Nepal is a landlocked country. The country is so small that it can be easily missed on the world map. However, it is filled with diversity in every aspect. It consists of not only beautiful landscapes but also amazing culture, traditions and languages with multiple ethnic and religious groups. There is so much to experience in this small country. There are certain things you can experience only in Nepal. Here are some of such experiences:
Climbing Everest and other Highest Mountains
There is no surprise that climbing Everest as well as other highest mountains is the most famous experience in Nepal. Climbing the highest peak in the world, which stands at 8848 metres above the sea level, is not a simple task. Endurance and patience must be extraordinary if you want to climb Mount Everest. However, at the summit, the top of the world, climbers will experience a majestic view, and feel accomplished and acknowledged. Many people come from all around the globe for climbing and trekking.
Photo credit: Canva
Tasting Nepali Cuisines
If you ever visit Nepal, tasting delicious Nepali food is a must. Nepali cuisines are a perfect combination of flavours, ingredients and cooking styles, which is considered as good for health. Many of these cuisines are inspired by neighbouring countries like China, and India, but they have their own unique style based on geography, ethnicity and climate. Local Nepali staple foods like dal bhat and dhindo are one of the most popular ones. Similarly, Newari cuisine is the most famous cultural one. These dishes are not only made with varieties of ingredients but are also supposed to be healthy.
Being Part of Colourful Jatras
Jatra is a type of carnival or street festival which is celebrated prominently by the Newar community in the Kathmandu valley. Jatras carry huge importance to the Newar community. Major jatras include Indra Jatra, Janbahadya Jatra, Bungdya Jatra, Biska Jatra, Bhoto Dekhaune Jatra, Hadigaun Jatra, and so on. Most of these jatras are celebrated inside the Kathmandu Valley with the exception of Shikali Jatra. Each of these jatras has its own origins and importance to the Newari community.
Visiting Lumbini
Lumbini is one of the holiest and most famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal and the world. Siddhartha Gautam, who later achieved enlightenment and became Gautam Buddha, was born and raised in this place and established Buddhism. This place holds the record of his life, and visitors can find various other sites that hold extreme religious and historical significance. Some of those sites include Maya Devi temple, the Ashoka pillar, Myanmar golden temple, Dharma Swami Maharjan Buddha Bihar, and the World Peace Pagoda.
Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, UNESCO, World Heritage Site is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Nepal.
Photo credit: Nepal Tourism Board.
Seeing Tibetan Culture at Boudha Stupa
Boudha stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world and a popular tourist site in Nepal. Boudha is a crucial place for pilgrimage and meditation for Buddhist people. This stupa is also used by merchants for peace and resting place. One can find places, people, cuisines and cultures highly influenced by Tibetan culture here.
Meeting the Living Goddess
Another great experience in Nepal is to visit the ‘Living Goddess’. Kathmandu has a tradition in which young girls from Bajracharya and Shakya clans are considered as manifestations of divine energy. They are known as Kumari. In the Newari culture, Kumari is revered, blessed and believed to have the ability to cure sickness. She lives in the Kumari Ghar which is situated in the centre of the city, Basantapur.
Kumari, regarded as the Living Goddess of Nepal. Photo credit: Inside Himalayas
Collecting Yarsagumba Herbs With Hands
These are one of the most important herbs found in the Himalayan region of Nepal, for both economic and medical purposes. There are many people that are engaged in the collection and selling of this rare and precious fungi. They are found around the altitude of 3500 m. They are expensive in the national as well as in the international market due to many health benefits such as curing respiratory problems, heart problems and sexual diseases.
Symbolic Khukuri Witness
Nepal is also extremely famous for production of khukuris. Khukuri is a machete-type weapon which is commonly associated with Gurkha warriors of Nepal. Gurkha warriors are extremely famous for their fearless military skills and did excellent performance in two world wars. Due to this reputation of Gurkhas, the value of khukuri has skyrocketed as a souvenir for a knife enthusiast. Small khukuris are also commonly used for cutting and chopping purposes and every Nepali person keeps the Khukuri in their house.
The Gurkha soldiers showing the khukuris. Photo credit: Pexels
Thangka Paintings and Handicrafts
Thangka is a type of scroll painting in which a picture of a Buddhist deity or a mandala is inscribed. These types of paintings are considered holy and pure in Tibetan Buddhist communities. A thangka can cost depending on the process it was made and material used. They are more commonly found in Buddhist houses where they are used for worshipping. Thangkas are also considered as one of the most beautiful forms of art. Many people who are not Buddhists also keep these thangkas in their house to admire their beauty.
A man draws a painting which is called Thanka. Photo credit: Mandala LIfe Nepal
Buying Pashmina Shawls
Pashmina is considered the softest, fluffy, and highly delicate fibres. These fibres are made with Himalayan goat extract and are also known as diamond fibres. There are varieties of pashmina found in Nepal and the most popular one is known as Nepali Pashmina. This type of pashmina is made with silk yarn combined with pashmina yarn to produce better fibre for extra strength, durability, and quality. These fibres are widely loved all over Nepal and around the globe.
