The Flag of Nepal

Do you want to know more about the flag of Nepal? The following article will help to give you some interesting information relating to this irregularly shaped flag.

Nepal is the only country which has a non-rectangular flag. Historically, other countries also had non-rectangular flags, but Nepal is the only surviving example.

Although the majority of other countries have rectangular flags, it is worth mentioning that these are not of standard sizes and that sizes differ. As with Nepal, Switzerland and the Vatican also have irregular shaped flags, in that they are square.

The flag in Nepal is divided into two overlapping triangular pennants – one featuring a white 12 point sun and the other segment featuring a white moon. Prior to 1962, when the flag of Nepal was updated by the newly formed Government, the sun and the moon both held faces but these were removed. The two pennants were previously representative of two branches of the Rana dynasty who held power in Nepal prior to the introduction of a multiparty constitutional government. Both pennants have been in use for the last two centuries.

Although the two pennants would have had different meanings prior to them being joined together on the Nepal flag, they are now taken to symbolise the hope that Nepal will endure for as long as the sun and the moon.

The border of the flag in Nepal is blue and this colour was chosen to represent peace within the country. The red background of the flag represents the colour of the rhododendron. The rhododendron is Nepal’s national flower.

The flag was officially adopted by Nepal on 16th December 1962. In the 17th to the 19th century, Nepal was typical of many countries in the Indian subcontinent in that state flags were in place. Due to extensive numbers of flags therefore, many (including that of Nepal) were of interesting designs, colours and shapes.

Due to the current governmental instability in Nepal it will be interesting to see whether or not the flag design remains. In the meantime however, the people of Nepal are patriotic towards their flag and due to its interesting and unusual features, it’s certainly not one which people would have difficulty recognising or recalling!

What Plants Grow in the Himalayas

There are thousands of species of beautiful and exotic plants growing in the Himalayas which are admired by botanists globally. Estimates put the total number at approximately 1,900. Of these 1,900 plants, many are specific only to the Himalayas and many are used for medicinal purposes.

The harsh and difficult environment in the Himalayas which includes freezing temperatures, low levels of oxygen and strong winds means that plant life typically grows fairly close to the land and has a short growing season.
When discussing which plants grow in the Himalayas (and also the presence of animal life), it is useful to use the frameworks which incorporate the idea of four different climatic zones.

The four climatic zones used to define the Himalayas help to understand the type of plants (and also animals) which might be growing in the different areas.

The climatic zones in the Himalayas are positively linked to altitude. Oxygen levels are a key factor in altitude and therefore plays a key role in plant or animal growth and presence.

Plant Growth in the Himalayas - The First Climatic Zone
The first climatic zone (and hence the lowest) is home to forests and plants which typically grow in a forest environment. These plants include pine and fir trees, bamboo plants and rhododendrons.
Plant Growth in the Himalayas - The Second Climatic Zone
The second climatic zone is slightly higher and is home to alpine scrub and related plants. Plants and vegetation in this area also includes shrubs and bushes.
Plant Growth in the Himalayas - The Third Climatic Zone
The third slightly higher climatic zone is still home to alpine scrub, but this zone contains far more limited plant and vegetation growth such as lichen and moss. As mentioned above, the harsh conditions of the Himalayas mean that plants grow closer to the ground as altitude increases.
Plant Growth in the Himalayas - The Fourth Climatic Zone
The fourth climatic zone covers the peaks in access of 1800 feet and due to the permanent presence of ice and snow this terrain is practically uninhabitable and plant life is almost non existent.

The Army Military in Nepal

The army in Nepal is fairly simply organised into five combat support groups, each of which is overseen by a Brigadier General. The five combat support groups which make up the army in Nepal are the Artillery, Air Defence, Armour, Signals and Engineers. The Nepalese Police Force is also considered part of the army in Nepal. The Artillery arm of the army in Nepal is involved in providing fire support. The Air Defence arm of the army in Nepal is involved in providing a comprehensive range of air based support – including the flight of army related air vehicles and the use of fire power during combat. The Armour arm of the army in Nepal plays both a key strategic and also operational role. This arm of the army will use tactics to try and shock the enemy and equally to disperse and destroy them. The Combat Engineers are essential to the success of the ground based army troops as they pave the way for soldiers to progress through particularly difficult terrain. As an example, they may create paths and disable land mines. The Signals arm of the army in Nepal is involved in creating effective communication networks using information systems. The primary purpose of the army in Nepal is to defend the sovereignty and territory of Nepal. As with most other countries, secondary purposes for the army in Nepal are to carry out peace keeping operations, deal with disaster / emergencies and to assist in national development. Entry to the army is voluntary only and individuals entering the army have to be 18 years or over. Until recently King Gyanendra was the Supreme Commander of the Nepal Army, but the ‘People’s Movement for Democracy’ in Nepal delivered a particularly powerful campaign which resulted in royal control over the army being curtailed. Prior to these changes the King of Nepal had to seek approval from the Army Council to deploy the army. The Army Council of Nepal was represented by the Prime Minister, Army Chief and the Defence Minister. Until recently therefore, the army in Nepal was a sovereign army.

Temples in Nepal Buddha Religion

Religiously, Nepal is formerly a Hindu country and as such there are many Hindu temples to see. However, the minority of citizens who are not Hindu are primarily Buddhists.
Buddhist temples (gompas) in Nepal are slightly less formal than the Hindu temples.

It is important that if you visit a temple during your visit in Nepal that you familiarise yourself with temple etiquette prior to entering. This is essential if you are to avoid offence and make the most of your visit.

You should always ask permission prior to entering a temple in Nepal and you will often find that there is a caretaker on hand. The caretaker is the best person to ask if possible. There are some temples in Nepal which prohibit entry to non Hindus / Buddhists however and hence, requesting entry to the temple will be to no avail.

Please note that you are also likely to be prohibited entry to a Hindu temple if you are wearing leather. This includes leather shoes.

The majority of temples in Nepal require those entering to remove their shoes. Facilities are left outside the temple for you to leave your shoes. If you are entering a gompa temple then it is recommended that you also remove your hat.

Other 'don’ts' when entering a temple in Nepal are as follows:

1) Don't smoke anywhere in the temple facilities
2) Don't take any photographs without express permission
3) Do not make a noise or do anything which could distract worshippers if you enter the temple during a ceremony
4) Do not sit on the monks' cushions or likewise, move, touch or step over them
5) Be extremely quiet whilst you in the temple and respect the fact that individuals can be distracted by your presence. The presence of tourists in temples in Nepal is becoming problematic in some areas due to the disruption caused by the traffic of non devotees into and out of the temple. For this reason, consideration is being given to secluding particular parts of the temple from tourists.

If you meet the head lama (teacher / priest) when you are inside the Buddhist temple in Nepal it is traditional to present him with a white scarf wrapped around a donation. White ceremonial scarf is known as a 'kata' and it can be obtained from another monk. The lama will then either remove the donation and return the scarf to you or take both the scarf and the donation. If the lama returns the scarf to you then he is likely to place it around your neck. It is believed that in doing so, the scarf will act as a blessing for you.

It is also recommended that you leave a donation when leaving Hindu temples too.

Shopping in Nepal

Nepal presents an exciting shopping opportunity for all those who love shopping!

Kathmandu, in particular has an excellent array and variety of shops offering almost everything from traditional Nepalese arts and crafts, handmade clothes, pashminas, pottery, jewellery and antiques. However, please note that if you are buying antiques in Nepal, you need to get special permission from the Department of Archaeology to take the antiques out of the country. Customs in Nepal are extremely thorough when it comes to inspecting the baggage of those leaving the country. For this reason, it is essential that you get receipts for any items when shopping which appear to be antique. Ensure not to buy anything when you are shopping which looks as though it is a black market antiquity as this could put you in a very difficult position if you are caught with the item in your baggage.

Carpets are big business in Nepal and carpet weaving is a traditional and beautiful art in this country. Bear in mind, when shopping for carpets in Nepal, that a traditional carpet is approximately 100 cm by 180 cm. They are usually died with vegetable dyes in pastel shades and depict dragon and Tibetan Buddhist symbols. A great place for carpet shopping is Jawlakhel, Patan.

