Nepal

NEPAL BEAUTY


ABOUT NEPAL
Nepal (pronounced  Nepali: नेपाल [neˈpaːl]  officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and, as of 2010, the world's most recent nation to become a republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. --> With an area of 147,181 square kilometres (56,827 sq mi) and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolitan city. 

Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Sagarmatha, known in English as Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000 ft (6,096 m) above sea level.

By some measures, Hinduism is practised by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation.[8] Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Gautam Buddha gave birth to the Buddhist tradition. About half of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.

A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. In 2006, however, a decade-long People's Revolution by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) along with several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties of Nepal culminated in a peace accord, and the ensuing elections for the constituent assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the abdication of the last Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal democratic republic in May 28, 2008. The first President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, was sworn in on 23 July 2008.

Motorcycle Tour

 Motorcycle tour in Nepal is introduced by adventure holiday in Nepal. Many motorcycle tour lover are interested to travel and tour in Himalayn foot hills and mountain region. Nepal motorcycling tour is one of the fantastice adventure tours for stunning Himalayan vies, lush valleys, reach different types of ethnic groups, tribal society, marvelous terrace fields, temples and monasteries. Motorcycle tour provides exotic experience in Nepal as the road is narrow and off road driving experience including panoramic mountain sights of natural Nepal. Motorcycle tour is a recreational outdoor activity which is specially organizes in rough terrain or on road which offers adventure tip, excitement and fun utilizing a kingdom, rural village life and Himalayan foothills of Nepal.

People can choose Royal Enfield, Honda XL and VR bike as customer choice. Tibet and Nepal is the ideal place for motorcycle trip especially in summer which offers a spectacle of infinite beauty. Nepal is one of the ultimate destination for adventure holidays Motorcycle trips for everyone. Their are many travel and tour agencies which are offering motorcycle trip to their customer at various price. Different travel and tour agencies has different package and the price also differ with the type of package.  Their are many popular motorcycle tour route in Nepal. Some of them are Kathmandu to Pokhara Motorcycle Tour, Jomsom to Pokhara Motorcycle Tour, Kathmandu to Nagarkot Motorcycle Tour, Kathmandu Vally Motorcycle Tour, Off Road Motorcycle Tour and many more.

Muktinath

Muktinath is a special place in the hearts of devotees, of all the temple in the Himalayan region of Nepal. It is also known as SALIGRAMAM. It is situated at an altitude of 3,710 meters. It is a scared place for both Buddhists and Hindus. Muktinath is known as Mukthi Kshetra for Hinus and Valley Chumming Gyatsa in Buddhists.The holy shrine at Muktinath is in a grove of trees which includes a Buddhist Gompa and the pagoda style temple of vishnu Temple which consists an image of Lord Vishnu.
 There is three-storey pagoda temple which is situated at an altitude of 12460 ft. Their is statue of Goddess Jwala Mai inside the Muktinath temple. The meaning of Jwala Mai is goddess of Flame. People can see 108 holy water spouts in the courtyard of the temple and also a monastery nearby. 

The main attraction of Muktinath Temple are Kunda, Mukti Dhara, Jwala Mai Temple, Shaligram and many more.

Kunda:
Kunda is a water pond, their are two kunda in front of Muktinath Temple. It is believed that it can wash away negative fate of people. People bath or dip in a kunda believing that all the negative fate of his or her will be washed away. Many people dip on kunda believing it.





Jwala Mai Temple:
The more sacred is the water that issues from rock inside the ancient Tibetan Style "Jwala Mai Temple". The sound of flowing river is situated south and short distance below the Muktinath Temple. Inside this Gompa, behind a tattered curtain, their are small natural gas jest that produce continuously burning flame. The Jwala Mai temple has a spring and there are three eternal flames named " Holy Flame From Soil", "Holy Flame From Rock" and "Holy Flame From Water" fed by natural gas. The Hindu believes that it is a miracle of fire lighting which was offering made by Lord Brahma. The holy flame along side a spring that is the source of the religious importance of Muktinath.

