This is a small landlocked Himalayan country in South Asia, bordered by the People's Republic of China to the north and India to the south, east and west. For a small country like Nepal, landscape is diverse, ranging from the Terai in the south to the Mount Everest in the north. Within a very small breadth the elevation of Nepal increases from the plain terrain to the tallest Himalayas. Nepal boasts eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest. The captivating landscape, with a diversity of flora and fauna, is the ultimate destination for a adventure holiday. It has to offer everything to the traveler from easy and short excursions to the long challenges of the snowy peaks, invoking visions of the spectacular Himalayas. Down south the lush meadows, green woodland and fragrant orchards leads to Lumbini the holy land of the Lord Gautam Buddha. Nepal is known for tourism, trekking, hiking, camping, mountain biking, national wildlife parks, jungle safaris, river rafting and for its beautiful temples. The other main cities and places of interest include Pashupatinath, Pokhra, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Janakpur, Nepalgunj, Mahendranagar, Chitwan, etc.
There are flights from Bangkok, Vienna, Sharjah, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dhaka, Karachi, Amsterdam, Lhasa, Osaka, Shanghai, Paro, Lhasa, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Varanasi. The operators are Nepal airlines , Thai international Airways, Qatar Airways, Korean air, Saudi Arabian airlines, Indian Airlines, Pakistan International Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Gulf Air, Jet Airways, Austrian Air, China south east airlines, China air, Druk Air fly to Nepal regularly. Visit to Nepal from Siliguri one can drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border) 37 kilometers by road from Siliguri in Waste Bengal, India. From kakarbhitta drive 35 kilometers to Bhadrapur. From Bhadrapur one can fly to Kathmandu or Biratnagar. There are 14 airport in Nepal.
Railway system in Nepal is not as developed as in India. There is no major railway system in Nepal but one can reach any of the bordering town of Nepal by availing Indian Railways via West Bengal and Bihar. The railway stations near the bordering town are used by most of then people of Nepal.
Visit to Nepal from Siliguri one can drive to Kakarbhitta (Nepal-India border) 37 kilometers by road. Buses to Kathmandu are available from Kakarvitta, Bhadrapur and all the towns of Nepal. Private vehicles and shared vehicles are also available. From kakarbhitta one can drive 35 kilometers to Bhadrapur for availing flight. One can avail the Bus / Coach to Kathmandu or can drive to Kathmandu from Kakarbhitta its overnight journey. It has six entry points by road from India Kakarvitta, Birgunj, Belhiya, Nepalgunj, Dhangadhi and Mahendranagar. Kodari in Tibet is also an entry point.
Kathmandu named after a structure in Durbar Square called Kaasthamandap is situated in the heart of the Himalaya Mountains, surrounded with some of the highest peaks in the world. It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world at an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters. History states that the earliest known inscription in the Kathmandu Valley is dated 185 AD. Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city of Nepal and is situated in the Kathmandu Valley along with two other cities called Patan and Bhaktapur. Visas are issued on arrival for citizens of most of the countries but one passport-sized photograph is required. It is the starting point for numerous adventures including trekking, rafting, jungle adventures, and more sports. Durbar square is the hub of all activities and festivals like Tihar, Holi, Bikram New Year's, Teej and Indra Jatra Harvest festival are celebrated here with much fun fare. In Durbar square itself there are 15 temples namely Taleju Temple, Ashok Binayak, Shiva Temple, Maju Deval, Narayan Temple, Shiva - Parvati Temple, Kumari Palace, Bhagwati Temple, Saraswati Temple, Krishna Temple, Sweta Bhairab Statue, Kal Bhairab, Indrapur Temple, Vishnu temple and Mahendreswar Temple.
Airways : There are flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Sarjah, Doha, Paro, Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Singapore, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Served by Air Arabia, Cosmic Airlines, Druk Air, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Hong Kong Express, Jet Airways, Jet Lite, Korean Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Royal Nepal Airways, Silk Air, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, GMG Airlines, China Southern Airlines. Many of the hotels will pick guest up from the airport if with prior notice or travel agents like us can arrange the same.
Railways : There are no railway system to Kathmandu. Renting a car without a driver is not a reasonable option. But the border towns of Nepal are served by Indian Railways. One can then cross the border to avail roadways and airways facilities.
Roadways : Kathmandu has frequent and bus service to nearly all parts of Nepal. Private vehicle and prepaid vehicle are also available. There is regular bus service from Varanasi, Siliguri and Delhi on a regular basis. Many of the hotels will pick guest up from the airport if with prior notice or travel agents like us can arrange the same. Otherwise, one can use a pre-paid taxi and private vehicles where there is no government stand.