For pottery, try Bhaktapur which is host to one of Nepal’s most famous pottery market. When shopping here, you will see thousands of pottery pieces in neat lines. You will also be able to watch the potters at work as they sit in areas to the side of the market to work.

If you are shopping for jewellery, then Kathmandu is a good place to start. It is possible across most of the jewellery makers in Nepal to ask for particular designs to be made for you – and the costs are extremely reasonable.

Please note when shopping that most sellers will expect you to bargain with them. However, there are more and more shops popping up in Nepal which are targeted specifically at tourists which means that many of the prices are now being fixed.

You should also note when shopping Nepal that you should avoid eye contact with a seller unless you wish to buy something

The Government of Nepal

Nepal has a very interesting history in respect to its Government. The Government in Nepal has experienced great turmoil in the past and continues to be unsettled.

The Government in Nepal has traditionally been one of turmoil. There has been very little stability in any government in Nepal and the longest serving government has served for two years only.

As a general description, the Government in Nepal is Hindu, multiethnic and multilingual. Globally, Nepal is the only formal Hindu government.

Reforms in 1990 led to a new system of government in Nepal; based on a constitutional multiparty democracy.

The government in Nepal can be described in respect to a number of key divisions:

1) Nepal Government – The Executive:

The King is the head of state, supported by a Council of Ministers who are selected by the Prime Minister.

2) Nepal Government – Legislature

The legislature is bicameral and formed of the National Assembly (which has 60 members) and the House of Representatives (which has 205 members).

3) Nepal Government – Legal

In Nepal the Chief Justice is appointed by the Monarch and the supreme court has powers of jurisdiction (in addition to acing as the court of appeal).

The stability of the government in Nepal is threatened by Maoist insurgents who appear to be growing in strength. Of particular concern is the break down of a ceasefire in 2003 between the Government forces and the insurgents.

In 2005 the King dissolved the Government on the basis that the government had failed to control the insurgent movement in Nepal. Once he had dissolved the Government he then proceeded to declare a state of emergency in Nepal and imprison key Government figures. In April 2006 however, the King reconvened the Government following mass protests in Nepal. The majority of the individuals making up the reconvened Government were primarily those who had previously been dismissed and imprisoned.

There appears to be growing hostilities between the different factions of the Government and the King. The largest opposition party in Nepal is now dropping its historical support of the monarchy. In doing so, the party has joined 6 other political parties in Nepal who are also asserting their dissatisfaction with the King.

Although the opposition groups have ruled out an alliance with the Maoist insurgents, it further destabilises the current Government in Nepal.

Weddings and Marriage in Nepal

Weddings in Nepal are momentous occasions which are often planned years in advance of the wedding itself. In line with other festivals in Nepal, weddings are colourful and beautiful events.

Traditionally, weddings in Nepal are arranged by the respective families. It is not uncommon for matches to be decided when the two individuals are still children. However, child marriages in Nepal - as with the majority of countries the rest of the world, are illegal and the couple therefore wait until adulthood to complete their marriage rites. Traditionally families in Nepal consider a number of factors before arranging the marriage. These factors may include caste (traditionally marriages do not happen across castes), religion, ethnicity and also the consideration of ties between families in an effort to build allegiances. It is important that arranged marriage and forced marriage in Nepal are not confused. It is not normal practice for families in Nepal who are arranging marriages to force their offspring to marry someone that they do not wish to marry. The offspring are also consulted and it is important that they consent to the marriage.

It is worth noting however, that there is a slow shift in Nepal away from arranged marriages to 'love' marriages i.e. individuals now have more freedom in Nepal to chose who they wish to marry without family interference. There is also a shift in Nepal towards marriage across castes (which traditionally was strongly resisted) and across ethnic groups.

Hindu weddings and marriages in Nepal are colourful occasions and travellers to Nepal may be fortunate enough to witness either the wedding itself or, at least to witness the wedding parties making the journey to the bride's house. These journeys can sometimes take a number of days to complete due to the distance between the groom and bride's home. Hindu marriages in Nepal are often arranged with the assistance of a priest, who analyses the horoscopes of the couple to ensure that they are compatible and they typically take place during the months of January or February.

Buddhist weddings in Nepal are often quieter occasions, with a focus on ceremonial displays. The weddings are usually extremely large, sometimes encompassing whole villages and large numbers of extended family.

Sherpa weddings and marriages differ to Hindu and Buddhist weddings quite considerably. Sometimes the marriage rites for the couple are completed years in advance of the actual wedding ceremony and consequently, the couple may even have their children attend the wedding!

The Sherpas in Nepal

The Sherpas in Nepal are best known for living at high altitudes and for facilitating moutaineering and trekking expeditions. The following articles gives a greater insight to their background.

Despite being the smallest ethnic group of the overall population, Sherpas are the most well known group of immigrants into Nepal and they are also one of the most studied groups for anthropologists due to their rich history and culture. The population of Sherpas in Nepal totals approximately 35,000 people and they are primarily located in the central and Eastern parts of Nepal.

The Sherpa community became internationally recognised in 1921 when a team of individuals hoping to reach the summit of Mount Everest hired them to help with the exhibition. Sherpas now have a world wide reputation for helping to lead and support some of the great mountaineering expeditions taking place in Nepal. Due to their expertise and ability to lead groups across some of the most challenging terrains in Nepal, Sherpas are now in a position to request hefty fees for their work. Many individuals however, who have had to rely on the Sherpas will testify to their deep knowledge and excellence at mastering some of the most demanding conditions.

The Sherpas moved to Nepal from Tibet approximately 500 years ago - although the oldest remaining Sherpa village in Nepal only dates back 300 years. This same village is also renowned as being one of the highest villages in the world.

When the Sherpas moved from Eastern Tibet to Nepal, they brought with them the Buddhist religion and as such they were also responsible for the construction and maintenance of the beautiful monasteries found in this region of Nepal. The most famous of these monasteries in Nepal is the Tengboche Monastery built in 1920 and which is now home to approximately 35 monks and 30 students - all of whom are Sherpas.

The Sherpas are well accustomed to living in high altitudes in Nepal although most Sherpas have slowly descended to lower level settlements over recent years.

Sherpas are warm people, whose Buddhist religion dictates the need to care for other living creatures. They typically take this requirement extremely seriously and as such, many Westerners claim that their generosity may sometimes cause them to feel uncomfortable. If you are ever in this position however, during your stay in Nepal then be sure to reciprocate the favours that they have shown you as far as possible.

The Sherpas have an interesting naming culture which requires parents to name their sons after the day in which they were born. Clearly not everyone adheres to this cultural practice but it is generally the norm.

Churches in Nepal

When considering Nepal, one does not automatically think about the presence of churches. However, you may be surprised to know that the numbers of churches in Nepal are continuing to grow in line with an increase of people practicing the Christian religion.

Although Nepal is a Hindu country, there are now almost 200 churches and over 400,000 Christian worshipers in Nepal.

This is a surprising development for a landlocked country which has afforded very little openings to religions other than Hinduism.

A challenge is now on to find leaders church leaders to properly and effectively manage the churches in Nepal and to oversee the Christian needs of the respective populations.

An additional challenge of the church movement in Nepal however relates to surviving and achieving due recognition within broader Nepal. Churches in Nepal are still not allowed to register with the authorities in Nepal and as such, many congregations feels forced to worship in individuals’ houses.

Historically, church goers in Nepal have always had to stand their ground in respect to the authorities and more recently, Maoist rebel groups. Proselytizing is illegal in Nepal and in the latter part of the 1980’s, hundreds of church goers were arrested and accused of trying to convert Hindus to Christianity. Other issues which have had to be managed include the threats made by Maoist insurgents – including threats against the church and also pastors.

A recent move from the Parliament to suggest that Nepal becomes a secular country as opposed to a formal Hindu country however, would afford protection to minority worshipping groups such as Christians and Buddhists (although many Buddhists claim that they make up almost 50% of the population in Nepal as opposed to the 20% suggested by the government). It would also result in the recognition of churches and other non Hindu sites of worship. Churchgoers in Nepal are typically supportive of such a move. However, such a move is unlikely to gain much ground with a majority population who typically believe that Nepal is defined by their religion.

