Nepal Travel

As a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, the mandala represents different aspects of the universe, the principle of life, and the essence of the world. How mandalas are made, and why Nepalis use water (symbolizing refreshment), yellow tika powder (meaning the sun’s equity and open-mindedness), or red tika powder (representing consciousness), then rice, cereals, legumes, and flowers (symbolizing all living beings). One of the most well-known types of mandala is the sand mandala (dupchhoe), made with colored sand and powders in Tibetan monasteries. Mandala art is considered one of the most effective forms of healing and therapeutic art, as focusing on the drawing itself or colouring the mandala can be used in the healing process.

After spending a few years hiking and running on the trails around Kathmandu, I was intrigued by a large body of water to the south of Kathmandu, past the ridge of hills that contain the Champadevi and Bhasmasur peaks and down the southern side: Kulekhani Lake. However, pretty soon the trail gave way to the familiar stone steps you often find on hiking trails in Nepal. I’ve had many a delicious dal bhat here, often with locally picked fiddlehead ferns, known as neugro spinach, and I’ve sometimes been lucky enough to have milk tea made with fresh buffalo milk. The trail towards Kulekhani Lake winds through settlements of stone-built houses nestled amongst the vivid yellow of mustard fields in autumn and the vibrant red of chilies drying in the sun.

before”… Many people have been looking forward to life, and travel, going back to the way they were before the pandemic, eventually. International travel had been increasing year on year before the pandemic, and while that brought a lot of income to tourist destinations like Nepal, it also brought the negative effects of rapid development, pollution caused by flying, and strain on local infrastructure that wasn’t always adequate for the local people, let alone all the extra visitors. That’s why, even after vaccinations have been rolled out in tourists’ home countries and the pandemic is largely under control, it’s vitally important that everyone who comes to Nepal plays their part in keeping local communities healthy and COVID-free. Being a respectful traveller in Nepal is, of course, only polite, but it’s also good to keep in mind that many Nepalis have struggled through the pandemic without many of the social support structures that are in place in a lot of other places.

In the spring of 2018, young Ajay Pun envisioned the prosperity of Narchyang, a small village in the foothills of the mighty Annapurna, through tourism. After working for a local restaurant and a whitewater adventure company for a few years, Ajay joined the Community Homestay Network (a developer and provider of community-based tourism experiences) as a travel consultant. After working for nearly a year at Community Homestay Network, Ajay gained an insight into the global tourism market and learned more about Nepal as a tourism destination. The growing popularity of the Annapurna Base Camp trek among both foreign and local travellers has brought the major concern of overcrowding on the main trails, and the accompanying adverse environmental effects.

The monastery’s website stated not only that it was possible to stay as a pilgrim at the monastery, but that they also ran a 10-day Introductory Buddhism Course for those interested in learning more about Buddhism from the source. When I arrived at Kopan, I noticed the monastery compound included a colorful gateway, a gompa (the main hall for meditation and ceremonies), a large dining room, a garden with a stupa, a Buddhist library, and a small museum. I didn’t have time to talk to all of them, but those I befriended were digital nomads taking a 10-day break from traveling, trekkers taking a break from hiking in the Himalayas, or curious people taking a break from the daily routine of their Western lives (like me). A meditation retreat in a Buddhist monastery is a way to witness a small part of the local life in a way that wouldn’t be possible while staying at a hotel.

Walking the trail from Chitlang to Kathmandu, it is easy to feel swept away by history as you walk in the well-worn steps of those before you. It is possible to walk to Chitlang and back in one day from Kathmandu, or you can reach the village as part of a weekend walking trip, incorporating an overnight stay in Kulekhani. Because they are from Chitlang, their passport documents must be processed in Hetauda, not Kathmandu, despite Kathmandu being closer to Chitlang. There are also options to get to Chitlang by road from Kathmandu, and options to get to Kulekhani by road from Kathmandu, via Pharping.

‘MyNepal.online’, travelers can discover the country from the comfort of their homes, accompanied by a local host, during a live virtual tour. During a virtual walk, participants will visit a traditional handloom cottage industry, where the original cotton fabric (Dhaka) is woven with human hands and skills. To travel further afield, participants can get acquainted with the Nepali way of life in the countryside of Western Nepal and learn about the tigers and other fauna and flora in Bardia National Park. In addition to generating income for their family, these tours are important for the local hosts, so they can continue to share their knowledge and passion, and maintain skills and develop new (online) skills.

In each of the three days, a different deity is worshipped: on the first day the crow, the messenger of Yama (the bringer of death); on the second, dogs, which are believed to be Yama’s custodian; and on the third, the goddess Lakshmi is worshipped, the bringer of wealth. It is celebrated in the Terai on one day, and in Kathmandu and the hill regions on the next day. Buddha’s birthday falls on the first full day of the first month of the Hindu lunar calendar and is celebrated by Hindus as well as Buddhists. Hindu women attach undue importance to this festival of Rishi Panchami because they believe that by observing Rishi Panchmi fast and by paying homage to Rishis (Saints) on this day of the festival, they will be blessed and forgiven for all their sins that they are bound to commit during their menstrual cycle by not following the strictures laid down for them by their religion.

Many other monasteries belonging to different Buddhist branches were built in Lumbini, and the place is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, and in the world. On the southern side of the Bagmati River, Patan (Lalitpur in Sanskrit) has its own Durbar Square, with temples and a palace, a network of interconnected courtyards, and hidden temples. The Durbar Square in Bhaktapur has a vast collection of temples and buildings, statues of Hindu deities, and gilded shrines. Besides a traditional Newari settlement, this little town comprises a Hindu temple that features one of the earliest inscriptions in the valley, dating from the 5th century C. E. Also, the carvings of the two-tiered-pagoda temple date back to the Licchavi period, and are a true work of art, representing mythical and Tantric deities.

Dashain and Tihar are the, two most important national Hindu festivals of Nepal when the majority of the population of Nepal celebrate with the great enthusiasm. Sita Bibaha Panchami is the auspicious day when princesses of Janakpurdham Sita married the prince of Ayodhya Ram Chandra. Udhauli is the annual festival celebrated by Kirat community of eastern Nepal marking the migration of animals and birds downwards to low altitude towards warmer regions as the winter hits their homeland. Ropain Festival, also known as Asar 15, is celebrated mostly by farmers from all regions of Nepal – to mark the day of planting new seedlings of rice crop of the year.