10 Famous Places to Visit in Nepal

  

Introduction to Nepal 

The Asian nation of Nepal is situated on the southern flanks of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Situated between the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and India to the east, south, and west, it is a landlocked nation. Its region spans approximately 90 to 150 miles from north to south and 500 miles (800 kilometers) from east to west. Kathmandu serves as the capital.

Before a palace uprising in 1950 that restored the crown's power in 1951, Nepal was closed to the outside world and ruled by hereditary prime ministers who supported an isolationist policy. In 1955, Nepal was admitted to the UN. A parliamentary system with multiple parties was instituted in the monarchy in 1991. But the monarchy was overthrown in 2008 following ten years of bloodshed and tense negotiations with a powerful Maoist insurgency.

Nepal aims to maintain a balance between the two giants, China and India, in its foreign policy in order to maintain its independence. Given that a powerful Nepal can prevent China from accessing the fertile Gangetic Plain, Nepal serves as the southern border of the Chinese sphere in Asia north of the Himalayas, which greatly adds to the nation's geopolitical significance.

Due to years of geographical and self-imposed seclusion, Nepal is among the world's least developed countries. Nepal has received economic aid from a wide range of nations in recent years, including China, India, the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Canada, and Switzerland. Given Nepal's strategic location between China and India, the amount of foreign aid that the country receives has been greatly impacted.

Places to Visit in Nepal 

Janakpur

About 12,000 years ago, during the Treta Yug, Janakpur was the capital of King Janak's Kingdom of Mithila. Janakpur, the capital of the Province, a popular religious pilgrimage destination in the Terai plains of south central Nepal, is the birthplace of Lord Ram's consort Janaki, also called Sita. The Hindu epic Ramayana mentions Janakpur, which is well-known for its temples, ponds, Mithila art, and colorful festivals. The Janaki Mandir, a stunning Sita shrine, is Janakpur's main draw.

Janakpur, which is known as the Hindu cultural hub in Nepal's Terai plains, has long been significant to Indian tourists. Since the late King Bhumibol had a particular fondness for Janakpur as a Mithila cultural hub, Thai tourists are likewise very interested in this city. Every year, the royal household in Thailand continues to receive mangoes from the Janakpur plantations. Enjoyed for their distinct flavor and sweet taste, these fruits are abundant from May to mid-June, when summer is at its hottest.

Everest Base Camp

One of the most popular destinations in the Himalaya is the Everest Base Camp, which is high on the list of priorities for hikers.  Lukla, an airport to the south of the area known as the "Gateway to Everest," is where the two-week trek begins and ends.  The majority of hikers start their journey by flying to Lukla.

After a magnificent two-day climb up the Dudh Koshi valley, travelers are greeted at the airport by the renowned Namche Bazaar. There are many tea cafés along the way. Monjo and Phakding are the most popular tourist spots on the first day. Permits are reviewed at the Jorsale checkpoint, located just past Monjo on the route to Sagarmatha National Park. From the suspension bridge next to Jorsale, where the Dudh Koshi River walk begins, it takes three hours to reach Namche Bazaar.

Pashupatinath Temple

Nepal's most revered Hindu temple is located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River. Non-Hindus must content themselves with seeing from the terraces directly across the Bagmati River to the east, as the main temple complex is only accessible to Hindus. As a sign of respect and custom, leather objects such as cameras, belts, and shoes are not allowed inside the temple complex and must be left outside. There is a stringent no-photo policy.

Shivaratri, also referred to as "the Night of Lord Shiva," is the most significant holiday in this area. On this night, Lord Shiva self-originated, and pilgrims and devotees from all over Nepal and India, including ascetics and sadhus—holy men clad in ashes and have long hair—flock to the temple to obtain a darshan, or glimpse, of the Holy Shiva lingam. Teej, a festival exclusively observed by Hindu women, brings a significant number of devotees to the temple in mid-September. As women wearing bridal red sarees and wearing necklaces of yellow or green beads pray for God's wealth, health, and love, the entire temple complex and the surroundings transform into a sea of crimson.

Narayanhiti Palace Museum

The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was founded on the eve of the establishment of the Museum at Narayanhiti Palace. Both the nineteen days of the people's movement and the ten years of the people's war played a significant role in the nation's profound political transformation. By the political shifts, then-prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala officially opened the Narayanhiti Royal Palace as a public museum on June 15, 2008. After Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda" delivered the introductory comments, the museum's exhibit was formally opened to the public on February 26, 2009.

 Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath, a small mountain in the northwest of the Kathmandu Valley, is a place of prayer and tranquility. As a tongue twister, visitors have been referring to it as "Monkey Temple" since the 1970s. Swayambhu offers visitors a broad perspective of the city because it overlooks the majority of the valley. The stupa has long been a representation of peace and faith, and this Buddhist complex includes Hindu temples and goddesses. It is supposed that this is where the Kathmandu Valley's magnificence first appeared.

One of Nepal's holiest Buddhist stupas, Swayambhu, is situated on a hillside 3 kilometers west of Kathmandu. It is believed to have developed naturally around 2,000 years ago when the valley was formed from an ancient lake. This stupa, which includes many temples and monasteries on its grounds, is the oldest of its kind in Nepal. 

Swayambhu means "self-existent one" in its literal sense.  It was constructed by King Manadeva and is thought to have existed since 460 A.D. By the 13th century, it had developed into a significant Buddhist center. A lotus blossom that once bloomed in the center of a lake encircling the Kathmandu Valley is said to have served as the inspiration for Swayambhu. Nepal's greatest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha is located on a tall pedestal along the Ring Road on the western side of Swayambhu. A shrine honoring Manjusri, also known as Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning, is located behind the peak. The stupa complex is filled with statues, chaityas, and shrines to Buddhist and Hindu deities.

