You can find about travel advice such as public places & services, best restaurants, activities, sightseen and other key facts of the Nepal .
Nepal is a landlocked country located in South Asia. It is mainly situated in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain, bordering Tibet of China to the north, and India in the south, east, and west, while it is narrowly separated from Bangladesh by the Siliguri Corridor, and from Bhutan by the Indian state of Sikkim. Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural state, with Nepali as the official language. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the largest city.
The name "Nepal" is first recorded in texts from the Vedic period of the Indian subcontinent, the era in ancient Nepal when Hinduism was founded, the predominant religion of the country. In the middle of the first millennium BC, Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in Lumbini in southern Nepal. Parts of northern Nepal were intertwined with the culture of Tibet. The centrally located Kathmandu Valley is intertwined with the culture of Indo-Aryans, and was the seat of the prosperous Newar confederacy known as Nepal Mandala. The Himalayan branch of the ancient Silk Road was dominated by the valley's traders. The cosmopolitan region developed distinct traditional art and architecture. By the 18th century, the Gorkha Kingdom achieved the unification of Nepal. The Shah dynasty established the Kingdom of Nepal and later formed an alliance with the British Empire, under its Rana dynasty of premiers. The country was never colonized but served as a buffer state between Imperial China and British India. Parliamentary democracy was introduced in 1951 but was twice suspended by Nepalese monarchs, in 1960 and 2005. The Nepalese Civil War in the 1990s and early 2000s resulted in the establishment of a secular republic in 2008, ending the world's last Hindu monarchy.
The Constitution of Nepal, adopted in 2015, affirms Nepal as a secular federal parliamentary republic divided into seven provinces. It remains the only multi-party, fully democratic nation in the world currently ruled by a communist party. Nepal was admitted to the United Nations in 1955, and friendship treaties were signed with India in 1950 and the China in 1960. Nepal hosts the permanent secretariat of the SAARC, of which it is a founding member. Nepal is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Bay of Bengal Initiative. The Nepalese Armed Forces are the fifth-largest in South Asia; and are notable for their Gurkha history, particularly during the world wars, and has been a significant contributor to United Nations peacekeeping operations.
Foods in Nepal :
(1) Dal Bhat :
This probably is the heaviest dish you will try in Nepal. This traditional meal is commonly cooked in the Nepali kitchen, thus you can call it a national dish. Rice is served with lentil and side dishes such as meat, vegetables, curd, and pickles. Utterly satisfying Dal Bhat is a popular meal among trekkers.
(2) Newari Khaja :
Newari Khaja, also known as ‘Newari Bhoye’ and ‘Samai Baji’ is an ethnic food of the Newar community. Earlier, Newari khaja was just limited to Newari people, which they would consume during special occasions but the time has changed. The fanbase of this dish is massive all around Nepal now.
(3) Yomari :
Another delicious Newari dish that makes this list is Yomari. Yomari is a traditional dish made up of rice flour and chaaku. It involves a long process to prepare this unique yet delicious item.First, the dough is prepared from rice flour. Then, a paste of chaaku with a thick consistency is prepared. Then, a distinctive shape is made of a small piece of dough taken one at a time.
(4) Chatamari :
Another newari item makes it to the list, and that is chatamari. Chatamari is made up of rice flour. A thick batter is made out of rice flour. Various ingredients are used to garnish on the top of it giving it exotic look and taste.Vegetables are used as toppings on chatamari for vegetarian and meat toppings are also available for non-vegetarians. It may not be available in all the Newari restaurants.
(5) Momo :
The must-try dish when you are in Nepal is the mouthwatering dumplings of momo. Momo is undoubtedly one of the favorite cuisines of Nepalese. Kathmandu is flooded with momo hubs so it won’t be trouble finding a momo restaurant. Momo comes in a lot of varieties.
(6) Selroti and Aalu Achaar :
It is a festive season item. Tihar is a huge festival celebrated with high enthusiasm in Nepal. It is also called the festival of lights, which is celebrated for 5 days. Nepalese prepare selroti in their home and enjoy selroti with family and friends mainly during Tihar.But the popularity of selroti is so huge that many people prefer selroti in their daily lives. They have it for breakfast and lunch sometimes. It is made up of rice flour. Its shape is like a ring, deep-fried in oil or ghee. This delicacy is mostly preferred with tea as well as with aalu achar.
Weather & geography in Nepal :
The warm, dry season brings average temperatures of 28℃ in the hilly regions and 40℃ in the lowlands, while in the cold winter months, the temperatures in the lowlands range between 7℃ and 23℃ while the hilly regions sit at a colder average maximum of 12℃ and drop below freezing at night.Nepal measures about 880 kilometers (547 mi) along its Himalayan axis by 150 to 250 kilometers (93 to 155 mi) across. It has an area of 147,516 km2 (56,956 sq mi).Nepal is landlocked by China's Tibet Autonomous Region to the north and India on other three sides. West Bengal's narrow Siliguri Corridor separate Nepal and Bangladesh. To the east are Bhutan and India.
