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Tourist Attractions in Nepal: Popular Destinations in Nepal

February 13, 2018January 13, 2020 Travel Nepal Comments(126)

Nepal is a small landlocked country sandwiched between the two giants India and China. The country was closed to the Westerners until 1950. A new era of democracy began after 1950 revolution. However, the king staged a coup and banned party politics in 1960. After suffering king’s autocracy for 30 years, people in Nepal demonstrated against totalitarian regime and established constitutional monarchy in 1991. Nepal went through armed insurgency raised by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) beginning 1996. After 10 years civil war, Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed in November 2006. Nepal was announced Federal Democratic Republic in 2008. Elections for Constitution Assembly are scheduled in November 2013.

Nepal in Figures

Area: 147,181 sq. km.

Location: Between Tibet and India (Tibet in the north and India in the east, west and south)

Capital: Kathmandu

Population: 24 million

Ethnicity: Predominantly Indo-Aryan race with presence of more than 102 ethnic groups

Language: Nepali (national language), English (foreign language) and 92 other languages and dialects used by ethnic communities

Religion: Secular State with a predominance of Hindu and Buddhist population

Political system: Multiparty democracy (President is the head of the state, and the Prime Minister is the head of the government)

Climate: Spring: March-May

Summer: June-August

Autumn: September-November

Winter: December-February

Tourist Attractions in Nepal

Nepal is an ancient nation. The country has been mentioned in the Hindu Epic Mahabharata. The incidents in the Mahabharata are believed to have occurred in 1300 Before Common Era. The legend makes Nepal at least three thousand years old. However, Nepal has 1500 years of written history, during which the country was never occupied by the foreign powers.

Nepal is the melting pot of Hinduism and Buddhism. Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, and the self-evolved Pashupatinath, one the most adored temples for the Hindus around the world, are in Nepal. The nascent republic was the only Hindu Kingdom in the world until 2006. Nepal has over 82 major pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists. There are eight UNESCO Heritage Sites of cultural importance and two UNESCO Heritage Sites of natural importance.

Nepal is a wonderful destination for white water rafting and kayaking, mountain expeditions, trekking, paragliding, and bungee jumping. Eight of the world’s fourteen highest mountains, including Mount Everest, the tallest peak on the earth, are in Nepal. There are 102 ethnic groups, 92 spoken languages, over three thousand ancient temples, and 12 hundred ancient monasteries. There are more festivals than the days in a year in Nepal, where people celebrate nine new years in 365 days.

Major Tourist Attractions in Nepal: Cities & Towns

Kathmandu

Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is in Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu is one of the oldest cities in the world continuously habituated since the beginning of the Common Era. There are numerous places to visit in Kathmandu, and Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of them. There are three palaces and numerous monuments and temples in Kathmandu Durbar Square. Some of the monuments and temples in Kathmandu are at least two thousand years old, however, most of them belong to 11th through 18th century. According to the Newsweek, Gardens of Dreams, in Kathmandu, is one of the three best places to visit.

Nagarkot

Nagarkot is a hill station about 32 km east of Kathmandu. Nagarkot is famous for mountain viewing and sunrise and sunset viewing. Nagarkot is at the altitude of 2175 meters, however, many of the mighty Himalayas including Everest (8848 m), Ganesh Himal (7111 m) and Gaurisankar (7134 m) can be seen clearly from Nagarkot.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square | Source

For Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan itineraries and a guide to Kathmandu Durbar Square, Durbar Square Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square see Places to Visit in Kathmandu.

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur, which is 14 km east of Kathmandu, is one of the four major ancient cities in Kathmandu Valley. Amongst the three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the largest Durbar Square. Literal meaning of Bhaktapur is city of devotes. Bhaktapur is true to its name with hundreds of Hindu and Buddhist temples. Temples, monuments and palaces in Bhaktapur Durbar Square are more than 500 years old. Some of the major tourist attractions in Bhaktapur are Palace with 55 windows, Golden Gate, Natapol Temple etc. City of Bhaktapur lies in the ancient Nepal-Tibet trade route.

Patan

City of Patan is home to one of the Durbar Squares, Durbar Square Patan. Patan was founded before the beginning of Common Era. Ashoka, an Emperor from India build four Buddhist monasteries in Patan when he visited the city in about 249 BCE. Another name of Patan is Lalitpur, which means city of art. Patan is famous for art and architecture. You can also visit Tibetan Refugee camp, if you like, in Patan city.

