Nepal

Waving to the people and travelers passing by, the cold wind creates a chill in the air, across the Kathmandu valley. Bikes fly through alleyways and near cylindrical buildings, while bells are rung and poojas are done by the people of Nepal. The wind flows left to right and muted coloured Buddhist flags shiver and shake and spread their beautiful mantras to the people that reside there. Nepal in the hills makes way for the Annapurna range and the Himalayan mountain tops, which glisten when the sun shines. If you are a hiker, this range is a recommended spot to try, you’ll be staying near the mountains and your view will be the Himalayas.

In Nepal you can see and hear people walking and frequently saying “Dai” which means brother, as a greeting and a way to signal getting various tasks done. In shops, the “Dai” gets cigarettes, momos, fried rice and the money. He attends to the needs of the many that walk in after 10 am.

Home to three significant squares, the Kathmandu Durbar Square, the Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square, each with its own history, culture and traditions intertwined with stupas, temples, ancient art, artifacts and festivals. Each square has a colour that makes it so distinct with pigeons flying around, museums and guides take you through as you step in. The one thing that is important here is to take some form of ID, always.

Places you’ve got to visit if you travel to Nepal are Patan, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, Boudha, Chitwan and Kathmandu… Nepal's main form of transport is a motor bike, every citizen has one, and the only cars you see are taxis. Citizens do own cars but getting around is easier on a bike as you can whizz down alleyways easily and frequently, getting to places in no time.

A fan of photography, a historian, book lover or dreamer, Nepal will be the right place for you. If you are a citizen of a SAARC country, I.e Sri Lanka, you can get a 30 day free visa and it is 45 dollars to extend if need be. You can get your visa on arrival which takes out the hassle and stress in filling out all those pesky forms and the printing of passport photos. If you book tours via a tour company they can be sourced from the bigger cities like Thamel in Kathmandu, and companies prefer if you pay in dollars but you can always use local currency.

One of the oldest cities in Nepal is Patan. You best see the Durbar square, the museum, the Golden temple, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar and a small souvenir shop or two for a dopamine rush. For citizens from SAARC countries you can get tickets for a cheaper rate provided you show them proof of ID. When you travel through Patan, flags stream down from houses as old as time, dogs jump in the way and you see Samsosas, Yomaris (a traditional sweet) or Malpuri’s being made in the wayside shop which are so small but have smells that make your mouth water. They range from 30 to 100 Nepali rupees. Accomodation ranges from airbnb’s run by families, guest houses, staying with local families or small hotels behind ancient temples.

Another ancient city within the valley, to make your way to is Bhaktapur, which is about half an hour in a taxi or on a bike. Bhaktapur city is covered in red brick with shades of pink seen on significant temples and buildings. Bhaktapur takes you to numerous squares such as the Dattatraya square. The city is famous for “juju dhau,” a yogurt that is creamy on the outside and sweet on the inside; and will keep you going back for seconds.

The cobbled stone roads and pavements make for a good hike so always have plenty of water, something warm in the winter and something light in the summer. In all significant cities everything is walking distance. If you are a history buff then visiting the Museum of Nepali Art is for you, located in Thamel, Kathmandu. The museum depicts paintings, statues and brief videos about Nepal’s ancient culture.

The Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu is another place to see, considered a “spiritual icon.” A Buddhist stupa surrounded by colourful buildings with reams of coloured flags attached on the side. It stands on the primeval trade route from Tibet.

If you are a nature lover and like to be wild and free, Chitwan National Park is the place to go. You’ll find the stunning and calm Rapti River, birds such as the Oriental Darter, Peacock and Kingfishers. Animals I.e, Asian Elephants, Tiger, One horned Rhino, Sloth bear and more..

Chitwan deserves three nights and four days or as long as your budget can carry. Accommodation is basic but the wild outdoors should be the key takeaway to draw you in. Chitwan is home to an Elephant breeding centre, to increase reproduction rates and decrease mortality rates within the park. Female Elephants are kept in captivity but they are taken out to the jungles to roam each day. About four hours in the morning and five in the evening. A male elephant comes in from the wild, and the centre has had great success so far. You can take a comfortable tourist bus which is 6 hours long with two stops for breakfast and lunch where a decent meal costs about 500 rupees.

Staff at your accommodation will take you through to different zones of the park stopping in the middle so you can stretch your legs and buy little tidbits for you to nibble at, on safari. You can go on safari in the morning or the evening. Private tours can be done, but prices will differ depending on the tour company.

As a tourist, Pokhara is another destination to visit. You can cover the important spaces in town in about three days, you don’t need longer as per the locals advice. It’s got rivers, mountain views, streets lined with shops, a number of accommodation spots which are a little more upmarket for tourists. You can fly to Pokhara which takes 25 minutes or a bus ride from the tourist bus stop in Kathmandu which takes about 6 hours. The bus also stops for breakfast and lunch.

In Pokhara, you can take a boat ride on the Phewa Tal (lake) which costs about 900 rupees for an hour. You can paraglide over the lake and near temples too. If you want to see the Annapurna range and other mountains you can head to Sanrangkot sunrise point for sunrise at 6.00am. Other spots include, Shree Bindhyabasini Temple, Gupteshwor Mahadev cave, Pundikot Shiva statue, Davi’s fall and World Peace Pagoda. All these places can be visited by car.

Take a fully charged portable charger wherever you go in Nepal because power cuts are common when you least expect it; and or they may not have the right plug points for you.

They say there is no time like the present, so you should try to book a flight, take a train or bus anywhere.

Chitwan National Park, Nepal.

Lyrics for the soul