Located between the great Himalayas and the Indian plains, a journey into Nepal seems almost cathartic. Deeply spiritual, resilient in spirit and awe-inspiringly beautiful, Nepal should be on the list for those who want to unplug from the city and get immersed in the localness of the place. More so, this is home to the great Mount Everest trail, its base camp being a popular trekking highlight. Nepal’s soothing vistas and simple culture makes it one of the most memorable places in South Asia.
Nepal
Imagine the plains of India, slowly rising into hillocks and then merging with the great Himalayas. The climate of Nepal ranges from steaming hot plains to cool summers and very cold winters. The top reaches of the country are almost always swathed in snow, making it an ideal destination for both summers and winters. The rains come in with vigour between May and July, infusing life into everything arid.
Major Cities / Tourist Places
The unique thing about the cities of Nepal is that each of them has such a distinct character and topography. A trip to the country is enriching in ways that one cannot imagine. Despite being rooted in history, the capital, Kathmandu also has a modern side to it. Juxtaposed with it are the ancient towns of Bhaktapur and Patan. Further away, the lake city of Pokhara embodies the soothing vibe of nature’s best with its shimmering waters reflecting the mountains around. No matter which city you step into, Nepal offers a diverse set of experiences.
Kathmandu

Nagarkot

Dhulikhel

Pokhara

Patan

Bandipur

Bharatpur

Lukla

Iconic Places
Wedged between deep valleys, foothills of the Himalayas or in the middle of tourist-clad swathes of commercial buzz, each town and city of Nepal is intriguing. Innumerable palaces, temples and monuments fill you with awe. There are a number of heritage trails, lesser-known villages and trekking circuits to explore. The towns of Bhaktpur, Patan, Pokhara and Dhulikhel are names that will occur often and are worth your while to get a taste of the different things that Nepal has to offer.
Lumbini

Pashupatinath Temple

Boudhanath Stupa

Dakshinkali Temple

Kathmandu Valley

Chitwan National Park

Sagarmatha National Park

Tilaurakot

Muktinath Valley of Mustang

Ramagrama

Medieval Settlement of Kirtipur

Lo Manthang: Ancient Earthen Walled City

Rishikesh Complex of Ruru Kshetra

Ram Janaki Temple

The Medieval Town of Tansen

Sinja Valley

Bardia National Park

Jomsom

Bhurti Temple Complex of Dailekh

Panauti

Experiences
Apart from trekking on its adventurous trails, Nepal has plenty of other experiences to offer. Amongst these, jungle safaris in the Chitwan National Park, visiting monasteries and getting immersed in the spiritual surroundings of Pashupathinath and other temples are prime. For most travellers, the largest draw lies in the trekking routes, of which the Annapurna circuit and the Everest Base Camp are the most popular. Nepal has also recently acquired the moniker of the ‘adventure capital of the subcontinent’ with rafting and bungee jumping added to the many things you can do to push adrenalin through your veins.
Mountain Biking

Motorbike Tour

Bungee Jumping

Zip Line

Jungle Safaris

Rock Climbing

Mount Everest Flight

Trekking

Paragliding

Ultra Light Aircraft

Traditional Dinner & Cultural Show

Rafting in Trishuli River

Parahawking

Festivals
With Hindus making the largest part of the population composition of Nepal, Dashain (Dushera) is the biggest festival of the nation. Dashain is celebrated to commemorate Goddess Durga’s victory over demon Mahishasur. Tihar is a celebration of lights and colour dedicated to Goddess Laxmi. Apart from these, Buddha Jayanti, Maha Shivratri, Janai Purnima, Gai Jatra and Teej are the other major festivals. Different clans amongst the religious spheres may have slight tweaks.
Losar

Shivratri

Holi

Buddha Jayanti

Janai Purnima

Gai Jatra

Teej

Indra Jatra

Dashain

Tihar

Rato Machhindranath Jatra

Festival Calendar 2024-25
13thHoli, Kathmandu Valley & Mid Area (13 March 2025)
14thHoli, Low land – Southern Side (14 March 2025)
26thMaha Shivratri, All Nepal (26 Feb 2025)
09thBisket Jatra, Bhaktapur & Thimi (09 – 17 Apr 2025)
24thTiji Festival, Mustang & Manag (24-26 May 2025)
12thBuddha Jayanti, All Nepal (12 May 2025)
09thJanai Purnima/Raksha Bandhan, All Nepal (09 Aug 2025)
10thGai Jatra, Kathmandu (10-15 Aug 2025)
22ndDashain Festival, All Nepal (22 Sep-05 Oct 2025)
20thTihar (Deepawali), All Nepal (20-23 Oct 2025)
18thCrow Tihar (Kaj Tihar), All Nepal (18 October 2025)
20thDog Tihar (Kukur Tihar), All Nepal (20 Oct 2025)
02ndMha Puja, All Nepal (02 Nov 2024)
23rdBhai Tika, All Nepal (23 October 2025)
05thMani Remdu Festival, Everest Region (05 to 07 Nov 2025)
30thTamu Losar, All Nepal (30 December 2025)
Top Stays
Nepal has been getting so many visitors for the last few decades that the infrastructure has evolved to include a variety of stays; you can find luxury resorts, simple lodges and tea rooms along trekking trails and easy on the pocket hotels in towns. Home stays are another way to see Nepal closely. No matter where you stay, it is the Nepalese hospitality that trumps all other experiences.

Gokarna Forest ResortNepal

The Pavilions HimalayasNepal

Hotel Yak & YetiNepal

Hotel Tibet InternationalNepal

Dwarika’s ResortNepal

The Big FigNepal

Hari’s HomeNepal

Tiger Tops Tharu LodgeNepal

Kasara ResortNepal

Meghauli SeraiNepal

Hotel ShambalaNepal

Soaltee Crowne PlazaNepal

Tiger Mountain Pokhara LodgeNepal

Hotel Shangri-LaNepal

Hyatt RegencyNepal

Dwarika’s HotelNepal

Barahi Jungle LodgeNepal

Blue Mountain Home StayNepal