 
Mukti Dhara:
 Their is wall from around the temple where there are 108 water sputs which is named as "Muktidhara". The 108 watersputs are in the shape of bulls heads, pur fouthe-sacred water closely arranged in a semi-circle with a gap of hardly a foot between the faucets, at a height of seven feet. The water which came from Gandaki River continuously flow through the mouth of the bull. It is one of the center of Tourist Attraction. 








 Shaligram
  It is another attraction fro the pilgrimage is the River Kali Gandaki from where one can collect fossils of the Jurassic park age. People can find a fossil within a few minuter or it may also take hours and also people may be unsuccessful to fine. People can also have such fossils from the local people at a price. Shaligram is a blac stone fossil which is considered sacred and is kept in prayer room in the house which is supposed to be symbol of Lord Bishnu. 




 

GETTING INTO NEPAL

Why is Nepal such a fascinating country for many people?
The Himalayan kingdom of Nepal is a land of scenic mountains, time-worn temples and some of the best walking trails on Earth. It's a small country, but it's rich in scenic splendour and exotic cultures. The people of Nepal are as diverse as their country and represent distinct cultures and races. Though they speak a variety of tongues and practice different religions, they are the friendliest people that you would ever meet.The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination and it's a difficult place to dislodge from your memory once you return. So, wait until you're actually here in Nepal.
As a traveller, there are endless number of surprises Nepal has to offer you. Kathmandu Valley with its thousands of Hindu temples, Buddhist stupas, stunning architecture and rich pageantry can be quite beyond words. If you are careful enough not to get entangled in the superficial facade of a fastly "modernizing" capital city, Kathmandu probably offers you as exotic and urban experience as you can get.

Beyond Kathmandu, its another world altogether. Most travelers to Nepal want to check out the truly spectacular Himalayas along with the higher hills. A few go there to scale the high mountains, but many are nature lovers who trek along landscapes filled with deep valleys, lush forests, snow trails, terraced fields, and above all, the most hospitable people. See the FAQ on Trekking for more.

Travelers to Nepal also love making a safari trip to one of the National Parks in Nepal. The most popular one is the Chitwan National Park in the southern plains which hosts a diverse wildlife reserves including the rare Asian one-horn rhino.


How do I get to Nepal?

In order to fly directly to Nepal from your home country, Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu is the only international airport in Nepal. TIA has direct airlink with Osaka, Shanghai, London, Frankfurt, Hongkong, Singapore, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Bombay and Calcutta. Lufthansa, Royal Nepal Airlines (RNAC), Air India, Singapore Airlines, Thai are the airlines that carry most of the foreign travelers into Kathmandu; and if you buy tickets from any other airlines, you will probably connect with one of these airlines for the final leg of your flight.

Alternatively, if you have time and enthusiasm, traveling overland to Nepal via India is an option. British overland travel operators can take you from London to Kathmandu on a six to eighteen week trip for anywhere between $1200 to $ 2500 depending upon the nature of your trip. You will travel from continental Europe through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to Nepal. For specific details on traveling overland from India to Nepal, read below.


How much does airfare to Kathmandu cost?

Anyone who has done any traveling on air can tell you that one can never say for sure how much they cost. However, an economy class round trip ticket to Nepal from North America, should cost between $1400 to $1700 depending on what airline you fly and when. From western Europe, the fare should be about the same too. From most of East Asia, the cost is about $300 for one-way. If you are flying into Nepal from India or other South Asian cities, one-way fare would be between $100 to $200: Delhi ($150), Varanasi ($80), Bombay ($200), Calcutta ($100), Karachi ($150), Dhaka ($80). These figures are only estimates, and you should check with your travel agents for details.


Should I tag along with organized tours?
It's not a bad idea to tag along with organized tours though it can cost many times more than a self arranged trip. Nevertheless, since Kathmandu is a small city and can be explored easily without organized tour, I recommend people to do self-visit to different places in Kathmandu.


