Useful in formation / general information of Nepal
Foreign Currency and Credit Cards
Payment in hotels, travel agencies, and airlines are made in foreign exchange. Credit cards like American Express, Master and Visa are accepted at major hotels, shops, and restaurants. Remember to keep your foreign exchange encashment receipt while making foreign exchange payments or transferring foreign currency into Nepali rupees. The receipts may be needed to change left-over Nepali currency into hard currency before leaving the country. However, only 10 percent of the total amount may be converted by the bank. ATM is widely in use in Kathmandu.
Major banks, hotels and exchange counters at Tribhuvan International Airport provide services for exchanging foreign currency.Exchange rates are published in English dailies such as The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post and The Himalayan Times. Nepali currency notes are found in denominations of Rupees 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are found in denominations of Rupees 5, 2 and 1. One rupee equals 100 paisa.
Business Hours in Nepal
Nepal is five hours 45 minutes ahead of GMT.Business hours within the Valley:
Government offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday in summer and from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. in winter. On Fridays Government offices open from10 a.m. to 3p.m. Most business offices including travel, trekking and tour agencies are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Embassies and international organizations are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Most shops open after 10 a.m. and close at about 8 p.m. and are usually closed on Saturdays.Business hours outside the Valley:
Government offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Sunday through Thursday in summer and from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m. in winter. On Fridays Government offices open from10 a.m. to 3p.m. Banks are open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. On Fridays, banks remain open until 12 p.m. only. Business offices are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Recently many private banks have re-organized to have different branches open at various different times making banking hours longer. If one branch is closed another will be open.Holidays:
Nepal observes numerous holidays most of which have cultural or religious significance. Visitors wishing to partake in the holidays or observe local festivals, may want check our calendar. The longest holiday in Nepal is during the Dashain festival in late September or October. Government offices and banks observe most of the national holidays. Private business offices observe major holidays only. For a list of public holidays please click Public Holidays (Please insert table here).
Other Amenities
Electricity:
Major towns have electricity and the voltage available is 220-volts and 50 cycles. Load shedding or power cut is scheduled during the dry season and eases off once it begins to rain. However, most major hotels have uninterrupted power supply through their own generators.
Media:
Major Nepali daily newspapers are Gorkhapatra, Kantipur, Rajdhani, Samarcharpatra, Nagarik and Annapurna Post while the English dailies are The Rising Nepal, The Kathmandu Post, Republica and The Himalayan Times. A number of other newspapers and magazines are also available. Government audio and television news networks are Radio Nepal and Nepal Television respectively. Numerous FM radio stations and television stations are run by private organizations.
Communication in Nepal
Telephone Services of Nepal:
Landline and mobile phone services are available in Nepal. Network covers Kathmandu, major cities and towns and most of Nepal, except some rural Himalayan places. Nepal Telecommunications Corporation at Tripureshwor, Kathmandu, is the national service provider. There are also private service providers. Hotels and private communication centers also provide long distance telephone and fax facilities.
For calling from outside, country code for Nepal is 977 and the area code for Kathmandu is 1.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Public Transportation of Nepal
Public Transportation of Nepal:
There are many buses, minibuses, micro buses and three-wheelers available for different destinations in the valley. Similarly, the Sajha Yatayat has recently resumed bus services along two routes in the valley. It is currently operating along Kalanki, Kalimati, Tripureshwor, Nayabaneshwor, Sinamangal and Airport, and along Satdobato, Jawalakhel, Tripureshwor, Jamal, Teaching Hospital and Naya Bus Park. The buses can be recognized by their green color and the name “Sajha Yatayat” on them. The bus stops only at designated bus stops, therefore, one has to identify the nearest Sajha bus stop to be able to board one.
Metered Taxi:
Consult Kathmandu valley map to find out the direction of your destination. Hail a taxi, which is easily recognized by its taxi sign on top and black license plate. As a rough guide, a taxi will charge Rs. 30 per kilometer. No tip is expected. Private taxis may charge slightly higher.
Night taxi service can also be arranged and operated by major hotels. Fare is slightly higher than metered taxi. One can rent a private car through a travel agent or a car rental company.Hired
Mountain Bike/ Ordinary Bicycle:
Mountain bikes and ordinary bicycles are cheap and the best form of transportation for economy tourists. One can hire them at Thamel, Rani Pokhari and Jhochhen, all in Kathmandu.Long Distance
Bus Service in Nepal:
Long distance day or night bus services are available from Kathmandu to all cities of Nepal. New Bus Park at Gongabu at Ring Road near Balaju, Kathmandu, from where buses depart to different destinations. Six-seater Sumo Tata van, 12-seater van and air-conditioned mini buses are also available for long distance travel.
Domestic Air Service:
Nepal Airlines has an extensive network of air services to major parts of the country. Besides Nepal Airlines, other domestic airlines (there are more than 18 in operation) provide regular and chartered services to popular domestic destinations.
Wildlife of Nepal
Of the total number of species found globally, 3.96 percent mammals, 3.72 percent butterflies and 8.9 percent of birds. Wildlife of Nepal is officially classified into two main categories: common and protected. The common category lists such species as common leopard, spotted deer, Himalayan tahr, blue sheep and others. These species are commonly seen in the wild. The protected species include 26 mammals, nine birds and three reptiles. These rare animals are confined to their prime habitats.
Please click Protected Species for details. The endemic fauna are: Himalayan field mouse, spiny babbler, Nepali kalij, 14 herpetofauna, and six types of fishes.
Mammals:
Nepal has 185 species of mammals found in various parts of the country. Found in Nepal’s dense Terai jungles are exotic animals like the Asiatic elephant, the one-horned rhinoceros, the Royal Bengal tiger among others. Also found here are the leopard, monkey, langur, hyena, jackal, wild boar, antelope, wild cat, wolf, sloth bear, chital or spotted deer and barking deer. Wild buffalo locally called “Arna” is found in the Koshi Tappu region. The western Terai jungles of Suklaphanta is home of the of swamp deer, while the endangered blackbucks are found in the Bardia region. Nepal Government has made an effort to preserve blackbucks by declaring an area of 15.95 sq. km. in Bardia as Blackbuck Conservation Area.
Nepal even has its own variety of dolphins found in the fresh waters of Narayani and Karnali rivers. The Himalayan region is also home to the elusive snow leopard and the red panda. Red panda, a rare sight because of its shy nature, may be found from Langtang region to Kanchenjunga region. Other mammals that live in high altitude areas are yak, blue sheep, Himalayan tahr and musk deer. While otters are found in the Rara region north west, the Dhorpatan hunting grounds is home of the blue sheep and Himalayan tahr.
Reptiles:
Nepal has two indigenous species of crocodile: the fish eating gharial with the long narrow snout and the marsh mugger which is omnivorous, eating anything it can catch. A very successful breeding project has brought the gharial back from extinction. Some of the snakes found in Nepal are: cobras, kraits, vipers and the Indian python. Other reptiles found in the country are turtles and monitor lizards. Some of these reptiles can be seen in the Chitwan National Park and Bardia National Park.
Birds:
Nepal has more than 850 recorded species of birds. Amazingly, half of these birds can be seen in and around the Kathmandu valley alone. The hills around the valley especially Nagarjun, Godavari and Phulchowki are popular birding areas. Phulchowki at 2,760 m boasts about 90 bird species including the endemic spiny babbler, which was thought to be extinct until it was spotted in Nepal. Another rare species of bird, the red-headed trogan, was also sighted here in April 2000.
