Reach the Great Heights of Himalayas in Nepal

Nepal is the territory on which the chilled atmosphere of the Himalayas shakes hand with the sticky warm environs of the Indian plains. It is home of stupas, Sherpas, yetis, and one of the ideal hiking places in the world. It is just in this country where you can hike for weeks with no need for a tent and that you need not be an expert for even Mt. Everest.

Besides, its architectural legacy, sacred Hindu and Buddhist temples, enliven music in the palace restaurants – all add to its great reasons of it being a famous tourist destination. This is list is so big that it is not possible to explore the nature and culture here fully in one visit.

Nepal Tourist Attraction

Kathmandu

This is the capital city, but the largest one in the country. Just a stroll in its backstreets will reveal the stunning cultural and artistic legacy in temples and courtyards of dry chilies and rice. It’s worth a week time, but as I did not have that time, could just explored a few of its worth visiting sites.

• Asan Tole:
  This is the six-road junction packed by traders and buyers from morning until late night. From all the corners of valley, all produce is brought here that justifies the great three-storey Annapurna Temple devoted to the goddess of plenty, Annapurna.
• Ashok Binayak:
  Atop the Maru Tole, this is the small gilded shrine of Maru Ganesh, one of the four vital Ganesh shrines here. Lord Ganesha is the destroyer of obstacles and giver of wealth and people are very fond of him here.
• Balcony:
  This is a royal area of copper and ivory across from the great bell from where the royal people viewed the festival events occurring in the Durbar Square.
• Basantapur Tower:
  This is the nine-storey tower with magnificent views over the palace and the city.

• Bhagwati Temple:
  Located besides the Gaddhi Baithak, this is an amazing triple-storey, triple-roofed temple.
• Bhimsen Tower (Dharahara):
  This is a white, minar akin tower near the main post office offering you the ideal city view and a small Shiva shrine atop.
• Degutaleju Temple:
  This is a triple-roofed temple dedicated to Goddess Degutaleju, a manifestation of the Malla’s special goddess Taleju and so built by Shiva Singh Malla.
• Dhum Varahi Shrine:
  Located in the Ring Road, this is small shrine under a huge pipal tree along with a 5th century idol of Vishnu as a boar cum human holding the earth goddess.
• Durbar Square:
  Formerly, the place where kings were crowned, this is the cultural hub of the city.
• Gaddhi Baithak:
  Located in the east of Durbar Square, this is a white neoclassical edifice of European style modeled on London’s National Gallery.
• Garden of Dreams:
  At two minutes walk, this is a worth visiting enclave, really a dreamland.
• Great Bell:
  On the left out of the main square along Makhan Tole, the bell is on the top of a white building that when rang takes away all evil spirits. However, it is only rung at the time of puja (worship) at the Degutaleju Temple.
• Jagannath Temple:
  This is the oldest monument famous for its roof carvings, a three-tiered platform, and two storeys.
• Kala (Black) Bhairab:
  Located at the rear of the Jagannath Temple, this is the fearsome huge stone figure of Lord Shiva with six arms, a garland of skulls, and crushing a carcass, representing human ignorance. This figure was actually found in the north of the city that was brought by Pratap Malla.
• Pashupatinath Temple:
  Located at four km, this is the most sacred Hindu site that has a belief attached with it. According to this, dying, being buried, and scattering one’s ashes in the River Bagmati provides salvation to a Hindu.

Lumbini

Located in the Terai plains in south Nepal, this is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya Prince (623 B.C.).

• Sacred Garden:
  This is the historic land around which many countries have contributed to the construction of temples, monasteries, or stupas in the International Monastery Zone. Some noteworthy are the Myanmar Temple, International Gautami Nuns Temple, China Temple, The Nepal Buddha Temple, and the Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Vihara.
• Ashoka Pillar:
  Built by Emperor Ashoka of India in 249 B.C and a World Heritage Site, it is close to the sacred garden and has an inscription that states the holy birthplace of Buddha.
• Mayadevi Temple:
  Located on one side of the pillar, this shrine holds a bas relief symbolizing the nativity (Mayadevi is the mother of the Lord Buddha). Recently, a stone having a foot imprint that states the exact birthplace.
• Puskarni Pond:
  This is the historic site to the south of the pillar where Shreemati Mayadevi took a bath before nativity.
• Kushinagar:
  This is the holy site where Lord Buddha entered Mahaparinirvana (demise of an Enlightened one). Do explore chaityas, stupas, and viharas where the Muktabandhana stupa conserves the mortal relics of Lord Buddha. Nearby, a small shrine holds a reclining Buddha brought from Mathura by the monk Haribala.
• The Lumbini Museum:
  This is in the Cultural Zone and exhibits Mauryan and Kushana coins, stamps, sacred manuscripts, terra-cotta fragments, and stone and metal sculptures.
• Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI):
  Facing the Lumbini Museum, this offers all the facilities to find out all about the Buddhism and religion in general. It houses around 12,000 books on religion, philosophy, art, and architecture.

• Kapilvastu Museum:
  Located at a distance of 27 km in the village of Tilaurakot, do view the coins, pottery toys ranging from the 7th century B.C. to 4th century A.D, and ornaments of such ancient period too. The village is the place of the Buddha’s royal palace.

Best Time to Visit Nepal

Autumn (September to November) and spring (March to May)

Nepal Accommodation

In Kathmandu:

• Park Village Hotel – $70
• Hotel Potala – $8
• Hotel Ganesh Himal – $21
• Nirvana Garden Hotel) – $34

In Lumbini:

• The Lumbini Hokke Hotel – an ideal Japanese style hotel – starting at US$80
• The Sri-Lankan Pilgrims’ Rest House – at US $10
• The Lumbini Village Lodge – a few dollars less

Lumbini Garden Restaurant is the only restaurant here offering the best cuisine.