This Blog is Prepared for those who are interested on visiting, travelling, adventure and want to feel their real life. Nepal is such a country where we can found everything given by nature. Even it is developing country , it can't offer any artificial decoration but it has its natural and cultural decoration. It is a part of Heaven . The white Himalayas, Green forests, Lakes , Springs, River,Animals, Birds.

The people of Nepal are simple and helpful. Hotels can be found as natural types also artificial . When the mind is wants to do something interesting or feeling boring from crowded then Nepal is one of the best country.

The important pilgrimage site of Muktinath

The beautiful Saligramam, or as it’s popularly known Muktinath, is a sacred pilgrimage site regarded highly in both the Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. From here,at a height of 3,710 meters,the world seems to open up in all its glory with stunning views of the magnificent Himalayan Mountains. There are many legends that tell how the holy shrine of Muktinath rose up on its own accord amongst seven others, which include Srirangam, Tirupati, Sri Mushnam, Thottadri, Naimisaranyam, Pushkaram and Badrinath. The holy shrine is also considered to be part of the 108 vaishnava shrines found here.

Most people wishing to travel to Muktinath will start their journey at Kathmandu from where they will take a quick flight or catch an excruciatingly long bus ride to Pokhara. Pokhara is the starting point for the trek up to Muktinath and the climb up the mountain is incredibly beautiful and worthwhile. At the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass, you will find the Muktinath temple complete with beautiful craftsmanship and mystical aura. The holy temple features 108 different waterspouts which is probably why the Buddhists call it Chumig Gyatsa, Tibetan for ‘Hundred Waters’. The different elements of earth, fire and water are artistically combined at this sacred place of worship to create a special atmosphere where one truly feels that they can find salvation. Hence the Hindus call the temple ‘Mukti Kshetra’ which means ‘place of salvation’.

It is interesting to note that Muktinath is considered to be one of the 24 Tantric places in the Tibetan Buddhist faith. According to tradition, Guru Rinpoche, who founded the Tibetan faith, stopped here to worship the Dakinis or ‘sky dancing goddesses’ on his way to Tibet. For Hindus the importance of the shrine is a bit different. Hindu Vashanavites consider the Muktinath shrine to be one of the eight most sacred shrines on earth. They consider the Muktinath to be one of the 108 holy places where a person should worship lord Vishnu. Whatever you believe, a trip to the Muktinath temple and shrine is definitely worth a visit. It features stunning water features, breath taking views and a man-sized idol of gold. Keep in mind that the best time to visit is between March and June since weather conditions at other times of the year make travel here difficult. As if the temple itself wasn’t enough, you will also see a number of great attractions along the way. So start making your plans to hike to the Muktinath Temple in Nepal.

Barahi Temple on Phewa Lake

Located on an island in Nepal's Phewa Lake, stands the Barahi Temple. A visit to the island near the center of Lake Phewa is often included on tour packages in the area, and is certainly a must for anyone touring Pokhara. Set in stunning surroundings, many find Barahi Temple a peaceful place to relax, especially after canoing across the glistening waters of Phewa Lake.

Phewa Lake is the second biggest in Nepal. It size measures in at 4 km by 1.5 km. The lake itself is a major attraction drawing those who enjoy water sports, families and those who simply love absorbing the beautiful scenery. The warm waters are inviting and ideal for a trip on a little wooden boat, which can be rented along the shoreline. Along the Lakeside section of Phewa, visitors can explore the various souvenir stores, bookshops and restaurants. Simply hop aboard a boat and float out to the island in the center, to discover even more treasures.

On this pleasant, lush island you will discover the 2 story pagoda of Barahi Temple. This Hindu temple in Nepal is dedicated to Ajima in the boar manifestation, representative of the force of Shakti. Shakti is the Hindu mother goddess who is the origin of universal creativity and power. Shakti as a feminine power assumes several roles. In the form of Durga, Shakti protects the gods from demons. Durga takes on the manifestation of Ajima in the form of a boar called Barahi to pierce her evil enemies with her pointed tusks. Barahi is pictured with the face of a boar with a cup in one hand and fish in the other. As such, Barahi Temple is a very important center of worship for the Hindu devotees. Tourists are likely to see worshipers making their way to the temple on Saturdays carrying male animals for sacrifice.

Both local inhabitants of Pokhara and tourist alike flock to the Barahi temple regularly. If you plan on visiting the temple aboard your own hired boat, be sure to take a picnic along as the island in Phewa Lake is a lovely spot for relaxing, whilst surrounded by marvelous views.

Bindabasini temple

Pokhara is a popular destination in Nepal, filled with many fascinating sights for tourists to investigate. One of the most popular and most visited of these is the intriguing Bindabasini Temple, known locally as Bindhyabasini Mandir. Standing proudly atop a hill, this striking temple looks calmly over the bustling city of Pokhara.

The white pagoda-styled building of the Hindu Bindabasini Temple quietly sits at some 3000 feet above sea level along the renowned Annapurna and Machhpuchhare mountain ranges. It is located near the busy Old Bazaar of Pokhara, a center of commerce in the Himalayas.

Bindabasini temple or Bindhyabasini Mandir is of great religious importance to Hindus living in the Pokhara region. It is a vital hub of religious fervor. The temple itself is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, who is Pokhara's chosen guardian deity. Durga, also known as Shakti or Kali has numerous manifestations and at the Bindabasini temple she is seen as Bhagwati, a blood-thirsty aspect of the goddess. Durga appears in the form of a Saligram. A Saligram, according to Hindu mythology is an propitious stone. It is said that the temple was created after the goddess ordered king Khadag Bum Malla to set up a her statue here. The Bindabasini temple was then founded in BS 1845. Since its establishment, Bhagwati has been an object of worship here on a daily basis. Animal sacrifices are typically presented at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The Hindu festival of Dashain sees large numbers of believers coming to offer sacrifices at Binhyabasini Mandir. Indeed, there is little space for tourist during the festival of Dashain.

The ornate structure of Bindabasini Temple is surrounded by a park-like landscape. Many come here to enjoy pleasant picnics whilst enjoying the amazing panorama. Spectacular views can be absorbed from this marvelous vantage point which looks out over the town of Pokhara and takes in some of the impressive Himalayas. Adding to the peaceful atmosphere is the fresh scent of “Dhup”.

A visit to Bindabasini Temple can be combined with a stroll through the Old Bazaar. Nearby is also the popular holiday leisure spot of Phewa Lake. Located at the foot of the hill on which Bindabasini Temple stands is the roadway to Sarangkot, another popular lookout point.

Patan

Patan

The ancient name of Patan is Lalitpur, meaning city of beauty. It is indeed a city of beauty and grace and is planned on a circular format with Buddhist stupas at each of the four points of the compass. The city is three kilometres south-east of Kathrnandu across the southern bank of the river Bagmati. Like Kathmandu, its most photogenic centre of attraction is its Durbar Square complex, situated right in the middle of the market place. The city is full of Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples, with fine bronze gateways, guardian deities also and wonderful carvings. Noted for its craftsmen and metal workers, it is also known as the city of artists. The city is believed to have been built during the reign of Vira Deva in 299 A.D. Some of Patan's more important mounments are as follows:

Durbar Square-This whole square is a cluster of fine pagoda temples and stone statues; it is at the same time the business hub of the city. At every step one comes across a piece of art or some images of various deities, testifying to the consummate skill of Patan's anonymous artists. The ancient palace of the Malla kings and the stone waterbaths associated with various legends and episodes of history are especially interesting to visitors. The stone temple of Lord Krishna and the Royal Bath (Tushahity) with its intricate stone and bronze carvings are two other masterpieces in the same vicinity.