National parks like Chitwan and Bardia harbor a wide variety of birds too. In Chitwan, endangered vultures are being protected from contaminated food by establishing “Vulture Restaurant” which feeds them safe carcasses. The Koshi Tappu region is home to a large species of resident and migratory birds. It has about 26 varieties of ducks alone. About 485 species have been sighted here, including black ibis, honey kites, ospreys, black headed orioles, peregrine falcon, partridges, ruddy shelduck, storks, vultures and eagles among others.In the higher Himalayan region are found different species of the raptors and birds of prey. Nepal’s national bird, the Danphe or impeyen pheasant, is also found in the Himalayan region. A rare bird known as jerdon’s baza was sighted in Nepal. Over the past few years a conservation group has worked specifically in the Lumbini area to conserve the sarus crane.
Monday, January 5, 2015
The population of Nepal
Nepalese People
The population of Nepal was recorded to be about 26.62 million according to a recent survey done by the Central Bureau of Statistics, Nepal. The population comprises of about a 101 ethnic groups speaking over 92 languages. The distinction in caste and ethnicity is understood more easily with a view of customary layout of the population.Though, there exist numerous dialects, the language of unification is the national language, Nepali. Nepali is the official language of the state, spoken and understood by majority of the population. Multiple ethnic groups have their own mother tongues. English is spoken by many in Government and business offices. It is the mode of education in most private schools of Kathmandu and some other cities.
Northern Himalayan People:
In the northern region of the Himalayas are the Tibetan-speaking groups namely Sherpas, Dolpa-pas, Lopas, Baragaonlis, Manangis. The Sherpas are mainly found in the east, Solu and Khumbu region; the Baragaonlis and Lopas live in the semi-deserted areas of Upper and Lower Mustang in the Tibetan rain-shadow area; the Manangis live in Manang district area; while the Dolpa-pas live in Dolpa district of west Nepal.
Middle Hills and Valley People:
Several ethnic groups live in the middle hills and valleys. Among them are the Magars, Gurungs, Tamangs, Sunuwars, Newars, Thakalis, Chepangs, Brahmins, Chhetris and Thakuris. There are also occupational castes namely: Damai (tailor), Sarki (cobbler), Kami (blacksmith) and Sunar (goldsmiths)
Ethnic Diversity in the Kathmandu Valley:
Kathmandu Valley represents a cultural cauldron of the country, where, people from varied backgrounds have come together to present a melting pot. The natives of the Kathmandu Valley are the Newars. Newari culture is an integration of both Hinduism and Buddhism. The Newars of Kathmandu Valley were traders or farmers by occupation in the old days.
Terai People:
The main ethnic groups in Terai are Tharus, Darai, Kumhal, Majhi and other groups. They speak north Indian dialects like Maithili, Bhojpuri. Owing to the fertile plains of Terai, most inhabitants live on agriculture. There are, however, some occupational castes like Majhi (fisherman), Kumhal (potter) and Danuwar (cart driver).
For more information about Nepali people,
Please visit: http://census.gov.np/
(official web site of the Central Bureau of Statistics).
Nature of Nepal
Nepal’s 20 protected areas cover 23.23 percent of its land. Its 10 national parks, three wildlife reserves, six conservations areas and one hunting reserve cover various geographical locations from the sub-tropical Terai jungles to the arctic Himalayan region. Two of Nepal’s natural areas are listed by UNESCO as Natural World Heritage Sites. They are: Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park.Comprising only 0.1 percent of the total land area on a global scale, Nepal possesses a disproportionately rich biodiversity. Of the total number of species found globally, Nepal possesses 2.80 percent plants, 3.96 percent mammals, 3.72 percent butterflies and 8.9 percent of birds. Of 6,391 species of flowering plants recorded in Nepal, 399 are endemic. Among the 399 endemic flowering plants in Nepal, 63 percent are from the high mountains, 38 percent from the mid hills, and 5 percent from the Terai and Siwaliks. Similarly, the central region contains 66 percent of the total endemic species followed by western (32 percent) and eastern regions (29 percent).Nepal’s wildlife belong to the Palaearctic and Indo-Malayan realms. The 136 ecosystems is confined to 11 bio-climatic zones and 9 eco-regions that are defined by ecological features, climate and plant and animal communities. The endemic fauna are: Himalayan field mouse, spiny babbler, Nepali kalij, 14 herpetofauna, and six types of fishes. Wildlife also include like endangered animals like the Royal Bengal tiger and the one-horned rhinoceros. Nepal is home 850 species of birds and more than half of these are found in the Kathmandu Valley.The natural resources of Nepal are water, hydropower, scenic beauty, quartz, timber, lignite, copper, cobalt and iron ore. Vast expanse of land in the country is used for agriculture with about 16 percent of total arable land.
Climate and Weather in Nepal
Climatic conditions of Nepal vary from one place to another in accordance with the geographical features. In the north summers are cool and winters severe, while in south summers are tropical and winters are mild. Nepal has namely five major seasons: spring, summer, monsoon, autumn and winter.An average temperature drop of 6°C occurs for every 1,000 m gain in altitude. In the Terai, summer temperatures exceed 37° C and higher in some areas, winter temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C in the Terai. In mountainous regions, hills and valleys, summers are temperate while winter temperatures can plummet under sub zero. The valley of Kathmandu has a pleasant climate with average summer and winter temperatures of 19°C – 35°C and 2°C – 12°C respectively.The Himalayas act as a barrier to the cold winds blowing from Central Asia in winter, and forms the northern boundary of the monsoon wind patterns. Eighty percent of the precipitation is received during the monsoon (June-September). Winter rains are more pronounced in the western hills. The average annual rainfall is 1,600 mm, but it varies by eco-climatic zones, such as 3,345 mm in Pokhara and below 300 mm in Mustang.An interesting fact is that there is no seasonal constraint on traveling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when winter is at its severest, there are compensating bright sun and brilliant views. As with most of the trekking areas in Nepal, the best time to visit are during spring and autumn. Spring is the time for rhododendrons while the clearest skies are found after the monsoon in October and November. However, Nepal can be visited the whole year round.
