10 Unmissable Things in Nepal

Durbar Square is a must-see attraction in Kathmandu. It used to be the crowning place of the King, and has more than 50 temples and palaces. All of them were built from 1600 to 1900. The square was listed as a world heritage site in 1979. In 2019, Ni Ni's movie "Up in the wind" was filmed here. There are two "manys" here. Firstly, there are many pigeons. Flocks of pigeons fed by tourists wander among the temples, forming a good background for photos. Secondly, there are many local people. Many local young men and women sit on the steps of the temple, watching the tourists bargain with the vendors. The Kumari Temple is a popular temple in the square. It is a three-story red brick building located in the south of Durbar Square. A young folk virgin is regarded as the "Kumari Goddess" here. The goddess shows up through a window at 16:00 every day, lasting for 30 seconds, but visitors are not allowed to take photos of her.

The cultural heritage site "Changu Narayan Temple" is the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal. It was built in the 4th century AD and is located on a 1541m high hill, 30 minutes from the ancient city of Bhadgaon. The main body of the temple has only two floors, but it is ancient and magnificent. The temple is dedicated to the god of reconciliation - Vishnu and its ten incarnations. The stone sculpture "Vishnu's Mount" in the temple is printed on the 10 NPR banknotes in Nepal.

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal. It is famous for its lakes, mountains and rich outdoor sports. The most charming resort center is located on "Phewa Lake". Phewa Lake is the second largest lake in Nepal. The king's palace is located on the south bank, while the hotels and attractions are on the north bank. Boating on Phewa Lake is a must-do activity in Pokhara. You can see the spectacular Machhapuchhre when looking up, and the reflection of the snowy mountain when looking down. The scenery at sunset is even more fascinating. There are various types of boats to choose from, such as the rainbow wooden boats, kayaks, and motor boats. Each type provides its own unique fun. There is another cool sport on Phewa Lake: paddle board SUP. You can stand on the board and paddle on the lake with long oars. Special clubs can be found on the shores of Phewa Lake. You can hire a coach or rent equipment. Renting a paddle board costs about 800 NPR per hour.

In Pokhara, you must experience paragliding and dive down from the top of the mountain, overlooking the entire Phewa Lake and the city. This awesome activity is not only thrilling, but can also give you an opportunity to enjoy the amazing scenery. There are nearly 20 paragliding clubs in Pokhara. The departure points are located on Saranco Mountain, which is 20 minutes from Pokhara. The landing site is on the north side of Phewa Lake, and you can glide for 30 minutes or 60 minutes. The best time to fly is at 11:30. There is enough updraft to support the flight at this time, and you can ask to fly at this time when booking.

ACT (Annapurna Circuit) is one of the most beautiful hiking routes in the world. This route rises from an altitude of 820 m to an altitude of 5400 m. The great change in vertical height brings different beautiful scenery, including forests, canyons, fields, lakes, and snowy mountains. It takes more than 14 days to finish the full route, but fortunately there is a village every 5-10 km along the route, which provides meals and accommodation, so you don't have to worry about supplies. The real challenge on this route is the climb to the 5,000-meter-high "Thorong La Pass". Many people will experience a strong high altitude sickness at this point.

Chitwan National Park consists of forests, swamps, and meadows. Wild rhinos, Bengal Tigers and Sika Deer can be found there, and you can even ride an elephant to explore the jungle and observe the wildlife! When riding an elephant, you can look farther afield. When the elephant gets nervous, it will speed up, which will make you nervous too. So it is an experience that's totally different from other forms of transportation.

Holi Festival is the most joyous festival in Nepal and is also called the "Color Festival". During the festival, people will use water and various pigments to splash each other, and then say "Happy Holi" to show their blessings. The color carnival usually lasts for one day. The Durbar Square in Kathmandu will be open for free on this day, but the temples on the square will not be open. There will be singers performing on the stage and thousands of locals will gather here to celebrate.

In Nepal, ascetic monks are called "Baba", which means saint. They are very easy to identify, as they all have colorful stripes on their faces, with a small can in one hand and a walking stick in the other. These people only take two baths in their lives, once when born, and once after death. This is actually a part of their ascetic practice. Most of the ascetic monks gather near the temple to make a living. If you look at them, they will immediately come over and draw a lucky dot on your forehead. Of course this is not free, and you need to give him 10-20 NPR.