Boudhanath Stupa

In the center of Kathmandu, Nepal, the Boudha Stupa—also called Boudhanath, Khasti Chaitya, and Khsa Chaitya—stands as a spiritual emblem and architectural marvel. This enormous stupa, which is tucked away around 11 kilometers northeast of the city center, is one of the biggest spherical stupas in Nepal and the world because of its mandala pattern

The deep layers of Tibetan and Nepalese traditions are the foundation of Boudha Stupa's rich history. The stupa is thought to house the holy relics of Kassapa Buddha, and its significance is universal. It is ideally situated on the historic trade route from Tibet, where visitors would first enter the Kathmandu Valley through the northeastern village of Sankhu before continuing on to the smaller Chabahil Stupa, also called "Little Boudhanath." From there, it avoids Kathmandu's main city by crossing the Bagmati River into Lalitpur.

Chitwan National Park

Located in the subtropical lowlands of the inner terai of Chitwan, Makawanpur, Parsa, and Nawalparasi districts in south central Nepal, is Chitwan National Park. It is situated between latitudes 27°16.56' and 27°42.14' and longitudes 83°50.23' and 84°46.25'. It is situated between 110 and 850 meters above sea level. The park is bordered in the north by the Rapti and Narayani rivers, in the east by the Parsa Wildlife Reserve, and in the south by the Madi villages and the Indian border. The Terai and Siwaliks comprise the park's physiography. The park's primary water sources include several lakes and ponds, as well as the floodplains of the three main rivers, the Narayani, Rapti, and Reu. As Nepal's first protected area, it has a rich history of managing parks for more than thirty years and extensive knowledge of protecting the environment. For the royal families, Rana kings, and their visitors, Chitwan was a major game area. In 1959, the 175 km region that included the Tikauli forest from the Rapti River to the Mahabharat foothills was designated as Mahendra Deer Park. In 1963, a Rhino Sanctuary was established in the region south of the Rapti River. In 1973, it was designated as the 932 km Royal Chitwan National Park. In 2006, the park was renamed Chitwan National Park. In 1984, CNP was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in honor of its exceptional universal biological richness. Forests and private property, including farmed lands, make up the 750 km buffer zone that was established in 1996 around the park. Beeshazari Lakes, a Ramsar Site, is located within the buffer zone. Together, the park and the locals manage the buffer zone's natural resources and start community development initiatives. Thirty to fifty percent of park earnings will be reinvested in community development within the buffer zone, according to a stipulation provided by the Nepali government.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Located in the center of Kathmandu, this historic durbar square is also known as Hanuman Dhoka and Basantapur Durbar. Located in the heart of old Kathmandu, Basantapur never fails to impress first-time tourists with its intricate wood carvings and thorough history. The Licchavi period (4th to 8th centuries AD) saw the construction of Hanuman Dhoka, which was further expanded in the 17th century by King Pratap Malla. The greatest number of historic structures, such as palaces, courtyards, and temples, may be found on the square. Known as "the Museum of Temples" because of the square's more than fifty temples. You can see a variety of attractive, affordable handicrafts in the handicraft shops located in the courtyards surrounding Gaddi Baithak.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Encircled by structures from the 13th to the 18th centuries, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a graceful and open area that faces south. This palace plaza has been made even more magnificent by the Golden Gate, a masterwork of repoussé art, and the Palace with 55 Carved Windows, known as Pachpanna Jhyale Durbar, which dates back to the 15th century. The Malla dynasty's heyday, when art and architecture flourished in the three valley cities, is reflected in the magnificent Durbar Square and its magnificent monuments.

There are countless temples and architectural highlights in front of the palace, including the Batsala Temple, the Lion Gate, and the statue of King Bhupatindra Malla atop a massive stone pillar. Batsala Devi's stone temple is a stunning example of Shikhara-style architecture, with many elaborate sculptures. A bronze bell, also called the Bell of Barking Dogs, is located on the temple's terrace. Built by King Ranjit Malla in 1737, it served as a signal for the start and finish of a daily curfew.

Pokhara

Many travel writers have drawn inspiration from Pokhara's serene beauty. It is known as "the jewel in the Himalaya" and is a region of exceptional natural disposition because of its pure air, breathtaking snow-capped peaks, azure lakes, and surrounding flora. Pokhara is a fantastic place for both a lengthy, restful vacation and a weekend break because of the stunning Annapurna range in the background and the tranquility of the Cluster of 9 Lakes, which includes the three main ones, Phewa, Rupa, and Begnas. One of Nepal's "must-see" destinations is the Pokhara Valley, which serves as the entry point to the Annapurna region, where many hikers discover their Shangri-la.

Pokhara used to be on the crucial commercial route that connected Tibet and India. Mule trains still camp on the edges of cities to transport products from Mustang and other distant Himalayan areas. Here, the majority population consists of Gurungs and Magars, who are known around the world for being ferocious Gurkha warriors. Native to Mustang's Thak Khola valley, the Thakalis are well-known for their entrepreneurial spirit and operate tea shops along the Annapurna region's trekking trails. The breathtaking vista of the Annapurna range is Pokhara's most famous feature. It is maybe one of the few locations on the planet where mountains higher than 6,000 meters can be viewed unhindered from 800 meters above sea level within 28 kilometers.