Best Seasons for Trekking in Nepal.

All four seasons has its own special quality for travelling and its own excuse to get out of our comfort zone and explore to a place magical and spiritual. It cleanses our soul, making us feel alive and leaving us in awe each and every time we see the majestic mountains and huge lakes. There are 4 seasons that cycles around all over the year in Nepal that are Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. Each season gives a different type of feeling or vibe to the people that seek adventure. Winter which is from December to February has a cool and cold feel towards it; mostly for the people that love snowy peaks and love to travel around in the cold. Spring which is a popular time that fall from March to May magnifies the beauty of hills and forests covering them up in colorful flowers, it is said that during the time of Spring the hills are covered in colorful rhododendrons making the hills covered in a huge rainbow blanket. Summer season which is from June to August is for the people that love the feel of adventuring during the time of heat, that rush of adrenaline from their body while soaking in the vitamin D. The cold places are warm during summer and are ideal place to see the beauty of the mountains and bask in the sun.

Lastly, Autumn which lies from September to December has by far been the most popular among those four seasons as it has festival time running around the country making the tourist and the people of the country excited throughout the whole season. Travelling during the post cold weather and having cool walking adventure is certainly one of the perks of Autumn season. Seeing the liveliness of the country and its people that has rich in culture and with a mix of mountainous adventure is definitely something to see and feel when travelling to Nepal. But good season selection purely depends on the one thing that is the most important while travelling: the visibility of excellent view. Autumn season definitely wins in regards to that. If you’re willing to travel from around the globe all the way to Nepal just to get the perfect shot of the view will definitely be a let down if the weather gets bad during your travel. You’d want to see what the word “Majestic” actually looks or feels like. You’d definitely want to capture in your album and definitely want it to be something you’d keep your whole life.

What to expect in all four seasons?

If you’re traveling around summer you’d want to be prepared in terms of gears while carrying a raincoat at all times because rain comes for a visit almost everyday during the trail as most of the trial starts with dense forests and rivers. You’d want to be prepared for hot summer along the road but the perks of having a hot weather is that you can jump in the waterfalls along the way and just wash away the heat. The classic way to beat summer! Temperature is moderate but the visibility depends upon the weather in high places.

Whereas, if you’re traveling around Winter, then there are two things that you’d need to prepare for, snow and icy wind. The trails around the way down have no snows and the start of winter rarely has any snow but in the mid-winter you can expect deep snow when you start to reach ascend towards the top. The trails are covered in pure white snow and clear weathers often cool and you’d get the chance to see the clouds beneath you dancing around the view. But some of the trekking trails are closed during winter due to the extreme temperature and harsh climate. Visibility is low due to the often arriving winter storms but once the view is visible then it’s the perfect shot!

If you’re traveling around Spring, which is another famous time that comes after Autumn, here’s what you’d be getting. Green leaves all around with beautiful flowers covering up the forests. If you’re traveling to places that has high chances of rhododendron blooming around then you’d definitely get to see the rainbow-colored hills that I had mentioned earlier. We all know that spring is time you get to see the flora and fauna, the wild animals come out of their long winter hibernation and bask in the sun in middle of the day. You’d see green forests and mostly clear weather during the time.

Lastly, if you’re traveling during the Autumn season, then here’s what you’d expect. The weather is cool and warm depending on the place you’re traveling. The whole country has festive looking vibes on all the people’s faces. Dashain and Tihar which is the biggest festival of every Nepali falls under the time. The perfect time where the weather is clear and the view is amazing. And with a tinge of festivity in your travel makes it a time which is absolute worth it. You’d want to understand the culture that resides insides our Nepali life and the science behind the culture makes it fascinating to anyone new.

Likewise, travelling during the perfect time sometimes doesn’t really work out well to all of us but we all know a good saying to all the travelers, “It’s the journey that counts”. It speaks well when you hear it, when you’re traveling with friends and you bump into things that you have never seen before, trying to understand the way of life for the people in Nepal. You’d want to be a part of it and you’d meet good people around the way who’ll teach you things that you’ve never known and you’d teach them things that they’ve never known ever. It’s definitely the journey that makes the most of the memories and with a perfect shot of the view definitely makes it worth your every penny. It’s definitely an experience of a lifetime.