Mustang

According to the Lonely Planet, Mustang is one of the three best travel destinations for 2013. Mustang, once forbidden for the Westerners, is a plateau close to Tibet, and a Buddhist settlement on north of Annapurna Mountain Range. People in Mustang practice ancient Tibetan Buddhist Rituals. Mustang is often referred as a province beyond the Himalayas. You can find a weekly flight from Pokhara to Manang, and from Manang you have to walk for a week to reach Mustang.

Pokhara

Pokhara city is a gateway to the some of the world’s famous treks such as Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek, Jomsom and Mukthinath Trek, Manang and Mustang Trek etc. Many short and long trekking routes begin from Pokhara. Lakes and caves are the main attraction of Pokhara. You can also see Machhapuchhre, the mountain with fishtail, and Annapurna Mountains from Pokhara. There are many lakes in Pokhara, the most famous among them is Fewa, which is on the lap of Mount Machhapuchhre. You can ride in a bus for 7-8 hours or take 30 minutes flight to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu.

Places to see in Pokhara

Phewa Lake: The most popular tourist hangout in Pokhara is Phewa Lake. You can see mountain with fish tail from Pehwa lakeside. The Temple of Baharai is on the middle of Phewa lake. Baharai temple is dedicated to Hindu Goddess.

Devi’s Fall: When a trekker named Devin David fail and disappeared from Pataley Chango, it was named Devi’s Fall. Devi’s fall is one of the main attractions of Pokhara.

Mahendra Cave: There are numerous caves in Pokhara and the Mahendra cave is one of them. Mahendra cave is one of the largest limestone caves in Nepal.

Lumbini

Lumbini is a small town close to Nepal-India border. Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha, is one of the four most revered places for the Buddhist around the world. In Lumbini you can see a stone pillar erected by a king from India in 249 BCE. The inscription on the pillar reads: The Buddha was born here. The exact spot where the Buddha was born is inside Mayadevi Temple, a temple dedicated to the mother of the Buddha. Mayadevi Temple was originally constructed in 3rd century BCE. Excavated Mayadevi Temple is inside the current Mayadevi Temple that was built in 2003.

For the detailed Lumbini itinerary, see How to travel to Lumbini and Religious and Archeological Sites in Lumbini.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal

Word Heritage Sites of Cultural Importance

Swayambhunath

Bouddhanath

Changunarayan Temple

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Durbar Square Patan

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Pashupatinath Temple

Lumbini: The Birthplace of the Buddha

World Heritage Sites of Natural Importance

Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park

Chitwan National Park

For a complete guide to temples in Nepal see Temples in Kathmandu

Places to Visit in Nepal: Temples

Boudhanath

Boudhanath is a Buddhist temple in Kathmandu city built in Stupa design, which consists of white dome, gilded spire and brass canopy. There are numerous shrines in and around Boudhanath. It is believed that the Boudhanath Stupa is more than two thousand years old, however, the current structure was built by King Manadeva in about 5th century common era. When the Tibetans were evicted from Tibet, some of the followers of the Dalai Lama settled in and around Boudhanath.

Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath, situated on a hillock on the western part of Kathmandu, is one of the most important Buddhist Temples in the world. Swayambhunath is also built in Stupa design, which is believed to be more than two thousand years old.

Pashupatinath

Pashupatinath is the most auspicious temple in Kathmandu and one of the holiest places for the Hindus around the world. Pashupatinath Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. There are numerous temples in the Pashupatinath Temple complex and the most notable among them is Guhyeshwari Temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Sati Devi, consort of Shiva. Pashupatinath temple is built in pagoda style, with copper roof, golden pinnacle, silver doors, and latticed windows.

Dakshinkali

Dakshin Kali is a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, one of the most important Goddesses in Goddess Worship Cult. Dakshin Kali is 19 km south from Kathmandu city. Dakshin Kali Temple is famous for animal sacrifice. Every week almost hundred fowls, water buffalos and goats are sacrificed to the Goddess Dakshin Kali.

Tourist Attractions in Nepal: Himalayas

Mountain range extending between Tibetan Plateau and Indian sub-continent is called Himalaya Mountain. Himalaya Mountain Range is 1500 miles long. The third of the entire Himalayan Mountain Range stretches along Nepal-Tibet, which consists of world’s highest mountains. About 1500 mountains in Nepal are above 5000 meters.

Everest

Mount Everest is called Sagarmatha in Nepali language and Chomolungma in Tibetan. Everest has the most hostile climate on earth; nevertheless, each year more than 500 people get a permit from Nepal Government to climb Mount Everest. Everest, the tallest and the ferocious mountain in the world, claims more deaths than any other mountains in the world. Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa from Nepal climbed Everest first time in 1953.

