| So what are Nepal's Famous Tourist attraction? Nepal | | | | through gloriously diverse scenery; you'll need to be |
| is made up of beautiful landscapes and also rich in | | | | reasonably fit to tackle it, though there's plenty of |
| history and culture. In Nepal, you can view some of the | | | | accommodation and eating places serving Western |
| most interesting and beautiful buildings and places. | | | | food en route, and other trekkers for company. The |
| Seriously, you won't know how beautiful Nepal is until | | | | ten-day Jomosom trek is also highly commercialized, |
| you read this article and view photos of Nepal's | | | | though this doesn't detract from the many small, |
| famous tourist attractions... | | | | ethnically diverse villagers along the route. Everest |
| Kathmandu | | | | treks, which get you close to thee World's tallest peak, |
| Nepal bustling, sprawling capital is noisy, traffic-clogged | | | | are very strenuous, the cold and high altitude being |
| and appallingly polluted, but also vibrant, excellent for | | | | serious concerns; you'll need to allow three or four |
| shopping and eating and a great place to arrange trips | | | | weeks to do one of these, unless you fly into or out of |
| out into the wilderness. Durbar Square, in the heart of | | | | Lukla, partway along the route. Those with less time or |
| the city, is the location of innumerable temples and | | | | inclination may want to consider the three-to-five-day |
| ancient monuments, most notably the Old Royal | | | | Royal Trek from Pokhera, or spending seven to |
| Palace and the Kumari Chowk; the latter is the home | | | | twelve days on the Langlang trek closer to |
| of Nepal's own living goddess, the Kumari, a | | | | Kathmandu. |
| prepubescent girl worshipped as the living incarnation | | | | Chitwan National Park |
| of the Hindu goddess Durga. the other obligatory sight, | | | | On the plains in the far south of the country, the park is |
| on a hill west of the centre, is the huge Buddhist stupa | | | | the jungle home of the famed Bengal tiger and the |
| at Swayambunath, from where the stylized eyes of | | | | Indian rhinoceros, as well as plenty of deer and wild |
| the Buddha gaze out in all directions on the world. | | | | oxen, crocodiles and over 450 species of birds - |
| there are great views over the city from here, and the | | | | among other creatures. Elephant rides, jeep tours, |
| site draws an endless stream of pilgrims - one act of | | | | canoe trips and walks are all available, though |
| worship here is said to carry 13 billion times more merit | | | | Chitwan's fame and accessibility mean that it can be |
| than elsewhere. | | | | hard to escape the crowds. |
| Kathmandu Valley | | | | White-water rafting and kayaking |
| Some of the best-preserved historic buildings and | | | | Nepal's picturesque rivers offer both beginners and the |
| temples in the area are found in the ancient city of | | | | more advanced plenty of opportunities to try these |
| Bhaktapur, which has its own Durbar Square, featuring | | | | activities. Two- or three-day trips on the Trisuli river |
| the five-storey Nyatapola pagoda. Patan, just south of | | | | west of Kathmandu, and three- or four-day excursions |
| Kathmandu, is the valley's most Buddhist city, with a | | | | out of Pokhara or on the upper Kali Gandaki are |
| calmer, less frantic feel than elsewhere; there's yet | | | | among the most popular. Agents who arrange trips |
| another Durbar Square here, with a fine Royal Palace | | | | can be found in both Kathmandu and Pokhera. |
| dating from the seventeenth century and a number of | | | | Mountain flights |
| temples. A trip out to the valley rim at Shiyapuri or | | | | On these excursions, which leave daily from |
| Jamacho is rewarded with some fine views of the | | | | Kathmandu between May and September, you pass |
| Himalayas. Easily accessible from Kathmandu, although | | | | just 25km from Everest and get to eyeball a couple of |
| strictly speaking outside the valley itself, are Nagarkot | | | | dozen of the world's highest peaks. |
| and Dhulikel, both great excursions for even better | | | | Bardia National Park |
| mountain views, and excellent bases for treks. | | | | In the west of the country, the park doesn't have as |
| Pokhara | | | | many rhinos as Chitwan, but offers a greater chance |
| One of the most popular destinations in Nepal, Pokhara | | | | of spotting a tigers. Recent estimates suggest that |
| is excellent for simple relaxing amid great scenery and | | | | there are around sixty breeding tigers in Chitwan, and |
| in plenty of comfort; the views of the unforgettable | | | | 35 in the smaller area of Bardia - so do bear in mind |
| Machhapuchhre (or "fish-tail peak"), the Annapurna | | | | that a sighting is remarkable rather than predictable. |
| mountain and Manaslu ranges are stunning. There are | | | | Courses in meditation, yoga or Nepali |
| also plenty of local excursions, including hikes to the | | | | The Kathmandu valley, and to a lesser extent |
| mountain viewpoint of Sarangkot or up to the World | | | | Pokhara, are idealplaces to enroll yourself. |
| Peace Pagoda, on a ridge overlooking pretty Phewa | | | | Lumbini |
| lake | | | | A place of pilgrimage for devotees from the globe, the |
| Trekking | | | | spot where Buddha was born in 543 BC has ancient |
| Nepal has an enormous variety of treks on offer, | | | | archeological monuments as well as modern Tibetan |
| varying in length and difficulty; some have comfortable | | | | and Theravadan monasteries |
| accommodation all along the way, while others require | | | | Mountain biking |
| you to be totally self-reliant. It's worth researching the | | | | Organized tours, geared to any level of fitness and |
| options, especially if you want to get away from the | | | | ability, provide all equipment and accommodation - and |
| most popular routes. The three-week Annapurna | | | | a lift if you get tired. Kathmandu and Pokhara are the |
| circuit involves climbing up to a heady 5380m, passing | | | | main centres to arrange trips. |