A couple of examples of churches in Nepal are as follows:

Kamal Pokhari Church of Christ
101/60 Kamal Marg
KamalPokhari
Kathmandu 44601, Nepal 44601 Nepal

Narayangarh Church of Christ
Narayangarh
Bhratpur-2
Narayangarh, Nepal Nepal

Rickshaws in Nepal

There are many ways to get around in Nepal. Most visitors get around by Taxi and bus in Nepal as car hire is difficult and it is usually necessary to have a driver.

One of the more interesting ways (and sometimes one of the easiest ways in view of the difficult terrain in Nepal) of getting around in Nepal however is by rickshaw.

Rickshaws are a wonderful way of getting around Nepal and as such they are a very popular mode of transport.

They are usually three wheeled vehicles and many are pulled by motorcycle engined devices. However, in the old city in Kathmandu you may see many examples of rickshaws pulled by bicycle.

In particular the battery operated rickshaws are a great way of getting around Nepal without adding further pollution to this already much polluted country.

Rickshaws operate in the same way that auto and bicycle rickshaws operate in the same way as taxis – i.e. there are a number of waiting points for rickshaws and you can also flag them down. The tempos however act in the same way as shared taxis, which means that the driver will wait until they are full before commencing the journey.

Traditionally, rickshaw drivers hire their rickshaw which means that they may try hard to get a ‘good’ deal from you to offset their hire costs. You may also find in this respect that prices for rickshaw journeys vary considerably. As with most countries where there are many tourists, individuals will always try and get the maximum that they can from you. It is worth bearing in mind however, that rickshaw drivers in Nepal are extremely poor and that most of them live below the poverty line. Therefore it is likely that most of us can afford to pay a little extra for our journeys

Recruitment Agencies Nepal

Recruitment agencies tend to operate outside of Nepal, taking Nepalese workers who are looking for a better life abroad as opposed to the other way around.

There are very few recruitment agencies within Nepal which work towards bringing foreigners into the country.

The usual scenario in Nepal involves large numbers of the indigenous population of Nepal applying to recruitment agencies in other countries which target foreign and migrant workers. Hence, the flow of foreign workers is usually out of Nepal as opposed to into Nepal and as such, the significant numbers of employment agencies operating outside of Nepal far outweigh the numbers of employment agencies inside Nepal. This imbalance helps to maintain the exodus of Nepalese citizens hoping to work as foreigners in overseas countries.

Unfortunately, conditions for individuals from Nepal taking jobs in foreign countries via the above mentioned recruitment agencies are usually extremely poor. It is recognised by a number of countries – particularly India, that people from Nepal will perform the least desirable jobs for very little pay. As such, the recruitment agencies are able to capitalise on the foreign work flow from Nepal at great expense to the individuals involved. Not only do many of these recruitment agencies exploit foreign workers from Nepal in respect to poor working conditions and pay, but they also make them pay for the ‘honour’. It is not unusual for these recruitment agencies to charge potential foreign workers up to Rs 100,000 as a registration and position finding fee. Many individuals from Nepal have to sell ancestral homes and property in order to meet the payments demanded from the recruitment agencies. However, these individuals are often ill informed and believe that leaving Nepal to work overseas as a foreign worker will guarantee good pay and conditions and that they will be able to send surplus money back to their villages to support family.

The most at risk group are women from Nepal who are regularly taken on by illegal entities posing as bona fide recruitment agencies and then subsequently sold into slavery and prostitution.

A recent publicised case involved a young woman from Nepal who had been recruited by a foreign recruitment agency as a domestic worker in Hong Kong. She was eventually rescued from the most appalling working conditions and, upon rescue, she was found to have severe pneumonia, jaundice and only 2.5 pints of blood remaining in her body.

The plight of innocent Nepalese citizens, searching for a better life is too often in the hands of these unscrupulous recruitment agencies and too little is being done to address the problem and to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Medical Facilities in Nepal

Medical facilities in Nepal are generally fairly poor and certainly not in line with the medical facilities which are typically available in the West.

For this reason therefore, it is strongly advised that you visit your own medical practitioner prior to travelling to Nepal and that you take advantage of any recommended inoculations and vaccinations. Due to the limited medical facilities in Nepal, you should also take good heed of any health and hygiene precautions during your trip.

Nepal has a population of over 28,000,000 and yet it is estimated that there are only in the region of 6,000 hospital beds. The medical facilities therefore, are extremely stretched.

Typically visitors to Nepal, who are seriously ill, are flown to the nearest medical facilities in either Bangkok, New Delhi or Singapore. It should be noted however, that travellers who become ill in remote areas in Nepal may face problems being evacuated due to the attacks by Maoist insurgents on helicopters and also telephone services. It is strongly suggested that you take out medical evacuation insurance if you are travelling to Nepal. This should provide further assistance should the need arise for you to be evacuated to more suitable medical facilities – please speak to the insurance provider regarding the issues of remote evacuations and how this is managed.

Thinking of a trip to Nepal? Then it may be useful for you to read up on the medical facilities available in Nepal.

If it becomes necessary for you to use the medical facilities in Nepal, then the Patan hospital is located in the Lagankhel district of Patan. The medical facilities in this particular hospital are also staffed by western missionaries.

Many of the expatriates in Nepal visit the CIWEC clinic in Baluwatar. The medical facilities in this clinic have a particular focus on travellers’ conditions and is staffed almost totally by western medics.

You should note that the majority of medical facilities in Nepal will expect payment for their services – this is regardless of whether or not you have medical insurance. You should ensure therefore that if you are travelling to any medical facility in Nepal that you take cash with you. As an example of costs, the CIWEC clinic in Baluwatar charges approximately $35 per visit.

HUNGAMATRAVEL

It is always advisable to conduct as much research as possible into any travel destination prior to travel.

There are some excellent travel guides available for Nepal; some more detailed than others.

Lonely Planet has published an excellent travel guide for Nepal and is a great resource to carry around on arrival.

This particular travel guide contains all of the relevant information that you should know for your trip – including, 56 maps of Nepal, information on festivals and national holidays in Nepal, excellent listings for accommodation in Nepal, information on Nepalese restaurants, information on mountain biking, rafting, kayaking, mountaineering and trekking in Nepal. As with most travel guides, it also contains some useful facts and figures regarding Nepal.

A great online travel guide resource for Nepal is ‘www.visitnepal.com’. This site provides an excellent catalogue of links for hotels, tour guides, rafting agents, biking agents and safari agents in Nepal. This online travel guide also has a great selection of articles and information concerning safari, shopping, eating, entertainment, activity, meditation etc.

Another online travel guide for Nepal is ‘www.enjoynepal.com’. As with the travel guide referred to above, it is also an excellent resource covering almost everything you need to know if travelling to Nepal. A further great advantage of this particular travel guide is a multimedia presentation which (at the time of writing), is featured on the first page of the site. The site also has features such as an online conversion tool which gives conversions of major currencies into the currency of Nepal and a further tool which gives up to the minute weather advise. Finally, a great advantage of online tools, which can’t be offered by paper version travel guides is that the site is also host to a message board which allows prospective and post travellers to Nepal to leave messages and to give / receive advice etc.

You’d be well placed to both buy the Lonely Planet travel guide (or a similar travel guide) whilst simultaneously having a look at some of the excellent travel guides which are readily available (and free!) online.

Madhesi People Nepal

The Madhesi culture is one of the oldest cultures in the world. Read on for an insight into the plight of this extraordinary group of people.

The Madhesh is also known as the Terrai in Nepal and it is located in the Southern district of Nepal.

Individuals living in the Madhesh in Nepal are commonly known as the Madhesi people. Estimates suggest that the Madhesi people constitute between 35 and 50% of the overall population of Nepal and that the actual Madhesh area itself constitutes nearly 20% of the land space in Nepal.

Madhesh is commonly believed to have been the Kingdom of the legendary King Janak and as such, the Madhesi people are believed to be part of the oldest culture in Nepal.

There is considerable condemnation aimed at the Nepal government that they have done very little to protect both the Madhesi people and the Madhesi culture. It is argued by the government and the King of Nepal that Nepal should consist of just ‘one’ people and hence, minority groups are not afforded any protection.

In response to this, the Madhesi people formed the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) (also known as Madhesi Peoples’ Rights Forum) demanding both autonomy and self-determination for its people.

