Nepal

OVERVIEW

Nepal is a small, landlocked country. It is located in the south-eastern part of Asia. It covers 0.03% of the world’s total landmass and 0.03% of Asia. India borders Nepal from three sides, east, west and south, whereas China borders Nepal from the north. Nepal’s total area is 147,516 square kilometres and it is shaped like a distorted brick. It is only 800 kilometres long and 200 kilometres wide. It extends from 60m to 8848m above sea level. Nepal is enormously diverse in geography, cultures, languages, ethnicities, races, castes, and religions. Nepal’s capital city is Kathmandu and its mother tongue is Nepali. The physiographic divisions of Nepal include three regions, the Himalayan region, the hilly region, and the Plains.

HIMALAYAN REGION

The northernmost belt of Nepal is known as Himal or Himalayan region as it is composed of mountains. Its altitude typically ranges from 3300m to 8848m. The Himalayan region has its unique climatic conditions (alpine or sub-alpine) and is a difficult topography as it is mostly made up of rigid rocks. It is the headwater of the numerous perennial rivers of Nepal, like Karnali and Gandaki. It contains various mountain ranges and peaks, including the highest one, i.e. Mount Everest, also known as Sagarmatha. It has a very cold climate as it snows frequently. The snow line is somewhere around 5000m. The Himalayan region is a habitat of many beautiful animals, birds, and rare medicinal plants.

  Tourism in the Himalayan region:

It is a significant tourist destination for adventurous people. Many people prefer to trek up to those majestic mountain peaks to appreciate the rejuvenating view from the top. Despite the adrenaline rush, the sun-drenched mountain range and heavenly view are worth it all. Normally, people who can tolerate the higher altitudes visit this region. Other than that, the altitude and topography make for a backbreaking journey for the weaker people.

    Major attractions in the Himalayan region:

The base camps of Everest, Annapurna Base Camp, and Kanchenjunga in Nepal offer excellent services to guests. Not only for trekking purposes, but the Himalayan belt is a favourite destination of the pilgrims who travel to worship the sacred temples. Some of the holy places of the Himal include Muktinath, Kalinchowk, and Pathivara. The Himalayan region is the top trip bucket list for the people who like to glare at the elegance of the lakes like Shey Phoksundo (deepest lake of Nepal), Gosai Kunda, Rara, etc. Mustang is by far the most popular district in this region as it facilitates maximum tourism in Nepal. In addition, the Himalayan region also has multiple national parks and conservation areas that conserve endangered species.

HILLY REGION

The Hilly region, or Pahaad, sits south of the Himalayas and north to the Plains. It has quite a mild and sub-tropical climate. The southern part of the region consists of mostly deciduous trees and the northern part has mostly coniferous trees. The Hilly region extends from 600m to 3300m above sea level. The lifestyle in this region is pretty easy due to its warm and humid climate, compared to other regions. Also, it is the epitome of greenery as its climate is suitable to grow many vegetations. It is also home to myriads of floras and faunas who just adorn the beauty of this region. Spring waters and streams are abundant in this area. For example, the Bagmati River originates from the spring named Bagdwar.

   Tourism in Hilly Region:

The Hilly region lures flocks of visitors each year due to its mild climate. Pahaad is much easier to travel to. The most developed valleys of the country, i.e. Kathmandu and Pokhara valley lie in this region. These valleys are the foremost destination for many foreigners. People who are captivated by the royal and archaic ambience of Nepal love to visit Kathmandu valley. On the other hand, Pokhara is a major tourist trap in Nepal, due to its royalty in nature and facilitating accommodations. In Pokhara, visitors can enjoy activities such as boating, sightseeing, trekking, paragliding, canoeing, and skydiving. Even religious people visit this city due to the pilgrimage like Bindyabasini and Taal Barahi temple. People fancy  Gurung culture in Ghandruk and they like to wrap themselves up in their cultural dresses.

  Major attractions of Hilly Region:

Narayanhiti Palace, Bhaktapur Durbar square, Kathmandu Durbar square, and Patan Durbar square are known for their antiques. Many people visit these places and glare at the meticulous designs and architectures of these historical monuments and learn about the royal lifestyle through the guides or the locals. Furthermore, the abundance of religious sites in Kathmandu attracts tourists from around the world. Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath, Changunarayan, Sanga and Budhnilkantha, etc; are the major religious places in the capital. Places like Chandragiri, Nagarkot, and Shivapuri are places of interest to numerous tourists.

In addition, underrated places like Palpa Durbar, Khotang Halesi, Manakamana temple, Illam, and much more spice up the elegance of the hilly region.

TERAI REGION

The Plains or the Terai are the southernmost part of Nepal. It rests on the northern part of the Indo-Gangetic plains. It extends from 60m to 600m above sea level. Due to its hot and tropical climate, this region generally endures dryness. However, it is known as the Granary of Nepal, as it is the region that produces the most crops. It has diverged into inner and outer Terai, which consists of the Sivalik, Mahabharat, and Churia ranges. It is a homeland of many animals, especially carnivores. Dense evergreen forests are seen in this region. Animal husbandry, horticulture, poultry farming, etc are the major income generators of the people.

 Tourism in Terai Region:

In spite of its humid climate, the Terai offers spectacular sites such as Lumbini, Chitwan National Park, Janaki Temple, Bardiya National Park, etc. There are lots of accommodating jungle lodges available in this region. Unlike the other two regions, Terai is suitable for going on an awe-striking journey like hunting and jungle safari. Terai is all about going on an adventurous trip, as the carnivores might intimidate some tourists. Lumbini, the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, is the main attraction as many tourists, especially Buddhists, desire to visit the monasteries and seek peace. It is also a prime destination for the schools as they bring their students for educational purposes.

   Major Attractions:

The major tourist attractions of this region are Chitwan National Park, Banke National Park, Bardiya National Park, Dev ghat, Lumbini, Janaki temple, etc.

TOURISM IN NEPAL

Tourism in Nepal is escalating for a few years. It is one of the significant sources of revenue. It also nourished lots of employment opportunities and decreased the rate of unemployment in Nepal. There are a ton of affordable accommodation facilities in Nepal with quality services. The hospitality and the warm welcome from the locals give you a sense of belonging.

You might have to take bumpy rides in a few places as most of the roads in the Himalayan region are not well-developed, but it is worth the result you get after you reach the top. Nepal’s diversity attracts a wide range of people. It attracts lots of internal and international tourists as there are many places to visit in Nepal, some of which are listed in the World heritage sites of Nepal by UNESCO. All the three geographical regions of Nepal behold unique touristic destinations.

Various tourists come here to enjoy the charisma of nature and to delight their eyes, while others visit holy and ancient pilgrimages to find spiritual peace. Some like to trek and challenge their strength, while some like to rest in the utter peace of stupas, temples, and pagodas. Furthermore, some people love to skim through the air in Pokhara while they paraglide, skydive and bungee-jump.

There are plenty of other underrated locations which are worth exploring. In the nutshell, Nepal is worth a visit as you can encapsulate mesmerizing remembrances. So… Would you visit Nepal?

 

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