If you’ve never visited Nepal, you might be wondering why this extraordinary country is such a hit with tourists. Here are just a few of the delights you’ll experience if you decide to make Nepal your next great escape.
Image by Doug Letterman
On top of the world
Nepal has some of the highest peaks on the planet, and you can trek them under the tutelage of a bona fide sherpa. Trekking is a way of life here, so you’re almost guaranteed to get in some healthy exercise, as well as some idyllic views. Established routes such as the Annapurna Circuit have sprung up along the most scenic areas, with designated stop-offs at traditional tea houses en route. You don’t have to do the full 18 day round trip, but for a great many travellers this is the key purpose of their visit. Check out this informative Wikitravel article for all you need to know about trekking in Nepal.
Image by Doug Letterman
Eastern culture at its most mysterious
While Nepal is known as the world's only Hindu Kingdom, Buddhist as well as Hindu beliefs predominate here, with both religions co-existing in harmony. With more than 100 languages spoken and 93 individual ethnic groups, Nepal is a rare example of religious tolerance not found elsewhere, and it makes it a uniquely chilled out and balanced place to spend time.
This mix of faiths also means there are some amazing temples you can visit, including the vast Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu, which is said to contain a bone once carried by the Buddha himself. Festooned with ribbon and ornately painted with gold and bright colours throughout, the Stupa is best visited in February and March, when the New Year celebrations are under way. Check out this list of Nepal's Top 5 Temples if you want to see more.
Image by Jesse Closer to nature
35% of the land in Nepal is covered by forest, with much of the remaining terrain taken up by paddy fields, mustard plantations and, of course mountains. This chequered landscape is home to some majestic species including the Bengal Tiger and One Horned Rhino, as well as some of the world’s rarest and most beautiful orchids, butterflies and birds.
To see Nepal’s wildlife at its best, take a safari at Chitwan National Park, where you can get up close with big cats, elephants and other wild and wonderful creatures - all native species to Nepal, living in their natural habitat. To see Nepal's natural beauty from another angle, take a boat trip along the Narayani River: sunset is a particularly popular time to do it, as the views of the Himalayas are spectacular.
There are over a dozen Unesco World Heritage sites in Nepal, so wherever you decide to explore, you’ll feel a oneness with nature that's becoming increasingly hard to find.
Image by Sharada Prasad
Awesome (and affordable!) food
You can grab some nutritious and flavoursome food for next to nothing in Nepal, thanks to the abundance of fresh local ingredients, as well as the generally low cost of living by Western standards. The multi-ethnic makeup of the Nepalese population has led to a wide range of fusion cuisines, with strong influences from Southern India, China and Tibet. The national dish is dal bhat: a simple but tasty dish made from rice and mildly curried lentils. This is sold alongside all kinds of mouth-watering street food treats on the streets of Kathmandu.
If you want to sample something a little more extravagant, Nepal has that covered, too, though fine dining here is still a rare luxury. Check out Le Sherpa to find out more about high-end cuisine, Nepalese-style.
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Written by Abi Silvester, a London-based writer and editor with a passion for great food, fine wine, coffee and cats; always planning my next trip! Follow her on Twitter.
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