Despite the terrible earthquake that Nepal suffered from in 2015, the country’s power of fascination remains intact, as evidenced by the return of tourists. Of course, not everything has yet been rebuilt, and some monuments were unfortunately irreparably destroyed following the earthquake, but there are still many temples to discover, cultures as unique as ever in which to immerse oneself, of summits to conquer all higher and more beautiful than each other, not to mention the landscapes so varied according to the regions that you will not tire of admiring them!
THE ATTRACTIONS
Chitwan National Park
Bardia National Park
Lumbini
Katmandou
Patan
Bakhtapur
Pokhara
Bandipur
Nagarkot
Langtang National Park
The Annapurna
The Mount Everest
CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK
When we think of Nepal, we tend to remember only its mountainous terrain and its innumerable possibilities of trekking, and we forget that the south of Nepal is tropical, with a low altitude. This is where Chitwan National Park is located, close to the Indian border. This is the realm of safaris lovers: you can see rhinos, bears, wild elephants, crocodiles, and, with a lot of luck, tigers! Not to mention the 500 species of birds in the park.
BARDIA NATIONAL PARK
Less known than Chitwan Park, Bardia Park is more difficult to access as it is located quite west of the southern plateau of Nepal. This situation makes it more preserved from tourism than Chitwan, which will delight lovers of authenticity and wild nature! Bardia is one of the largest tiger reserves in Bengal. Like in Chitwan, you can explore the park on foot (with a guide), in a jeep, on the back of an elephant …
LUMBINI
This city is famous for being the birthplace of Prince Siddharta Gautama, better known as the Buddha. Lumbini is therefore a very important place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world! You can discover Buddhist monasteries and shrines of different architectures (Burma, Chinese, Japanese, Thai etc.), but also parks and gardens, as well as the temple of Maya Devi (the mother of Buddha).
KATMANDOU
Although Kathmandu suffered a lot from the 2015 earthquake (for example, the historic Dharhara tower has completely collapsed), it is still worth the trip.
Let’s first talk about its famous Durbar Square, a true open-air museum of newar art, with temples, monasteries and finely decorated houses surrounding the former royal palace, as well as the house of the Kumari which is the home of a «living goddess», a little girl considered as the incarnation of Kali, the protector deity of Nepal.
Also worth seeing is the stupa of Bodnath with its hypnotic eyes and multicolored prayer flags, as well as that of Swayambhunath (also known as the "monkey temple"), and the funeral ceremonies at the Pashupatinath temple near the Bagmati River (you will also see sadhus, men covered in ash and almost naked or covered in orange, who gave up life in society to dedicate themselves to praying to the Hindu god Shiva). Finally, Thamel’s tourist area is the perfect place to stock up on supplies and equipment before heading out to explore the rest of the country.
PATAN
Also known as «Lalitpur», the city of Patan is 30 minutes south of Kathmandu, and is famous for its Durbar square (even more impressive than that of Kathmandu) with newar architecture, for its superb palace, as well as its surrounding streets that house a multitude of temples. The city was heavily affected by the 2015 earthquake, but most of the monuments can still be visited. In addition, the Patan Museum is renowned for being the best in the country!
BAKHTAPUR
Along with Kathmandu and Patan, Bakhtapur is one of the three ancient royal cities of the Kathmandu Valley. Easily accessible, it is located 10 km east of the capital, and the atmosphere is quieter; moreover, the city is less polluted because cars are forbidden. Even though the 2015 earthquake has wreaked havoc among the temples, those who remain standing are magnificent and force admiration!
POKHARA
Located 200 km west of Kathmandu, Pokhara is at the bottom of the highest mountains in the world, it is the starting point for trekking in the Annapurna.
In addition to this, the city is known for the many sports activities that are possible there: paragliding, rafting, bungee jumping, ziplining, mountain biking, boat or kayak ride on Lake Phewa, or motorcycle in the surroundings … There is something for everyone! In addition, the air in Pokhara is much more breathable than in Kathmandu.
BANDIPUR
Located halfway between Pokhara and Kathmandu, Bandipur is a small village with Newar architecture perched on the top of a hill.
The village is pedestrian, which allows to rest from the chaos that can represent traffic in Nepal! The charm of the village takes from its beautiful buildings decorated with flowers and dating from the eighteenth century, which gives it a medieval charm. But the main asset of the village is the breathtaking view of the Himalayan chain. From the village you can take a walk in the surrounding mountains to visit caves, villages and temples.
NAGARKOT
It is the nearest city to Kathmandu where you can see (with a little luck) the Everest!
And even if you don’t have the chance to see it, the view of the other summits of the Himalayas is simply grandiose. From Nagarkot, you can hike multiple times, each offering its own unique panoramas.
LANGTANG NATIONAL PARK
Langtang is a region north of Kathmandu, on the border with Tibet. Among the many peaks it hosts, the highest (the Langtang Lirung) reaches 7246 m!
Less known than the mountainous regions of Annapurna or Everest, its landscapes are no less grandiose and the possibilities of trekking are numerous (including the tour of Manaslu to name one, one of the most spectacular circuits in the country). Between high peaks, glaciers, high altitude lakes including the sacred lake Gosain Kud, the region has many attractions for nature lovers.
THE ANNAPURNA
Hikers access the Annapurna massif, which is part of the Himalayan chain, from Pokhara. With its dazzling panoramas, the region is really ideal for trekking; from the luxuriance of subtropical vegetation to the mineral solitudes of high altitudes, the itineraries will also make you discover on the way the different Nepalese ethnic groups.
THE MOUNT EVEREST
We can’t talk about Nepal without talking about Everest! The highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, located in the Himalayan Mountains, stands at 8,848 metres. A sacred place for Tibetans and Nepalese, it is surrounded by four summits over 8,000 metres high (Gosanthain, Makarluh, Zhuoyo and Shishabanma Mountains) and 14 other summits over 7,000 metres high.
This mountain range therefore creates a natural border between Tibet and Nepal. Mont Everest records in January an average temperature of -36°C that can go down to -60°C. In July, the warmest month, the average temperature is -19°C. The climatic conditions are therefore polar!
Fascinating climbers from all over the world, its ascent requires extreme training. The most important expedition was organized in 1975 by a Chinese team of 410 climbers. The region of Everest is the land of the Sherpas, an ethnic group that migrated from Tibet about 500 years ago; they inhabit mainly the two regions of Solu and Khumbu.