Lumbini is situated in South - western Nepal amidst unending stretches of the terai region and is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Kapilavastu district of Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the birth place of Siddhartha Gautama, who later on was known to the world as the Buddha Gautama. Lumbini is one of four sites for Buddhist pilgrimage the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya, and Sarnath all are in India. Lumbini is in the foothills of the Himalaya near Puskarini or Holy Pond. It is one of the most sought after Buddhist pilgrim site and tourist spot. In the year 1997 UNESCO declared it as World Heritage site. Ashokan Pillar and a park to mark the visit of Emperor Ashoka and the records made by the Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian were also used in the process of identifying this religiously acclaimed site. A quiet garden, shaded by the leafy Bodhi tree under which Buddha received enlightenment and a newly planted forest nearby lend an air of tranquility. Archeologists have discovered 13 successive layers of human habitation dating back to the eighth century BC hence it’s a must visit site for archeological and historical buffs.
Airways : Nearest airport is Varanasi is 323 kilometers and Bhairawha, Nepal. Sunauli is also known as Bhairawa nearly 22 kilometers with daily flights to and from Kathmandu. Nearly 15 domestic airlines provide their service to travelers some of them has service to Lumbini. Generally these aircrafts are 20 seated Dakotas that are very comfortable and safe. Some bigger aircrafts such as Airbus 320 also ply. The two major flights are Pokhra - Lumbini and Kathmandu - Lumbini.
Railways : The nearest major railway station is Gorakhpur in India is 123 kilometers away. It is about 34 kilometers from Naugarh Railway Station on the North Eastern Railway of India. There is no railway system to Kathmandu. Renting a car without a driver is not a reasonable option. But the border towns of Nepal are served by Indian Railways. One can then cross the border to avail roadways and airways facilities.
Roadways : It is well connected with the network of roads. From Sarnath and Varanasi one can travel to Bahraich and via Nepalgunj reach Lumbini, there is another entry from Janakpur near Sitamadhi in Bihar. There are several passes that joins Nepal with Tibet and Mainland China. It is well connected with roads to different towns of Nepal. Roads are good and have developed in the last few years.
Gorkha is the district headquarters, covers an area of 3,610 square kilometers and is a part of Gandaki Zone, is one of the seventy-five districts of Nepal. 25 kilometer road off the main highway connecting Pokhara and Kathmandu brings to the town of the Gorkha untouched and captivating town of Nepal. It has one of the view point called Gorkha Palace / Gorkha Durbar from where one can see the beauty of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Himalchuli, Peak 29 etc. An interesting town midway between Kathmandu and Pokhara and the places of Interest are Gorkha Durbar, Upallokot, Kalika Mandir, Tallo Durbar and Manakamana.
Otherwise known as the paradise in the central Nepal. It is nestled in a region of awesome natural beauty filled with lush vegetation, swift flowing rivers, dotted with clear shimmering lakes and two of the best view points are Sarangkot nearly 1600 meters and Thulakot. To the east of the valley are the lakes the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupakot Tal. A perfect getaway from the chaotic life and is blessed with the most dramatic sceneries in the world. Towering Himalayan ranges seem close enough to be touched. Kathmandu is the cultural hub of Nepal; Bhaktapur the cultural, Lumbini the religious center and Pokhara is the centre of adventure. Pokhara perhaps has the most inclined climb i.e. within 30 kilometers the elevation rises from 1000 meters to over 7500 meters. The ranges of Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu with peaks over 8000 meters can be seen from Pokhara. The Phewa Lake and three caves namely Mahendra, Bat and Gupteswor and an impressive falls Patale Chhango or Devi's fall is the tourist hotspot. Many a trek begins from Pokhara. For the Annapurna Circuit there is bus to Baglung and many trekkers take the bus to Nayapul on the way to Baglung and from there it is a 20-minute walk to Birethanti, where the trek begins. Transportation to Besisahar is available from where the Annapurna trek begins.
Airways : There are daily flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara nearly 30 minutes flight and one have a great view of the Himalayan range on the right hand side of the plane coming from Kathmandu and left side departing from Pokhara. There are two or three Royal Nepal Airline flights a day from Kathmandu. Pokhara Airport is situated in the middle of town serving flights to Kathmandu, Jomsom, Manang, Bhairahawa and Bharatpur. Helicopters to Manang and Jomsom are also available. It is best to take the early morning flight to get a view of the mountains.
Railways : There are no railway system to Kathmandu. Renting a car without a driver is not a reasonable option. But the border towns of Nepal are served by Indian Railways. One can then cross the border to avail roadways and airways facilities.