Per day Cost in Nepal :
You should plan to spend around NP₨3,985 ($33) per day on your vacation in Nepal, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, NP₨936 ($7.86) on meals for one day and NP₨1,180 ($9.91) on local transportation.
History of Nepal :
The history of Nepal is intertwined with the history of the broader Indian subcontinent and the surrounding regions, comprising the areas of South Asia and East Asia.Nepal is a multi-ethnic, multiracial, multicultural, multi-religious, and multilingual country. The most spoken language is Nepali followed by several other ethnic languages.The Kingdom of Nepal was established in 1768 and started a campaign of unifying all of Nepal that would form modern territories of Nepal. Some former territories had been lost due to the kingdom having participated in the Sino-Nepalese War which ended in both victory and loses, ultimately accepting as a tribute state of Qing dynasty of China from 1792 to 1865. The Anglo-Nepalese War ended in British victory and ceded some Nepalese territory. In a historical vote for the election of the constituent assembly, the Nepalese parliament voted to abolish the monarchy in June 2006. Nepal became a federal republic on 28 May 2008 and was formally renamed the 'Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal' ending the 200-year-old reign of the Shah monarchs.
Language in Nepal :
Nepali or Nepalese is spoken by 70 percent of the people in Nepal, and Hindi is spoken by a mere 41 percent of the people in India. Both languages are spoken in India as well as Nepal. As per the census of 1991, there are 489,578 Hindi speakers present in Nepal.
Culture of Nepal :
The culture of Nepal encompasses the various cultures belonging to the 125 distinct ethnic groups present in Nepal. The culture of Nepal is expressed through music and dance; art and craft; folklore; languages and literature; philosophy and religion; festivals and celebration; foods and drinks.
Place to visit in Nepal :
(1) Lumbini :
Crowds of Buddhist pilgrims are an everyday sight in Lumbini, the traditional birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, Lord Buddha. With archeological finds that date back to around 550 B.C., the legendary site attracts scholars, scientists and curious visitors as well.It was here that Buddha’s mother, Maya Devi, gave birth near a tree in the garden, which is now a temple bearing her name. Set in the center of a small park designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange, the complex also features multiple monasteries, sacred ponds, meditation centers and cultural facilities.
(2) Janakpur :
Located in south-central Nepal on the Terai plains, Janakpur was once the capital of a millennia-old Indian kingdom known as Mithila, and the Maithili culture still thrives here. Hindus believe Janakpur is the place where Lord Ram wed Sita, also known as Janaki, and thousands of Hindus from all over the world flock to the temple of Janaki Mandir each year to celebrate the anniversary of their marriage.With its three-story construction and 60 rooms, the massive 19th-century marble structure is the largest temple in Nepal. Janakpur is known for the more than 100 sacred pools and ponds scattered around the tranquil city as well.
(3) Nagarkot :
Perfect for travelers who want to experience the beauty and majesty of the Himalayas without arduous physical activity, Nagarkot is best known for the views it offers of the mountains and the Kathmandu Valley. Perched on a high ridge to the northeast of Bhaktapur, the village of around 4,500 inhabitants commands views of eight Himalayan ranges.There’s a variety of appealing hotels in every price range in Nagarkot, many of which are located within walking distance of the Nagarkot view tower, known as the best place to visit in Nepal to view the sun rising over the Himalayas.
(4) Khumbu :
Each year, the determination to trek to the summit of Mt. Everest brings thousands of adventurous travelers to Khumbu, the Everest Region located in northeastern Nepal. The journey begins at the Lukla airstrip where a clear two-lane trail eventually leads hikers to Everest Base Camp.Located primarily within the Sagarmatha National Park, Khumbu is home to the Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar where most expeditions to the mountainous peaks are staged. The country’s foremost Buddhist center, the Tengboche Monastery, is located in the Khumbu as well. There’s a variety of comfortable accommodations available at the monastery, many of which offer stunning views of the tallest mountain on the planet.
(5 )Chitwan National Park :
One of the best wildlife-viewing destinations in Asia, the Chitwan National Park in south-central Nepal offers needed sanctuary for rare and endangered species like the Bengal tiger and one-horned rhinoceros.The chance for a close-up look at exotic wildlife, including elephants, leopards, Indian bison, rhinoceros and sloth bears, is the park’s greatest attraction. In addition to jeep tours, visitors can experience the park through jungle treks, elephant rides and canoe rides. Luxury lodging is available at the edge of the park, and the nearby village of Sauraha offers affordable accommodation.
Hotel in Nepal :
(1) Hotel Hakoniwa
(2) Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park
(3) Hotel Plaza Nepal
(4) Shangrila Village Resort Pokhara
How to reach in Nepal :
An economical way of travelling to Kathmandu from Varanasi is by train. From Varanasi Railway Junction, you have to board a train till Gorakhpur. Another train from Gorakhpur will drop you at Sunauli border. For the onward journey, there are buses and shared jeep available from the other side of the border crossing.
Travel Guide for Nepal : Food, hotel, Cost, Weather & geography, History, language, culture, things to see and do and how to reach. – Published by The Beyond News (Travelling).