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Top 10 Heritage sites of Nepal

Nepal is a small yet beautiful country. It is rich in natural beauty, cultural aspects, religious aspects, ethnicity, and many more. You can get to see and experience all these things in this small country. People of Nepal are religious and respect their religion and culture a lot. We can find different people, following different cultures and religions. We can see various heritage sites based on religion, culture, and sites carrying historical importance. These heritages sites add more beauty and importance to the beauty of Nepal. Some of these heritage sites are admired at the international level and are listed as UNESCO’s world heritage. Let us know about some of those heritage sites:

Pashupatinath Temple:

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the oldest temples in Nepal made in the 5th century by Lichhavi kings. It is the biggest temple of Hindu Lord “Shiva” in Nepal that lies in the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. The temple covers the large area and is built on the edge of the Bagmati River. It is built in pagoda style. There are many other small temples of different god and goddess worshipped by Hindus surrounding the main temple of Lord Shiva. Thousands of religious people within and outside the country visit this temple every year.  It was included in the world heritage list in 1979 A.D. by UNESCO. The art and sculptures around the walls of temples and surroundings show Nepal’s religious and cultural value. The statues of gods built inside and outside the temples are made up of metal, woods, and stones. As “Pashupati” also means the god of animals, we can find many animals being preserved inside the temple premises. Numbers of monkeys can be seen around the temples. Oxen, birds, and other animals are also preserved around the temple. If you visit Nepal, it is easy to visit this temple and learn about its beauty, religious and historical values.

Swoyambhunath Stupa:

Swoyambhunath is one of the oldest stupas in Nepal. It is the biggest stupa for Buddhists that lies in the capital of the country, Kathmandu. It lies in the top of the hill in Kathmandu. It is a highly situated stupa of Nepal. You can see a complete view of the Kathmandu valley from the top. The long stairways take you to the beautiful masterpiece constructed as white dome and peaceful eyes of Lord Buddha. As Lord Buddha is a sign of peace, the whole area is very peaceful and beautiful. Many people come here to spend time peacefully or to meditate. Colorful flags with Buddhist scripts are hung around the stupa add more beauty to the place. It is also known as ‘Monkey Temple.’ Thus, you can see large numbers of monkeys roaming around the stupa. The stupa is surrounded by chaityas, temples, and numerous other religious objects. The other attractions around the area you can see are gold-plated vajra “thunderbolt,” Buddha statues, the sleeping Buddha, traditional Tibetan paintings, etc. This world heritage site is easily accessible, and a must place to visit if you are in Nepal.

Lumbini:

Lumbini is one of the pilgrimage sites for Buddhists, which lies in the Rupandehi district of Nepal.  It is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. It is believed that Mayadevi gave birth to Siddharth Gautam, and after achieving enlightenment, he became Lord Buddha. You can see every place built in such a way that you can explore how Lord Buddha grew up there. The site includes the Mayadevi temple and the holy pond where Buddha used to take a bath. Various monuments and monasteries surround the place. You can find museums and research institutes within the sites that help you know about the history of the place. Another attraction of this place is the pillar of Ashoka. It is believed that King Ashoka discovered this pillar in the 3rd century BCE. The inscription in the pillar proves that King Ashoka discovered it, and identified the birthplace of Budhha. World peace pagoda and Myanmar Golden temple is also the part of this place. UNESCO declared Lumbini as World Heritage Site in 1997 A.D. You can travel easily to Lumbini from Kathmandu and enjoy the peace and beauty of Lumbini.

Chitwan National Park:

Chitwan National park covers Nawalpur, Parsa, Chitwan, and Makwanpur districts of Nepal. It was established in 1973 A.D. Chitwan National park is the first National Park of Nepal. It was stated as a world heritage site in 1984 A.D. by UNESCO. It covers and protects a large variety of flora and fauna. It protects animals like one-horned rhino, sloth bear, leopard, pangolin, golden monitor lizard, different species of reptiles, species of birds, and, most importantly, royal Bengal tiger. The most amazing thing here is you can explore and see all these creatures by jungle safari.

You can enjoy the safari through elephant safari, jeep safari, etc. It will be a lifetime experience to see these rare species from close and know about them. Not only wildlife safari, but it is also a famous bird watching as you can see around 544 species of beautiful and rare birds and also tiger-tracking in Nepal. It is near to Kathmandu and can get easy access to the place. Even the stay and trips are available at a reasonable cost. The place looks like it is decorated with handicrafts made by local people. You can even find people of a different ethnic group and get to learn about their cultures and lifestyles. You will not want to miss this place while visiting Nepal.

Sagarmatha National Park:

Sagarmatha lies in the Eastern part of Nepal. It covers the Himalayan region of Nepal. Mt. Everest, the highest peak of the world, lies within this national park. It was founded in 1976 A.D. It was declared as World heritage site in 1979 A.D. by UNESCO. It is the first national park declared as a world heritage site in Nepal. It conserves a large number of forests, wildlife, and cultural resources. It is very famous among tourists. Thousands of tourists visit this place every year. This national park covers various trekking trails in Nepal. Other peaks covered by the park are Mt. Lhotse, Cho Oyu, Mt.Nuptse, Thamserku, Amadablam, etc. It also covers Dudhkoshi river, Bhotekoshi river, and Gokyo lakes. It protects a large number of flora and faunas. Forests are covered with birch, juniper, blue pines, fir, bamboo, and rhododendron that make the sight colorful and beautiful. Around 118 species of birds can be found here, among which you get to see rare birds like Himalayan Monal, blood pheasant, red-billed chough, yellow-billed chough, etc. You can explore rare species of mammals like musk deer, snow leopard, langur, Himalayan wolves, etc. You will most likely get to meet Sherpas as local people and get to know about Tibetan Buddhist cultures practiced by local people. It is the best place to explore the rare natural beauty, rare wildlife, and unique cultures simultaneously.