Hiranya Varna Mahavibar-This three-storeyed golden pagoda of Lokeshwar (Lord Buddha) was built in the twelfth century A.D. by King Bhaskar Varma. Located in the courtyard of Kwabahal, this temple belongs to a class of its own. A golden image of Lord Buddha and a big prayer wheel can be seen on the pedestal of the upper part of the Vihar while intricate decorative patterns, worked out on its outer walls, add charm to the mellow richness of the shrine.

Kumbheshwar-This is a five-storeyed pagoda-style temple of Lord Shiva. Inside the courtyard is a natural spring having its source, it is said, in the famous glacial lake of Gosainkunda. This temple was built by King Jayasthiti Malla while the golden finial was added later in 1422 A.D. He also cleaned the pond near Kumbheshwar and installed various images of Narayan, Ganesh, Sitala, Basuki, Gauri, Kirtimukh and Agamadevata around the pond and in the courtyard. Ritual bathing takes place here every year on the day of Janai Poornima.

Jagat Narayan-The Jagat Narayan temple is a tall Shikhara-style temple consecrated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is built out of the red bricks on the bank of the Sagmati at Sankharnul and enshrines many stone images. The fine metal statue of Garuda placed on a stone monolith is quite eye-catching along with similarly placed images of Ganesh and Hanuman.


Krishna Temple-The temple of Lord Krishna holds a commanding position in Patan's palace complex. Though its style is not wholly native, it is reckoned to be one of the most perfect specimens of the Nepalese templecraft. The three-storeyed stone temple continues to elicit high praise from lovers of art and beauty. It was built by King Siddhi Narasingha Malla in the sixteenth century A.D. Most of the important scenes from the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics have been carved in bas-relief. The minute details of this relief work clearly show the high level that the art of stone carving had attained in the sixteenth century.

Mahaboudba-The temple of Mahaboudha is a masterpiece of brick and tile. Like the Krishna Mandir, it reveals an art tradition which evolved outside of Nepal; it also shows that the native craftsmanship of the Nepalese can do proper justice to any art form. This temple was built by Abhaya Raj, a priest of Patan and is sometimes referred to as the temple of a million Buddhas because every single brick depicts a small image of Buddha an astonishing total of nine thousand bricks. It was levelled to the ground in the great earthquake of 1933 but was rebuilt exactly to the original specifications, thus proving that templecraft is still one of the living arts of Napal.

Rudra Varna Mahavihar-This is one of Patan's oldest Buddhist monasteries. Adjacent to the monastery there is a temple that contains a fine image of Lord Buddha. The courtyard of this temple is like a gallery of different bronze and stone art works.

Popularly believed, though not scholastically endorsed, to have been built by Ashoka, the Buddhist Emperor of India, these stupas stand at four different corners of Patan giving the whole city a monastic character. All these Buddhist mounds were built in 250 A.D. at the time when Buddhism was making headway to the Kathmandu Valley.

Machchhendranath-The temple of Machchhendranath is another centre of attraction in Patan. The temple lies in the middle of a wide spacious quadrangle just at the outer rim of the market place. A fine clay image of Avalokiteshwar or red Machchhendranath is housed here for six months every year after which it is taken round the city of Patan in a colourful chariot festival beginning in April-May and lasting sometimes for several months, (see festival section).

The Tibetan Camp-An attraction of a different kind is the Tibetan Camp on the outskirts of Patan. The small Tibetan population living here has set up a number of shrines and stupas as well as several souvenir shops offering authentic Tibetan handicrafts such as prayer wheels of wood, ivory, silver or bronze, long temple horns made of beaten copper, belt buckles, miniature thunderbolts and jewellery. In this area, one can also see the Tibetans weaving carpets by hand.

Shyambhu

The history of the Kathmandu Valley, according to legend, begins with Swayambhu, or the "the self-existent." In times uncharted by history, Bodhisattva Manjusri came across a beautiful lake while traveling. He saw a lotus, with thousand golden petals, diamonds pistils, ruby anthers, and lapis lazuli stalk. It emitted brilliant light at the lake's center, so he cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the waters to worship the lotus. Men settled on the bed of the lake and called it the Kathmandu Valley. From then on, the hilltop of the Self-Existent Lord has been a holy place. Later on, Boddhisattva Vajrasatva, covered Swayambhu with a stone slab fearing that its jewels would be stolen by people in the coming Kaliyuga, modern times. Some say that Swayambhu's light was covered in time because few could bear its intensity. Then Santikarcarya, the king who turned into a Bhikchu, monk, raised the first stupa on the holy site.

Though no one is sure how old the stupa is, King Vrisadeva (fifth century AD), the great grandfather of Manadeva I, was well known for his devotion to the stupa. A stone inscription from about that century points out that Swayambhu had been built by that time. In the following years the stupa went through a number of repairs after suffering from lightning, earthquakes, war, and neglect for its upkeep. Reported restorations were done on the stupa during the Licchavi period (300-879), however, the first dated repair is known to have occurred in 1129. Swayambhu was completely destroyed in 1349 when Muslims raided Kathmandu and left most of the Holy shrines in ruins. During the time of King Arjunadeva and his successor, Sthiti Malla, around 1372, the stupa was reconstructed. This time, major modifications to the original structure's form were made to envelop Lord Buddha's power and gave it the basic structure of Swayambhu as we see today, a dome shape achieved with a central beam. Further restorations followed and each project added to the changes of its appearance. The yasti, central wooden beam, the finial surrounding it, and the top parasol needed frequent alterations. The yasti was repaired by Jyotir Malla, and then by his son, Yaksa Malla born in 1408 and died in 1482. In 1565, it was replaced by devotees from the Malla Kingdom of Patan and again after thirty years by Sivasimha (1578-1619), while making an offering. It was broken by lightning fifteen years later and Sivasimha again replaced it. During the time of Laksminarasimha (1621-1641), Sivasimha's heir, Swamarpa Lama coming from Tibet replaced the yasti. Pratap Malla (1641-1674) repaired the whole stupa, and placed a huge vajra mandala, a bronze vajra on a stone mandala, at the top of the stair at the East side. Most of the sculptures at the vicinity of Swayambhu are from the Malla period as the earlier images must have been destroyed during the Muslim raid in the fourteenth century. In 1751 repairs were again started under the supervision of a Tibetan lama, which required 39 kg of gold, 3,500 kg of copper and sponsored was by Jayaprakash Malla and Prithvi Narayan Shah. Other repairs have been recorded in 1808, 1826, and 1928.

