Spread across the mountains and valleys of the Himalayas, Nepal presents diversity to travellers. Besides having 10 of the tallest peaks in the world, the country is known for its adventure tourism and Buddhist heritage, as Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautama Buddha is located here.
Getting there
There are only a few airlines that fly direct to Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, from Europe and North America. An easier and cheaper option is to fly to New Delhi and then get a connection to Kathmandu. There are also flights from other Asian cities such as Bangkok and Hong Kong.
Another option is to travel overland from either New Delhi or Kolkata in India.
Places to see
Kathmandu – Nepal’s capital is located in a valley, 1400 meters above sea level. Along with Patan and Bakthapur nearby, it forms a tri-city that is known for its architecture and heritage as these cities were earlier Himalayan mini kingdoms. Kathmandu has beautiful temples and palaces, including the Mahabuddha temple and the Narayanhiti Palace (now a museum).
Pokhara – Nepal’s second city is popular for its adventure tourism. Surrounded by the Annapurna range of the Himalayas, it is an ideal base for trekking in the mountains. Popular trek routes are to Jomson and the Annapurna Sanctuary. Other adventure options include paragliding, river rafting, jungle safaris and micro-light flying. The setting of the city is picturesque with the surrounding snow-capped Himalayan Peaks reflecting in the still waters of the Pehwa Lake.
Lumbini – The town, which is famous as the birthplace of Buddha is a popular place of pilgrimage for the Buddhists. Its numerous monasteries makes it is equally charming for tourists.
Best time to visit
Like its neighbour, India, Nepal has monsoons from June to September. Spring (March-May) and autumn (October-November) have the best weather.