Geography of Nepal
Nepal is located in South Asia between China in the north and India in the south, east and west. While the total land area is 147,181 sq. km including water area of the country that is 3,830 sq. km. The geographical coordinates are 28°00′N 84°00′E. Nepal falls in the temperate zone north of the Tropic of Cancer.Nepal’s ecological zones run east to west about 800 km along its Himalayan axis, 150 to 250 km north to south, and is vertically intersected by the river systems. The country can be divided into three main geographical regions: Himalayan region, mid hill region and Terai region. The highest point in the country is Mt. Everest (8,848 m) while the lowest point is in the Terai plains of Kechana Kalan in Jhapa (60 m).The Terai region, with width of ranging 26 to 32 km and altitude ranging from 60 -305 m, occupies about 17 percent of total land area of the country. Kechana Kalan, the lowest point of the country with an altitude of 60 m, lies in Jhapa district of the eastern Terai.The southern lowland Terai continues to the Bhabar belt covered with the Char Kose Jhadi forests known for rich wildlife. Further north, the Siwalik zone (700 – 1,500 m) and the Mahabharat range (1,500 – 2,700 m) give way to the Duns (valleys), such as Trijuga, Sindhuli, Chitwan, Dang and Surkhet. The Midlands (600 – 3,500 m), north of the Mahabharat range is where the two beautiful valleys of Kathmandu and Pokhara lie covered in terraced rice fields, and surrounded by forested watersheds.The Himalayas (above 3,000 m) comprises mountains, alpine pastures and temperate forests limited by the tree-line (4,000 m) and snow line (5,500 m). Eight of the 14 eight-thousanders of the world lie in Nepal: Sagarmatha or Mount Everest (8,848 m), Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Makalu (8,463 m), Cho Oyu (8,201m), Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Annapurna (8,091 m). The inner Himalayan valley (above 3,600 m) such as Mustang and Dolpa are cold deserts sharing topographical characteristics with the Tibetan plateau.Nepal holds the so called “waters towers of South Asia” with its 6,000 rivers which are snow-fed or dependent on rain. The perennial rivers include Mahakali, Karnali, Narayani and Koshi rivers originating in the Himalayas. Medium-sized rivers like Babai, West Rapti, Bagmati, Kamla, Kankai and Mechi originate in the Midlands and Mahabharat range. A large number of seasonal streams, mostly originating in Siwaliks, flow across the Terai.Of 163 wetlands documented, the nine globally recognized Ramsar sites are: Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Beeshazarital (Chitwan), Jagdishpur Reservoir (Kapilvastu) Ghodaghodi Tal (Kailali) in the Terai, and Gokyo (Solukhumbu), Phoksundo (Dolpa), Rara (Mugu) and Mai Pokhari (Ilam) in the mountain region.There are more than 30 natural caves in the country out of which only a few are accessible by road. Maratika Cave (also known as Haleshi) is a pilgrimage site associated with Buddhism and Hinduism. Siddha Cave is near Bimalnagar along the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway. Pokhara is also known for caves namely Bats’ shed, Batulechar, Gupteswar, Patale Chhango. The numerous caves around Lo Manthang in Mustang include Luri and Tashi Kabum which house ancient murals and chhortens dating back to the 13th century.
Nepal history
Records mention the Gopalas and Mahishapalas believed to have been the earliest rulers with their capital at Matatirtha, the south-west corner of the Kathmandu Valley. From the 7th or 8th Century B.C. the Kirantis are said to have ruled the valley. Their famous King Yalumber is even mentioned in the epic, ‘Mahabharat’. Around 300 A.D. the Lichhavis arrived from northern India and overthrew the Kirantis. One of the legacies of the Lichhavis is the Changu Narayan Temple near Bhaktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture), which dates back to the 5th Century. In the early 7th Century, Amshuvarma, the first Thakuri king took over the throne from his father-in-law who was a Lichhavi. He married off his daughter Bhrikuti to the famous Tibetan King Tsong Tsen Gampo thus establishing good relations with Tibet. The Lichhavis brought art and architecture to the valley but the golden age of creativity arrived in 1200 A.D with the Mallas.
During their 550 year rule, the Mallas built numerous temples and splendid palaces with picturesque squares. It was also during their rule that society and the cities became well organized; religious festivals were introduced and literature, music and art were encouraged. After the death of Yaksha Malla, the valley was divided into three kingdoms: Kathmandu (Kantipur), Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon) and Patan (Lalitpur). Around this time, the Nepal as we know it today was divided into about 46 independent principalities. One among these was the kingdom of Gorkha with a Shah ruler. Much of Kathmandu Valley’s history around this time was recorded by Capuchin friars who lived in the valley on their way in and out of Tibet.
An ambitious Gorkha King named Prithvi Narayan Shah embarked on a conquering mission that led to the defeat of all the kingdoms in the valley (including Kirtipur which was an independent state) by 1769. Instead of annexing the newly acquired states to his kingdom of Gorkha, Prithvi Narayan decided to move his capital to Kathmandu establishing the Shah dynasty which ruled unified Nepal from 1769 to 2008.
The history of the Gorkha state goes back to 1559 when Dravya Shah established a kingdom in an area chiefly inhabited by Magars. During the 17th and early 18thcenturies, Gorkha continued a slow expansion, conquering various states while forging alliances with others. Prithvi Narayan dedicated himself at an early age to the conquest of the Kathmandu Valley. Recognizing the threat of the British Raj in India, he dismissed European missionaries from the country and for more than a century, Nepal remained in isolation.
During the mid-19th Century Jung Bahadur Rana became Nepal’s first prime minister to wield absolute power relegating the Shah king to mere figureheads. He started a hereditary reign of the Rana Prime Ministers that lasted for 104 years. The Ranas were overthrown in a democracy movement of the early 1950s with support from the-then monarch of Nepal, King Tribhuvan. Soon after the overthrow of the Ranas, King Tribhuvan was reinstated as the Head of the State. In early 1959, Tribhuvan’s son King Mahendra issued a new constitution, and the first democratic elections for a national assembly were held. The Nepali Congress Party was victorious and their leader, Bishweshwar Prasad Koirala formed a government and served as prime minister. But by 1960, King Mahendra had changed his mind and dissolved Parliament, dismissing the first democratic government.
After many years of struggle when the political parties were banned, they finally mustered enough courage to start a People’s Movement in 1990. Paving way for democracy, the then-King Birendra accepted constitutional reforms and established a multiparty parliament with King as the Head of State and an executive Prime Minister. In May 1991, Nepal held its first parliamentary elections. In February 1996, the Maoist parties declared People’s War against monarchy and the elected government.
Then on 1st June 2001, a horrific tragedy wiped out the entire royal family including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya with many of their closest relatives. With only King Birendra’s brother, Gyanendra and his family surviving, he was crowned the king. King Gyanendra abided by the elected government for some time and then dismissed the elected Parliament to wield absolute power.In April 2006, another People’s Movement was launched jointly by the democratic parties focusing most energy in Kathmandu which led to a 19-day curfew. Eventually, King Gyanendra relinquished his power and reinstated the Parliament.On November 21, 2006, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) 2006, committing to democracy and peace for the progress of the country and people. A Constituent Assembly election was held on April 10, 2008. On May 28,2008, the newly elected Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic, abolishing the 240 year-old monarchy. Nepal today has a President as Head of State and a Prime Minister heading the Government.
Spectrum of Festivals in Nepal
Nepal is a
multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-ethnic country. As a result the number
of festivals exceeds that
of the days
of a year. For some foreigners, these festivals are mysterious, colorful and
pleasant. Moreover, they
have a great
deal more about them. They emerge from the depth of the socio-cultural aspects
of life. The festivals
have
mythological, religious and historical backgrounds. The ceremonies, as a whole,
reflect a way of life, unique
in its own
place. They mirror the value system established by age long socio-cultural and
religious conventions; they
strengthen
the social and family relations; they show the awe and reverence of the unknown
people; they make
it clear how
Nepalese people pay homage to every element of nature; they mark the change of
seasons and rejoice sowing seeds and harvesting.
The original
annual dates for the festivals were fixed according to the lunar calendar long
ago, so they do not coincide with the solar calendar currently used in Nepal.
Similarly, they do not coincide with the Gregorian calendar either.
Various
aspects of the festivals are not possible to explain in detail, due to lack of
space here, some of the important
ones are
described in brief.