Along with the renovation of the Swayambhu, other smaller stupas, chaityas, temples, and rest houses were built around the hilltop. Vrisadeva flattened the top of the hill for the construction of the stupa but left the surrounding trees in their natural state. In the following years, trees were felled and in their place emerged the images of important deities, both Buddhist and Hindu. Around the platform are dharmasalas, secular houses, gonpas, monateries, and five special shrines which are likely to have been made during the transitional period (879-1300). Pratap Malla created a colorful sculpture of Aksobhya at the foot of the eastern slope of the hill and Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah established three similar images on the slope. Pratap Malla also established two tall sikharas dedicating to Vajrayana deities. At the Western side of the stupa is the popular temple of the deity known as Harati to Buddhists and Sitala to Hindus. She is the goddess of protection from smallpox and has many worshippers who pay homage to her at the site. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri, or Saraswati-the goddess of learning. Today, statues and shrines dot the stupa complex.

The fifteen meters high Swayambhu has different components to its form and each part has its separate significance. The huge white dome of Swayambhu is known as the anda, the egg, or garbha, womb, which represents the creation of the earth. The dome may enclose the sacred relics but there is no access to the innermost chamber. Also thought to be within the dome are the five Dhyani Buddhas, or Tathagatas. As in other chaityas and stupas around the Valley, the Buddhas are placed in positions at the periphery of the dome. The establishment of Voirachana, the first of the five meditating Buddhas, at the Southeastern side of Swayambhu is rare because Voirachana is traditionally enshrined at the center of the stupa. However, the other four Buddhas, Amitabh, Lord of the West, Amoghsiddhi, Lord of the North, Aksobhya, Lord of the East, and Ratna Sambhava, Lord of the South are facing their expected cardinal directions in their respective positions. Above the dome is the four sided harmika. On each side is painted a face with eyes looking the four directions. The fashion of painting eyes on the harmika was started only in the fifteenth century. It is said that the set of eyes are that of Buddha's below which lies the whole world while others say that they represent the sun and the moon. Above these eyes is a small eye is interpreted as the third eye, signifying the power of the god. Between the eyes is a symbol resembling a question mark, which some perceive as the nose. In actually it is the Nepali symbol for the number "one," which Buddhists intend to represent that there is only one way out of the earthly suffering, Buddhism. Yet others simply know it as unity. Rising above the harmika is the central spire comprised of a thirteen tiered finial, which is made of copper. The finial reflects that there are thirteen obstacles to transcend in order to attain enlightenment and nirvana such as desire, craving, attached, fear, wrath and dishonesty.

Swayambhu is, perhaps, the best place to observe religious harmony in Nepal. The stupa is among the most ancient in this part of the world, and its worshippers are diverse. From Newar nuns, Tibetan monks, and Brahmin priests to lay Buddhist and Hindus, the Lord is supplicated by all. The largest image of the Shakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next to Swayambhu. Other monasteries here have huge prayer wheels, fine Buddhist paintings, and special butter lamps which may be lit after presenting monetary offerings.

Swayambhu is a major landmark of the Valley resting below Nagrjun Hill. It provides and excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley. Devotees have climbed the steps on the Eastern side for centuries, which is verified by the grooves formed by the feet of countless devotees on the stone steps. Great statues of Buddha, stupas and other religious monuments, as well as monkeys scampering in shadows of tall trees, giving the temple the common nickname of "Monkey Temple" among foreign visitors, make the steep climb worthwhile. Although similar in design to its larger counterpart, Boudha, Swayambhu has a flat top to its dome, whereas, Boudha's is rounded. Modern conveniences allow for disabled persons and those pressed for time to reach the stupa via the Western road that runs near to the base of the Swayambhu.

Pashupatinath temple (Nepali: पशुपतिनाथको मन्दिर)

Pashupatinath temple (Nepali: पशुपतिनाथको मन्दिर) is the one of the biggest Hindu temple of Lord Shiva in the world located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. The temple served as the seat of national deity, Lord Pashupatinath, until Nepal was secularized. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list [1].
Believers in Pashupatinath (mainly Hindus) are allowed to enter the temple premises. Anyone not born in Nepal or India is considered a non-Hindu by the temple authorities. Non-Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river.
It is regarded as the most sacred among the temples of Lord Shiva (Pashupati)

Legend

Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda,[2] one day Lord Shiva grew tired of his palace atop Mt. Kailash and so went in search of a place where he could escape to. He discovered Kathmandu Valley and, without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in the Valley. He gained great fame there as Pashupati, Lord of the Animals, before the other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. He disguised himself as a majestic deer and would not help the other gods when they asked for his help. When Shiva did not yield to their pleas, they planned to use force. God Vishnu grabbed him by his horns and they shattered into pieces. Vishnu established a temple and used the broken horns to form a linga on the bank of the Bagmati River. As time went by, the temple was buried and forgotten. Then a cow was known to have secretly sprinkled her milk over the mound. Apparently, when the cow herders dug around the spot, they found the lost lingas and again built a temple in reverence.
[edit]History

The temple was first established in the 5th century.[1] The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Namboodiri Brahmins from South India since the time of Malla king Yaksha Malla [3]. This tradition is supposed to have started by the request of Adi Shankaracharya who sought to unify the different states of Bharatam (Unified India) by encouraging cultural exchange. The unique feature of this temple is that only 4 priests can touch the idol. The priests are always from south India. This tradition is supposed to have started by Sage Shankaracharya in 6th century, ostensibly to stop human sacrifice which was prevalent in that temple. This procedure is also followed in other temples around India which were sanctified by Adi Shankaracharya. Malla kings honoured the request of Adi shankarachaya as latter being one of the greatest ever Hindu acharyas.
However,this tradition was recently challenged after the historic revolution in Nepal which demolished the monarchy and established democracy where Nepalese priests supported by the anti- Indian Maoists government.There was widespread protests by most Nepalese as they saw this as an intereference in their religion.The Maoists lost power after a few months of this.
[edit]Temple architecture

The temple is of pagoda style of architecture. All the features of pagoda style is founded here like cubic constructions, beautifully carved wooden rafters on which they rest (tundal). The two level roofs are of copper with gold covering. It has four main doors, all covered with silver sheets. This temple has a gold pinnacle, (Gajur), which is a symbol of religious thought. The western door has a statue of large bull or Nandi, again covered in gold. The deity is of black stone, about 6 feet in height and the same in circumference.
Vasukinath lies to the east of Pashupatinath.

Legend

Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda,[2] one day Lord Shiva grew tired of his palace atop Mt. Kailash and so went in search of a place where he could escape to. He discovered Kathmandu Valley and, without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in the Valley. He gained great fame there as Pashupati, Lord of the Animals, before the other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. He disguised himself as a majestic deer and would not help the other gods when they asked for his help. When Shiva did not yield to their pleas, they planned to use force. God Vishnu grabbed him by his horns and they shattered into pieces. Vishnu established a temple and used the broken horns to form a linga on the bank of the Bagmati River. As time went by, the temple was buried and forgotten. Then a cow was known to have secretly sprinkled her milk over the mound. Apparently, when the cow herders dug around the spot, they found the lost lingas and again built a temple in reverence.