Unfortunately, the use of weapons and violence to try and secure the demands made by the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum in Nepal has resulted in a growing belief that the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum are nothing more than one of many other terrorist groups in Nepal.
Examples of some of the complains levelled against the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum in Nepal are that members of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum are insisting that any ‘hill’ people are expelled from the flat regions of the Madhesi terrain. They have also been accused of appalling acts of violence against unidentified groups – believed to consist primarily of Maoist activists.
The truth to these accusations surrounding the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum in Nepal however, is not always clear cut and the allegations may only stem from the behaviour of a minority within the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and hence not be supported by the broader community.

Protests in the earlier part of March 2007 saw the deaths of almost 38 members of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum and curfews to help control the violence were only recently lifted.

Mountaineering in Nepal

Want to know more about mountaineering in Nepal? The following article provides an intial outline.

Fortunately mountaineering in Nepal is no longer limited to the exhibition heroes of old who scaled the Himalayan summits. The exhilaration of climbing is now open to everyone. For this reason, one of the most popular reasons for visiting Nepal is to partake in mountaineering activities. Nepal is home to 8 of the world’s highest mountains. The highest of them all is Mount Everest. In 1953, Hillary and Tenzing reached the summit of Mount Everest and hence paved the way for others to flood to Nepal in their thousands to try and capture some of the exhilaration of climbing these beautiful peaks.

It is worth noting however, that mountaineering in Nepal can be extremely dangerous due to the height of the mountains and the inherent dangers which climbing them poses. As an example, almost as many people have lost their lives trying to climb the Annapurna massif (with the highest mountain being the tenth highest mountain in the world) as have actually reached the summit.

It is essential therefore that you join a reputable trekking organisation if you are intending do to any mountaineering or climbing whilst in Nepal.

If you wish to climb one of the lower Himalayan peaks then the majority of trekking associations in Nepal do not require you to have previous mountaineering experience. However, they do recommend that you are in good physical health prior to joining. The trekking associations will all give you initial training on the use of climbing apparatus and on techniques such as rope handling.

The length of expeditions depends on the peaks being climbed. Mountaineering exhibitions to Nava Khang in Langtang valley often last approximately three weeks. You may be able to see more than one peak during an exhibition of the Annapurna massif in just over a month.
To climb one of the mountains in Nepal, it is necessary to apply for a permit from the Ministry of Tourism’s Mountaineering Section in Kathmandu. It is likely that many mountaineering associations will do this on your behalf.
Although permits for climbing Mount Everest are currently being charged at $50,000 you will find that the smaller peaks are far more affordable!

Embassy Consulate Visa Requirements Applications

The following article gives some high level information on Embassy and Consulates within Nepal coupled with high level information on Visa requirements and applicationsPrior to travelling to Nepal, visas for entry can be gained in over eighteen Embassies and Consulates located around the world.

As with any trip overseas for an extended period, it is necessary to register with your respective Embassy or Consulate whilst you are in Nepal.

If you are trekking during your visit to Nepal then it is suggested that in addition to registering with your respective Embassy or Consulate that you also register with the Himalayan Rescue Association. Registering with your respective Embassy or Consulate during your stay in Nepal enables contact to be made with you in the event of an emergency or rescue operation. When you visit the Embassy or Consulate you will need to take your passport number, emergency contact details and your itinery details with you.

If you are unable to find the respective Embassy or Consulate for your country then it is necessary for you to find out which country's Embassy or Consulate in Nepal represents your country. You can find out which Embassy or Consulate in Nepal represents your country by contacting your own Embassy or Consulate back in your home country.

The following information contains contact details of a number of the Embassies and Consulates in Kathmandu. Please note that this list is not exhaustive:

Australian Embassy, Kathmandu Nepal = 01-437-1678

Canadian Embassy, Kathmandu Nepal = 01-441-5193

Chinese Embassy, Kathmandu Nepal = 01-441-1740

French Embassy, Kathmandu Nepal = 01-441-2332

German Embassy, Kathmandu Nepal = 01-441-2786

Indian Embassy, Kathmandu Nepal = 01-441-0900

Japanese Embassy, Kathmandu Nepal = 01-442-6680

Tourist visas in Nepal are limited to five weeks in any one calendar year. However, to extend your visa you can visit either Kathmandu or Pokhara or alternatively a local police station. You may also be able to get relevant information on extending your visa from your respective Embassy or Consulate.

Trekking permits can only be issued at the Central Immigration Office of the Home Ministry, His Majesty's Government at Thamel in Kathmandu Nepal.

Enjoy your visit to Nepal and remember to adhere to the recommendation that you register with your respective Embassy / Consulate on arrival. This arrangement has proved invaluable to many individuals who have consequently had to rely on their Embassy making contact with them.

Know Why Nepal is Called Country of Mountains?

To the south of Nepal is the Terai- a flat tropical lowland.From the Terai, the Land rises highly to the Mahabharat mountain range with peaks of up to 3,050 m.This is followed by central Hills, an undulating mountain region which leads to the snow covered Great Himalaya Range whose awesome peaks form the northern boundary of Nepal in the east.Though only 193km across Nepal has a wide variety of geographical regions, ranging from tropical southern flat lands to the arctic Tibetan Plateau.

Nepal’s Himalaya is the largest and highest standing 800 km across with eight peaks that soar above 8000 meters including Mt. Everest(8848m), the highest peak in the world.

The Great Himalayan, since time immemorial have grasped the dreams, aspirations and imagination of men.They are majestic, so awesome,so mysterious and so it is called the book of the snow and home of God.The panorama of the Great Himalaya of Nepal is vivid spectrum of beauty and colour.the grandeur of Himalayan landscape, framed in mist cases by dazzling snow peaks creates an impression of serenity, calminess and idyllic repture. These great peaks have always symbolized the great ideal of human thoughts, deeds as well as consolation. As for the adventure, Nepal consists the scenic grandeur of the hills and valley with the everlasting great Himalaya forming out-of-the world wonders.

The Great Himalayan region of Nepal lies at the altitude of 4877m to 8848m above the sea level. It includes existing 14 peaks which exceeds in altitude of 8000m.The Great Himalayan of Nepal and their peaks are covered up with snow throughout the year. They are loftiest mountain in the world and include world’s highest and also most lovely peaks. They are of exceptional interest for the mountaineers and are undoubtedly attractive scenic spots in the world.

The Nepal Himalayas, stretching from 800 kilometers from the Kanchenjunga massif to the Mahakali River. Both the Kanchanjunga massif to the Mahakali river lie more than 1300 peaks with an altitude more than 6000m.These can be set apart as follows:
Above 8000 meters-eight of the 14 highest peaks in the world
About 7000 meters-one hundred and twenty seven peaks
About 6000 meters-one thousand one hundred and sixty-six peaks

Nepal Himalaya consists many outstandingly beautiful mountain groups. The kanchenjunga Himal forms the eastern most precinct of the Nepal Himalaya.One of the most impressive of the Himalayan Giants, it is the third highest peak of the world having 8586 meters.

Khumbu Himal is another group of Nepal Himalaya which has greatest concentration of peaks. It has many 6000 meters peaks and four above 8000 meters peaks dominated by Mt. Everest, the highest peaks in the world.

Fun Facts about the Himalayas

Did you want to know some fun and simple facts about the Himalayas? Then read ahead. Some of these fun facts are amazing and will certainly not disappoint.

Simple facts and information relating to the Himalayas has been widely requested via our Nepal site. For this reason, the following information was compiled with the intention of creating some simple facts and figures relating to the most beautiful range of mountains in the world.

Fact One:

When translated, the Himalayas means the ‘abode of snow’!

Fact Two:

The Himalayas formed approximately 70 million of years ago following a collision between India and Asia via the Indo Austrlian and Eurasian plates. This tremendous collision resulted in the beautiful Himalayan range for which Nepal is now so famous.

Fact Three:

75% of Nepal is covered by the Himalayas

Fact Four:

Although the Himalayas is the highest mountain range in the world, it is also the youngest.

Fact Five:

The Himalayas in Nepal contains over 250 beautiful peaks which all exceed 6,000 meters in height.

Fact Six:

31 of the Himalayan peaks exceed 7,600 meters

Fact Seven:

Of the fifteen highest mountain peaks in the World, nine of them are contained within the Nepal Himalayas

Fact Eight:

Mount Everest (8,848 metres), the highest mountain in the world, is part of the Himalayas in Nepal. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first people to climb Mount Everest in 1953.