Nava
Barsa (new year day) Bisket of Bhaktapur
The official
New Year, according to the solar calendar, is celebrated throughout the
country. The day falls on mid April. New
Year day is celebrated with merriment. People extend best wishes to each other
and organize music and dance
programs. Vikram Sambat is the New Year day, after the name of Vikramaditya,
the emperor of Indiasubcontinent, more than 2000 years ago. In Bhaktapur, a
historical town 12 km. east of Kathmandu, the New Year day is celebrated in
grand manner observing religious rituals. The festival is called Bisket and it
has its origin in the ancient history, legends and mythology. Some linguists
believe that the word Bisket originated from two
Newari words
‘bi’ for snake and ‘syako’ for slaughter. People relate different stories about
the festival; however, they are more or less similar. To sum up the
differential stories, serpent demons and the marriage of an extraordinary
princess believed to have taken place in the pre- historic time.On the day
before the New Year, about eighty feet long
huge pole,
lingam, made of a shore tree, is erected with the efforts of thousands of
people. The symbols of two dead serpents
also are hung on the pole. In the afternoon of New Year’s Day an enormous crowd
gathers around the pole and feels it amidst great cheers and rejoicing. It
symbolizes the end of the old year. Mata Tirtha puja (Looking upon Mother’s
face)Mata Tirtha begins on the last of the dark fortnight day of April or early
May. On this occasion every Nepali looks upon his/her mother’s face. As it is
the day shows respect, affection and reverence to the mother formally, all of
her sons and daughters come in front of the mother, offer her various delicious
dishes and bow with deep respect and affection to receive her blessings. She
blesses them touching their foreheads with her hand. Married sons and daughters
living out, return once to their house, where they were born and the whole
country rejoices in festive atmosphere; elegantly dressed men and women
carrying baskets of delicious foods are seen everywhere.
Rato
machhendranath (The chariot ride of Red
Machhendranath)
The festival
starts on the last week of May or early June. It is celebrated to offer
worships to Machhendranath, the
mearciful
patron god of the valley of Kathmandu and the god of harvests. This spectral
festival reflects important
aspects of
socio-cultural life of the valley and it lasts for several days. Rath of
tremendous size, about 48ft tall, is
prepared at
Pulchok and hauled through the city of Patan in several stages and it is
finally taken to Jawalakhel in an
auspicious
moment carefully calculated by astrologers. The festival culminates when the
sacred waistcoat (BHOTO) is
displayed
for the entire populace to behold. There are many myths related with the
festival, however the most influential one suggests that the festival is
celebrated to commemorate the arrival of Lord Machhendra to protect the people
of valley from a fearful draught. The deity is believed to have brought rain
with the help of serpent deities.
Baishak
purnima (The full moon of Lord Buddha’s Birth)
Purnima, the
day of the full moon in late April and early May, is the greatest festival of
the Buddhists and most of
the Hindus,
as the day is believed to have heralded the ‘triple Blessings-‘Buddha’s birth,
his enlightenment and
his entering
to Nirvana. The stupa of Swoyambhunath in Kathmandu, erected some 2000 years
ago by a Buddhist
monk,
becomes the centre of ceremonial activities during the festival. Butter lamps
and electric bulbs illuminate the whole area. Thousands of devout Buddhists
from the different parts of the country come to the place to spend night
fasting in Buddha’s name and chanting prayers for the enlightenment. Solemn ceremonies
procession of monks and other devotees take the idol is again returned to the
place from where it was brought there. In addition solemn processions of the
same kind can be seen throughout the country on the day.
Sithi
Naka or Kumar Sasthi (The Birthday of warriorGod Kumar)
This
festival is celebrated in late May and early June to mark the birth day of Lord
Shiva and Parvati’s son Kumar,
the great
warrior god, who is believed to have ended the anxiety of 33 millions gods by
defeating Danavas, the
demons. The
actual festival procession jatra is held on the day following his birth, the
seventh day of the waxing moon. His idol is taken out from the temple of
Jaisidewal in northwest of Kathmandu and is kept in an ornate, gift reefed
palanquin. The procession bearing the palanquin moves around the city streets,
where on lookers and the devotees offer worship. The festival comes to the
conclusion when the idol is kept in the temple again.
Dumji
This
festival is celebrated is celebrated mostly in Sherpa communitiein in the month
of Ashad (June-july). This merry
festival is
observed with great enthusiasm in Helambu and Khumbu region. In this festival,
Lamas perform rituals. All
the Sherpas,
including Lama, dance with the mixed feelings of solemnity and mirth.Gunla (The
sacred month of Buddha) Fifteen days before and fifteen days after full moon of
late August or early September comprises the sacred month or Gunla. These
thirty days are holy for Buddhist population. This is a very interesting
festival of difficult fasting, solemn prayer, religious music and singing.
Soyambhunath of Kathmandu is in the centre of all these activities.
Naga
Panchami (The day of the Snake Gods)
The day of
the snake gods, the fifth of the brightening lunar fortnight late in July or
early August is celebrated to offer
Nepali Art and Architecture
Nepali art
of the different periods reflects
various aspects of the society in the different stages of its
development. Originality in the form and the content on a whole shows the
development of the civilization with its unique qualities. In the following
lines attempts are made to take account of salient features of Nepali stone
sculpture, bronze art, wood art and painting of different ages. Religion has
played an important role for the development of art. Art of the old age, middle
age and even some aspects of the modern art cannot be seen in isolation from
the religion. In fact religious fervor has inspired the artistic creation. Some
aspects of Nepali art manifested in the making of things of religious importance
are described in the chapter devoted to pilgrimage. So, some points are not
brought under
discussion in order to avoid repetition.
Stone
Sculpture
Stone
sculptures in Nepal are believed to have emerged long before the birth of
Christ. There is a common believe that stone
image of Virupaksya, and a series of images entitled ‘Parvati Tapasya’ belong
to the Kirat period. However, such conclusions are made only on the bases of
the physical and formal features of the images since no inscriptions explaining
the dates are found so far.
From
Lichhavi period onwards-stone images with dates and other descriptions are
found. The images of Padmapani Buddha,
Vishnu Vikranta, Vishworup, Uma Maheshwor, Bhagavatis, Shiva Lingas and a
number of other images were built in the
period. Furthermore, the images of the period can be found at Hanumandhoka,
Changu Narayansthan, Dhumbarahi,
Shovabhagvati, Naxal Bhagvati and Pashupati.
The stone
images of the period have certain distinctive features that distinguish them
from the images of the earlier period. The images supposedly belonging to Kirat
period have round faces, curly hair, well developed forehead, robust body
and short stature whereas the stone images of Lichhavi period have long oval
faces, Aryan nose, thin dresses,
ornaments and crowns on heads. In addition, they have intricately donned hair.
The most striking thing about them is that they have picturesque vividness and
they are lively. The material used for making images is also good.
Mostly, hard
blue or black stone is used. Nepali stone sculpture entered another important
phase of its development in Thakuri and Malla period. Some of the famous images
built in this period are; Nrisimha’s image at Hanumandhoka, the images of
Radha-Rukmini with Krishna, a dozen of images in Patan Darbar Square, Krishna
with Dashavatar at Krishnamandir of Patan, Garuda, Vishnu, Uma Maheshwor,
Nrisimha, Bhairav-Bhairavi and Surya of bhaktapur etc. various characteristic
features distinguish them from the works of Lichhavi period.