History

The temple was first established in the 5th century.[1] The priests who perform the services at this temple have been Namboodiri Brahmins from South India since the time of Malla king Yaksha Malla [3]. This tradition is supposed to have started by the request of Adi Shankaracharya who sought to unify the different states of Bharatam (Unified India) by encouraging cultural exchange. The unique feature of this temple is that only 4 priests can touch the idol. The priests are always from south India. This tradition is supposed to have started by Sage Shankaracharya in 6th century, ostensibly to stop human sacrifice which was prevalent in that temple. This procedure is also followed in other temples around India which were sanctified by Adi Shankaracharya. Malla kings honoured the request of Adi shankarachaya as latter being one of the greatest ever Hindu acharyas.
However,this tradition was recently challenged after the historic revolution in Nepal which demolished the monarchy and established democracy where Nepalese priests supported by the anti- Indian Maoists government.There was widespread protests by most Nepalese as they saw this as an intereference in their religion.The Maoists lost power after a few months of this.

Temple architecture

The temple is of pagoda style of architecture. All the features of pagoda style is founded here like cubic constructions, beautifully carved wooden rafters on which they rest (tundal). The two level roofs are of copper with gold covering. It has four main doors, all covered with silver sheets. This temple has a gold pinnacle, (Gajur), which is a symbol of religious thought. The western door has a statue of large bull or Nandi, again covered in gold. The deity is of black stone, about 6 feet in height and the same in circumference.
Vasukinath lies to the east of Pashupatinath.

Shivaratri
Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva is the most important festival celebrated in this temple. Along the shores of the Bagmati river near the temple lies "Arya Ghat", the most widely used place of cremation in Nepal, especially in and around Kathmandu Valley.On the day of Shivaratri thousands of devotes come to this temple.



Controversy of 2009

The priests are called Bhattas and the Chief Priest is known as Mool Bhatt or Raval. The chief priests of temple have been Brahmins from South India since Malla era. This, along with the alleged corruption within temple had been an issue among Nepalese people.
In January 2009, after the forced resignation by the chief priest of Pashupatinath temple, the Maoist-led government of Nepal "hand picked" Nepalese priest to the temple, thus bypassing the temple's long-standing requirements[4]. This appointment was contested by the Bhandaris of the temple, stating that they were not against the appointment of Nepalese priests but against the appointment without proper procedure[5][6]. After the appointment was challenged in the court of laws, the appointment was overruled by Supreme Court of Nepal[7][8]. However, the government did not heed the ruling and continued with its decision. This led to a public outrage and protests over lack of transparency. The paramilitary group of CPN (Maoist), called YCL, attacked the protesters leading to over a dozen injuries [9]. Lawmakers and party activists of the opposition parties joined protests and stated that their support were with the Bhandaris and other protesters[10].
However, after long dissatisfaction and protest of Hindus inside and out of Nepal, the government reverted its decision and reinstated Indian priests.

Ilam (Nepali: ईलाम)

Ilam (Nepali: ईलाम) is a municipality and tea-producing town in Nepal. It is in Ilam District which is in hilly Eastern Region of Nepal. It is famous for its natural scenery and landscapes.
Ilam is a small hilly town with pristine landscapes of sloped tea gardens, thick natural forests, holy sites and a unique culture. There are several holy sites one can visit in and around the area. Ilam is a popular tourist destination for travelers of all kinds. It is also famous for its special brand Ilam Tea.






History of ethnicity and settlement of Ilam

Ilam was the district of Nepal - apart from Mustang - that remained independent, or rather unoccupied by the forces of Gorkha that formed Nepal into a single kingdom toward the end of the 18th century.
The dominant political and economic group at that time was the Limbu people. In the east there were the Kiranti kingdoms of the Rai and limbus, with their own separate languages and literature. Alongside were other, less numerical groups such as Sherpa, Rai and Lepcha - and others, too. There was a steady trickle of immigrants to the hills from the Terai lowlands, but that really shot speed as Ilam became integrated in the Nepalese nation state. The state set up a bureacucracy staffed by cheetri and brahmin people who in turn created favorable conditions for settled private agriculture and as last century came to and end, Ilam was more of a brahmin district than a Limbu one. Historically, the now minority groups have felt squeezed out of their land, but this feeling doesn't seem to linger as a political force anylonger. Apart from the occupational socalled low cast people, the real minority in Ilam today are the Lepcha, a people of Tibeto-Mongolian stock who also had their core areas and ancient kingdom here in Ilam. Remains of a Lepcha castle is situated on top of a pyramidical tree covered peak south of the ridge from Fikkal as it dips toward Maikhola. Nowadays, a mere 2500 Lepchas remain in Ilam, centered on Fikkal bazaar.
This history of Ilam is worth putting a thought into as you travel the eastern hills and watch people going about their lives.


Mai Beni river confluence


Mai Beni
by SaagarMai Beni site is where the rivers Maikhola and Jog Maikhola meet, and it is a major site of pilgrimage, with thousands of pilgrims and devotees converging here once a year. In fequent use, the temple and site is worth a visit most days with local religious activities going on. A bit upstream in the Jog Mai river there is a nice pool for swimming, exactly at the location of the trail crossing up to Namsaling.


Maipokhari lake

Maipokhari is a small star-shaped lake (1.6 hectar) located in Sulubung VDC, 11 km from Ilam Bazaar and at 7200 ft altitude. This is a beautiful spot surrounded by very nice forests protected by religious belief and a smallish temple complex. The Maipokhari Lake has religious significance and is a site of pilgrimage during Kartik Ekadasi and a big mela once a year on the day of the Thulo Ekadasi.

Close to Maipokhari is the 3400-metre peak Chhintapu, separating the Singalila Range and the Mahabharat Range. Nice to visit for a view around and a sunset stop on the \weay back at Kothidanda. Beautiful rhododendron forests up here.
Directions: Via Ilam Bazaar. From there 11 km by road. Due to the situation you will need to check on conditions first as this is currently well within maoist territory.

Sandakpur viewpoint

Sandakpur lies at the northern edge of Ilam District, and is Illam's highest point at 3636 meters. Sandakpur provides a fantastic view of the eastern Himalayas from Bhutan to Everest. But the main view of Kanchenjuga is what takes your breath away.

Sandakpur straddles the border between Nepal and India and is a bit of extraterritorial area. You can visit from both the Indian and Nepalese side, with the visa from the country com arrive from. Due to maoist conflict, it is probably best now to arrive from the West Bengal side/Darjeeling. A very beautiful approach whichever way is chosen. There is a rough road from India via Mane Bhanyang. From the Indian side there is a trekking route north along the border, and dropping back down to the valleys after reaching Sandakpur. From the Nepal side there is a road to Khorsanitar from Ilam (21 km), and from there you have a few hours walk.


Kanyam tea

The best teas in Nepal come from the Kanyam area. Most of the tea fields here are owned by the Kanyam Tea Estate, on private lease from the government.

The tea fields are a popular picninc spot, scenic as it is. You are able to look into India toward Darjeeling. Unfortunately, but good for the tea, there is frequently a very cool and clammy fog here.
Directions: Coming up from the Terai, you cross this area about half-way to Ilam Bazaar.


