When mentioning Nepal, most lovers of comfortable tourism have two associations: mountaineering and Buddhism. Yes, there are the highest mountains in the world and many temples. But in Nepal it is not at all necessary to go to Everest or spend all your time in monasteries. This is, first of all, a tourist country with amazing nature and ancient culture, and a holiday here can be unforgettable. We will tell you about what to see and do in Nepal besides climbing in this article.
1. Visit the birthplace of Buddha in Lumbini
Most likely, you will quickly learn that Buddha was born in Nepal. You will be told this more than once, and you will reinforce this knowledge by seeing the slogan “Buddha was born in Nepal” on passing cars. At the time when Prince Sidhartha Gautama, who later became known to the whole world as Buddha, was born, Nepal was not the Nepal, and India was not the India as we know them now. But today Lumbini, the place where he was born, is located in the south of modern Nepal, and although only about 11% of the country’s population professes Buddhism, everyone is proud of this fact.
2. Go on a nine-day rafting trip down the Sun Kosi River
Hiking is the best way to get to know the country, but sometimes a river trip can replace it. Nepal is one of the best places on earth to embark on a multi-day rafting trip across the country: for example, the Sun Kosi regularly ranks among the top ten most suitable rivers for rafting in the world. Its length is 260 kilometers, and, traveling along it, you will see high hills, terraces with rice fields, and meet wild, clean beaches (the water in the river is warm),
friendly villagers, local temples, dense jungles and end on the plains where India begins.
If nine days is too much, go on a one-day kayaking tour along any of the rivers of Nepal – they are all different and interesting in their own way.
3. Look at the yeti skull in Kumjung
Behind the cloudy glass of a small box in the monastery in Kumjung is the skull of a yeti or “Bigfoot”. Or, more precisely, the scalp of someone who possessed a huge, pointed head with dark, coarse hair like wool. If you’re skeptical enough to hike three or four days from Lukla for this, know that Khumjung village is on the trail to Everest Base Camp. Can be combined.
4. Fly paragliding over Pokhara
Pokhara is one of the three largest cities in Nepal and the most “Western” of them. For example, in the 60s of the last century there was a hippie colony here, and after the “flower children” it was chosen by a more respectable public from Europe and America. In the city center there is a tourist area called Lakeside, where hotels, shops and restaurants are concentrated. Pokhara is the perfect place to unwind after the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. One way to calm down and find peace is to paraglide over the city.
The emerald green terraces of rice fields, the blue waters of Lake Phena, and on a clear day the view of Anapurna – one of the highest peaks of the Himalayas – are the best cures for stress. The city is home to the base of Nepal’s most famous and respected paraglider, Babu Sunuwar.
5. Relax in natural hot springs
There are many places in Nepal where hot water springs come out of the ground and are used for healthy bathing. On the trek around Mount Annapurna in the town of Tatopani, hot water fills two stone baths carved directly into the rock. Taking such a bath cannot be compared with a jacuzzi or spa session – after ascents and descents, hot water “resurrects” tired travelers and helps cope with the consequences of altitude sickness.
6. See tigers, rhinoceroses and swim with an elephant
In Bardia National Park, which is more like a jungle, the chance of seeing a Bengal tiger in its natural habitat is quite high, but a long trip to the west of the country and long hours of observation is not attractive for everyone. In the popular Chitwan National Park near Kathmandu, a quick encounter with a rhinoceros is guaranteed. There are 645 rhinoceroses in Nepal, 600 of which live in Chitwan. Remember: these are huge, formidable animals and even in an open-topped jeep it is dangerous to meet them.
By the way, in Nepal there have been no cases of poaching for several years, so the lives of animals are getting better, and safaris in national parks are becoming more and more interesting. Don’t forget about swimming with elephants – a popular and very enjoyable attraction that takes place on the rivers in the Kathmandu Valley.
7. Visit the Patan City Museum
Sad fact: Nepalese are one of the poorest people on Earth. And yet, the country has a world-class museum, one of the best in Asia. The museum, opened in 1997, is located at Durbar Square in the historical city of Patan, 5 km from Kathmandu, and is part of a palace complex listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The exhibits tell the story of Nepal’s long history, including ancient bronze Buddhas, tantric manuscripts and other evidence of a rich past.
Walk around the city; Patan, also called Lalitpur (city of beauty) is a monument of palace and temple architecture.
8. Stay in a home hotel
In Nepal there are enough good and bad hotels both in cities and in the mountains, but in order to feel the flow of real life in this country, it is worth staying in a home hotel in the countryside. In such an environment, you can meet local women, because in Nepal, mostly men are employed in the tourism sector. For example, you can help prepare dinner for the hostess by receiving an additional master class in local cooking.
After dinner, you can ride a bike around the village and surrounding area and see non-tourist views of Nepal. And in the evening try Nepalese rice alcohol – raksi, which is somewhat similar to Japanese sake.
If you have arrived in a new city and are looking for where to stay, we recommend checking out hotels on OneTwoTrip. Here you can easily find the nearest hotels near you and book a room in a few minutes.
You may be interested in:
How to climb Everest?
13 small countries you need to visit
10 Amazing Buildings in Asia
