Oktatabyebye

Nepal is gifted with 7 world heritage sites which showcase plethora of delicate carvings, intricate metal work and brazenly bold art, meshed together with rich heritage & exotic cultures..

Kathmandu Durbar Square
Home to palaces, temples and courtyards, this massive complex is undoubtedly one of the best sights of Nepal. The majority of the structures date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, with some sections from the 12th century. The central feature of the square is the renowned Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex, named in honor of the monkey god, Hanuman. A striking statue of the deity stands at the main entrance way. The stunning palace with carved wooden panels, served as the residence of Nepal's royalty. Surrounding this massive palace, are some temples & museums. Standing on the southern side of the Kathmandu Durbar Square is the Kumari Chowk or Kumari Bahal, which is home to Nepal's living goddess, the Raj Kumari.

Patan Durbar Square
Exceptional grouping of palaces, shrines, monuments and temples in Patan Durbar Square will leave your family awe-struck. The square boasts of three courtyards, the min Keshab Narayan Chowk, Mul Chowk and Sundari Chowk. Around Sundari Chowk you will see the magnificent Tushahity royal bath, the exquisite structure which is a marvelous work of stone art. Another main attraction is the Golden Temple or Hiranya Varna Hahabiliar, inside which is Newar monastery housing a fine collection of metal sculptures, statues, paintings and scriptures. Surrounding the Royal Palace of Nepal are numerous temples, all exquisite examples of Newari architecture. Standing out as a classical example of Nepali stone architecture is the grand Krishna Mandir. Other sights to look out for in Patan Durbar Square are Teleju Bhawani Temple (1667), Degu Taleju Temple, Uku Bahal and Mahaboudha Temple.

1. Nagarkot and Sunrise: Go for a spectacular sunrise. Get up early in the morning and head for Nagarkot, 30 kilometers away from Kathmandu, or better stay at a Nagarkot. Watch sunrise from there, it surely, will take your breaths away. One can also enjoy magnificent view of some of the world's highest peaks found in Nepal.

2. Do River Rafting Adventures: Take a plunge, go for a white water river rafting adventure. Nepal has some of the best rivers in the world offering excellent opportunities for river adventure. Intense

3. Go Boating: The Phewa Lake in Pokhara is the most accessible lake for recreational boating in Nepal. The lake set in a lush green valley with the Annapurna range forming the backdrop is a paradise for many photographers, boaters and shore side strollers.

4. Hot air Ballooning: This is a bit on the high end but worth the experience. Great for those who choose to see mountains in Nepal and the unparallel scenes of the untouched valleys from above the sky, hot air ballooning is the ideal sport.

5. Do a Day's Hiking:   A soft day hiking is another exciting thing to do in Nepal. Just grab a local map, pack your small lunch and a mineral water, arrange a local porter for bags or carry it with you, then head for any hills in Nagarkot, Kathmandu, Kakani or Dhulikhel.

6. Sight-seeing by Helicopter:  A thrilling experience, sightseeing by Helicopter is a popular tourist activity. Chartering a helicopter for sight-seeing is advantageous for those who do not have much time to spare or wish to do something different. One of the most popular helicopter route is Kathmandu - Lumbini - Pokhara – Kathmandu. The cost for chartering a helicopter for this route is from $2,000 to $3,000.

7. Taste the Nepali Food:  Every hotel, big or small, can offer you Dal Bhat and Tarkari. You should try it, a must for a complete Nepali experience.

8. Souvenirs to take before you leave: Purchase Pashmina, and Nepali arts and crafts. They make for an ideal souvenir for your family and friends. Don’t forget to take Nepali topi made of Dhaka, an especial material known to have been originated from Palpa district, made by the skillful Palpali women.

9. Casinos: If you are into fun and games, Kathmandu has an array of exciting action packed casinos where you can enjoy 24 hours of fun and games. Some of the popular casinos include Casino Nepal (Tahachal), Casino Royale (Durbarmarg), and Casino Anna (Durbarmarg).

Short stretches:
- Seti River
- Trishul river
- Bhote-Koshi River
- Kali-Gandaki River

Longer stretches:
- Marshyangdi River
- Arun River
- Sun-Koshi River
- Karnali River

National parks of Nepal are also worth visiting. The notable among all are the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and the Royal Chitwan National Park, offering the finest experience in Asia. The entry time is from 6 am to 4 pm. The Jungle safaris are also popular adventure trip for travelers in Nepal. Nepal offers a startling diversity of sights and adventure opportunities.

Travel to Nepal is quite easy. One can take a flight or hop on to a bus plying to Nepal from India. Royal Nepal Airlines along with Indian Airlines has several connecting flights. The only international airport is Kathmandu's Tribhuvan Airport.

Buses are usually the quickest and easiest form of transport between Nepal and India. The Sunauli border crossing is convenient for Varanasi or Delhi, the Birganj crossing is convenient for Kolkata, and Kakarbhitta is the obvious choice for Darjeeling or Sikkim.

Local transport in the Kathmandu Valley and around Pokhara includes metered and un-metered taxis, buses, tempos (three-wheeled buses), auto-rickshaws, bicycle rickshaws and bicycles. You cannot hire self-drive cars, but you can hire a car with a local driver.

Best time to visit Nepal: October - May