Ilam tea

Ilam District (along with Jhapa and a few other eastern Nepal places) is a major tea producer. The tea quality here is just as good as Darjeeling's across the border to India. In fact, much tea is carried across the border and added to Darjeeling's production of "Darjeeling Tea".
You will pass tea gardens and see tea pluckers on your way by road, and around Ilam Bazaar.
The best tea is probably not available in Ilam, but in Kathmandu. The big tea houses have their offices and outlets in Kathmandu. Look for Ilam's orange pekoes, Ilam - especially Kanyam's first flushes and others if you wish to bring home a tasty and home-grown souvenir.

Cardamom fields

The darker side of Ilam? Perhaps not, but in the shadowy, soggy side valleys and foggy slopes of Ilam's huge hills the cardamom is a major cash crop. Under tree cover normally, you will find huge amount of these leaves (photo). Underneath are knobbly scaly roots, that are dried and sold to middlemen and exported to India for the most part. A smoking house in Ilam is most often the sign that moneymaking cardamom -drying is on the way. Go, take a look!
Directions: You will find cardamom along the main road from the Terai in the shadowy tracts, and almost everywhere else whenyou're out hiking between villages.

Paraglading

The main area for flying in Nepal is the Annapurna region, more specifically the Pokhara valley. This lakeside town is Nepal's second city, nestled at the foot of the Annapurna Himal, the views commanded from here of 3 of the worlds 8000m peaks, are unsurpassed. At an altitude of 800m ASL the sub-tropical climate means that, year round, it is short and T-shirt weather. The micro-climate of the valley makes it an ideal area for flying, with far more constant conditions than the Kathmandu valley 150km east.

There are several sites around Phewa Taal (the lake) but the most accessible is Sarangkot (1500m ASL). A view point 700m above Pokhara, it is unique in that it has a road running to the top. A short walk brings you to the only purpose built take off in the country. Cut out of the slope is a 45m by 45m clearing. With regular cycles providing easy reverse launches, you could not ask for a more picturesque site. With the lake 2000ft below, the mountains behind, and the unlimited potential for XC and out and returns, this has quickly become the main site for the area, and many pilots have based themselves in Pokhara for the season, flying from this mountain alone.


There are an abundance of other sites around the valley with names such as Dhikie Danda, Galem, Sirkot, Tansen, Bandipur all can be connected by air from Sarangkot.

This is a spectacular site, with everything that makes flying in Nepal so awesome. A sheer jungle covered mountain over 2700m. Home to an abundance of wildlife and waterfalls. You can cruise along, scaring troops of monkeys screaming at you from their tree only inches from your wing tip, or ride the face and fly through the spray of a 300ft waterfall. It is also the start for the best XC flights in the area.

Rara Jungle Safari

Rara Jungle safari is mainly done within the area or boundary of Rara National Park. It is the smallest national parks in Nepal which hosts the country’s biggest Lake- the Rara Lake. Covering an area of 106 sq km, it lies in Mugu and Jumla district. The famous Rara Lake is the heart of this park which is oval in shape and 167 meters depth.

This area is covered with coniferous forest. Rhododendron, black juniper, west Himalayan spruce, oak and Himalayan cypress. During a Rara jungle Safari you will encounter with the endangered animals. You will enjoy the scene of migrant birds including water fowl, Gallinaceous birds, Coots, great-crested grebe, black-necked grebe, red-crested pochard, mallard, common teal, merganser and gulls. The animals’ inhabiting this region are red panda, musk deer, Himalayan black bear, leopard, jackal, Himalayan Thar, wild yellow-throated marten, wild dog, wild boar, common langur, rhesus macaque and many others.

One of the best ways to overlook the flora and fauna is by walking deep into the jungle through fine grassland and typical villages where you can find unique religions and cultures, as well as abundant wild life. Rara Jungle Safari offers you the opportunity to have an adventure which you will never forget.

Koshi Tappu Safari

Koshi Tappu Safari


Located in Saptari and Sunsari districts in eastern Nepal, the Koshi Tappu Safari covers the vast expanse Koshi River with its blue waters and lush jungle areas on both sides. it’s considered as the major attraction of the safari. The forest is the homeland of wild buffaloes, hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer, blue bell and jackals. The vegetation of this area is mainly tall khar-pater grassland with a few patches of Khair-sissoo scrub forest and deciduous mixed river line jungle.

You can explore the forest of Koshi Tappu safari riding on elephant back. Here you will see the hattisar (elephant stable) where elephant breed regularly and which is one of few such facilities in Asia. During the Koshi Tappu Safari at dusk and dawn time you will see many varieties of birds and animals sitting along the river. The best place to watch the bird species is the Barrage, downstream of the river.

Koshi Tappu Safari camp is a deluxe tented camp with all facilities. You can reach it by flight from Kathmandu and a one hour drive from Biratnagar airport or by an eight hour tourist bus journey.
For Koshi Tappu Safari we have included two program itineraries.

2 Nights, 3 Days Package

Day 01: Arrive Biratnagar Airport. Someone will meet you and drive you to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp
13:00 - Lunch
15:00 – Bird watching on foot in the near by surroundings of the Park with our resident naturalist. Rest and refresh before dinner.
19:00 – Dinner
Day 02: 05:30 – Wake up call
06:00 – Morning nature walk around the surrounding park areas accompanied with a guide.
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Take a raft trip down the Sapta Koshi River with your nature guide to view some of the water birds, water buffaloes, dolphins and various water habitats. End boat trip by the bank of river and have picnic lunch. Short drive to the Koshi Barrage to view some bird-life and fresh water Dolphins. Late afternoon return to the camp where you can relax and refresh before dinner.
19:00 – Dinner
Day 03: 05:30 – Wake up call
06:00 – Take a last walk around the area looking for birds and other wildlife. Return to your camp and pack up ready to depart.
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – You are driven back to the Biratnagar Airport
3 Night 4 Days Package

Day 01: Arrive Biratnagar Airport. You are met by our representative and driven to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp
13:00 - Lunch
15:00 – Bird watching on foot in your near by surroundings with a nature guide. Return to camp to relax and refresh before dinner
19:00 – Dinner
Day 02: 05:30 – Wake up call
06:00 – Morning nature walk with around the area with your guide
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Take a raft trip down the Sapta Koshi River with your nature guide to view some of the water birds, water buffaloes, dolphins and various water habitats. End boat trip by the bank of river and have picnic lunch. Short drive to the Koshi Barrage to view some bird-life and fresh water Dolphins. Late afternoon return to the camp where you can relax and refresh before dinner.
19:00 – Dinner
Day 03: 05:30 – Wake up call
06:00 – Morning nature walk around the area with your guide, searching for wildlife and birds
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Bird watching all along the bank of the Koshi River and the area of the Pink Tower crossing the Koshi Barrage. Picnic Lunch at the Pink Tower, Late afternoon return to camp looking for some more birds.
19:00 – Dinner
Day 04: 05:30 – Wake up call
06:00 – Take a last walk around the area looking for birds and other wildlife. Return to your camp and pack up ready to depart.
08:00 – Breakfast
09:00 – Departure to Biratnagar Airport

Bardia Jungle Safari

Bardia Jungle Safari


Bardia National Park is located in Nepal’s western plain lands, east of the Karnali River, covering an area of 968 sq.km. It is the largest and most undisturbed protected area in the Terai, home to many endangered species including tiger, wild elephant, rhinoceros, swamp deer, blackbuck, gharial crocodile, marsh mugger crocodile and Gangetic dolphin. The enchanting birds found here are Bengal florican, lesser florican, Silver-eared mesia and Sarus Crane. The national park is full of open grasslands and glades ‘making it an ideal place for game-viewing.

