If you’re looking for a holiday that isn’t just lying on the beach sunbathing, one of the most fascinating places in the world to visit is Nepal. A true paradise for adventure travellers, there is so much to see and do there.
Experience the culture, spot the wildlife and gaze in wonder at some of the most stunning sights in the world. Sound like your type of getaway? Here are some of the top places you should add to your itinerary for Nepal.
Boudhanath Stupa in Nepal by Raimond Klavins via Unsplash
Everest Base Camp
Nepal is home to over 1000 mountains, 7 of which are in the top 10 tallest mountains in the world. The most famous of these is Mount Everest, the Earth’s highest mountain above sea level.
While you probably won’t be able to climb to the summit while travelling in Nepal, as this requires years of mountain climbing experience, you can join an Everest Base Camp trek to explore parts of this fascinating area.
Everest Base Camp still isn’t an easy trek – it takes between 11 and 14 days to trek to base camp, but for those up for the challenge, it’s certainly worthwhile for the spectacular scenery you’ll be rewarded with along the way.
Swayambhu Stupa
For a cultural experience, one of the best places to visit is Swayambhunath, a holy shrine in Kathmandu. Swayambhu is one of the oldest religious sites in Nepal, believed to be founded around the 5th century CE.
The Swayambhu Stupa is very impressive, with a large white dome and golden spire that can be seen for miles around. Worshippers at this temple include both Buddhists and Hindus, with a mixture of Hindu and Buddhist iconography on display.
While not nearly as strenuous as Everest Base Camp, there are still 365 steps to ascend to reach the temple. The site is definitely worth a visit, though, and you’ll still be rewarded with some stunning views of Kathmandu.
Also known as Monkey Temple, Swayambhunath is home to sacred monkeys, so you’re bound to see a lot of these when visiting too!
And if you want to venture even further, consider the temples and palaces of Patan. It is one of three major cities in the Kathmandu Valley.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
‘Durbar Square’ is the name of the plazas and areas opposite the old royal palaces in Nepal. The Squares consist of temples, courts, water fountains and idols. There are three Durbar Square in Kathmandu, and all three are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
All these sites are well worth a visit, but the Kathmandu Durbar Square, in particular, offers a stunning site filled with former temples, Buddhist and Hindu shrines, former royal palaces, ponds, statues and pagodas, which feature Newari wooden carvings that date back to the 1500s.
Phewa Lake
Phewa Lake in the Pokhara Valley is the second largest lake in Nepal, and definitely another place you should add to your Nepal travel itinerary. With surrounding mountains reflected in the surface of the water, this is a stunning spot to visit.
See the area from the water by renting one of the brightly painted doonga boats and enjoying a sail around the lake, or view it from above by paragliding over the lake from Sarangkot.
The lake is surrounded by plenty of points of interest, with the north shore developed into a tourist district, known as Lakeside. This area is full of bars, restaurants and shops to explore while enjoying the beauty of the lake.
The lake is also home to the Tal Barahi Temple and the Ratna Mandir, a former palace of the Nepalese royal family, giving you plenty of things to see and do while in this location.
Boudhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most popular destinations in Nepal. The Stupa was created around 600AD by a Tibetan King, and is now a historical pilgrimage site for Buddhists.
Also known as Boudha, this spiritual site is considered one of the holiest in Kathmandu. The structure is awe-inspiring, with diversified gold elements to impress. Many people will walk around the stupa as part of a daily ritual. You’ll see people from a wide variety of cultures praying in the stupa; it’s a very magical place.
Rich in culture and stunning scenery, is Nepal a destination you’ll be adding to your bucket list?
