Mountainous Nepal
People around the globe have stereotypes about mountainous Nepal. These stereotypes sometimes fit just right to Nepal, and sometimes it seems pretty off. Whatever the dreamy pictures people paint in their hearts and mind assured, Nepal is beautiful, full of love, and is the oldest nation in South Asia. Sandwiched between India and China, the country is thriving for development in all forms. A nation that has changed thousands of lives through the years is seeing its fair share of growth. As we would like to call heaven in this part of the world or the whole world, Nepal is pure, soulful, and dignifying with its proud history, culture, and simplicity. Nepal is and always will be much more than a trekking paradise and Mt. Everest.
This very nation is the home to two major religions of the world. The pure magic of natural fabulousness and culture, religion, festivals, and welcoming people is seen nowhere except here. Multiple theories have come across regarding the origin of the word “Nepal.” Hindu mythology states a sage called “Ne” in ancient times, which translated to the country protected by the Himalayas and the ultimate. The meaning is not surprising if you look at the bigger picture. As per the different surveys, 44.74% out of 147,181 square kilometres in Nepal is forest.
Flora and Fauna in Nepal
As you can imagine, Nepal is not only the favourite place for humans to visit, but beautiful flora and fauna have made Nepal their sweet home. The biodiversity that Nepal serves is no joke. Record numbers of flora and fauna spread across is a treat to explore. There are a total of 208 mammals, 867 birds, 123 reptiles, 55 amphibians, 230 freshwater fish, and 651 species of butterfly in Nepal. As Nepal shares a unique pact with Mother Nature, the blessing of such uniqueness came. Tropical savannah climate in Terai belt bordering India, Subtropical climate in the Hills, and Cold Freezing climate in the upper part of the nation offer a unique blend of plants and animal richness.
Glorious History of Nepal
Nepal has its glorious past behind it; Gurkhas’ praise as the bravest and fierce soldier is not new to the world. From only Hindu Monarch to being the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Nepal somehow slipped into political turmoil in the past. Still, things are moving now, and the pace is not alarming either. In the 1960s and 1970s, Nepal was heaven’s heaven for all those hippies as hashish and Marijuana were legal and sold in multiple streets. One of the famous streets still existing is “Freak Street,” but don’t expect to get high, and Marijuana is illegal now. Before hippies explored mountainous Nepal, it was the first successful ascent to Everest that made Nepal the talk of the world. People were still investigating and wanted to see the other side of the rainbow, and Nepal fulfilled that desire to explore and experiment.
People believe that Nepal is the capital of the positive energy of this world. So, there was no question, something beautiful ought to happen, and yes, Nepal gave the world two significant gifts, Hinduism and Buddhism. One showed the idea of our origin, the universe, and beyond. The next is teaching us how to live and love. Nepal is blessed with the teachings of these religions, and more significantly, people have their unique way of celebrating different facets of these religions. Over 120 language is spoken here in Nepal. The natives of Kathmandu, the Newar people, speak “Newari.” Newari people are rich in art and architecture and organize big “Jatras” on special occasions. Whereas Tamangs, Sherpas, Limbu, Rai, which are native to upper mountainous regions, have their peculiar way of celebrating the presence of gods up in those mountains.
Cuisines of Mountainous Nepal
As ethnicity varies, so does the food culture. The famous food eaten by all Nepalese is Dal, Bhat, and Tarkari, i.e., rice, pulse, and curries served as a platter. Beyond the regular fare, Nepal juices the palate of visitors with its wide choice of locally produced alcohols. And the best part is ethnic groups have their style of brewing and distilling these produce. Cheese from yaks in the Himalayas, fresh fruits that grow in the lower belt of Terai, Thakali set, Newari cuisine as a whole, and of course world-famous dumplings, MO: MO, a taste of Nepal’s land with all grace is what you are in for once you visit Nepal.
The wide streets and narrow gullies of Nepal somehow reflect Hinduism and Buddhism. The harmony that Nepal has kept with each other is all praise-worthy. So, in Nepal, regardless of religious beliefs, all festivals are equally worshipped. The biggest celebration of Nepal is Dashain and Tihar, Shivaratri, Buddha Poornima, Holi, and so on. These festivals are colourful, happy, and are all worth it.
Nepal, a complete package
There is numerous place to see in Nepal. There is something for everybody. Adventure seekers can pump adrenaline with trekking, expeditions, bungee jumping, rafting, canoeing, and paragliding. After meeting with your fears and facing them, inner mediation may be required. You don’t need to sit with the glassed window in the yoga mat to mediate in Nepal. Every place is sacred and serene, so you can make yourself comfortable and seek inner peace. If Photography is what you are after, then everything and everywhere is a subject to your lens. Well, there are plenty of things to do in Nepal. So, please kindly surf our product pages to get more of an idea of what Nepal serves. But popular activities include hiking, adventure sports, city tours, wildlife safari, religious tours, etc.
Trekking in Nepal
Annapurna Region is your go-to area for trekking. You can trek in the Everest region too. Lumbini, Pashupatinath (Cremation temple), Swoyambhunath (Self-created temple) is your hub for knowing your inner self; Pokhara is the place to kick slightly in more rush into the adrenaline. If you want to experience the nightlife, then Thamel Street and Pokhara again serve you right. But Mind you, Nepal is much bigger than this; these places are here because people like to hear about them.
The best time to visit Mountainous Nepal is between October and December. The sky is clear, snowcapped mountains glitter with sun rays hitting them, and roads are safer. Nepal, as you might have guessed already, is a landlocked country. So, to reach Nepal, you need to take a flight. Nepal currently has three International Airports, which are serving International visitors from around the world. In the past, People usually visited India and came to Nepal via road crossing the Indo-Nepal border.
Nepal, as mentioned, is prosperous. The arts, artefacts, handicrafts, Khukuri, musical instrument, etc. are unique and has successfully carried the legacy of the oldest nation of South Asia. Upon visiting, mountainous Nepal it should be very natural to buy some souvenirs, which will freshen your memories time and again. There is plenty of places to purchase the mastery of work. Thamel Street is well known and has got it all. You can shop around Bouddhanath, Pokhara Lake Side Street, Pashupatinath, and other parts. Thamel even is the place to get all your logistics before hitting the trekking route.
Luxury in Mountainous Nepal
Like any major city in the world, Nepal has big international chain hotels. Some of them are Hyatt Regency, the Soaltee Hotel, Aloft Hotel, Marriott, Taj Serai, etc. As Nepal is pushing to be a trade hub between Indian and China, luxury hotel brands and numbers might increase. But, all geography does not share the same story. As you leave city life behind, five stars are nowhere. Locally run three-star properties can be seen at accessible locations. But as a trekker, the more altitude you ascend, luxury is out of the question, necessity kicks in, and tea house gives you what is necessary. Decent food, nice beds, hot water, etc., is to be expected at higher altitudes.
These tiny little words are nowhere capable of expressing the immensity of Nepal and its different facets. Experiencing is necessary. Mountainous Nepal is waiting, and we are here to be your raconteur. So, do visit Nepal once in a lifetime.
If you want to see amazing facts and dos and don’ts in Nepal, check out the link below;
worktheworld.com– 50 Amazing Facts of Nepal
insideguides.com– 5 dos and don’ts for visiting Nepal
Image; Photo by howling red on Unsplash
