A long-time favourite with travellers looking for a destination with a difference, Nepal boasts a pleasing mix of culture, temples, marvellous Himalaya mountain vistas and activities to suit all tastes. Humans have inhabited Nepal for 11,000 years and the present kingdom dates from the 18th century. Top tourism destinations include Kathmandu, Pokhara and Lumbini. Kathmandu Airport is the international entry point for Nepal and flight time from Bangkok is three hours.
Don’t MissNepal’s weather is most comfortable for visits in the autumn and spring. It is worth timing visits to coincide with the Indra Jatra Festival on Kathmandu’s Durbar Square. This is usually around September and features parades of dancing devils and gods.
Kathmandu is famed for its temples and shrines. Highlights are the Hindu Pashupatinath Temple complex on the Bagmati River, the national god of Nepal and a World Heritage site; the huge spherical Buddhist Boudhanath Stupa, with its massive dome surmounted by a pillar painted with Buddha eyes on all four sides, also on the World Heritage list, plus the various ancient temples with intricate wooden carvings which stand in the Heritage listed Kathmandu Durbar Square in the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
Chilled out Pokhara comes with great views across Phewa Lake and is one of Nepal’s most visited tourist towns. For Buddhists, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama (Lord Buddha), Lumbini, is an unmissable destination.
Restaurants and BarsTwo dishes found in most parts of Nepal are dal bhat tarkari (dish of rice served with lentil soup and fried vegetables) and momo (dumplings filled with meat or vegetables). Typical drinks are milk tea, sugarcane juice, raksi (local raw alcohol) and tongba (millet beer). The Thamel area of Kathmandu has the greatest choice of bars and restaurants in Nepal. These serve up steaks, Italian, Indian and Mexican food as well as Nepali dishes. The Lakeside area in Pokhara has a large selection of places to eat and party.
ActivitiesTrekking in the Himalayan mountain range is one of the key draws of a holiday in Nepal. The best known route is the Annapurna Circuit and this is accessible from Pokhara. The trek to the base camp of Mt Everest is a challenging journey for those with more time to spare. Whitewater rafting on the Trisuli River is a thrilling Nepal experience. Another of the draws of Pokhara is the chance of taking in a zip-flyer ride. A safari in Chitwan National Park in the southern part of Nepal known as the Terai allows for sightings of diverse animals, especially rhinoceros.
ShoppingRetailers in Nepal sell a nice collection of souvenirs. The Thamel area of Kathmandu is the best place to go hunting for souvenirs. Top buys are small statues of legendary gods and Buddha, thangka (Buddha paintings on cloth) and silver jewellery.