When is the best time to go to Nepal?
The weather is probably the best guide for deciding when to plan your trip to Nepal. October and November are considered the best times of the year. The monsoon will have just ended, and clear skies with optimal temperature will prevail. The main festivals of Dashain and Tihar (Hindu equivalent of Christmas in terms of festivity) fall during these months. However, this is also the busiest tourist season, and the main tourist centers and trekking trails tend to be crowded with travelers like you. The tourist flow ebbs a little, but not significantly, between the winter months of December and mid-February. It catches up once again between mid-February and mid-April. From mid-June to early October, it's the monsoon, during which time it rains almost everyday and most of the Himalayas are hidden behind the clouds. Check the weather section of this FAQ for more details on weather. In short, plan to visit Nepal between October and May, keeping in mind that October-November and February-March are the best times (but crowded with other travelers).


What are my options to come to Nepal from India?
You can fly between Delhi and Kathmandu for about $150 with RNAC or Air India. The actual flight time, not counting the endless delays and cancellations, is only a little more than an hour. However, note that Delhi-Kathmandu-Delhi flight is very busy and without proper reservations (or proper strings to pull) can be booked weeks in advance. Make your reservations and buy your ticket well in advance.

Alternatively, you can travel overland to Nepal from India. Buses are usually the quickest and easiest form of transport for this. There are three main crossing points: Sunauli-Bhairawa, Birganj-Raxaul and Kakarbhitta-Silguri. The Sunauli border crossing is the best one from Varanasi, the Birgunj crossing is the easiest from Calcutta; and Kakarbhitta is the best crossing from Darjeeling. These trip can be quite long and stressful, both in terms of time (it takes about two days and nights) and what you may go through during the trip (with tickets, safety, weather, border harassment etc). Not recommended for those people who want to have carefree travelling.

If you plan to enter Nepal in a car, make sure you have a carnet de passage en douanes. These are required to exempt you from customs duty for three months. You may also be required to pay a fee for each day that your car is in Nepal. As in India, in Nepal, vehicles are driven on the left side of the road.


What about getting to Nepal from Tibet?

The crossing between Nepal and Tibet via Kodari is only open to organised groups but not to individual travellers heading north. Be prepared with alternative plans if you're thinking about using this route, because landslides regularly make it impassabe during the monsoon.

NAGARKOT

Nagarkot is a village located 32 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone. It is considered one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur District which is renowned for its sunrise view of the Himalaya including Mount Everest and other snow capped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. People can also see a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley from Nagarkot. People often visit to Nagarkot from Kathmandu to spend the night  so that they can see the beauty of sunrise. People can also see an excellent view of the Indrawati river valley to the east of Nagarkot.

 
The best time to visit Nagarkot is between october and march as people can enjoy the best view from their. People will be very lucky if they can see the glimpse through the monsoon clouds between june and september. It is an international tourist destination from where people can see spectacular views of the whole Langtang range, sunrise on the mountains and also the sunset views.






People can also enjoy Trekking and Mountain Biking to go to Nagarkot. Bhaktapur to Nagarkot is the best way to steep and adventurous yet. Many tourists enjoy mountain biking and it may be one of the way you can get to Nagarkot.


People can see the major Himalayan peaks or mountain from Nagarkot. Some the names of  mountains are Manaslu, Langtang, Ganesh, Lakpa, Dorje, Sisa Pagma, Gauri Shankar and many more. People can also see the tip of Mount Everest(8848 m) from Nagarkot on a clear day,.

HOLY PLACES

Budhanilkantha:

 It is Situated below Shivapuri hill at the northern end of the Kathmandu
valley, Buddhanilkantha temple is 9 km from Kathmandu city. The temple consists of a pond in which lies a great stone figure of Lord Vishnu reclining on the coils of a cosmic serpent. The huge statue of sleeping Vishnu is carved from the single block of black stone of a type not found in the valley. It is believed that in a by-gone age, many years before there were two hardworking farmers (husband and wife) who maintained a farm here, and one day they discovered the Deity when they were ploughing their field. Iskcon took over the maintainence of the temple and grounds from about 1986-87. there is now even a guest house there. 

  
It is Located here is a Deity of Lord Vishnu, Vishnu (Narayan) Jalasayana, lying on Ananta Sesa, in the cosmic ocean. The Deity is over 1,000 years old. Lord Vishnu is about 5m (17 ft) long and is lying in a 13m (43 ft) long tank, as if floating, with His legs crossed. His four hands hold the four symbols of Vishnu: the chakra (disc), club, and conch-shell and lotus flower. Budhanilkantha literally means “old blue-throat.” Ananta has 11-hooded heads. It is believed that the deity was carved in the 7th or 8th century during the Licchavi period.

