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Kathmandu
Early explorers described Kathmandu as an unspoilt, flawless
emerald. Kathmandu has been a traveller's Mecca since the
1960's. It is the largest city in the country and is the main
centre for hotels and restaurants, which serve a cosmopolitan
range of foods. There are narrow streets and lanes with carved
wooden balconies above tiny 'hole in the wall' shops. The
gap between the rich and the poor here is chasm, but despite
the pressures of extreme over-crowding and poverty people
retain a good-humour, self-respect and integrity.
Like other main towns and cities of the valley, Kathmandu's
historic centre is concentrated around a main square. In Durbar
Square alone there are fifty or more temples. The square
dates back from the old trade route from India to Tibet, and
even now is the focal point of the whole city.
One of the most visited temple's here is the one where Kumari
Goddess lives. She is someone who the Nepali's believe
to be a living goddess. The Kumari is chosen from hundreds
of girls aged three to five, and they're actually chosen on
32 different counts, for example, their eye-lashes have got
to be like a cow, their neck has got to be like a conch. The
chosen few are then put in a room with a severed buffalo head
where priests with grotesque masks bang drums to try to scare
them, and the girl that doesn't get scared and pulls through
in the morning becomes the goddess. She is then worshipped
everyday, but when she reaches puberty she is retired. You
cannot film or photograph to Goddess as she is held sacred.
Another important temple is the Swayambhunath, or
the monkey temple. 360 steps lead to this temple and Nepalis
believe that if you pray faithfully at the top, it is worth
13 billion times more than any other prayer.
Nepalganj and Western Terai
Nepalganj is the biggest town in the Western Terai. It's
a densely populated city, and every possible ethnic group
in Nepal is represented. Nepalganj is a border town that owes
as much to trade as it does to its position as a major administrative
centre.
Steady trickles of travellers come through Nepalganj on their
way to Royal Bardia National Park or to Jumla.
The Royal Bardia National Park is the largest wilderness area
in the Terai. It is bordered to the north by the crest of
the Chure Hills and to the west by the large Geruwa
River, and a branch of the mighty Karnali, one
of the major tributaries of the Ganges. A lot of travellers
visit Bardia to see the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Nepalganj can also be a useful back-door entry into Nepal
from Central Uttar Pradesh. The old part of town has the Bageshwari
Mandir, a temple to honour Kali. There is also a vibrant
bazaar selling almost everything known to man. It is well
worth just to roam around the centre of the town and absorb
all the sounds and smells.
Lukla and Kumba region
Nepal is famed for its trekking opportunities. 14,000 tourists
trek here every year and towns like Lukla have boomed
to accommodate them. Lukla is the main trekking point for
hundreds of thousands of people who walk in the Kumba region.
Lukla lies in the heart of the Everest trekking area in the
Nepali Himalayas. It's here, from Lukla to Kala Patar, that
large numbers of trekkers venture into the Himalayan mountains
to begin their treks, sometimes lasting weeks or months.
Far from a one yak town, Lukla is absolutely choc-a-bloc
of people. There are several places to stay including the
relatively expensive Trekker's Cabin and Sagarmatha
Hotel.
Pokhara
Pokhara is the most popular destination in Nepal after Kathmandu.
The main attraction here is its natural beauty that it offers
and its proximity to the mountains. Pokhara is a popular starting
point for some of the most famous treks in Nepal, like the
three or four day long Annapurna Skyline Trek, which
provides fine views of the Annapurnas and the Pokhara
Valley, where plenty of short walks and day trips can
be enjoyed.
Spend a few hours at Gorkha's Fort, palace and temple
complex. This place has the earliest buildings in the area,
dating from the early 17th century.
Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between
India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped
on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from
remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of the Magars
and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and world-renowned
brave-Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another
important ethnic group here, are known for their abilities
as entrepreneurs.
Pokhara has an enormous number of good value hotels and restaurants,
and although it's undoubtedly a tourist town, still it provides
a relaxed and peaceful atmosphere.
Thimpu
Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan, lies in a wooden valley, sprawling
up a hillside on the west banks of the Thimpu Chhu.
Several north/south streets run through the town, and numerous
smaller streets weave their way uphill to government offices
and the posh suburb of Motithang at the top of the
town.
Thimpu didn't really exist as a town until it became the
capital in 1961. There were goembas and a small population
in the Thimpu valley even before the time of the Shabdrung.
The first vehicle appeared in Thimpu in 1962 and it's often
said that Thimpu is the only capital in the world without
traffic lights!
Some of the most visited sights of the city are the Trashi
Chhoe Dzong, which was built as the symbol of the capital.
Here you can spend some quality time enjoying the spectacular
view of the city from the Telecoms Tower, and the Tashi
Nencha Dance Company presents an evening culture show
here everyday. For shopaholics, there is a shopping strip
along Norzin Lam where every weekend new shops are
springing up to explore.
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