The
distinctive features are:
- Relatively inferior material such as
soft sandstone is used to make the images,
- The vividness and fluency of the
Lichhavi period are lacking in this period because many artists of the period
were using metal as a material,
- Various part of the body of the
images are not proportionately worked out,
- Secular images were also made in the
period,
- The facial structure of the images
is the mixture of
Aryan and
Mongolian structure:
Furthermore
the images are decorated more and are adorned with a halo. In spite of those
conspicuous characteristics there are certain exceptions too; some out of trend
images were undoubtedly made in the period Bronze Art
The history
of bronze art is not as old as that of stone sculptures. Description of the
Chinese visitors and some of the coins of
Lichhavi period hint that the development of Bronze art in the earlier Lichhavi
period or even before the Lichhavi
regime. Some of the oldest metal images of Nepal are kept at the museum of Los
Angeles and Boston of the U.S.A. The
most important among them are the 9th century image of Padmapani Avalokiteshwor
and Buddha in the
meditative
pose. Nepal witnessed a swift development in the field after the Lichhavi
period. The images of stars related with Buddhism, Avalokiteshwor, Buddha,
Padmasambhar, Dipankar, Vishnu, Laxami, Indra, Ganesh, Bhairav and Kuber were
made in the middle age. Two methods of making metal images were used in the
period. One is the Lostwax process and the other is the method of moulding thin
metal sheets.
Both the
methods were used in making religious as well as secular images. In this age, a
significant addition to the store of images was made. That is the design of the
images in the Tantric mode. Various deities with several hands and other
symbolic icons were made in the trend. Furthermore, bronze images of the period
have certain special features that distinguish them from the stone images of
the same age. The most remarkable features are: long eyes, clear and distinct
eyebrows, imposing ornaments and the use of gaudi colours.
Wood Art
Wood is a
less durable material so only the descriptions of the wood art of the old age
are found. The works themselves decayed long ago. Most of the works that have
survived the weather of hundreds of years belong to the 15th to 18th century.
The works of
art can be divided into two groups. Firstly, portable images and other artistic
things and secondly,
the works of
art that form the integral parts of temples, monasteries, palaces and rest
houses (Sattalas). Decorative
doors,
windows, struts and tympanums belong to the second group. The works of art
belonging to the first category are kept in the National Museum of wood craft.
The image of Nrityadevi (15th century), the image of Basundhara (15th century),
the image of Vishworup (17th century) and the image of Marvijaya are some of
the artistic creation kept in the safety of the museum. Historical buildings,
palaces and temples offer finest examples of the artistic creations of the
second group some features are described below.
Artistic
Struts
Artistic
Struts of the temples of Nepal are considered to have great artistic merits.
The Struts protrude from the main
body of the
temple making 45 degree angle and they have the function of supporting the
structure of the roof. The roofs of Nepali temples are mostly multi tiered and
the upper ones are proportionately smaller than the lower ones. Almost all the
struts of a temple have intricately carved images. In all the four sides of the
temple there are the struts with the images of an extraordinary animal called
Sardula. In some temples images of an extraordinary animal with the horns of
the sheep are pictured on the struts protruding on all the four sides. Other
struts have the images of the deities and other things related in one way or
the other with main deity kept on the sanctum. Another interesting thing about
them is that they, as a whole, depict three categories of things. The struts of
the main places depict the principal deity of the temple; the struts of the
upper part depict various scenes of the heaven and the lowest ones depict the
various aspects of this phenomenal world
Diversities of Nepal
Diversities
of Nepal
Nepal is
synonymous to the world beauty and in addition she is the country with many
mysteries, which have touched the sensibility of the adventure loving people
all over the world. It has so many Touristic places to visit, from Eastern
Mechi to Western Mahakali, from roof top majestic Himalayas to 500 Meters
altitude MSL having enormous
floras and faunas all and around. People from nook and corner of the world may
take a breath taking experience
of none closing eyelids with indigenous and ethnic cultural differences.Nepal
is well known in the world for its Natural beauty. The silvery icy-mountains, the
evergreen forests with diversity in flora and fauna, more than 6000 ever
flowing rivers and many wetlands had
made the country rich in natural beauty. In other world, Nepal a small country
with 0.003% of the global landscape is having more than 3.1% of biodiversity
and excitingly, Nepal alone consist of more than 9.5% of the bird species in
the world and had made this small country as a paradise of Nature. Though, we
have enormous natural beauty, due to lack of education and awareness human
influence in different forms of wetlands and forestland is increasing for the
use of its products excess to the productivity and for expanding the cultivated
land for increasing population. Hence natural habitat of flora and fauna is being destroyed creating the threat
to the species and increasing the vulnerability to the meteorological behavior
for the human being it’s self.
Ethnic
Mosiac
Brahmans
Brahmans are
the members of the highest social caste. Two different categories of Brahmans
namely ‘Kumai Brahmans’ and ‘Purbiya Brahmans’ are present. They only differ in
their derived homeland. The ‘Kumai Brahmans’ are supposed to have come from the
mountainous regions of Kumaon in the northern India west of Nepal.
They are
mainly confined in the western and central Nepal and the capital city of
Kathmandu. The ‘Purbiya’ Brahmans derive from the eastern part of Nepal and are
found scattered across the country with greater concentration in the eastern
part of Nepal and Kathmandu. The Brahmans are priestly caste. The priests in all
Hindu temples are exclusively Brahmans.
Chepang
and Kusundas
These
backward ethnic communities belong to a well defined traditional area in the
south of Dhading, the west of
Makawanpur
and east of Chitwan along the steeper slopes of Mahabharat range of the
mid-Nepal. Very few of these
hunting
tribal people have started deriving subsistence from agriculture. Otherwise,
hunting, wood collection, etc
have been
their foremost living subsistence. Though they are economically backward, they
have a rich and unique
cultural
tradition. With the increasing encroachment of the forest (their main living
recourse) by themselves and other communities alike, these people lately
started working in the development projects in the areas as hard labors.
Chhetris
and Thakuris
In the caste
hierarchy, the Chhetris and Thakuris come second to Brahmans. They are rulers,
leaders and warriors.
The Brahmans
are their teachers and family priests. Like Brahmans, they are orthodox Hindus.
Thakuries are believed to have originally come from the northern part of India
mainly from Rajasthan. They could have migrated to Nepal in the 12th and 13th
centuries. In Nepal, Chhetris and Thakuris are among the most influential and
well-to-do social classes. They are mostly in the government services, in high
ranked positions in the army and the police. Some of them have
remained farmers and are relatively poor and live like any other ethnic group.
Dolpo
They are
probably the highest settlements in the world. These mongoloid featured people
are Tibetan speaking.
Most of them
are illiterate, but they are not very poor. Marriages are very relaxed in
general. Pre marital and extra-marital sex union is not prejudiced. All the
brothers in a family marry a common wife. Marriages can be of any type; by
arrangement, capture or elopement. The Dolpa people are Buddhist, but the
Bon-po sect of Buddhism also co-exists. They dispose off the dead in different ways. Some throw the corpse into the river while others cut the flesh into
pieces and feed them to the vultures.