Panauti:

Panauti lies in Kavrepalanchok district and is one of the smallest and the oldest towns in Nepal. This state has much historical importance for Nepal.  It was listed as UNESCO in 1996 A.D. There are many temples and is considered the holy place of Nepal. Indreshwor temple is the most famous temple in Nepal. It is the largest and tallest pagoda style temple of Nepal. The temple is very well maintained and is known for its classic design.  Two rivers Roshi and punyawati crosses the town and are considered as holy rivers. Various fairs are organized every year here. Among them, Makar Mela is the most famous one. It takes place every 12 years and is known as Barha Barse Mela. Pilgrims from different parts of the country and abroad come to visit this place at this time.  Though the country is highly influenced by modernization, it has managed to preserve its historical and religious values. It is very near to Kathmandu and very easy to visit while traveling in Nepal.

Changunarayan Temple:

Changunarayan temple is believed to be one of the oldest temples in Nepal. It lies in the east of Kathmandu and north of Bhaktapur and is built in a top hill called Changu. It is mainly a temple of Lord Vishnu, God of the creator of life, according to Hindu mythology. The temple is two-storeyed and built-in pagoda-style. Other small temples of gods surround it. Champak trees surround the area adding more beauty to it. The scriptures and arts carved on the walls and pillars reflect the ancient value of the temple. It is believed to be built back in the 3rd century and is preserved to date. It is also listed as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

Kathmandu Durbar Square:

Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the center of the Kathmandu valley. It is in front of the old royal palace in Basantapur. Listed as a world heritage site, it embraces many historical and religious sites and reflects the architecture of ancient Newar artists and artisans. There are many main attractions in this single heritage site. There is Kumari bahal, the only residence of the living Goddess Kumari. Another amazing masterpiece you can witness here is the Kasthamandap temple. It is believed that this temple is made from a single tree. Hanuman Dhoka is another durbar square inside the premises. This museum has nice collections of ancient weapons and types of equipment used by the kings. Taleju temple is the highest temple that only opens at the time of the main Hindu festival, Dashain.  The huge statue of Kal Bhairab is another attraction of this area. The main festival of Newars in Kathmandu, Indra Jatra starts from here. Crowds of people pull the huge chariot with Kumari and other gods in it. The masked dance and their various acts with melodious music add more taste to the festival. It is one of the main attractions for tourists.

Patan Durbar Square:

Patan Durbar square is another world heritage site of Nepal located exactly at the center of Lalitpur where you can see many temples built in alignment here. It also shows the architecture of ancient Newar artists. There are many major attractions here. You can see the ancient royal palace of Malla kings, which treasures ancient equipment used in ancient times. Krishna temple is built in a unique Shikhara style called granthakuta. The story of two Hindu holy books Mahabharat and Ramayana are carved in the pillars of the first and second floors of the temple. Bhimsen temple is renowned for the golden window. It is an important temple for Newars as they worship Bhimsen as god of business and trade. Vishwanath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. In the front entrance, you can see two stoned elephants guarding the temple. Taleju Bhawani used to be the personal temples of ancient kings. It is a five-storeyed temple with triple roofs. The big bell and golden temple is another attraction of this site. Rato machhindranath Jatra is the main festival of Newars living here. The chariot of rato machhindranath is pulled along with masked dance and newari music.

Bhaktapur durbar square:

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in Bhaktapur of Nepal. It is also called Khwopa or Bhadgaon. It is enlisted as a world heritage site, and the beauty of this durbar square attracts many tourists. It is a combination of four different squares: Durbar square, Taumadhi square, Dattatreya square, and pottery square. The pottery of Bhaktapur is very famous. The major attraction of this place is 55 windowed palace. This palace was built during the Malla dynasty and consist of 55 beautifully wooden carved windows. Vatsalya temple is a stone temple that is filled with beautiful carvings. Outside, the temple has a silver bell which carries important historical events. Nyatapole temple is a five-storeyed temple. It is the biggest and tallest temple ever made in Nepal. It is opened only once a year. Another beautiful and high admired attraction of this place is the golden gate. It is believed to be the most beautiful and richly molded crafts of its kind in the entire world. Bisket Jatra is celebrated as the main festival of Newars of this city. It is a highly visited durbar square in Nepal.