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is a revered Hindu temple and falls under the UNESCO, World Heritage Site. Pashupati means "Lord of Animals", a form of Shiva, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, which is considered a sacred river in Hinduism. It is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, attracting devotees from Nepal and around the world. The temple area also includes cremation grounds, and many Hindus believe that being cremated near the Bagmati River ensures liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Photo credit: The Rising Nepal
Nepal is a landlocked country. The country is so small that it can be easily missed on the world map. However, it is filled with diversity in every aspect. It consists of not only beautiful landscapes but also amazing culture, traditions and languages with multiple ethnic and religious groups. There is so much to experience in this small country. There are certain things you can experience only in Nepal. Here are some of such experiences:
Climbing Everest and other Highest Mountains
There is no surprise that climbing Everest as well as other highest mountains is the most famous experience in Nepal. Climbing the highest peak in the world, which stands at 8848 metres above the sea level, is not a simple task. Endurance and patience must be extraordinary if you want to climb Mount Everest. However, at the summit, the top of the world, climbers will experience a majestic view, and feel accomplished and acknowledged. Many people come from all around the globe for climbing and trekking.
Photo credit: Canva
Tasting Nepali Cuisines
If you ever visit Nepal, tasting delicious Nepali food is a must. Nepali cuisines are a perfect combination of flavours, ingredients and cooking styles, which is considered as good for health. Many of these cuisines are inspired by neighbouring countries like China, and India, but they have their own unique style based on geography, ethnicity and climate. Local Nepali staple foods like dal bhat and dhindo are one of the most popular ones. Similarly, Newari cuisine is the most famous cultural one. These dishes are not only made with varieties of ingredients but are also supposed to be healthy.
Being Part of Colourful Jatras
Jatra is a type of carnival or street festival which is celebrated prominently by the Newar community in the Kathmandu valley. Jatras carry huge importance to the Newar community. Major jatras include Indra Jatra, Janbahadya Jatra, Bungdya Jatra, Biska Jatra, Bhoto Dekhaune Jatra, Hadigaun Jatra, and so on. Most of these jatras are celebrated inside the Kathmandu Valley with the exception of Shikali Jatra. Each of these jatras has its own origins and importance to the Newari community.
Visiting Lumbini
Lumbini is one of the holiest and most famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal and the world. Siddhartha Gautam, who later achieved enlightenment and became Gautam Buddha, was born and raised in this place and established Buddhism. This place holds the record of his life, and visitors can find various other sites that hold extreme religious and historical significance. Some of those sites include Maya Devi temple, the Ashoka pillar, Myanmar golden temple, Dharma Swami Maharjan Buddha Bihar, and the World Peace Pagoda.
Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini, UNESCO, World Heritage Site is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Nepal.
Photo credit: Nepal Tourism Board.
Seeing Tibetan Culture at Boudha Stupa
Boudha stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world and a popular tourist site in Nepal. Boudha is a crucial place for pilgrimage and meditation for Buddhist people. This stupa is also used by merchants for peace and resting place. One can find places, people, cuisines and cultures highly influenced by Tibetan culture here.
Meeting the Living Goddess
Another great experience in Nepal is to visit the ‘Living Goddess’. Kathmandu has a tradition in which young girls from Bajracharya and Shakya clans are considered as manifestations of divine energy. They are known as Kumari. In the Newari culture, Kumari is revered, blessed and believed to have the ability to cure sickness. She lives in the Kumari Ghar which is situated in the centre of the city, Basantapur.
Kumari, regarded as the Living Goddess of Nepal. Photo credit: Inside Himalayas
Collecting Yarsagumba Herbs With Hands
These are one of the most important herbs found in the Himalayan region of Nepal, for both economic and medical purposes. There are many people that are engaged in the collection and selling of this rare and precious fungi. They are found around the altitude of 3500 m. They are expensive in the national as well as in the international market due to many health benefits such as curing respiratory problems, heart problems and sexual diseases.
Symbolic Khukuri Witness
Nepal is also extremely famous for production of khukuris. Khukuri is a machete-type weapon which is commonly associated with Gurkha warriors of Nepal. Gurkha warriors are extremely famous for their fearless military skills and did excellent performance in two world wars. Due to this reputation of Gurkhas, the value of khukuri has skyrocketed as a souvenir for a knife enthusiast. Small khukuris are also commonly used for cutting and chopping purposes and every Nepali person keeps the Khukuri in their house.
The Gurkha soldiers showing the khukuris. Photo credit: Pexels
Thangka Paintings and Handicrafts
Thangka is a type of scroll painting in which a picture of a Buddhist deity or a mandala is inscribed. These types of paintings are considered holy and pure in Tibetan Buddhist communities. A thangka can cost depending on the process it was made and material used. They are more commonly found in Buddhist houses where they are used for worshipping. Thangkas are also considered as one of the most beautiful forms of art. Many people who are not Buddhists also keep these thangkas in their house to admire their beauty.
A man draws a painting which is called Thanka. Photo credit: Mandala LIfe Nepal
Buying Pashmina Shawls
Pashmina is considered the softest, fluffy, and highly delicate fibres. These fibres are made with Himalayan goat extract and are also known as diamond fibres. There are varieties of pashmina found in Nepal and the most popular one is known as Nepali Pashmina. This type of pashmina is made with silk yarn combined with pashmina yarn to produce better fibre for extra strength, durability, and quality. These fibres are widely loved all over Nepal and around the globe.
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is a revered Hindu temple and falls under the UNESCO, World Heritage Site. Pashupati means "Lord of Animals", a form of Shiva, located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, which is considered a sacred river in Hinduism. It is a major pilgrimage site for Hindus, attracting devotees from Nepal and around the world. The temple area also includes cremation grounds, and many Hindus believe that being cremated near the Bagmati River ensures liberation from the cycle of rebirth.
Photo credit: The Rising Nepal