Gurungs
In the
middle hills and valleys along the southern slope of the Annapurna Himalaya in
the mid-western Nepal; the Gurungs live
together with other ethnic groups like Magars, Brahmins and Chettris. These
sturdy, hardworking people are
Mongoloid physiognomically. They extend their living territories from Gorkha in
the east through Lamjung, Manang and Kaski to Syangja district.The Gurungs are
very colorful, happy and flirtatious people.
A caste
hierarchy divides the Gurung community into ‘char jat’ and ‘sor jat’, group of
four and sixteen clans respectively.
They are
distinctly endogamous groups. Traditionally they prefer cross-cousins marriage.
The parallel cousins marriage is, however, strictly prohibited. They also have
a tradition of ‘Rodi’, a club of boys and girls of similar age group where
dancing and singing is performed. This ritual provides them with ample
opportunities to know, understand each other and develop love and affection.
The environment in the Rodi is very flirtatious. The Gurungs have very
interesting dance tradition. They perform Sorathi, Ghado, Ghatu and others on
one or many occasions. The dancing season generally starts on Shri Panchami day
(On the fifth day of bright lunar fortnight some day in January or February)
till the day of Chandi Purnima (some day in May or April).
Magars
Along the
Gurung and Khas counterparts, the Magars form an integral constituent of
British and Indian Gurkha
regiments
and the Nepal Army. They speak a dialect derived from Tibeto-Burman group of
languages. Their religion is Buddhism. However, there are also some Hindu
Magars. The Magars celebrate the festival dedicated to the goddess
Kaliingreatpomp (a Hindu festival). Especially in Gorkha, they sacrifice a lot
of goats during the occasion.
Those who
live in the vicinity of Brahmans and Chhetris have their cultural rituals
similar to theirs. Magar villages are
typical with
their round and oval houses. One comes across many of these Magar settlements
in the Annapurana round trekking.
Manangi
Manangi
resemble physiognomically and religiously to the Tibetans but they take pride
to believe themselves belonging to the Gurungs who live in the lower hills and
valleys. These people inhabit the pleasant valley of Manang in the upper
reaches of the Marsyangdi River northwards in the central Nepal. The Manang
district encloses three distinct areas of Neshyang, Nar and Gyasumdo; all of
them culturally interrelated. They have agriculture as their foremost recourse
of subsistence for living. The harsh and cold climate limits the cultivation to
buck wheat, barley, wheat, maize, potatoes and radishes. They also breed sheep
and other cattles. Lhosar, the New Year’s celebration is their main festival in
the month of February. Similarly, archery is arranged in a grand way during the
month of April-May.
Newars
The natives
of Kathmandu, the Newars, are mainly traders. With a purpose to trade, they are
scattered across the
country;
with greater concentration in the Kathmandu Valley, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bhojpur,
Bandipur and Tansen.
Despite the
small percentage numerically, they contribute significantly in the history,
art, architecture and business
activities
in the country. Newars speak their own language, ‘Newari’, better known as
Nepal Bhasa which belongs to
Tibeto-Burman
family of languages. It has its own scripts and has no linguistic connection to
Nepali, Hindi or Sanskrit.
The Newari
script, the ‘Ranjana lipi’ is exceptional. The Newari literature is also very
rich. The application letter for
the
membership of Nepal to the United Nations was written in ‘Ranjana Lipi’. There
are both Buddhist and Hindu Newars. Like elsewhere in the country, religious
syncretism is blended into the culture and tradition. They celebrate numerous
feasts and festivals throughout the year. Besides their rich cultural heritage,
festivals, the Newars are impeccable artists and architects. Newars, though
small in numbers, have a very strong and dominating influence in Nepal’s
economy, politics and society in general.
Rais and
Limbus
The Rais
come from surrounding hills in the north-eastern Nepal; mainly near Dhankuta,
Terhathum, Bhojpur and
Arun and
Dudh valleys. Likewise, the Limbus come from the extreme east of Nepal; mainly
from the region of Taplejung, Khotang and Arun Valley. The Rais are neither
purely Hindu nor Buddhist. They have their own deities and beliefs. Tibetan
Lamaism has great influence in their rites and rituals. The Limbus follow a
mixture of Shivaism, Buddhism and Animism. Among the Rais, marriages are
monogamous. The marriages are held by arrangements, captures and elopements.
The Limbus follow the same marriage tradition. Both the Rais and Limbus bury
thedeceased and place a tombstone on the grave, bearing the name and date.
Sherpas
The most
famous among the Himalayan people are the Sherpas because of their impeccable
mountaineering skill
which has
made them an indispensable part of mountain expeditions as leaders, guides and
porters. As an individual
or in
groups, they have set records of many ‘firsts’ in the mountaineering world.
They live in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal, in the vicinity of Mt.
Everest, along the Arun Valley, the Dudh Koshi River and its tributary areas.
Fraternal
polyandry is found among the Sherpas, i.e. two brothers may marry one common
wife. However, if there are three brothers in a Sherpa family, the middle
brother has to serve the monastery as a monk and for a family with four
brothers, the group of two may marry two common wives. Sherpas observe a number
of festivals during the year. The important ones are Losar and Dumze. Losar is
the New Year’s celebration according to the Tibetan calendar. It occurs
sometimes in the end of February. All families rejoice this singing, dancing,
feasting time. Dumze is interesting festival observed in the village ‘gomba’ or
the monastery for seven days, sometimes during the month of July. The village
lama
conducts the
rituals by worshipping Guru Rimpoche, Phawa Cheresi, Tsanba and other deities.
There are
many of Sherpas who have set records in the mountaineering world. Tenzing
Norgay Sherpa with Sir Edmund Hillary, was the first to climb the highest
mountain of the world in 1953.Tamangs are Buddhists. The religious activities
are based on Jhankrism. There are several ghyangs (Buddhist temples) in every
Tamang settlement. All their festivals and ceremonies are performed in Buddhist
fashion. On the first day of Magh
(some day in
January and February), they celebrate Chho in these ghyangs. Another feasting
ceremony, Nara is observed on the full moon day. Altogether, the Tamangs
represent a community greatly exploited and poor in general.
Tharus/Chaudharys
The Tharus
are the indigenous ethnic group who live in the northern part of Terai and
inner Terai with a concentrated
population
in the middle and west of the country. Most of the Tharus have Mongoloid
features with dark andsemidark colors. They are aboriginal Terai settlers. Some
also believe that Tharus came to Nepal from India during the Muslim invasion in
the 12th and 13th century. The Tharus have their indigenous dialect, known as
‘Naja’. But they speak a mixture of local dialects, such as Prakriti, Bhojpuri,
Mughali, Nepali, Urdu and Maithili. The Tharus believe in Animism.
They also
celebrate Hindu festivals. There are normally two clans; Pradhan and Apradhan.
The former is considered superior. Each village has its own local gods and
goddesses protecting the people. Marriages among the Tharus, are
monogamous.
It is, however, strictly endogamous. Polyandry and polygamy are practiced
sometimes. Rites and rituals linked with Tharu marriages are elaborate and
complex.
Thakali
Physiognomically
Mongoloid featured ‘Thakalis’ are believed to have originated from Thak Khola,
the valley of the Kali Gandaki River in western Nepal. These people are famous
for their neatly tended kitchens and derive their
subsistence
from hotels, inns, and restaurants income. They are encountered mainly in the
Annapurana round trekking, one of the most famous trekking routes in the
country. Thak Khola lies in Mustang district of Dhaulagiri zone of Nepal.