  
  Hindus can walk down the steps and touch his feet, but foreigners cannot. The main festival of the year is when Lord Vishnu, who sleeps on the cosmic ocean during Chaturmasya period wakes up on the Haribondhini Ekadashi day in late October or early November. Many thousands of people come on this day.

Three other images of Lord Vishnu were carved at the same time. One is here at Budhanilkantha and is considered the most important and original, one is at Balaju Gardens, and one is at the old Royal Palace in Kathmandu, but can not be viewed by tourist. The king of Nepal is not allowed to see the deity at Budhanilkantha, but he can see the other two deities. It is believed if the king sees this deity of Vishnu he will die immediately.

The deity of Budhanilkantha was lost for a while and was later rediscovered by a farmer. It is believed that the farmers struck the buried deity with his plough and that blood came out from the ground. The morning puja between 9 and 10 am is interesting.

 
Practicalities

Budhanilkantha is about 8km northeast of Kathmandu and 15km from Thamel, at the base of Shivapuri hill. Buses to Budhanilkantha depart every half-hour from Rani Pokhari or the City bus stand in Kathmandu. From where the bus stops the temple is around 100m away. Tempos depart from Jamal on the north side of Rani Pokhari to here.

A taxi is around Rs 175. It is a hard uphill bike ride to here from down town. The ride back is pleasant.

The Mount Shivapuri Lodge, a half hour walk from the temple, has clean room with common bath and hot water for $8.

ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Temple
The ISKCON Temple is located about a ten-minute walk from the Budhanilkantha Temple, in a beautiful rural setting. Buses to Budhanilkantha (8 km) depart from Rani Pokhri in Kathmandu, every half-hour.

GOSAIKUNDA  

Gosaikunda (also spelled Gosainkunda and Gosain Kunda) is a lake in Nepal
Gosaikunda (also spelled Gosainkunda and Gosain Kunda) is a lake in Nepal in Rasuwa district that is the site of regular Hindu pilgrimage. It is situated at the height of 4,380 metres from sea level, and melts and sips down to form the Trishuli river. It is on the way of a popular trekking route of Dhunche-Gosainkunda-Helambu trail. In fact there are 108 total lakes, small to medium in this area and also the challenging Lauribina La pass 4,610 meters on its outskirts. Gosainkunda trek adjoins the famous Langtang trek in the same district. The lake remains frozen for six months in winter October to June. There are plenty of hotels along the route to Helambu trek. The lake is believed to have formed from the digging of the land by the Trishul (holy three-pointed sword) of lord Shiva after he drank the poison from Samudramanthan and desperately wanted cold water to quench the overwhelming heat of the poison.
It is also one of Nepal's most famous religious places of pilgrimage is Gosainkunda lake situated at an altitude of about 4360 meters.

The lake town is surrounded by high mountains to the north and east and the lake itself is worth the trip alone for its beauty and picturesque surroundings. There are nine other famous lakes in the area such as Saraswati, Bhairav, Sourya and Ganesh Kunda. Every year during the Janai Purnima festival in August, thousands of Hindu and Buddhist pilgrims travel here by foot to take a holy dip in the lake. Another site to see when traveling to Gosaikunda, besides its glacial lake, is the large rock in the center of the lake. It is said to be the remains of an ancient Shiva shrine. There is a myth that claims the lake is carried by a channel that stretches all the way from Gosaikunda in the Langtang Region to the holy pond 60 kilometers to the south at the Kumbheshwar Temple in Kathmandu's city of Patan.
The best approach to Gosainkunda for those who do not want to go trekking for too, many days, is through Dhunche. You can take a private vehichle 132 kilometers north-east of Kathmandu or take a bus (regular buses may not be scheduled) to Dhunche. Dhunche is linked with Kathmandu by a drivable yet windy road so those prone to motion sickness should take some medicine before heading to Dhunche by vehicle. You will have to trek to Gosaikunda from Dhunche which takes about two days.