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Top Five National Park to Visit in Nepal

Nepal is a country rich with nature and natural resources, being one of the countries where people  come from all over the world just to embrace nature and find joy in traveling would definitely want  to explore more places in Nepal. Being that National parks are our top go to places for people who  want to dwell in the wild and see the adventures that can happen, only in the wild. National parks and  conservation area come up when it comes to protecting the nature and conserving the ecology of  plants and animals. So that the rare species doesn’t go extinct and the balance in the ecosystem  remains. Since, Nepal is a place with balanced ecosystem and natural resources, many rare wild  animals can be found all over the places. Therefore, Nepal has placed its top priority in protecting  such natural resources and also has managed to bring down One Horned Rhino poaching to an  absolute 0%. Climate and vegetation also vary when it comes to national parks and conservation  areas. The wild animals inside are not disturbed in their daily life and can be observed to study their  various activities so that the rare ones can reproduce and increase their species chances of survival.

Furthermore, we’ve compiled our top 5 National parks that you can visit in Nepal. We will list out  the important things that you can do inside the national parks, the main attractions and the rare wild  animals that you can see during your exploring.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park: 

A perfect place to hike just at the edges of Kathmandu Valley. A go to place that can be explored in  less than a day. Shivapuri National park lies at the south side of Kathmandu valley and has its reach  almost over three districts being; Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Dhading. The vast hills that covers the

south side of Kathmandu valley habitats various rare species like leopards, Himalayan black bear,  Himalayan goral and so on. There are different trails that you can explore in the park and the trails  can lead you to prominent trekking destination like Gosaikunda and Langtang. But that is not only  the best thing about this place, the main best thing about this place is the city view you get once you  get towards the top. The view that radiates the feeling of pure satisfaction of a place that is  wonderous in many ways.

Sagarmatha National Park: 

Definitely a famous place, a place that has not only forests and rivers but ties with the holiest place  for Buddhists all over the world. A mystical place that can be called the forbidden valley and has the  highest peak all over the world. People come from many places all over the world just to see the  highest peak of the world; Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) standing tall with 8848m height. Sagarmatha  National Park gives adventurers and explorers the thrill of journeying to this forbidden valley while  overcoming different trails and difficulties. For the people who have interest in wild life, many rare  species can be found in this national park being; the snow leopard, red panda and so on.

Annapurna Conservation Area: 

A place that is not only mystical but has a strong connection with nature, Annapurna conservation  area has all there is to do, be it exploring deep valleys, uncovering the mountain’s secret or having  strong ties with nature and religion. The conservation area is vast place that has great forests, rarest

animals, and one of the biggest mountain range. Many of the peaks that passes the 8000m include in  this region. And the famous Mt. Annapurna and the eccentric Mt. Machapuchchhre can definitely be  defined as Majestic. For the people that has their own love over the wild can find, snow leopards,  Red panda, Kashmir Musk deer, clouded leopard and so on can be found in this region.

Bardia National Park: 

Bardia National park, a pristine national park in the Terai region of Nepal which was first established  in 1988 and covers an area of 968sq km being the largest national park of Nepal. The place itself is a  sanctuary for wild life. The wild animals in this national park are undisturbed and live in a perfect  habitat. Bardia National park is home for the famous royal Bengal tiger, one horned rhino and also  has many other mammals and reptiles. A place that you can take a walk to and get to see the wild  uncover in front of your eyes. The place is located at the far western district of Bardia and is  bordered by Karnali river. Definitely a place to visit and the place offers sport fishing at the Karnali  rivers. Autumn, winter and early summer are the best time to visit this national park.

Chitwan National Park:

Definitely the most famous National park for wild life and excursion. Located at the Terai lowlands  of south-central Nepal, the national park houses wild variety of diversified wild animals that include  the royal Bengal tiger, the one horned rhino and many other different animals. A place where you’ll

get an excellent chance to spot the one horned rhino at its peace and strolling around in its own  natural habitat. The national park also has wide variety species of birds. The national park boasts of  having 68 different mammals being rhinos, tigers, sloth bears, wild boars and hyenas. Another thing  the Chitwan national park is famous for is bird watching as the place has 640 species of birds  available and the many of the rare ones. Bird watching is a famous seasonal activity where you get  the chance to see beautiful birds like, jungle myna, Black crested bulbul, Asian open bill stork, Grey  headed fish eagle, peacocks and many other. There are many other different activities that are  available to do in the national park like, Elephant ride, Jungle safari ride, Watch tower, and many  more.

These are the top 5 national parks in Nepal. Definitely a place that you can enjoy nature working on  its daily routine and also blend in it.

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