Thak-sat-se is the traditional area of the Thakali community, which lies in the
salt trading zone on the south of Tukuche Mountain. A Thakali has to marry none
other than Thakali, but the marriage has to be outside his or her own
particular clan. The four clans are equal in status socially or ritually. However,
on the basis of precedance in the worship, Gauchan clan comes first, followed
by Tulachan, Sherchan, and Bhattachan. They have their particular clan gods as
animal representative of dragon, elephant, lion and yak for Gauchan, Tulachan,
Sherchan and Bhattachan respectively.
The religion
of the Thakali is a mixture of Buddhism, Jhankrism, Bonpo and Hinduism, but
they are close to Jhankrism, a kind of Shamanistic cult as their original
religion. Lha Feva is the most significant festival for the Thakalis. It is
observed some day in the month of November of every monkey year of the
twelve-year cycle according to the Tibetan calendar.
What Can
be and Cannot be in the Nepalese Society?
The Nepalese
people are friendly and hospitable by nature and the tourists in general will
have no difficulty in adjustment. All the same, one may be confused regarding
some costume, traditions and manners in coming into any unfamiliar society.
Nepal like any other country has its own ways of regulating life though it
might be different in degrees to each individual visitor. We want visitors to
observe and see the way the Nepalese people live and share that with them. It
is in this spirit that we offer some practical guidelines that could help to
make the stay delightful, homely and rewarding. The religious way of life Religion
is an integral part of Nepali life. Temples, images, sacred paintings are to be
seen everywhere. Majority of the people are Hindus in Nepal, nevertheless
Buddhism has also
important
place in this country. Hinduism and Buddhism are so closely connected in Nepal
that it could take a life times’ study to understand the complexities of
country’s religious life. Hindus and Buddhists alike worship all deities and
fests and festivals are shared. For centuries both have cherished mutual regard
and respect for one another’s traditions.
Some
fundamental facts are to be taken into consideration that one should adopt in
the Nepalese society.
- Visitors to the Hindu temple or
Buddhists shrines or may be in some particular places are supposed to take off
their shoes as a mark of respect. In this regard it will be better to take a
pair of sandals for ones convenience, but leather sandals are not allowed.
- In many Hindu temples non- Hindus
are not allowed to enter and it is better to consult your guide.
- Leather articles are not allowed in
most of the temples, stupa and shrines.
- Temples or shrines are walked around
in clockwise direction. Killing of cows is strictly prohibited. Beef is not
used among Hindus and Buddhists. Killing of female animals is also not allowed.
- In some places it is not allowed to
take photographs, it is better to ask your guide or the people around.
- Leather goods also mean shoes,
belts, camera cover, jackets etc.
Social
Traditions
More than
ninety per cent of the Nepalese people live in the rural areas and they have
their own traditions and they
have their
own traditions and customs even their outlook and appearance. Nepalese people
look like very simple and
innocent.
They take a special delight to company with any other people. They are much
more interested to talk with
the
foreigners even they may not be able to talk in English. But there are certain
things that are alien or embarrassing
to our
people and some of the points to keep in mind will be better. It is better to
be decently dressed when visiting any place. Sun and beach wares are not the ideal
when roaming around the city or village. Briefs, shorts, bare shoulders and
backs are not appreciated. One need not be stiff and overdressed, but just
comfortably and decently covered. Do not take seriously if a Nepali lady
hesitates to shake hands.
In Nepal,
people specially the ladies, do not shake hands when they greet one another,
but instead press the palms
together in
a prayer- like gesture known as “Namaste”. Public displays of affection between
man and woman are
frowned
upon. Do not do something that is totally alien to our environment. We are hard
on drug abuse; trafficking
and
possession of drugs are taken as serious offences.
Beggars
Cheap
charity breeds beggars but does not solve their basic problem. Therefore do not
encourage beggary by being benevolent.
Glaciers to the Plain Tarai River Adventure in Nepal
Originating from snowy peaks, cutting the gorge of higher
mountains, rivers of Nepal to the plain land of Tarai forming the fascinating
views in the Himalayan country of Nepal, River rafting in Nepal is a venture
but interesting. Tourists, expediters along with local people take a great
enjoy in River rafting in Nepal sitting on the rubber boats on the perennial
running water. A river
trip is often an adventure but not always. In a country like
Nepal, a river trip also provides opportunity for geological surveys, swimming,
fishing and exploring new species of living and non-living things. Of course,
without the guidance of local boaters or the representatives from the river
rafting agencies is supposed to be dangerous.
The
following three-river system for commercial rafting, are often used in Nepal.
- Saptakoshi River System (East
Nepal)
- Narayani or Saptagandaki River
System (Central Nepal)
- Karnali River System (West
Nepal)
Eight rivers in the three river systems are open for
tourists for
river rafting. These are:
-Arun
-Bheri
-Kaligandaki
-Karnali
-Seti
-Sunkoshi
-Tamakoshi
-Trisuli
Rafting in any other than these requires a special permit.
Arun
Starting from Kartikegath, six days’ river trip ends at
Chatara. Arun is one of the biggest rivers in Nepal. Kartikegath is reached
from Tumlingtar after taking a mini trek. To reach Tumglingtar, it requires
either one hour’s flight from Kathmandu or a day long bus drive. The trip then
starts at Kartikegath and goes on rafting along different places hitting many
big and small exiting rapids. On the sixth day, the trip ends at Chatara. The
crew members then can return Kathmandu by a day long drive from Chatara via
Biratnagar or fly out from Biratnagar to Kathmandu.
Bheri
Starting from Samjahighat to Chisapani, rafting on Bheri
takes four days long trip. To reach Samjahighat, one should either take a
flight from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj and then four hour drive from Nepalgunj to
Samjahighat or should travel a distance of 627 km. long journey by bus. Next
day morning, the trip starts from Samjahighat through many villages, big
vertical cliffs, big rapids via Kamekot Kuine, etc.
On the fourth day the trip ends by mid day at Chisapani, the
confluence of the Bheri and the Karnali rivers. The trip can be continued with
jungle tour in the Bardia Wildlife Reserves.
Kaligandaki
It is a long, eight days’ trip starting at Modibeni and
ending at Narayangath. The trip requires either a 30 minute flight or
six hour drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Before trekking
towards Modibeni, a drive of approximately one and a half hour is required to
reach Naudanda from Pokhara. A one and half day long trekking from Naudanda
takes you to the Modibeni via Karkineta. The river trip then starts at
Modibein. The trip goes a long way through Ridi Bazzar, Ranigath Palace,
Ramdighat, Batulitar, Khalte, etc. with many large and small rapids and the
trip ends at Devgath near Narayangath on 8th day. The conflunce of the Trisuli
and Kaligandaki rivers, rafting continues for about half an hour till
Narayanghat, the take out point. Now one can get back to Kathmandu in six hours
by bus or go to Chitwan National Park. Kaligandaki is one of the deepest rivers
in Nepal.
Karnali
It is a six day river trip that starts at Bhankhet and ends
at Chisipani. To reach Bhankhet, it requires either a direct flight or a long
drive from Kathmandu to Birendranagar( Surketh) and two days long trek. The
river trip then starts at Bhanketh and after six days, ends at Chisapani. Then
one can return Kathmandu by a day long bus journey or the trip continues with
jungle tour in the Bardiya Wildlife Reserve.