This park is famous for elephant safari or jungle drive. During jungle safari or elephant safari you will come across small herds of wild elephants. You will see rhinoceros also in the park. Here you can gain an experience of your life time. While doing the jungle safari you can observe 30 different mammals, more than 250 species of birds, and varieties of reptiles and aquatic animals.

For pleasurable sight-seeing you should be in Sukarmala from where you can see the panoramic view of Surkhet valley and the elongating plains of the Terai. Here you will have the opportunity of for fishing masher, a large game fish.

Bardia Safari Itinerary

3 Night and 4 Days - Itinerary

Day01: On Your arrival at Nepalgunj Airport or Ambasa Stand, our staff will receive you. You will then be transferred to Bardia Jungle Cottage where you will be offered refreshment & be given a briefing on our lodge & its facilities. After being given your programs for the day, your room will then be allocated to you.

15.00 - Village tour to a nearby ethnic Tharu village where you will learn more about the life and lifestyle of the Tharus.

20.00 - Dinner

Day-2
06.00 - Wake up call

06.30 - Breakfast.

07.30 - Elephant Safari. An excellent opportunity to see Asian Elephant, Great One Horn Rhinoceros, Spotted Deer or Chital, Hog Deer, Barking Deer, amber, Swamp Deer or Barasingha, Nilgai or Bull, Black Buck, Wild Boar, Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog, Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena. You will also encounter many other smaller mammals that have made Bardia their home
.
13.00 - Lunch.

15.00 - Jungle walk. An excellent opportunity to see the wild animals, small mammals, birds and waits in the Tower (Machan) to have the wild sightseeing, accompanied by our experienced naturalists and wild life tracker. Excellent photographic opportunities are plentiful.

19.00 - Tharu cultural dance.

20.00 - Dinner

Day-3
06.00 - Wake up call

06.30 - Breakfast.

07.00 - Bird watching. An excellent opportunity to see a great many species of birds found in Bardia.

13.00 – Lunch

14.00 - Nature walk an excellent opportunity to see wild animals and you will also encounter many other smaller mammals that have made Bardia their home.

20.00 - Dinner

Day-4
06.00 - Wake up call

06.30 - Breakfast.

07.00 - Visit to crocodile breeding center.

12.30 – Lunch

13.30 - Departure

4 Night and 5 Days - Itinerary

Day-1
On Your arrival at Nepalgunj Airport or Ambasa Stand, our staff will receive you. You will then be transferred to Bardia Jungle Cottage where you will be offered refreshment & be given a briefing on our lodge & its facilities. After being given your programs for the day, your room will then be allocated to you.

15.00 - Village tour to a nearby ethnic Tharu village where you will learn more about the life and lifestyle of the Tharus.

20.00 - Dinner

Day-2
06.00 - Wake up call

06.30 - Breakfast.

07.30 - Elephant Safari. An excellent opportunity to see Asian Elephant, Great One Horn Rhinoceros, Spotted Deer or Chital, Hog Deer, Barking Deer,Samber, Swamp Deer or Barasingha, Nilgai or Bull, Black Buck, Wild Boar, Royal Bengal Tiger, Leopard, Wild Dog, Golden Jackal, Striped Hyena. You will also encounter many other smaller mammals that have made Bardia their home.

13.00 - Lunch.

15.00 - Jungle walk. An excellent opportunity to see the wild animals, small mammals, birds and waits in the Tower (Machan) to have the wild sightseeing, accompanied by our experienced naturalists and wild life tracker. Excellent photographic opportunities are plentiful.

19.00 - Tharu cultural dance.

20.00 - Dinner

Day-3
06.00 - Wake up call

06.30 - Breakfast.

07.00 - Bird watching. An excellent opportunity to see a great many species of birds found in Bardia.

13.00 – Lunch

14.00 - Jungle walk. An excellent opportunity to see wild animals and you will also encounter many other smaller mammals that have made Bardia their home.

20.00 - Dinner

Day-4
05.30 - Wake up call

06.00 - Breakfast.

06.30 - Drive to rafting point.

08.00 - Whitewater rafting and scenic float trips through exciting rapids, deep gorges forested hillsides and remote villages. An excellent opportunity for bird watching. Pack lunch provided.

20.00 - Dinner

Day-5

06.00 - Wake up call

06.30 - Breakfast.

07.00 - Visit to crocodile breeding center.

12.30 – Lunch

13.30 - Departure

Chitwan Jungle Safari

Chitwan Jungle Safari


The most famous and Nepal’s first national park. this ‘ World Heritage Nature Site’ declared by UNESCO is situated in the central development region covering an area of 932 sq. Royal Chitwan National Park is the home to more than 500 Asian one-horned rhinoceros and Royal Bengal Tigers. This is also the home to around 600 plant species, 50 mammals, 526 birds and 49 amphibians and reptiles. For jungle safari Royal Chitwan National park is famous. Here you will travel through open grassland and dense forest on elephant back and while doing this you will come across different wild animals including rhinos, different kind of deer’s, wild boars, and in rare cases, tigers.

Another way you can experience this wild world is by 4 wheel drive jeep. By jeep or elephant back, you can go deep into the heart of the park, viewing some of the rare species of flora and fauna. You can also go on foot in to the park escorted by our well-trained naturalist who will interpret to you the concealed secrets of the jungle. You will have a great opportunity to see many species of birds including water fowl, Brahminy ducks, pintails, bar-headed geese, cormorants, woodpeckers, hornbills, peacocks, peahens, floricans, red-headed trogons and many others.

Another activity in the park is the boat/canoe trip down the Rapti and the Narayani Rivers. This is one of the more serene ways to explore the area as float downstream with the river’s flow.

On the out skirts of Chitwan you can the Tharu community, and see their artistically decorated thatched huts, their typical dance and how they manage life next to the national park.

A Chitwan jungle safari is certainly an adventure that the whole family can enjoy.

In Royal Chitwan you will be accommodated at the Bagmara jungle resort which situated on the Parks Boundary with excellent river views. Chitwan can be reached by flight from Kathmandu. The airport is 15min drive from the park. or by road via tourist bus. It’s a four hour drive. It’s also possible to connect with Chitwan via raft along the Trishuli River.
Bagmara Jungle Resort has excellent facilities for your comfort and relaxation. The programs offered are as follows. Please note these programs are flexible to meet your needs.

