A recent visit to Nepal took me through the mountains and temples of the country.
It’s a country filled with friendly people, vibrant culture, delicious food, and mighty mountains.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu, the bustling capital city, is located in a valley of the Nepal Himalayas.
While here, I visited the Swayambhunath Temple( The Monkey Temple), from where one can see expansive views of the capital city below.
The temple also boasts of a unique blend of Hinduism and Buddhism, unlike any I have seen before. The wooden architecture of the Durbar Square, and Boudhnath Stupa and the ancient temple complex of Pashupathinath Temple take you back in time. For me, it was wholesome to see monkeys, dogs, pigeons and humans co-existing and being treated with kindness.
Bandipur
Bandipur is a small hamlet midway between Kathmandu and Pokhara. This charming town is surrounded by the Annapurna mountains and offers scenic vistas for sunrise and sunsets. The cobbled streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, and cafes. Most buildings here are made in traditional Newari architecture and have colors in the neon shades of pink, blue and green.
There are many temples and monasteries in the nearby areas to visit. I also got to try a khaja set (Newari thali) and millet wine (Yes! Such a thing exists).
Panauti Community Homestay
This was the highlight of my Nepal Visit. Panuati is a town surrounded by hills and rivers. It has historical importance as the site of Indreshwar temple. People mainly from the Newari and Chettri communities live here. Here we got the chance to live in a homestay of a local Newari family. Our room in the home was on the third floor and the windows overlooked fields of rice, potatoes and oranges with hills in the distance. Sitting on the steps of her house overlooking the main road, sipping on masala chai, we chatted with our host. We realized that she was the one, who almost a decade ago, started the first homestay in the village with an aim of providing unique cultural experiences to the tourists and a source of livelihood for the community women.
Today, the community homestay network has expanded across Nepal and is providing sustainable community-based tourism while empowering Nepali women. Our host had us in awe as she recited phrases in multiple languages from across the world, which she had learnt from her guests. I couldn’t help but notice how some of us travel the entire world to experience different cultures and how for some lucky ones, the different cultures of the world walk right up to their doorstep. During the day we learnt to make Momos (steamed dumplings), Barra (eggs on top of lentil pancakes,) and during the evenings we dressed up in traditional Newari Saris and danced to Nepali songs.
Pokhara
Pokhara is a bustling city in central Nepal and a popular tourist destination. It is best known for the stunning views of the Annapurna mountain range. As we drove up the winding roads of Sangarkot to the sunrise point, it was dark all around. A few hills were visible in the predawn soft light. As the sun slowly peeked its head from distant eastern mountains, the glistening snow-clad peaks of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna became visible. These 8000m – plus mountains stood like mighty giants considerably taller than anything in the vicinity. The morning sun had revealed the hitherto invisible Himalayas, as if very gently pulling the blanket of darkness off them. There are a few things in the world that move you as these natural wonders.
Pokhra also has many lakes, the biggest one being Phewa Lake. I had a leisurely evening spending time at one of the lakeside cafes and shopping for souvenirs in the multitude of colorful lakeside shops. If you are into adventure activities, Pokhara offers paragliding, bungee jumping, horse riding and more.
Travel Tips
Currency, Connectivity, and Safety
One can fly into the capital city of Kathmandu in Nepal.
Money exchange can be done at the airport(more expensive exchange rates then in the city) but there are also many ATM’s and money exchanges throughout the city.
Indian currency is accepted in major cities, only in the denominations of 100.
Sim cards are easily available at the airport. To get around, you can download InDrive/ Pathao (Nepali equivalent of Uber), using a Nepali phone number. I found both Kathmandu and Pokhra to be very safe and didn’t have any qualms taking a taxi around or walking around.
Group Tour
I went solo on a group tour with G Adventures. The group tour focuses on the mountains and temples of Nepal. I went with the group tour, which is designed for age groups 18 to 39.
We had an amazing group that had people from all over the world. Most people came solo and made good friends on the tour. Our tour guide was amazing, and she gave us a good glimpse of the cultural, political, and geographical landscape of Nepal. The tour was a good mix of leisure time, sightseeing, and outdoor activities. There was enough time to see the highlights of a place with the group and still be able to go do our own thing. As a solo female in her 30s, going on her first group tour, I felt extremely safe and welcomed in the group.
Food
Nepal is a food lover’s paradise. Momos(steamed, Kothey , Jhol) of all kinds are a must-try.
Thali sets are Nepali platters served with rice. They contain a variety of curries, vegetables, and chutneys.
Daal bhat sets (lentils and rice) are also very famous and form the perfect wholesome meal after a day of hiking.
Thupka, a Tibetan dish of noodle soup, is also a must-try.
If one eats meat, then all parts of the buffalo are considered a local delicacy.
Yo-mari is a Newari dessert that tastes like a sweet steamed dumpling.
Gorkha Beer, Yeti Beer, and Millet wine are some of the local Nepali brews worth a try.
Restaurants
Cozy Corner Cafe, Kathmandu – https://g.co/kgs/u71Mgsa
Samsara, Bandipur – https://g.co/kgs/JViyMTj (Must Have – Kothey Momos)
AM PM Organic Cafe, Pokhara – https://g.co/kgs/NF672Vf
Hotels and Homestays
KGH Patan, Kathmandu (A no-frills, clean hotel, with a good breakfast spread, centrally located)- https://ktmgh.com/KGH/kghpatan/
Hotel Pokhara Batika, Pokhara (A luxury hotel with views of Lake Phewa and Annapurna)- https://www.pokharabatika.com/
Panauti Community Homestay, Panauti – https://communityhomestay.com/homestays/panauti
Community Homestay Network, Nepal – https://communityhomestay.com/
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