Roadways : There are buses to Kathmandu 8 hours drive and Gorkha 4 hours drive. Buses traveling on the Siddhartha and Prithvi highways depart from the Main bus terminus. Roads to nearly all the base camps are available from here. Private vehicle and prepaid vehicle are also available and the time taken is less. It is better to negotiate on a price before and prices go up after dark and in less busy areas. Buses to the Indian border depart from the main Pokhara bus terminus to Sunauli / Bhairawa is 9 hours driver, Bhairawa is 8 ½ hours and Nepalganj is 15 hours drive.
It is one of the largest cities in the country, along with Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Biratnagar and is known for its rich cultural heritage, particularly its tradition of arts and crafts. It is renowned as a very artistic city and the notable places of interest for art lovers is the industrial estate of Patan. It is well known for Nepali handicrafts such as wood carvings, metal crafts, carpets and thangka paintings and for the convenience of the tourists there is a shopping arcade for shopping. Patan is one of the valley near Kathmandu, it has a multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi religious inhabitants with a diverse landscape and soothing weather conditions. Five Ashoka Stupas four in the surrounding and one at the middle of the Patan was built by king Ashoka and their antiquity in a real sense is the tourist attraction. Amazingly nearly 1,200 Buddhist monuments of various shapes and sizes scattered around the city. Patan Durbar Square is one of them and has been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Zoo is situated at Jawalakhel, it has many animals, birds and reptiles mostly representing the Himalayan fauna with a beautiful pond built in 17th A.D.
Airways : Nearest airport is Trivuban Airport in Kathmandu. There are flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Sarjah, Doha, Paro, Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Singapore, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Served by Air Arabia, Cosmic Airlines, Druk Air, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Hong Kong Express, Jet Airways, Jet Lite, Korean Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Royal Nepal Airways, Silk Air, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, GMG Airlines, China Southern Airlines. Many of the hotels will pick guest up from the airport if with prior notice or travel agents like us can arrange the same.
Railways : There are no railway system to Kathmandu. Renting a car without a driver is not a reasonable option. But the border towns of Nepal are served by Indian Railways. One can then cross the border to avail roadways and airways facilities.
Roadways : Patan is nearly 5 kilometers from Kathmandu. Roadways are the only other alternatives. Roads are good and have developed in the last few years. Kathmandu has frequent and bus service to nearly all parts of Nepal. Private vehicle and prepaid vehicle are also available. It is better to negotiate on a price before and prices go up after dark and in less busy areas.
Bhaktapur is the cultural hub of Nepal with abundance of historic, artistic & uniquely architectured, monuments; cultural riches , festivals, dances, music, art, life & life style with in Bhaktapur city and has since attracted millions of tourists. It lay on the trade route between Tibet / China and India. The temple has developed the Pagoda style and the best of them is the five - tiered Nyatapole. Durbar Square is the hub of activity that houses the 55 window Palace and is now a National Gallery. Golden Gate which is nearby is the venue of Taleju Temple. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Taleju Bhawani with Taleju Bhawani and Kumari’s shrines. Photography of goddess is strictly prohibited. Surrounded by green mountains almost around its three sides with clean, fresh mountain air, natural environment, green fields and beautiful view of the Himalayan mountain range, innumerable wilderness of flora and fauna are the main tourist attractions. Things to watch is romantic sun rise and sun set, exciting nearby village walks Siddhi Laxmi Temple, Vatsala Temple, Bhandarkhal Complex, Chatu Brahma Mahavihar, Indrayani Temple, Balakhu Ganesh Temple, Tripura-sundari Temple, etc.
Airways : Nearest airport is Trivuban International Airport in Kathmandu, 18 kilometers. There are flights to and from Paro, Delhi, Kolkata, Dhaka, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Osaka, Singapore, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Served by Air Arabia, Druk Air, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Hong Kong Express, Jet Airways, Korean Air, Royal Nepal Airways, Silk Air, Thai Airways, Qatar Airways, etc. Many of the hotels will pick guest up from the airport if with prior notice or travel agents like us can arrange the same.
Railways : There are no railway system to Kathmandu. Renting a car without a driver is not a reasonable option. But the border towns of Nepal are served by Indian Railways. One can then cross the border to avail roadways and airways facilities.
Roadways : It is 14 kilometers from Kathmandu. Roadways are the only other alternatives. Roads are good and have developed in the last few years. Kathmandu has frequent and bus service to nearly all parts of Nepal. Private vehicle and prepaid vehicle are also available. It is better to negotiate on a price before and prices go up after dark and in less busy areas.
Ramesh Jain, Delhi
Jegathiswaran, Chennai
Priti Patel, Gujrat