1 Night 2 Days Package

Day 01: Arrival. You are collected from the bus park/airport and taken to the resort for lunch.
After lunch take a tour around the local Tharu village tour and then head to the Elephant
center where you can interact with baby elephants and learn about the captive breeding program.
In the evening time take some rest and have dinner.
After dinner enjoy the Cultural program and dance.
Day 02: Get a wake up call and then take your Breakfast.
After breakfast take an Elephant Safari inside the park where you can spot rhinos, deer, bird life and if you are lucky a tiger or two.
Return to the resort and prepare for departure for your onward destination. You are taken to the bus station or airport.
2 Nights 3 Days Package

Day 01: Arrival. You are collected from the bus park/airport and taken to the resort for lunch.
After lunch take a tour around the local Tharu village tour and then head to the Elephant
center where you can interact with baby elephants and learn about the captive breeding program.
In the evening time take some rest and have dinner.
After dinner enjoy the Cultural program and dance.
Day 02: Get a wake up call and then take your Breakfast.
After breakfast take a Canoeing trip down the river followed by a Jungle walk back to the resort.
Take your lunch and then you have time for Rest, swimming or tennis,
In the afternoon take an Elephant Safari inside the park where you can spot rhinos, deer, bird life and if you are lucky a tiger or two.
Dinner and rest and relax listening to the night time jungle sounds.
Day 03: Early wakeup and go for a bird watching walk around the area.
Return to the resort for your breakfast then prepare for departure for your onward
destination. You will be taken to the bus station or the airport.
3 Nights, 4 Days Package

Day 01 : Arrival. You are collected from the bus park/airport and taken to the resort for lunch.
After lunch take a tour around the local Tharu village tour and then head to the Elephant
center where you can interact with baby elephants and learn about the captive breeding program.
In the evening time take some rest and have dinner.
After dinner enjoy the Cultural program and dance.
Day 02: Get a wake up call and then take your Breakfast.
After breakfast take a Canoeing trip down the river followed by a Jungle walk back to the resort.
Take your lunch and then you have time for Rest, swimming or tennis,
In the afternoon take a jeep drive deep 4 or 5 hours into the park for wild life spotting.
dinner and rest.
Day 03: Early wakeup and go for a bird watching walk around the area.
Take your breakfast and spend time relaxing and enjoying your surroundings.
Lunch then go for a swim or play a game of tennis.
In the afternoon take an Elephant Safari inside the park where you can spot rhinos, deer, bird life and if you are lucky a tiger or two.
Dinner and rest and relax listening to the night time jungle sounds.
Day 04:

Take your breakfast then prepare for departure for your onward
destination. You will be taken to the bus station or the airport.

This Blog is Prepared for those who are interested on visiting, travelling, adventure and want to feel their real life. Nepal is such a country where we can found everything given by nature. Even it is developing country , it can't offer any artificial decoration but it has its natural and cultural decoration. It is a part of Heaven . The white Himalayas, Green forests, Lakes , Springs, River,Animals, Birds.

The people of Nepal are simple and helpful. Hotels can be found as natural types also artificial . When the mind is wants to do something interesting or feeling boring from crowded then Nepal is one of the best country.

Humans beings are not forever.



When they feel life is nothing then we wish to visit.

chitwan

Chitwan National Park



For a country known for its beautiful mountains, the Gangetic flat lands of the Terai that stretches through out the southern part of Nepal provide a wholly different experience. A visit to Nepal remains incomplete without seeing the beauty of the Terai.

And Chitwan is the best place to do so.The Royal Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, provides a great wildlife experience with its rich flora and fauna . The wildlife and the landscape are not as breathtaking as those found in Africa but still, the experience will stand out.

Chitwan is only 150m above the sea level. The place gets steamy from March-June, with peak temperatures reaching 43°C in the shade. Short grass makes Feb-May the best game-viewing season, but the autumn months are gorgeous, with Himalayan views, and in winter (December-January), Chitwan is pleasantly warmed compared to Kathmandu. The monsoon season (July-August) is intense, with pounding rain, swollen rivers, and luxuriant vegetation. While the rain isn't constant, the humidity is all pervasive.

Places Of Interest

Though one can visit neighboring Tharu villages in Chitwan, the major interesting focus of Chitwan is still the exploration of the Chitwan National Park.

Flora and Fauna

The flora and fauna of Chitwan makes it a great place for nature lovers. Chitwan has over Fifty different species of mammals, 400 different species of birds, and 65different types of butterflies in its hardwood Sal forests, riverine vegetation, and "elephant grass" savannah. More than 70 different species of grassgrow here.

The most famous wildlife in Chitwan is perhaps the single-horned Asian rhinoceros. A few decades ago, their number had fallen to less than 100, but recent count puts them at 400. These animals have thick armor like hide that is hard to penetrate even with a bullet.

A fully grown animal can be as tall as 180cm. In spite of army protection for these animals and severe punishment for harming them, rhino poaching is still a problem as every organ of the animal carries some (probably superstitious) value. The horn fetches about US$10,000 per kilo and is believed to be an aphrodisiac. The dung can be a laxative, the urine cures tuberculosis and asthma. The blood can help cure menstrual problems. The hide keeps away evil spirits. And so on.

Chitwan has about 150 Bengal tigers left of the one time 3000 or so. Though poaching is a serious threat, the real threat for these majestic animals is the gradual loss of its habitat. A male tiger requires almost 60km space, and a female one requires a third of it. Chitwan is simply not big enough to handle many tigers. It is rare for one to actually see a tiger, though looking for one is an interesting part of the trip.

Other wild mammals one may see are leopards, various types of deer, monkeys, sloth bear, and antelope.

Mountain Biking

Around the Kathmandu valley the options for mountain biking are endless. You can challenge yourself on long, hilly rides out on the valley rim or just explore the many temples and Newari villages in the lower valley. Or for the less energetic you can have a strictly down hill tour.

Exploring the area on a bike is a fantastic way to experience the local culture and way of life. It allows you to get off the beaten track and explore rural farming areas, National parks and Hill Stations. For long trips there are plenty of guest house scattered around the valley rim, so you can travel easily. You don’t have to bring your own bike; good quality front suspension mountain bikes can easily be hired from Kathmandu or Pokhara.

For the adrenaline seeker there is some really good down hill routes on offer around Kathmandu and Pohkara as well as a newly opened up heritage trail in Langtang to challenge your technical abilities. For the serious rider, there are also mountain bike races throughout the year that are open to foreigners. Please contact us for detail and information.
ATC can tailor any mountain biking trip to suit your needs. Here is a taste of some excellent tours you can do.

Lhasa to Kathmandu
Upper mustang
Annapurna Circuit
Pokhara to Kathmandu
Valley rim Long
Valley Rim Short
Day Trips and Downhill
Nagarkot
Mountain Biking Information

Fitness and experience.
For day trips around the valley anyone can do them from the novice to the advanced rider. If you are planning on longer rides then you should have a good level of fitness and some biking experience. If you have never ridden long distances or consecutive days before then it can become quite difficult and painful for you in the rear end department. If you are doing a long trip we suggest you try and ride 50km 3 or 4 times a week and do some uphill climbing as well. By being fit you will improve the enjoyment of your trip.