Fact Nine:

The Himalayas is formed by three key ‘bands’ all of which are parallel with each other. The highest peak of mountains from within these three bands is the Great Himalayan Range. The Great Himalayan range has an average height of 4,570 meters

Fact Ten:

There is stunning geographical variation in the Himalayan mountains. The geographic variation is incredible as individuals travelling through the Himalayas can experience jungles to green vegetative landscapes

Fact Eleven:

Although Nepal is famous for the Himalayas, this beautiful range of mountains also reaches into China, India, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Fact Twelve:

Another well known fact is that the Himalayas is the source of the Indus Basin, the Yangtze Basin and the Ganga-Brahmaptura which are three of the worlds primary river systems

Fact Thirteen:
The Himalayas are geologically alive! The southern front moves approximately 20 mm a year and it is estimated that in 10 million years time, the Himalayas will have moved approximately 1,500 km into Asia

Landslides in Nepal

Nepal has been subject to some devastating landslides. Unfortunately landslides are not the only natural disaster to regularly hit Nepal.

July 2007, has seen yet more deaths from landslides in Nepal. On this occasion, the landslides have occurred in remote villages.

Landslides in Nepal are one of the most common natural hazards, claiming a significant number of lives each year and resulting in untold damage to the environment.

The consequences of landslides are devastating wherever they occur – Nepal is no exception. Recent landslides in Nepal have resulted in the loss of farming land, agricultural production, livestock, homes, villages and road networks. Those who may keep their homes in Nepal may be affected by other consequences of landslides such as loss of power in the home or telecommunications.

At least 75% of landslides in Nepal are caused by the natural movement of land – particularly in the mountainous areas of Nepal. The landslides may also be caused by the erosion of land by rivers, small / large earthquakes, the result of melting glaciers. However, following the recent landslides in Nepal, Environmentalists have cited the silting of river beds, soil erosion and the growing population as additional causative factors of landslides in Nepal.

Sadly, due to the difficult terrain of Nepal – particularly in the mountainous regions, it is often difficult to send help to landslide areas immediately. Equally, it is also difficult in many areas in Nepal to send the equipment necessary to help locate and rescue landslide survivors.

Nepal is not only subject to landslides. Other common natural disasters have included earthquakes, forest fires and glacier movements.

As a world we are currently experiencing what appears to be an increase in natural disasters. Although we are relatively powerless universities across the world are making extraordinary steps in helping us to predict landslides and other disasters both in Nepal and elsewhere.

Researchers for Durham University may well have made discoveries which will assist countries such as Nepal who are so powerless in these events.

Using soil sample techniques, the researchers have been able to predict the point at which landslides are likely to occur. Due to the foresight of these techniques, it means that if applied to areas of Nepal which are frequent victims of landslides that it may be possible to predict landslides and to move evacuate potential victims to areas of safety well before they occur.

Mountain Biking in Nepal

For those who love mountain biking, Nepal makes an excellent destination as it provides unrivalled challenges for the mountain biking fanatic!

As in any other country, the benefits of mountain biking in Nepal are not just limited to the spectacular views. Mountain biking also allows people to experience the exhilaration of independent travel and the opportunity to meet local people on their routes and to gain a first hand insight into their culture. Whilst mountain biking, you are also more likely to gain access to non touristic and remote areas.Nepal is a great place for mountain biking; offering challenging and beautiful routes.

What greater an experience than to enjoy the beautiful offerings of the spectacular mountain views and terrains in Nepal. Even novice mountain bikers can enjoy some of the less demanding mountain trails in Nepal.

The mountain trails on offer ascend thousands of miles and each stopping point as one travels on these routes allows for increasingly stunning views. Clearly the ascent of these beautiful mountain routes is coupled with the excitement and sheer exhilaration of the subsequent descent - which when done with speed, allows the adrenalin to flow and makes and difficulties of climbing the mountains in Nepal all the more worthwhile.

The most popular mountain biking routes in Nepal will be discussed in separate articles. As a brief overview however, Kathmandu Valley has some fantastic routes - most of which are detailed in a Kathmandu Valley Map. This map is typically known as the 'German Map. It is useful to refer to this map as designing your own ad hoc route when mountain biking in Nepal, could result in you becoming drawn into routes which are characterised by steep rock faces; requiring you to carry your bike for a signficant part of your excursion. A survey of mountain bikers visiting the Annapurnas found that most of the mountain bikers in this area carried their bikes for at least 75% of their trip.

In addition to the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, the Terrai also has some beautiful routes - most of which can be completed on flatter terrain than those in the Kathmandu Valley.

An overview of the equipment needed whilst mountain biking in Nepal will be provided in a separate article.

Food in Nepal

Nepalese food is very healthy. For people travelling to Nepal on vacation, back-packing or trekking it is good to know what food is eaten in Nepal in order to prepare for the trip.

Nepalese food is heavily influenced by Indian and Tibetan cuisine and consequently you should come across a wide variety of food during your stay. International foods from across the globe are particularly represented in restaurants in Kathmandu.

Although traditional Nepalese food is often described as ‘bland’, Nepalese cuisine is certainly healthy and extremely nourishing.

The most popular Nepalese food includes a dish called ‘dhal bhat tarkari’. Dhal bhat tarkari consists of rice (bhat), curried vegetables (tarkari) and a type of lentil soup know as dhal. Bhat is certainly a staple Nepalese food. However in areas where rice is scare (primarily in poor and high-altitude areas) the staple food is usually dhiro, a thick mush which is produced from corn or millet.

Other popular foods in Nepal include:

Curd – A type of yoghurt
Gundruk – A sun-dried leafy green vegetable which is cooked in different ways (particularly in soup)
Thupka – A traditional chicken soup
Masu – Meat with a type of spicy gravy and rice
Alu Tama – Potato made with bamboo shoots

Sweet Nepalese foods include:

Skiarni – A spiced sweet pistachio desert
Juju Dhau – A rich creamy curd

Popular Nepalese drinks include locally produced beer and ‘lassi’ which is refreshing drink made from yoghurt and water.

There are customs relating to food and drink in Nepal which you should adhere to. The key things to be aware of are that non-hindus are not welcome in the Nepalese kitchen under any circumstances. You should also be careful not to touch anybody else’s food whilst in Nepal as this is considered the height of bad manners. When eating your food, you should be careful to ensure that you use your right hand at all times as the left hand in Nepal is primarily used for cleaning oneself after using the toilet. Equally you should never pass food to anyone with your left hand whilst in Nepal. Cows are considered holy in Nepal and therefore any food containing beef is strictly prohibited.

You may also notice that there are caste etiquettes relating to the eating of food whilst you are in Nepal. A high-caste Brahman can not eat food which has been prepared by somebody from a lower caste. In effect, this means that a high-caste Brahman is unable to eat his / her food in a restaurant as they cannot be sure who is doing the cooking in the kitchen.

Disabled Travellers Nepal

Unfortunately disabled travellers in Nepal are confronted by many obstacles which make travelling in Nepal very difficult.

Nepal has very few - if any, facilities to accommodate disabled travellers. The vast majority of hotels do not have lifts, which means that disabled travellers are often precluded from staying in hotels - particularly since there are no reports of hotels in Nepal which have railings and other facilities on site for disabled travellers. An additional issue is that most hotels in Nepal have a number of stories and for the vast majority of hotels accommodation is housed in the upper levels of the buildings.

Nepal is also renowned for twisty routes and tight bends characterised by uneven pavements. Typically, the older parts of Nepal do not have pavements at all. Consequently, disabled travellers who rely on a wheelchair for transportation face incredible issues manoeuvring around pedestrian areas in Nepal.

It is likely that the advice, therefore, of many disabled travellers with very limited mobility would be to invest considerable time planning a trip to Nepal and to engage an agent who can work on your behalf; identifying suitable places to stay and liaising with the hotel and travel industry to ensure that all relevant plans and preparations have been made.

Paradoxically however, disabled travellers have also made significant achievements in Nepal and accomplished things which individuals without disabilities have been unable to achieve. As an example, Eric Weihenmayer climbed to the Everest Summit despite being blind and two quadriplegics recently completed a trek of Pokhara. There are also vast numbers of other stories of individuals who have overcome disabilities to complete incredible feats in Nepal.
Clearly however, these individuals have undoubtedly trained prior to their visit to Nepal and have adapted their accessories accordingly.

