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Places
of Interest
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Kathmandu
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- Situated between India and
China, Nepal is an intriguing
country to visit. Home to the
great heights of the Himalayas,
Nepal has amazing scenery and
wonderful plant life making it
one of the most wonderful places
for trekking in the world. The
ancient temples make the place
rather inspiring and spiritual.
Places such as Kathmandu and
Mount Everest have lingered in
the memories of visitors, been
immortalized in literature, have
made their way onto the list of
renowned tourist spots and kept
people coming back for
centuries.
Nepal is not a very prosperous
country. The people are poor and
the country still suffers from
some internal conflicts. By
keeping vigilant and staying out
of areas such as Banke, Dang,
Surkhet, Kalikot, Rolpa, Gorkha,
Syangja, Rukum, Jajarkot and
Salyan, most visitors will stay
reasonably safe. It is also a
good idea to stay away when a
strike (bandh) is called. It is
also a good idea to keep all
your paper work on your person
while traveling.
Most visitors to Nepal go there
for the extraordinary trekking
(hiking) trails that are
available. This is perhaps
Nepal's most well developed
aspect of the tourism industry.
If you are planning to visit for
this reason, remember to pack in
a pair of strong, well-fitting
and comfortable hiking boots.
However there is more to Nepal
that just great trails. You will
have the opportunity to meet the
local people – a colorful,
friendly group that will give
you a whole new way to look at
life. You will also be able to
visit places such as the Royal
Chitwan National Park where you
can not only enjoy looking at
the animals, but experience a
majestic elephant ride.
Nepal is a friendly, majestic
and spiritual country with a lot
to offer. It's no wonder that
many visitors often return… with
friends! There is just so much
to appreciate in this
underestimated part of the world
that you cannot take it all in
on just one occasion.
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Pokhra -
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If Kathmandu is the cultural hub
of Nepal, Pokhara is its center
of adventure. An enchanting city
nestled in a tranquil valley, it
is the starting point for many
of Nepal's most popular trekking
and rafting destinations. The
atmosphere on the shore of Phewa
Lake is one of excited vitality
as hipster backpackers crowd the
many bars and restaurants
exchanging recommendations on
guest houses and viewpoints,
both by the lake and above the
clouds.
Pokhara is a place of remarkable
natural beauty. The serenity of
Phewa Lake and the magnificence
of the fish-tailed summit of
Machhapuchhre (6,977 m) rising
behind it create an ambience of
peace and magic. At an elevation
lower than Kathmandu, it has a
much more tropical feel to it, a
fact well appreciated by the
beautiful diversity of flowers
which prosper in its environs.
Indeed, the valley surrounding
Pokhara is home to thick
forests, gushing rivers, emerald
lakes, and of course, the world
famous views of the Himalaya.
Pokhara is part of a once
vibrant trade route extending
between India and Tibet. To this
day, mule trains can be seen
camped on the out-skirts of the
town, bringing goods to trade
from remote regions of the
Himalaya. This is the land of
the Magars and Gurungs,
hardworking farmers and valorous
warriors who have earned
worldwide fame as Gurkha
soldiers. The Thakalis, another
important ethnic group here, are
known for their
entrepreneurship. |
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Getting there |
Pokhara is located roughly 200
km west of Kathmandu.
The journey between these two
famed cities is certainly part
of the Pokhara experience.
Flying over the snow-capped
Himalaya to the north and green
Mahabharat range to the south is
thrilling, while the overland
journey past sparse rural
settlements nested along the
Trisuli river provides a view of
life particular to Nepal's
middle hills.
There are daily flight between
Kathmandu and Pokhara. |
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Royal Chitwan National Park -
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Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP)
has long been one of the
country’s treasures of natural
wonders. The park is situated in
south central Nepal, covering
932 sq. km. in the subtropical
lowlands of the inner Terai. The
area comprising the Tikauli
forest - from Rapti river to the
foothills of the Mahabharat -
extending over an area of 175
sq. km. was declared Mahendra
Mriga Kunj (Mahendra Deer Park)
by the late King Mahendra in
1959. In 1963, the area south of
Rapti River was demarcated as a
rhinoceros sanctuary. The area
was gazetted as the country’s
first national park in 1973.
Recognizing its unique
ecosystems of international
significance, UNESCO declared
RCNP a World Heritage Site in
1984.
In 1996, an area of 750 sq. km
surrounding the park was
declared a buffer zone which
consists of forests and private
lands. The park and the local
people jointly initiate
community development activities
and manage natural resources in
the buffer zone. His Majesty’s
Government has made a provision
of plowing back 30-50 percent of
the park revenue for community
development in the buffer zone.. |
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