The guides
The guides are all highly qualified and expert riders. They know all the best trails and ways around the foothills. Your guides are also all bike mechanics and can fix any problems that should occur on the trail. Your guides will be trained in first aid and emergency procedure. Most importantly your guides are all locals, being well versed in the local culture and history to allow you to get the most out of your trip. They are fun and friendly for your upmost enjoyment.

The trails
Whilst in Nepal you will experience a great array of trails. For riding around the valley the first part of the ride you should expect to be riding in heavy traffic. Once across the ring road the trails will vary for bumpy jeep tracks, quite paved country roads and single tracks through rice paddies. In the national park areas the trails will be unused and very rough jeep tracks and single walking tracks. When you are going up into the mountain regions you should expect to carry your bike quite a bit. The trails are mainly single walking track with very rocky section and steep stair cases. In the Annapurna region, there are a lot of jeep size tracks which make for nice riding.

Best time of year
The best time of year for biking in Nepal is January to June and September to December. During the winter months it can be quite cold so bring some warm clothes. If you don’t mind getting wet and muddy, then august is a great time to come and slip and slide your way down the trails.

The bikes.
When doing a biking tour you can bring your own bike and helmet along with you. To transport your bike on the plane is no problem and as long as you are not over the weight limit you will not be charged extra. Your bike should be dismantled and packed securely in a box. We recommend you to take out t insurance for your bike and bring along a good lock and any spare parts. Spare parts such as tires and inner tubes, peddles, chains etc can be brought in Nepal, though the quality and price vary a lot.

You can hire a bike in Nepal. at a small extra cost the company will supply you with a top quality giant or Fuji bike with front suspension, a bike helmet, spare inner tubes and tools and a good lock and chain. You will be required to leave some form of identification as a deposit for any hire bike.

What to bring
For day trips shorts and t-shirt are fine as everything else is supplied for you. If you plane on a longer trip in the higher altitudes, apart for the normal travel things, you should bring along.

Long and short biking pants
long and short jerseys
light thermal tops and pants
good quality trainers or cycling shoes
fleece jacket or vest
water proof / wind proof jacket
a light woolen cap
sunglasses and sun cream
tracksuit and jumper for when not riding
Cost included

On long trips Bike, helmet, tools and spare parts. (At an extra cost form tour price)
all meals and accommodation whilst biking
qualified guides
porters where necessary
support vehicles with luggage drop and camping equipment where relevant.
all road/air transfers
visas and permits (for Tibet, Annapurna and upper mustang)
On short trips
On day trips you will be provided with a bike, helmet, spare parts and tools, a guide and lunch all included in the price.

mountain flight

Mountain Flight



Only an awe-stricken silence can come close to match the experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains of this earth. No wonder mountain fly-bys have become a popular tourist attraction in Nepal. Four airlines offer regular flights taking you over the snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya. and offer a panoramic view of the Himalaya in just one hour. As the aircraft lifts up and heads towards the east, passengers don't have to wait too long to find out what's in store for them.

First to their far left visitors see Gosaithan, also called Shisha Pangma, standing at the majestic height of 8,013 m. Immediately to the right of Gosaithan, there appears Dorje Lakpa (6,966 m), a mountain that looks like the number 8 lying down and covered with snow. To the right of Dorje Lakpa is Phurbi-Ghyachu, which looms over the Kathmandu Valley.

As the plane moves along, the mountains come closer and closer. Next on the vision is Choba-Bharnare, the smallest one of the lot at 5,933 m but singularly stubborn as it has never been climbed. Then appears the mountain that is not only prominent in sight but also in spirituality - Gauri Shanker. Lord Shiva and his consort Gauri are said to protect this mountain, at the proud height of 7,134 m, and the summit had a history of unsuccessful attempts till 1979. Gauri-Shanker is sharp and very conspicuous during the mountain flight.

As the plane moves towards the land of the rising sun, the eastern Himalaya, a succession of glorious mountains follow. Melungtse, a plateau-like mountain, stretches up to 7,023 m. Chugimago at 6,297 m is still a virgin, waiting to be climbed. Next is Karyolung, an intensely white mountain that at 6,511 m gleams with the rising sun. Cho-Oyu is the eighth highest mountain in the world. Reaching a height of 8,201 m, it appears stunningly beautiful from the aircraft.

Next on the menu is Gyachungkang, at a majestic height of 7,952 m, considered an extremely difficult climb. To the right of Gyachungkang is Pumori (7,161 m). As passengers get closer to Everest, there's Nuptse (7,855 m), which means West Peak, signifying its direction from Everest. Finally, there's Everest (8,848 m) itself, known as Sagarmatha by the Nepalese and Chomolungma by the Tibetans. Much has already been written about Everest, but actually witness it to face to face during a mountain flight is something else. Even while it looms there in front of the eyes, it remains an enigma, this highest spot on earth.

Hot Air Ballon

Hot Air Ballooning



To look up into the sky and see the towers of the Himalayas is awe-inspiring and certainly a valid and popular reason to come to Nepal. To walk among those mountains is more wonderful still. But to glide silently among them, this is perhaps the most thrilling of all. The adventure of hot air ballooning is now available in Kathmandu.

Once the balloon fills with enough hot air, it takes to the skies. From then on, it is the wind which decides where the balloon goes. Altitude is controlled by adding more or less hot air to the envelope and in this way, air currents can be ridden to reach a desired destination.
Usually flights begin shortly after dawn, when winds are their calmest. Once the balloon is full and all systems double checked, the lines are let loose and the passenger basket is carried up over the morning fog and into the sun-lit skies. The balloon will float at about 1,200 to 1,500 m above the Valley, which will bring passengers close to 3,000 mts! From this altitude, the entire Himalayan range will be in sight -360 degrees of visibility is what the balloon in the air offers, as well as fantastic downward views of the Kathmandu Valley itself.

After 15 minutes or so at this altitude, enough time for people to take their photos and convince their jaws to close again, the balloon will descend for a gentle flight over the sights of the Kathmandu Valley. By the time the basket sets down again, roughly one hour after take-off, the balloonists will have experienced Kathmandu and the mighty Himalaya from an entirely new perspective.

Jungle Safari

ungle Safari


While the high Himalaya makes up Nepal's northern region, the southern lowland known as the Terai is covered with dense tropical jungles teeming with diverse wildlife and exotic birds. Here you will find some of the most exciting safari destinations in the world. You will be going into deep jungle on elephant back or four-wheel drive vehicle to view wild animals in their natural habitat. Other thrills are canoe rides on the jungle rivers, nature walks, bird watching excursions, and village tours.

Among the 14 national parks and wildlife reserves in the Kingdom, the Royal Chitwan National Park (932 sq km) is the most popular safari destination. More than 43 species of animals are found in Chitwan. The endangered one-homed rhino, Royal Bengal tiger, Gharial crocodile, four-horned antelope, striped hyena, and the Gangetic dolphin are the main attractions here.

The best part is that it is close to Kathmandu and easily accessible (only 165 km overland), and Bharatpur airport adjoining the park is a mere 25-minute flight away (there are daily flights from Kathmandu). Many adventurers also choose to go down by raft. However you go, a jungle safari is an experience you will remember for a long time