It is not uncommon for disabled travellers visiting Nepal to stay with Nepalese families as a solution to the limitations in many of the hotels in Nepal.

Consequently, although Nepal is not well equipped for disabled travellers many of these challenges can be overcome. It is also comforting to note that Nepalese society typically goes out of their way to try and accommodate those who may have particular needs.

Animals in the Himalayas

It is worth mentioning upfront, that the animals in the Himalayas are under great threat due to extensive deforestation and the subsequent loss of their homes and habitat. It seems that measures to prevent the threat to these beautiful animals in the Himalayas are not proving terribly effective and that their numbers are still dwindling.

The Himalayas is a very harsh environment and as such animals have to be well equipped to survive.

Clearly, the Himalayas become less inhabitable with altitude. This is due to the increasingly harsh conditions and also to an increasing lack of oxygen. It is almost unheard of for animals to be found above 1,800 feet as this is where the snow and ice become almost permanent features.

Animals living at higher altitudes usually have very thick skins and hibernate during the winter months when food is scarce.

As with plants which grow in the Himalayas, growth is usually very close to the ground and as such it is also the case that animals living in the higher climatic zones have shorter limbs and are smaller in height.

Examples of Animals in the Himalayas

Examples of some of the animals living in the Himalayas are black bears, musk, snow leopards, foxes, wolves, langur monkeys, red pandas, Himalayan tahrs and martens.

The snow leopard is a member of the large cat family and is a predator of other animals living in the Himalayas. The Himalayan tahr is just one of it’s many animals of prey.

The Himalayan tahr is a beautiful animal which resembles a goat, but which has far longer hair and is a deep brown and red in colour. This animal typically lives on the rocky hillsides of the Himalayas.

The Himalayan Yak is a type of ox; characterised by long shaggy hair and living in areas in which there is much grass and lichen. People living in the Himalayas depend considerably on the yak for both food (meat and diary products) and transportation. For this reason, the Yak is usually farmed in herds.

Not only are the Himalayas home to animals such as those mentioned above, they are also home to the golden eagle and vultures.

Wildlife Safari in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

Koshitappu wildlife reserve lies on the flood plains of the Sapta-Koshi river in Saptari and Sunsari Districts of eastern part Nepal. The reserve offers an important habitat for a variety of wildlife. The last surviving population (about 100 individuals) of wild buffalo or Arna is also found here including other mammals. A total of 280 different species of birds have been recorded. Amidst the jungle environment Aqua Birds unlimited camp and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Camp have come into existence. The activities include here are morning jungle walk by the river lagoons and wetlands, canoe ride, slide shows, bird watching, cultural dances and visit unique village settlements.

The reserve is a wetland of international significance. In 1987, it was declared a Ramsar site. It is home to more than 280 bird species including 20 duck species, 2 species of ibises, many storks, egrets and herons. The endangered swamp partridge and Bengal florican are found here. The Koshi Barge is an extremely important resting-place for migratory birds. The last surviving population of wild buffalo or arna is found here. The reserve is also home to many types of mammals such as hog deer, spotted deer, wild boar and blue bull. The endangered Gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin have been recorded in the Koshi River. The vegetation mainly includes tall khar-pater grasslands with a few patches of khair-sissoo scrub forest and deciduous mixed riverine forest. During the monsoon, the reserve is flooded with depths ranging from 10 to 300 cm. From season to season the Sapta-Koshi River changes its course. Area of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve 175 sq. km.and established: 1976. Location of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is situated on the flood plains of the Sapta-Koshi River in Eastern Nepal.

Wildlife Safari Nepal

For those who wish to experience the natural environment at its best there is no better place to visit than Nepal. Nepal is a country of exceptional biodiversity and a beautiful natural environment. The tropical jungles of the Terai preserve some of the best wildlife habitat in the subcontinent. The mountainous country also shelters some of the world's most rare animals. Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) National Park and Royal Chitwan National Park with typical natural, cultural and landscape characteristics were listed as World Heritage sites in 1979 and 1984 respectively.

The Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, a wetland of international significance, was declared a Ramsar Site in 1987. Nepal has 16 Parks (National Park, Wildlife Reserves and Conservation Areas), occupying 16% of its total geographical area. Jungle safaris on elephant ride or jeep drive are offered at the Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Royal Chitwan National Park, Royal Bardia National Park and the Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, all of which are located in the low plain land. National parks located specially in the Terai region in the Nepal which attract visitors from all over the world. And a visit gives close up opportunities to view animals as well as experiencing the wilderness. Jungle safari involves game, jungle walk, dugout canoes trips.

You ride on an elephant's back or on a four wheeler jeep accompanied by a fully trained guide (also known as expert Naturalists) for the love of nature and animals. In Nepal, Chitwan and Bardia are two hot dishes on the menu. Chitwan accommodates more than 43 species of animals. Among all, the endangered one-horned rhino, Royal Bengal tiger, Gharial crocodile, four-horned antelope, striped hyena and the Gangetic dolphin are the main attractions here. Come explore the jungle with us!

We are operating following Wildlifw Fafari in many diffrent National Park & wildlife Reserve Himalayan River in Nepal. Wildlife Safari in Chitwan National Park, Wildlife Safari in Bardia National Park, Wildlife Safari in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Wildlife Safari in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. Also we are operating tour and treks Langtang National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, RaRa National park, Shey-Phoksndo National Park, Khaptad National Park, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Makalu Barun Natioanl Park and Conservation Area, Annapurna Conservation Area. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Koshi Tappu Wild Reserve, Shivapuri Water Shed Conservation Area, Chitwan National park, Royal Bardia national park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Sukla Phant Wildlife Reserve, Manaslu Conservation Park, Manaslu Conservation Area, Annapurna Conservation Area, Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, Langtang National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Rara National Park, Shey Phoksando National Park, Makalu Barun National Park, Khaptad National Park, Koshi Tapppu Wild Reserve, Royal Chitwan National Park, Royal Bardia National Park, Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Sukla Phant Wildlife Reserve, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Shivapuri Water Shed Consrevation. For more details information about wildlife safari

Hindu Circuit Tours Nepal

Nepal is the only Hindu Kingdom in the world and also a Hindu majority country. The second largest religion is Buddhism. Hinduism is a multi disciplinary religion called Shanatan Dharma. The Hindu religion has a large number of Gods but the Trinity of Gods is considered Supreme. The Trinity of Gods are: Brahma: The Creator; Vishnu: The Preserver or Savior; and Shiva: The Destroyer. The Gods are always associated with their consorts. The Gods are not considered complete without their counterpart i.e. consorts. The three gods represent the three fundamental powers of nature which are manifest in the world viz. creation, destruction and maintenance. The Creation is going on all the time and so is the destruction. And preservation is an integral part of the processes of creation and destruction.

There are three kinds of Hindu Pilgrimages in Nepal for 1. Lord Shiva 2. Lord Vishnu, and 3. Ma Shakti. According to Purans Himalaya is home of Lord Shiva and Parbati. Hence there are many Pilgrimage sites related to Lord Shiva in Nepal. Pashupati Nath Temple is the Holiest pilgrimage of Lord Shiva. Mt. Kailash is the mountain of Lord Shiva and it is considered holiest of all holy mountains. Mt. Kailash is in Tibet near Nepal Tibet border. A mountain with a Temple on its top is also considered Holy Mountain. There are several Shakti-peeths related to Durga Ma through out Nepal. Dakhinkali and Guheswori are most famous Shakti-peeths of Kathmandu valley. Other important Shakti-peeths are Pathibhara, Shaileswori, Vindyavashini, Mankamana, Jogeshwori, etc. Such Shakti-peeths are usually situated on the top of a mountain. The confluence of rivers, particularly when they are major tributaries of the Ganges, is always regarded as religiously significant by Hindus, as it is believed a third spiritual river also joins. Such confluence is called Triveni.