Seti
It takes two days river trip that starts at Damauli, about
160 km. West of Kathmandu and ends at Narayanghat. In Damauli, the trip starts
in Setikhola, a tributary of Saptagandaki River. The trip goes through the
forested area and the villages inhabited by Magars. The trip is exciting with
so many encounters of the big and small rapids. On the second day afternoon,
the trip ends at Devghat where the Kaligandaki joins the Trishuli becomes
Narayani River.
Sunkoshi
It is the longest river adventure of nine days’ trip. The
most common point of this trip is Dolalghat; three hours drive east of
Kathmandu. The trip is through the rich color and varied rock formations,
different villages of different tribesmen with many exciting small and large
rapids. One can have opportunities to look various species of orchids and birds
en route. The trip goes on rafting for nine days camping on different places
and on the ninth day, the trip ends at Chartara is Dharan that takes about 45
minutes while driving. One can return Kathmandu by 45 minutes’ flight from
Biratnagar. A Sunkoshi river trip can be started at Lamosangu.
Tamakoshi
This is the longest river trip, ten days’ rivers rafting in
Nepal, starting from Basti near Jiri and ends at Chatara, the ending point of
Sunkoshi river trip. One can reach Basti by a day long bus from Kathmandu to
Jiri and a short distance trek.
The trip reaches Dolalghat after two days and after eight
days the trip reaches Cahatara same Sunkoshi river trip.
This trip is the most adventurous and dangerous river trip.
Trishuli
This is most popular river trip in Nepal, because of its
accessibility by road along its major parts. The trip goes below the Prithivi
Highway with many excited rapids via Gajuri, Charaundi and ends at Kauringhat
is a three days. Kauringhat is a small picturesque village about four-hour
drive from Kathmandu. However, the trip continues up to Chitwan National Park,
depending upon time and choice but ventures.
Sunday, January 4, 2015
Nepal National Parks & Reserves
Nepal itself is a big park with a numerous scenic beauties,
ponds and lakes, majestic Himalayas, crystal clear waterfalls and adventurous
rivers. Nepal is a land of extreme contrasts in climate and geographical
condition. It has unique topography ranging from lowlands with sub-tropical
jungles to artic conditions in Himalayas highlands. Within a mere 150 km the
land rises from
near sea level in the south to over 8,000 meters in the
north. This, together with the monsoon rainfall along the south facing slopes,
has resulted in squeezing virtually all climates zones found on our planet. As
a result, Nepal has been endowed with a great diversity of life zones providing
a home for a large variety of plants, birds and animals.
The Tarai low lands are defined by the belts of well-watered
flood plains stretching from the Indian border northward to the first slopes of
the Bhabhar and the Siwalik range. This is the richest habitat in the land with
the tall grass lands interspersed with rivers and hardwood sal forest. Here one
can see wildlife such as the swamp deer, black buck, blue bull, the Royal
Bengal tiger, Gharial and mugger crocodiles, and the last of the bread of
Asiatic wild buffalo .This area is also rich in bird life with a variety of
babblers and orioles, koels and drongos, peacocks and floricans, and a
multitude of wintering wildfowl. There are three protected areas in the
Tarai-Koshi Tappu in the east, and Bardia and Sukla Phant in the west.
The Churia, also known as the Siwalik, is the southern most
range of the Himalayas. Nowhere do they rise above 1,220 meters. Although young
according to geological time, the Churia is thought to be one of the oldest of
the Himalayan uplifts. This range is famous for fossil deposits of Pleistocene
mammals, among them 10 species of elephants, 6 rhinoceros, hippopotamus,
sabre-toothed cats, various antelopes and primates such as the orangutan, long
extinct in the subcontinent. Situated north of the Churia are broad, low
valleys of the inner Tarai known as the Doons. These valleys are not unlike the
outer plains with tall elephant grass, swamps and ox-bow lakes where the last
of the one horned rhinoceros survive. Chitawan National Park in the
inner Tarai of central Nepal is the first and best protected
area in the country. Once one of the famous big game hunting areas in Asia,
Chitawan now offers protection to the large array of mammals such as the
one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, sloth bear and Guar (wild bison) as well
as more than 400 species of birds. Without doubt, Chitwan is one of the
outstanding wildlife sanctuaries in the world.
Higher in the north between 2,000 and 3,500 meters lies the
Mahabharat range with its oak crowned crests. The majority of Nepal’s hill
people inhabit the lower slopes of the Mahabharat. The intricate terracing of
the midland country is noteworthy. These hills are covered by a moist temperate
forest of deodar, oak, maple, and birch in which are found deer, goral, serow,
leopard and monkey. The gorgeous multi-coloured impeyan pheasant (Nepal’s
national bird) is also found here with other endangered birds like the Koklas
and Cheer pheasants. Protected areas in this zone include Khaptad National Park
in the far west, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve northwest Pokhara and Shivapuri
Wildlife sanctuary near Kathmandu.
Higher still, nearer the snowline, are the alpine mountain
flanks which are the haunt of snow leopard, which preys on blue sheep and the
Himalayan tahr. Rarely seen are the wolf, black and brown bears and lynx. These
higher reaches are inhabited by some of the hardiest tribes of Nepal. The
Sherpas, Manangba and Dolpa-bas are some of those who farm and graze their
livestock on the high mountain pastures.
Langtang, Sagarmatha (Everest), Sheyphoksundo and Lake Rara
National Parks are the protected high altitude areas
of Nepal.
Today Government of Nepal has set aside more than 13,000 sq.
km of protected areas that include as many
bio-geographic regions as possible to assure conservation of
the maximum numbers of wildlife species. These nature
sanctuaries attract wildlife enthusiasts and tourists from
the world over, and each park and reserve has its own attraction. At the
Chitwan National Park, visitors venture on elephant back I search of the
one-horned rhinoceros, sloth bear, deer and crocodile. Other lowland parks such
as Koshi Tappu, Bardia and Sukla Phanta are less frequented making them more
appealing to those who prefer the solitude of wild world. In the mountain
sanctuaries of Nepal, visitors can commune with high massifs as well as glimpse
some of the rare wildlife species of the Himalayan realm. This is the habitat
of the musk deer, goral, blue sheep and Himalayan bear. Also found here is the
endangered snow leopard.
Seasons
Nepal’s climate ranges from tropical in the lowlands to
arctic in the higher altitudes. About 90% of the rain falls during June to
September, during the monsoon. Vegetation is as its best at blooming during
this season. The post-monsoon period, between October and November is the best
time to visit the high altitude Himalayan parks. When the days are warm, the
snow line recedes, and the air is clear. This is the busiest tourist season in
the country as a whole. The winter months, between December and February,
attract large number of visitors to the lowland parks. The days are warms and
the nights chilly. Koshi Tappu, Chitawan, Bardia, and Sukla Phanta are best
visited this time. This is also a good time to observe wintering birds,
including wildfowls and waders. From March to May, it is warm at lower
altitudes and cool above 3,000 meters. Despite the high temperatures, are this
can be the best time to visit the lowland parks for the teeming animal and bird
life as well as flowering trees.
This is also an ideal time to visit altitude nature
sanctuaries of Everest, Annapurna, Langtang and Rara. This is when the
rhododendron and alpine flower burst into bloom. Spring haze
tends to spoil mountain views but it is warm enough for visitors to explore
higher reaches.