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.
Ready to go? Our recommended tours make it easy:
- Trek from Delhi to Kathmandu
- Journey through Sherpa villages to the base of Mount Everest
- Visit India, Bhutan and Nepal in a journey of the East Himalayan Kingdoms
Last updated: Jan 20, 2012
Tips & articles
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The 10 best treks in the world
21 March 2012
These 10 classic treks are for serious walkers. All of them require a sturdy pair of lungs, fit legs and...
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Fine tune your table manners
19 January 2012
You think that emptying the bottle into your guest’s glass is polite… little do you know that you just designated...
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Watching wildlife in Nepal
18 January 2012
Lifted straight from the pages of a Rudyard Kipling book, the steamy jungles of southern Nepal are home some of...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: General strike in Nepal, Friday, 18 May
by stilltrekkin 20 May 2012
I understand from my Nepali project coordinator that May 21, 22 and 23 are also supposed to be a Strike. What usually happens, however,…
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RE: Any one want to buy some Nepalese Rupees or know how I can off load them
by stilltrekkin 20 May 2012
Hi Penny, You commented that it would be helpful if there were signs at the Airport re Nepalese Rupees not being negotiable outside the…
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RE: Everest Base Camp trek
by scoodly 20 May 2012
Hello Usually it is better to wait until you get to Nepal before booking trekking services. briefly, this is because it's likely to be…
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Things to do
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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)
- 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
Our favourite Nepal Blogs (beta)
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Travel photo: Monkey Temple, Kathmandu Valley
Blog: Sophie's World - 18 May 2012
This week's #FriFotos theme is holy places. My choice is the UNESCO-listed Swayambhunath stupa - or Monkey Temple - in the Kathmandu Valley.Travel photo: Monkey Temple, Kathmandu Valley is a post from Sophie's World
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They Call Her Sagarmatha
Blog: Hole In The Donut - 14 May 2012
I’ve stood at the edge of molten lava flowing from the world’s largest volcanic crater (Mauna Loa, Hawaii), touched the Equator in the Amazon Jungles of Ecuador, descended to the bottom of the deepest canyon in North America (Copper Canyon, Mexico), and stood on the shores of the largest freshwater lake in the world (Superior). [...]
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Overland Travel from India to other South Asian Countries
Blog: Arnab Maity Travel and Photography - 30 March 2012
There is nothing quite like a road trip, the ochred rockies giving way to emerald paddies or clustered houses transitioning to dense settlements, a road trip comes with a promise of something new to the eye almost every time, even if its through a narrow side window of a bus or the wide windshield of a car.