Damodar Kunda Darshan Trek, Nepal

The Damodar Kunda (lake) is famous for Hindu religion, it is situated rain shadow are of High Himalayas north of Annapurna range. The elevation of the Damodar Kunda is just 4890 meters; it is cold and windy place. We will recommend to you visit during the full moon of August every year, because every year there is a big festival up there many pilgrimages Hindu and Buddhist visit full moon of August. Usually, you can visit April to September every year. Festival time will be great for visit Damodar Kund. From Damodar Kund, the views are great from some viewpoints a bit higher than the lakes, just a short climb up some of the hills. The Tibetan plateau & Damodar Himal to the north and the Annapurna Himalayan massive to the south. The Damodar lakes are located three days walk north east of the main Mustang trekking route & very close to Tibetan border. Damodar Kunda lies on restricted upper mustang between Kagbeni and Muktinath.

Damodar Himal, mountain range in Nepal Himalayas, in MUSTANG district. Includes Muktinath Himal (6,706m), Bhrikuti Peak (6,364m). There are 65 peaks in this Himal range. MARSYANGDI river takes origin from this range. If you're planning a trip to the illusive and infamous Damodar Kund here are some priceless bits of information that could be the difference between life and death, and negatively eventful pilgrimage and a relatively clear trek and pilgrimage.

Damodar Kund (Lake) situated in a basin in the Damodar Himal and flows southward through a rain shadow valley on the eastern edge of the Annapurna Range. The are two versions of the Origin of the Kali Gandaki river; One will say, the river comes from a lake near the Tibetan border by the name of Damodar-kund north east of Muktinath (a 2-3 day trip per foot away). Others will say the river appears from a crack of the Dongmar mountain north west of Lo Mantang (what is much further north than the first description) and that the waters of Damodar kund are unique to themselves. There are several lakes, the area being locally called "Charang the land of hilly lakes."

The Damodar lakes are located three days walk north east of the main Mustang trekking route & very close to the border with Tibet. From Damodar Kund, the views are great from some viewpoints a bit higher than the lakes, just a short climb up some of the hills. The Tibetan plateau & Damodar Himal to the north and the Annapurna Himalayan massive to the south. The walk to the Damodar Kund (lake) is not so difficult but quite long walking distance and only sometimes a bit steep and almost flat. Only problem is the altitude and I have been aware of this while working out the itinerary for you.

Don't take unnecessary chances, for some there is a need to worry about the altitude. However, with some for-thought if you feel you may be at risk in high altitude, with such things as breathing problems, heart problems, over-weight - blood pressure, get head aches, please see your health professional before attempting the walk. If you're healthy and fit but still worried about Altitude Sickness before leaving Katmandu arrange a Gamo Bag - Air pressure bag. The highest camp is at the Damodar Kund just 4890 meters. As Damodar kund ( at 6100m = 21,000 ft approx.' ) comes under the Upper Mustang region which is a restricted area, the Nepali government have an access fee for permits into the area. For many years, especially during times of India-China-Nepal troubles over Tibet you couldn't even get a trekking permit for love nor money. Now permits are readily available for a pretty hefty price.

Outline Itinerary

Days 01: Arrival at Kathmandu; transfer to the Hotel Days 02: Sight seeing around Kathmandu valley Days 03: Drive/fly to Pokhara Days 04: Fly to Jomsom and trek to Kagbeni Days 05: Trek to Chele Days 06: Trek to Giling Days 07: Trek to Ghami Days 08: Trek to Tsarang Days 09: Trek to Lo-manthang Days 10: Acclimatization and explore around Lo-manthang Days 11: Trek to Yara Days 12: Trek to Bas Khola Days 13: Acclimatization at Bas Khola Days 14: Trek to Damodar kunda (Lake) Days 15: Trek to Ghechung Khola Days 16: Trek to Tange Days 17: Trek to Muktinath Days 18: Trek to Jomsom Days 19: Fly back to Pokhara Days 20: Drive/fly back to Kathmandu Days 21: Departure on your own destination

Gosaikunda

A lake is believed to have been created by Lord Shiva when he thrust his Trishula (trident) into a mountain to extract water so that he could cool his stinging throat after he had swallowed poison. there is a large rock in the center of the lake, which is said to be the remains of a Shiva shrine. People often claim that they see Shiva lying in the water. Devotees gather here in hordes on the full moon night of August to take holy dips in the lake.

Gosaikunda is situated at the altitude of 4380m to the north of Kathmandu on the Langtang trekking trail. The holy lake is a two day long trek from Dhunche, which can be reached through an adventurous 118km mountain road from Kathmandu via Trishuli Bazaar. Small hotels and pilgrim shelters are here for travellers.

The Langtang valley is aptly called " the valley of glaciers". Here the mountain – scape is spectacular. On either side of valley, mountains rise, soaring into the sky. The valley offers pine forest, slow moving rivers and swift mountain streams, rugged rock and snow–capped peaks, grassy downs and meadows strewn with daisies and wild primulas. In the upper part of the valley there are snow bridges spanning angry torrents, high passes enveloped in mist, tiny lakes with icebergs floating on them and water of crystalline brightness. There are also high mountains of solid ice.

Outline Itinerary

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu Day 02: Kathmandu City Tour Day 03: Kahmandu - Sundarijal - Chisapani Day 04: Chisapani - Kutugsang Day 05: Kutugsang - Tharepati Day 06: Tharepati - Gosainkunda Phedi Day 07: Phedi - Gosainkunda Day 08: Gosainkunda - Dhunche Day 09: Dhunche - Kathmandu Day 10: Departure

Changu Narayan Temple

Changu Narayan is the temple of Vishnu, the Preserver, in the village of Changu in Bhaktapur. The origins of Changu Narayan goes back to the fourth century. A fifth century stone inscription in the temple proclaims it as one of the oldest shrines of the Kathmandu Valley. The temple is believed to be sixteen hundred years old. It is embellished by the best examples of stone, wood, and metal craft.

On the struts of the two-tiered Changu Narayan Temple, are the ten incarnations of Narayan. A sixth-century stone statue shows the cosmic form of Vishnu. Garuda, half man and half bird, is the steed of Vishnu, and his life-sized statue kneels before the temple.

Vishnu riding Garuda (the mythical bird) - this figure of Vishnu mounting Garuda dates back to the 10th century A.D. Nar-Singha Vishnu - this form of Vishnu is seen in his half man and half lion form.

The stone inscription (dated 464 A.D.) placed in front of the Changu Narayan temple describes in detail the story of Dharmadeva a King of Nepal who died suddenly, with his young son succeeding him to the throne. The son later after a series of victories in war inscribed his victory on a stone pillar and placed it in front of the Changu Narayan temple. It is written in poetry and in an academic Sanskrit which is something like an encyclopedia of the then society, tradition and culture. It starts with an invocation to the Vishnu of Doladri proving that Changu Narayan or the Doladri Narayan is much older than the date on the in- scription of 464 A.D.

Situated on a beautiful hill the square two storeyed temple stands in the centre of a brickpaved courtyard, with the main structure raised on a three tier diminishing plinth, with doors on all four sides, although the western door is the main en- trance to the sanctum. The doors have pairs of carvings of animals such as li- ons, horses, griffins and elephants, with the main western door richly carved in brass, with a brass tympanum above the door. (one of the most beautiful pieces of brass work of medieval Nepal).

The roof is supported by 24 struts or brackets, which serve as decoration and to support the temple roof. They are beautifully carved and hung at a 45 de- gree angle. They represent the ten major incarnations of Vishnu and his various manifestations. Though a Vishnu temple the struts also depict Manjushree and Buddha. To the south some of the struts have as many as twenty arms, and carrying various attributions they represent the whole Hindu philosophy. The Buddhist community from the Kathmandu Valley also pay tribute to Changu Narayan as the Haribahana Lokeswar and Kileswar Shiva as Samantabhadra Lokeswar.

Situated on a beautiful hill the square two storeyed temple stands in the centre of a brickpaved courtyard, with the main structure raised on a three tier diminish- ing plinth, with doors on all four sides, although the western door is the main en- trance to the sanctum. The doors have pairs of carvings of animals such as li- ons, horses, griffins and elephants, with the main western door richly carved in brass, with a brass tympanum above the door. (one of the most beautiful pieces of brass work of medieval Nepal).

The courtyard has many other temples such as that of Kileswar Shiva, Chinnamasta Devi and other figures like that of Garuda from the 5th century; Vishnu mounted on Garuda from the 7th/ 8th centuries; Vishnu surrounded by Laxmi and Garuda from the 10th/11th centuries; and the cosmic universal form of Vishnu shown to Arjuna in the great battle of Mahabharata; plus other multiheaded and multiarmed Vishnu.

From the temple one can see the beautiful Manohara river flowing like a serpent through green fields, and to the north on a clear day one can see many Himalayan peaks. A whole day is needed to study and enjoy Changu Narayan, just 15 kilometers from Kathmandu city.

Pilgrimage Site:- Manakamana Temple

The temple of Manakamana, a very popular pilgrimage in Nepal, is a temple of one of the manifestations of the Hindu goddess Bhagwati. Bhagwati is believed to have the power to fulfill wishes. It lies 125km to the west of Kathmandu. It is a steep three hour hike from Abu Khaireniion Kathmandu-Gorkha Highway.

Manakamana is the focal point of pilgrimage in Nepal. It is believed that the goddess Manakamana fulfills the wishes of its devotees. Situated 100 kms west of Kathmandu at an altitude of 1302 meters. Manakamana is one of the holiest pilgrimage spot for Hindus. The place of Manakamana is famous for the temple of goddess Manakamana, the scenic views and the cable car.

pilgrimage Site:- Muktinath

You are sure to become enchanted by the sight of the bewildering Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges as you approach the Pokhara Valley by air or surface. The next morning when you discover the sky clear and the mountains in view, you then know you are on your special journey to Muktinath.

Once the flight takes off you are flying between the ranges with the river below in the deepest gorge on earth. It is a spectacular sight way beyond your expectations. Just under the Dhaulagiri icefall the riverbed widens, and you get your first glimpse of the stone houses with juniper and firewood stacked on the flat roofs. In no time you are landing on the runway on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River, leaving the Hindu sub-continent behind and entering the world of the Thakalis, Gurungs, Managis and the Tibetan Khampas.

The people of Jomsom, the Thakali tribe, have been traders for the past two thousand years trading salt from Tibet for rice and flour from the lowlands, of this trade the people of the upper Kali Gandaki were influenced by the Bon Po doctrine of Tibet as early as the 12th century. A new faith known as Lamaism, which was influenced by Tantric Mahayana Buddhists on the Bon Po, is now more popular in the upper Kali Gandaki region, and its influence can be seen in several village monasteries as well as in the houses.

Hanging demon traps in the doorways and at the corners of the houses in the form of sun crosses, dead rabbits and peh moussas hanging just inside the door, and skulls and horns placed on the roof - all offer protection to the inhabitants. Combined with this are the religious wall murals and the prayer flags flying on the house roofs.

Leaving Jomsom you follow the vastly wide Kali Gandaki River passing traders coming from Tibet and local village people who may have already walked two or three days to come to Jomsom to buy and sell goods. Dressed in traditional chuba (Tibetan dress) with colourful scarves wrapped around their heads and beautiful turquoise and coral necklaces hanging around their necks they remind you of the Tibet of the past.

A half hour walk out of Jomsom you will see three chortens hugging the cliff covered with small juniper bushes and hundreds of white kartas left as offerings hanging from the branches. Behind the juniper there is a small cave where Guru Rinpoche stayed the night on his journey through the Upper Kali Gandaki.

The way continues on the rocky river bed until you come to a somewhat smaller river entering the Kali Gandaki from the right. Take this river bed trail to the Bon Po village of Lumpra - seldom visited by tourists. Behind a chorten you will find a path lined with poplar trees leading up to the village. The Gompa sits a little bit away from the village, and the main sight will be many village women doing Kora at all times of the day. There is a trail going straight across the river that then climbs up to high pastures. This will bring you down into the small village of Eklai Bhattai where there are four houses all providing food and lodging.

The Kagbeni trail veers to the left just after the last guest house - the right trail leads directly to Muktinath. Just a few minutes on the trail on the right you will see a very large Om mani carved into the boulders and if you look further you will see the irridescent green fields and the walled village and red gompa of Kagbeni. (of course it does depend on what time of the year as to whether you see the green fields).

Behind the gompa stands the turreted palace and within the walls of the village are very old whitewashed houses inter-twined between small alleys that seem to lead everywhere but nowhere. Kagbeni is one of the palace forts and is constructed like a fortress to ward off spirits and bandits during the bygone trading era. The monastery has been well cared for in the past 570 years, with a collection of rare statues and other rare ritual artifacts, and until the middle of the 18th century housed over 100 monks from five villages, now there are only about 5 monks in resi- dence.

Kagbeni is an oasis with apple and apri- cot orchards, and barley fields standing against the vast landscape of silver grey river stones and shale cliffs of brown. There are guest houses and good food, and it is a restful place to stay before the steep climb begins to Jarkot and finally Muktinath.

Jharkot is on a prominent spot overlooking the Kali Gandaki, with a crumbling fortress wall the only remaining evidence of an original palace. At the other end of the village there is a beautifully maintained monastery, and also the Jharkot Tibetan Medicine Hospital and school, well worth a visit to see the bherbs collected and dried, and a diagnosis from the Tibetan doctor is quite a special experience.

From Jharkot it is two hours to Muktinath - the place of 108 fountains, with the sacred temples of Muktinath just below Thorung La in a grove of trees. Every tree is laden with prayer flags, and here you could build your own chorten. Here in the early 19th century the Hindus consecrated a Vishnu temple and named is Muktinath - Lord of Liberation. Against a backdrop of incredible starkness you can sit and stare to the south the snow covered Annapurna range, or to the north the Tibetan plateau.

Pilgrimage Site:- Janaki Temple

Janakpur in the eastern Terai is one of the oldest and most famous cities of Nepal. Mithila was the capital of the Videha (bodyless) spiritual Janakas, the rulers who were the embodiment of spiritual attainment. Janaki, Sita was born to Sivadhwaga Janaka and was married to Rama, the King of Ayodhya the legendary hero of the great epic Ramayana. A great centre of learning for scholars in ancient times, Janakpur once had hundreds of sages who contributed substantially to Hindu philosophy, with one of their oldest works being the famous Upanisad Brihadarandyaka written in the form of a dialogue which deals with the gods, the nature of Brahma, the supreme reality and the introduction to the self.

Predominantly inhabited by Maithilis, it has its own language, script and a rich artistic tradition and culture. The religious Mithila art is well known in the local and international art world.

Janakpur is a city of dozens of holy pools, with a number of ancient sites, some of which have yet to be identified. The really famous object for adoration in Janakpur is the Janaki temple which is some times compared with the Taj Mahal of India. A simple construction to start with, the present structure owes its existence to King Pralapa Singh and his consort who donated hundreds of thousands of silver coins when they were blessed with a child by Sita, enshrined within the temple. Started about 1895, it took a number of years to evolve into its present shape and was completed in 1911.

Constructed in an area of 4,860 sq. feet in a mixed style of Islamic and Rajput Domes the temple is 50 metres high; a three storeyed structure made entirely of stone and marble. All its 60 rooms are decorated with coloured glass, engrav- ings and paintings, with beautiful lattice windows and turrets.

Thousands of pilgrims visit the temple in November/December for Vivah Panchami ( marriage over 5 days ), the town s major annual festival, when the marriage of Sita and Rama is celebrated with various re-enactments. A popular time too for modern day weddings.

Access to Janakpur

Regular bus services are available from Kathmandu and other cities. It has an all weather airport with regular flights from Kathmnadu.

Pilgrimage Site:- Swoyambhunath Stupa

Swoyambhu literally means 'Self-Existent One.' Swoyambhunath is believed to have been established more than 2,500 years ago. An inscription dated 460 A.D. states that the construction was carried out by King Manadeva. By the thirteenth century Swoyambhunath had developed into an important Buddhist learning site.

The history of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started with the beginning of Swoyambhu. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next to the stupa. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri of Saraswati - the goddess of learning. Statues and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities dot the stupa complex.

Large numbers of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swoyambhunath. Swoyambhu is perhaps the best place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal. The stupa is atop a hill, and requires considerable walk. There is also a road that leads almost to the base of the statue.

The Dewa Dharma Monastery, noted for a bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings. The temple dedicated to Harati, the goddess of all children. It is said that she was an ogress before Lord Buddha converted her to be the caretaker of all children, who is now worshipped.