Everest is the main tourist attraction in Nepal. You can either trek to Everest Base Camp or go for Everest expedition. If you want to see the Everest without going through any trouble, take a mountain flight and see the mighty Everest. Sagarmatha National Park in Everest Region is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Annapurna Base Camp
Source

Annapurna

Annapurna is the majestic of all mountains in the world. There are more than a dozen mountains in Annapurna Mountain Range. The major mountains in Annapurna Mountain Range are Annapurna I (8091 m), Annapurna II (7937 m), Annapurna III (7555 m), Annapurna IV (7525 m), Nilgiri East (7134), Machhapuchhre (7059) etc. The first ascent to Mount Annapurna (Annapurna I) was completed in 1950, three years before the Everest was conquered.

Some of the major trekking routes in Nepal and the world famous treks are in Annapurna Mountain Range. Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Annapurna Circuit Trek and Annapurna Sanctuary Trek are some of the popular treks in Annapurna.

Major Himalayan Mountains in Nepal

Everest: 8848 meters
Kanchanjungha:8586 meters
Lhotse: 8516 meters
Makalu:8463 meteres
Lhotse Middle:8413 meters
Lhotse Shar:8400 meters
Cho Oyu:8201meters
Dhaulagiri I: 8167 meters
Manaslu: 8163 meters
Annapurna I:8091 meters
Nuptse I:7855 meters
Ganesh Himal I:7429 meters
LangtangGauri Shankar: 7134 meters
Machhapuchhre:7059 meters
Kanijiroba: 6883 meters
Ama Dablam: 6812

Note: There are more than 1500 mountains in Nepal which are higher than 5000 meters. Ten of the world’s fourteen highest mountains are in Nepal

National Parks, Wildlife Reserve and Conservation Areas in Nepal

Four national parks, three wildlife reserves, three conservation areas and one hunting reserve cover 18 percent of Nepal’s total land mass. Nepal has only 0.1 percent of earth landmass but the wide ranges of latitudinal variations produce about 6 percent bryophytes, 3 percent pteridophytes, 10 percent of all birds, 4 percent mammals and 645 butterflies available in the world. Nepal is also rich in ecosystem diversity. According to a report released by Nepal Government there are 118 ecosystems, 35 forest types and 75 vegetation types. Nepal ranks 25th in the global context of bio-diversity based on the availability in ecosystems, the number of endemic, threatened and endangered species of plants and animals. Nepal is a home to endangered species such as Bengal tiger, snow leopard, one-horned rhinoceros and red panda.

Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is a home to endangered one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, crocodile and 450 species of birds. In Chitwan National Park, you can ride an elephant, go for a jungle safari, visit elephant breeding centre, and take a cultural tour in the nearby villages. If you are in Chitwan National Park, in spring, you can also watch elephant polo and elephant beauty contest.

Bardia National Park

Nepal is in the thirteenth position in terms of tiger population and Bardia National Park in Western Nepal is touted as the best place on earth to spot Royal Bengal Tiger. Many endangered animals including tiger and rhino are protected in Bardia National Park. It is estimated that there are 100 tigers, 75 wild elephants, 22 one-horned rhino and 250 species of birds in Bardia National Park.

Rafting and Kayaking

Rafting and kayaking can be done as water adventure, recreational activity or a leisure sport. White water rafting and kayaking is also a major tourist attraction in Nepal. Most of the rivers in Nepal originate in the Himalayas, which means the river rapids are perfect for white water rafting and kayaking.

Rafting and kayaking gives an opportunity to see the topography from the Nepal-Tibet border in the north to Nepal-India border in the south.Nepali rivers are exciting for white water rafting and kayaking. Some of the river routes in Nepal are best rafting destination in the world.

There are more than four thousand rivers in Nepal. Nepal government permits commercial rafting in 16 rivers, which range from Class 1 to class 5. The best time for rafting and kayaking in Nepal are March to early May, June to August and September to mid-December.

For a detailed guide to Rafting and Kayaking see White Water Rafting and Kayaking in Nepal and Top River Routes for Rafting and Kayaking in Nepal.

Rivers Opened for Rafting and Kayaking in Nepal

River: Bheri
Sector: Birendranagar-Chisapani

River: Karnali
Sector: Bankhet-Chisapani

River: Kaligandaki
Sector:Galeshwor-Tiger Tops

River: Seti
Sector:Damauli-Tiger Tops

River: Seti-Karnali
Sector:Deura-Chisapani

River: Sunkoshi
Sector: Lamosangu-Dolalhat / Dolahghat-Chatara

River: Tamakoshi
Sector: Busti-Chatara

River: Trisuli
Sector:Trisuli-Narayanghat

River: Marsyangdi
Sector: Ngadi-Bimalnagar

River: Botekoshi
Sector: Baseri-Bar