friends and have been an inspiration, we wanted to share with you a few of the special people that have really stood out and touched our hearts during our travels around the world over the years. 1. Mary Louise in Paris, France, 2. Hussein in Udaipur, India, 3. Ajith in Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka, 4. Abdulla Ahmed in Wadi Halfa, Sudan, 5. Kul and Mim Das Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal
