Among some alternatives, Annapurna Base Camp’s short 4 days trek is the shortest program to hike up to ABC. It is a customizable trekking program for trekkers seeking a rapid trek to Annapurna Base Camp. The short trek to Annapurna Camp Trek completes in 4 days. It includes driving from Pokhara to Siwai, hiking up to the base camp, and flying back to Pokhara.
The exclusive helicopter return is the most exciting part of the trek program. Trekkers will have an opportunity to experience all the tastes of the trail. Hike the classical trail to the base camp trek and trekkers don’t need to retrace the same route back to the trailhead. Alike hiking the 11-13 Days Annapurna Base Camp trek, one will enjoy the attractions of high mountain views, encounter wild animals, and observe the wilderness. Furthermore one will equally interact with the colorful traditions, unique houses and villages, and the organic lifestyle of the locals. Besides, one won’t miss a visit to the hot water springs at Jhinu during the Annapurna Base Camp short trek.
Major Highlights of Annapurna Base Camp Short Trek – 4 Days
Capture the views of Mt. Himchuli, Annapurna, and Machhapuchhre including other
Take a relaxing bath at Jhinu hot spring.
Capture the first sun rays over the high Himalayas
Pass through the colorful rhododendron forest during the spring trek
Encounter diverse terrain, wildlife, and birds
Meet the legendary Magar and Gurung People in their original place
Brief itinerary
1st Day: Drive from Pokhara to Siwai and trek to Jhinu/Chhomrung
2nd Day: Trek to Dovan/Himalaya
3rd Day: Trek to MBC via Deurali
4th Day: Early morning from MBC to ABC, and helicopter flight from ABC to Pokhara
Do not need to retrace the same trail back to the trailhead
To experience the most exciting helicopter flight back to Pokhara
Getting to Pokhara
There are regularly scheduled flights several times a day from Kathmandu to Pokhara. It costs up to US$120 for a one-way flight between Kathmandu and Pokhara. It is 25 minute flight from Tribhuvan International Airport Domestic Terminal to Pokhara Airport.
Besides, that tourist coach departs from Shorakhutte Tourist Bus stand for Pokhara. The bus has a schedule to depart at 7:00 am and reaches Pokhara in the next 6-7 hours. However, it may take longer depending on traffic on the highway. They will have two pauses on the way for breakfast and lunch. It costs US$10-US30 for a bus ticket depending on the standard of the Tourist Coach.
Alternatively, you can choose to hire a private vehicle to get to Pokhara. Hire a car or van depending on your group size. The cost of a Private vehicle/car from Kathmandu to Pokhara ranges from USD130 to USD 150. A car is a 3 seater and a jeep can accommodate 5 people for a comfortable journey. Private vehicle covers the journey bit faster than tourist bus.
Required Permits for Annapurna Base Camp 4 days short Trek
Similar to the other classical trails of the region, Annapurna Base Camp’s 4 Days Short trek also requires an ACAP Entry Permit and TIMS to hike the trail. It costs approximately US40 for all the permits. Fill up application forms at their respective office with a copy of your passport and recent pp-size photographs. You can either get the permits in Kathmandu or Pokhara. Your handling trekker operator arranges all the required documents and permits for you. You should confirm these documents beforehand setting off for the trip.
To receive clear information on Why to trek Langtang Valley, you should check some facts about the trekking destination. Langtang, “The Valley of Glacier” is a standout amongst the most well-known natural heavens of Nepal. The valley is among the top third-best trekking terminus of Nepal.
Engulfed within the Langtang National Park territory, it is the home to different extraordinary fledglings and untamed life. The region preserves valuable wildlife like Red Panda and musk dears, among the Panthers, Jackals, mountain Thar, Himalayan dark beer, and numerous animals including sub-alpine and alpine vegetation.
The sacred lake of Gosaikunda is the jewel of the region which attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims each year. Alongside the spectacular mountain views of Mt. Ganesh Himal, Dorji Lakpa, Langshisha Ri, Gangchhenpo, Yala peak, and Naya Kanga dominated by Langtang Ri persuade every trekker. Due to its diverse attractions, many tourists fly the valley from Kathmandu with a Langtang Helicopter tour.
Reasons to choose the trail
Experience Off the beaten path trek
Despite its popularity and diverse attractions, the Langtang region receives less than twenty thousand trekkers a year. As a result, it preserves its vegetation and organic nature is its original state. There is more to offer the visitor in its organic form. Trekkers enjoy the local hospitality in a less crowded zone of Langtang National Park and within a peaceful journey. Trekker who loves to walk on a natural trail experiencing the rural lifestyle, diverse culture, and a wide variety of flora and fauna.
Budget Destination
Compared to other destinations, Langtang Valley is easy to access from the capital city of Kathmandu. Travelers can enjoy wonderful hiking in the Langtang region on a cheaper budget than in the Everest and Annapurna region. One can access the trailhead easily by car or bus within 6-7 hours of a comfortable drive.
Highly affected by the Mega Earthquake of 2020
The region was highly affected during the mega earthquake in 2015. It has completed the restoration but still need more tourist to grow the business. It will help them to revive completely. So, visiting the region helps them to heal. The entire Langtang village was buried under the deposit from Avalance just at the time of the mega-earthquake. It killed around 310 people including a big number of tourists.
Low-Risk Factors
Trekking on the higher altitude Himalayan region consists of severe risk and possesses high threats to one’s life. The trail of trekking to the higher altitude region has a slippery trail and narrow paths due to which a trekker may endure several unseen and unexpected hindrances. Trekking in the Langtang Region is relatively much safer despite being less adventurous and with a lower elevation hike than Annapurna and Everest Region. The trail path of this trekking is wide and is much safer than higher altitude trekking because there is no risk of getting hit by a falling rock along the path and also the path is dry. Moreover, there is no chance of getting AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), as most of the trekking path passes around the tree line area and the destination itself is at a low altitude.
Culturally rich
The trekking trail to the Langtang Valley crosses various local villages en route. The villages give us the chance to experience the rural life of Nepalese people. You will be overpowered by the social execution of the Tamang, Sherpa, and Hyolmo indigenous neighborhood, their warm neighborliness, special lifestyles, customs, and customary houses with thatched, and stone roofs. The ethnic and typical village of Langtang valley offers a differing social and cultural flavor with various ceremonies and conventions based on Buddhism. The culture these people practice is ancient and has been transferred from generation to generation and is still intact despite the influence of the modern phenomenon of globalization. The incredible Himalayan landscape, magnificent sceneries, and rich greenery are the essence of the trek. Besides that the local custom, traditions, and culture, as well as the living style of the people living in this region, are things to experience here.
Alluring Views of Mountains
As the Valley is the third most popular trekking destination, it still has more to offer than generally expected. The Langtang Region includes one of the most wonderful Langtang valleys. The valley is rich and impressive with magnificent snowcap mountain vistas. A significant fascination of Langtang Trekking is the surrounding Himalayan perspective of snow-topped mountains, such as Langtang Lirung, Tibet Himalayas, Gang Chhenpo, Naya Kanga, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, Dorje Lakpa as well as Gaurisankar Himal.
The religious significance of the Gosaikunda lake in the southern part and Kyanjin Gompa in the eastern end have made the region a pilgrimage valley. Gosainkunda also known as a solidified lake, is a holy pilgrimage site for the Hindus and has a beautiful sight to behold. The Gosaikunda area is a cluster of several lakes in which holy Gosainkunda – the third one amongst them, has more significance. This lake is situated at a height of 4,380m from sea level. The other attraction of Langtang valley is Kyanjin Gompa- a monastery of Buddhists, which is supposed to be 400 years old. Kyanjin Gompa is one of the most important spiritual sites in the Langtang region. These sites are worth exploring.
Warm Accommodation
The entire route of Langtang valley has basic teahouse lodges for trekkers’ accommodation. They have warm rooms with twins sharing warm beds. Some of them have attached bathrooms.
Hospitable people
Similar to other trekking destinations the locals run the lodges and shops in the region. The people are in hospitals and let feel you a warm and safe environment.
Final Thoughts to trek Langtang Valley
Langtang region is a closer destination to Kathmandu and has more to offer its visitor. A variety of attractions ranging from Cultural products to Natural gifts is a rich hiking destination. Trekkers can enjoy a short and easy hike to a tough and challenging expedition in the Langtang area. Make equity for a customized trip to the Langtang region. We assure to design a tailored made trekking itinerary to meet your requirement.
Phikuri Trek in Nuwakot, near Kathmandu capital, has come as a new trekking destination. The trail is the best destination to enjoy the view of mountains like Langtang, Gosaikunda, Manaslu, Annapurna, and Ganesh Himal including the bordering mountain with Tibet.
This trail has come as a combined package of history, nature, and culture. The trail passes through several ethnic settlements. It will also let you experience the tastes of the traditional farming system, the isolated mountainous view, and the rural life. The trailhead is easy to access from Kathmandu and the Phikuri hill itself is just 90 km away from Kathmandu in the northwest direction. Trekkers can combine the trail with Ruby Valley trek leading to Ganesh Himal area and with other popular trekking trails of Langtang valley like Tamang Heritage Trail and Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Trek.
Phikuri Peak Trekking trail is one of the newest trekking trails in Nepal. The trekking trail is named after the picturesque Phikuri peak (3800). Visitors can observe the breathtaking views of the majestic Himalayas including Ganesh Himal, Mt. Langtang, and Mt. Dorje Lakpa from the top of Phikuri peak. Tamang and Gurung communities are the main inhabitants of the region. The community successfully preserves the rich local culture. Visitors can observe typical Nepali village life. En-route visiting the medieval Nuwakot Durbar and sheep farm are essential attractions.
The accommodation includes both the homestay and camping experience. Furthermore, the trekkers will also have the opportunity for Trishuli rafting and zipline rides. The Phikuri trek itineraries are customizable from 5 days to 7 days. The shorter 5 days trek and the longer 7 days versions of the Phikuri Peak Trekking trail depending upon the available time and interest of the visitors.
There are several Major Places to Visit around Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu being the capital city of Nepal preserves many ancient and heritage sites. Out of hundreds of monument sites, 7 sites are listed under the UNESCO World Heritage site. Besides the main cultural heritage sites of the valley, there is much to see inside the city. Some monuments lie inside the core areas of the city, whereas others remain on the outskirts of the valley.
1. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhairabnath Temple of Bhaktapur
Boudhanath Stupa (Khasti Chaitya)
Chandragiri Hill
Bhaleshwor Temple at the top of Chandragiri Hills
Changunarayan Temple
The historical landmark of Nepal, Changu Narayan Temple lies just 4 kilometers north of Bhaktapur. Situated at the top of a small hillock, the temple is one of the oldest monuments in Kathmandu Valley. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The place is sacred and witnesses the rich craftsmanship of the valley people of different times. Changu Narayan Temple is among the four Vishnu temples guarding the four different directions of the valley. Established around 325 AD, the premises preserve the first written history of Nepal carved in the stone pillar that holds Garuda. The monument is a standout amongst the country’s most wonderful and truly imperative structures.
Changu Narayan Temple
The temple has undergone reconstruction at different times in its history. In 1702 AD it was reconstructed after it caught fire. The main temple is a two-storied sanctuary witnessing the numerous carvings of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. Similarly, the multi-armed Tantric goddesses and unique Tri-Bikram Bamana Avatar idols are the actual jewels of Changu Narayan. The premise is a live museum for the stone, wood, and metal carvings of the Lichhavi time frame. The artifacts decorate the courtyard surrounding the main temple. The temple is famous for its extraordinary carvings. It is among the 7 monuments referred to by UNESCO World Heritage inside the cultural heritage site of Kathmandu Valley. Every day a good number of domestic tourists, Hindu pilgrims, and foreign visitors see the temple.
Chovar
Dakshinkali Temple
Dakshinkali Temple
Dhulikhel
Mountain Panaroma From Dhulikhel
Godavari Botanical Garden
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kritipur
Uma Maheshwar Temple of Kirtipur
Nagarkot Hill Station /View Point
Namo Buddha
Namobuddha – Memorable Nepal Tour
Pashupatinath Temple
Kathmandu Heritage Tour – Pashupatinath Temple
Patan Durbar Square
Krishna Mandir of Patan DurbarSquare
Patan-Lalitpur was formerly an autonomous city-state with its own position, and it still has a unique character. This is a creative city at heart, and the moniker Lalitpur – ‘City of Beauty’ – is well merited. This is the source of most of Nepal’s acclaimed fine craftsmanship, and the architecture – mainly extravagant temples and great palaces – is among the most stunning in the nation. The major monument of Patan Durbar, now a museum abodes many other temples with prominent architecture.
Swayambhunath Stupa
Swayambhunath Stupa, a golden spire atop a conical forested hill, is the most ancient and mystical of all the sacred monuments in Kathmandu valley. Its soaring white dome and gleaming golden spire may be seen for miles and from all sides of the valley. Swayambhu, which means “self-created or self-existent.” Saints, sages, and divinities flocked to the lake to worship this amazing light for its ability to bestow wisdom.
The region around the stupa is densely packed with chaityas, temples, painted pictures of deities, and a plethora of other religious artifacts. Many modest shrines contain sculptures of Tantric and shamanistic deities, Tibetan Buddhist prayer wheels, Shiva lingams, and a prominent Hindu temple devoted to Harati.
Another intriguing, but smaller and less frequented, temple over Swayambhunath hill. This is Shantipur, the ‘Place of Peace,’ within which the 8th century Tantric guru Shantikar Acharya resides in a hidden, constantly sealed isolation chamber. He is a powerful esoteric magician with perfect control over the weather who practices meditation techniques that have protected his life for numberless millennia.
Four Ashokan Stupa of Patan
THURA LAGAN (SOUTHERN STUPA):
The southern mound of Patan’s four stupas is known as Lagan Thura Stupa. It is the biggest of the four stupas, with a diameter of 47.40 meters and a height of 11.80 meters. A recently erected building, a small cenotaph, crowns the mound. Tathagata (Buddha) shrines are said to have been added around 1878. Just south of the Lagankhel bus terminal, on a hilltop with great views of southern Patan.
EASTERN STUPA TETA THURA:
This Stupa is located around 200 meters east of Patan’s Tyagal Tole, along the Ring Road. This stupa is somewhat larger in terms of perimeter than the other two stupas. This Stupa has a radius of 75.83 meters and a height of 10.4 meters. It also features a 1.6-meter-high fire Vedica (railing) with one Tathagata in each direction. The 4.5m-high dome is paved with firebricks and topped with a square Harmika. In addition, there are three inscriptions that are extremely difficult to read. As a result, the eastern stupa is well-known for visitors interested in learning about Patan’s art and skill.
WESTERN STUPA – PUCHO THURA:
The Stupa is located near the bustling Pulchowk crossroads at Patan’s western end. This Stupa has a radius of 75.52 meters and stands 12 meters tall. It also contains a 1.2-meter-tall Vedika with one Tathagata in each direction. The 6.5-meter-tall dome is paved with firebrick. It, like the Eastern Stupas, lacks Harmika. The thirteen-ring Cakravalis, on the other hand, is built immediately over the dome in a square-shaped pyramid construction in this western stupa. A Yasti completes the picture. It is surrounded by grass alongside the main road in Pulchowk. The Aksheshwar Mahavihar, a courtyard-style Buddhist monastery on the hilltop, is reached via a set of steps.
THURA IBAHI – NORTHERN STUPA
This Stupa is more intricate and smaller than the other three. It resembles the Swoyambhunath Stupa in Kathmandu. It has a circumference of 60.62 meters and five Buddhas in the Vedika with their consorts, with the exception of the Tathagata Vairocana. The Vedika is 1.5 meters tall, while the dome is 5.5 meters tall. On top of the dome is a square Harmika. A 13-step Cakravali with a Yasti on top of the Harmika may be seen. On the road to the Sankhamul Ghats, just beyond the Kumbeshwar Temple.
A culturally rich and ethnically diverse country Nepal celebrates hundreds of different festivals. Kathmandu is not only the political center of the nation but also the cultural pivot. 123 different ethnic groups living to follow unique traditions and cultures celebrating their major festivals in a fun-filled mood. Almost every day of the year, there falls a festival in some parts of the country. Unique decorations, fashions, and rituals make each festival interesting. Worshipping the different deities for well-being, power, or wish fulfillment is the uniqueness of each festival.
Besides that, personal celebrations and ceremonies like marriage, Upanayana, Name giving ceremonies, and death rituals follow specific rituals and traditional practices. Except for the death rituals, other celebrations include music, dance, and songs. Nepali people celebrate every festival as a fun-filled cultural event. Here are some of the major festivals in Nepal
1. Indra Jatra
The eight-day-long Indra Jatra festival falls in September and is one of the most exciting and revered festivals of the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley. This also marks the beginning of a month-long festival season of autumn. It begins with the erection of a wooden pole made of pine at Basantapur Square in front of the old Hanuman Dhoka Palace.
For the pole-raising ceremony, hundreds of spectators gather at the Palace Square and in the surrounding temples. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, comes out in a procession through the main streets of Kathmandu.
A perfect example of religious harmony
Lakhey are the masked dancers and they take to the streets almost every evening. A musical team with load drums accompanies the Lakhey. The festival commemorates the time when Indra came down from heaven in human form to look for a herb.
Each night of Indra Jatra the shrines and ancient palace buildings around Kathmandu Durbar Square are aglow with oil wicks. Each night on the platform in front of the temple of the Living Goddess, there is an enactment depicting the ten earthly incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The large image of Akash Bhairab’s head is put on display out in the open directly facing his temple at Indra Chowk.
In the afternoon of the day before the full moon, ecstatic mobs gather near Hanuman Dhoka Palace for the long-awaited Living Goddess’ chariot procession to catch a glimpse of the revered little Newar girl who has been deified as Kumari representing Goddess Taleju.
The chariot of the Kumari followed by two other smaller chariots carrying a representative of Ganesh and Bhairav is taken to different parts of the old Kathmandu through the narrow alleys where people gather to watch and pay homage. The festival of Indra Jatra ends with the lowering of the (lingam) pole bearing Indra’s flag amidst religious ceremonies.
2. Dashain
Dashain festival is the most widely celebrated best Hindu festival in Nepal. The celebrations last up to 15 days. Dashain festival is a time of family, friends, and relatives reunion, exchange of blessings, and enjoy the holiday.
People worship nine avatars of the goddess Durga. From the first day of Ghatasthapana to the 7th day of Phool Pati, the 8th day of Mahaastami, the 9th-day Navami, the 10th day of Vijaya Dashami and the 15th day of Purnima Dashain will be celebrated. On which 10th day Vijaya Dashami is considered the main day to celebrate. Those who are busier also took a holiday for this at least one day to celebrate Dashain.
A biggest social festival
Nepalese Hindu people around the world will celebrate the Dashain festival no matter where they are. During Dashain, men and women visit their relatives, and elder’s to seek tika, Jamara, and blessings. During Dashain, there will be a public holiday in Nepal. Schools and colleges will remain closed for 15 days for full festivals to enjoy.
Children and also younger peoples buy new clothes and eat delicious foods, especially meat during Dashain in Nepal. Kite flying is also one of the main events of this festival.
Most foreigners visit Nepal in the Autumn season of Nepal for trek in the Himalayas. Autumn is considered the favorable and best time to visit Nepal also because of being the month of the most celebrated festivals of Nepal such as Dashain and Tihar.
3. Tihar
The shining festival of Tihar is one of the most significant occasions in Nepal. The decoration of bright lights and colors are the special features of the festival. Householders lit candles, lanterns, and nowadays, decorative electric lights. Many candles and lanterns are lit inside and in front of houses. It is the second biggest festival in Nepal after Dashain. After around a month of the Dashain Tihar festival will be celebrated.
The festival is a beautiful celebration for five days. People worship Goddess Lakshmi with joy and enthusiasm. They also worship cows, crows, and dogs and decorate houses and temples with Diyas, electric lights, colorful paper crafts, etc. Kids come to visit neighbors in small groups and sing Tihar songs also called “Dheusire” for blessings, and to enjoy with friends.
Laxmi Puja, Gai Tihar, Kukur Tihar, Kag Tihar, and Bhai Tika are the days of the Tihar festival in Nepal. Among these Bhai Tika is the main day to celebrate. Brothers and sisters accept tika and blessings from each other.
During the Tihar festival, tika is not the same as in Dashain. The seven different colors Tika will use in Tihar. And sisters give some food, and clothes to brothers and brothers also do the same or give money, clothes, some other valuable gifts, etc. Brothers and sisters honor each other, and the sisters pray to Yama (the god of death), for their brother’s long life, and progress in life. Read more…
3. Teej
Teej is the festival celebrated by Hindu women in August or September. Both married and unmarried women celebrate this festival by worshipping Lord Shiva. This festival is celebrated for three days through prayer, songs, and dance.
Women are dressed in red saree, red tika on their heads, and various ornaments. In Teej, women sit for 24-hour prolonged fasting, without any food, and even without drinking water to ask for special blessings from Lord Shiva. Unmarried girls do fasting to get a good husband in their life, and married women pray for the husband’s long life, success, and prosperity is on fasting during the Teej festival.
4. Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti is a festival celebrated in January. Since the Sun enter the Makar horoscope, people worship the occasion as Makar Sankranti. The Nepali month Magh begins with the day. People take a holy bath in different sacred ponds and river confluences. Sweet potato, sweets, Yam with Ghee, and Solid Molasses are special food for the festival. The Tharu community of plains celebrates the same day as the Maghi festival. It also marks the new year for Tharu and the day is also famous as Maghi larva.
5. Gai Jatra
Gai Jatra is a festival of cows. Especially, the people of Kathmandu valley celebrate the festival in memory of their deceased family members. Initially, the local Newar community celebrates it by participating in the Gai Jatra procession. Now, a day the valley people have moved to different parts of the county. They carry on their tradition wherever they go. In the same way, The people all over Nepal, especially, in local towns celebrate the Gai Jatra performance. This is one of the unique festivals of Nepal. The festival dedicates to diminishing the sadness from the death of family members. At this festival, kids get dressed as cows and take part in cultural events.
Newari people show their cultural dances, sing, and do fun on the streets of Kathmandu Valley. The performers participate in the procession from their homes to the Kathmandu Durbar Square at Basantapur. Similarly, all the Gai Jatra processions starting from the villages are ultimately completed at the respective Durbar Square of Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. All the participants in the performance gather at the lawn of Royal Palace Squares and get offerings from the local people. The local deceased family gives away all the offerings to these participants as a sacred donation “Daana”. The activity carries a spiritual feeling.
6. Lhosar
Lhosar means new year. When Tharu celebrates Magi as a new year, Sherpa celebrates Lhosar as their new year. Lhosar is one of the most popular festivals in Nepal. The new year festival is celebrated by dance, song, and by exchanging gifts. During this period, the major Buddhist monasteries and stupas like Swayambhunath, and Boudhanath are decorated with prayer flags. Devotees pray together to cook exceptional food and People consume changkol, a local Tibetan drink.
Buddhist religious follower communities like Tamang, Sherpa, Gurung, and Thakali will mostly celebrate the Loshar festival in Nepal. The three major popular Losar are Sonam Losar, Tamu Losar & Gyalpo Losar and it has been celebrated at different times.
7. Janai Purnima
Janai Purnima is a festival of love and purity. People celebrate this festival in the Nepali month of Shrawan. On this occasion, people share gifts and greetings among brothers and sisters. Like other festivals, people eat unique dishes during the day. Kwasi (sprouted beans) is one of the main dishes prepared during the festival.
The main attraction of the Janai Purnima festival is that sisters tie the sacred thread to their brothers and pray for good health in the lower plains of the country to mark the festival. But in Nepal, people tie a sacred thread on their hands from their elders, especially from their family priests. And young male guys will tie a holy ribbon on their body and the man (matured after doing Bratabandha) wear Janai, the sacred thread during the day for the purity
8. Buddha Jayanti
Buddha Jayanti is a Buddhist national festival in Nepal. There will be no public holiday for all, but Buddhist religious people will get a leave on this day. On the full moon day which is in May, Buddhists will celebrate Buddha Jayanti in Nepal.
Buddha Jayanti is the sacred birthday of Lord Buddha. Hence, Buddhists from all over the world visit Nepal to celebrate this festival. Temple management committees and devotees decorate the Buddhist temples like Swyambhunath, Boudhanath, and other temples all over Nepal with butter lamps on the day.
9. Holi – Fagu Purnima
Holi or Fagu Purnima is an annual festival in Nepal. The festival falls on the full moon day of the month of Falgun. People celebrate the festival for two days. Holi, also known as the Festival of Colors, is one of Nepal’s most celebrated celebrations. The festival falls on Nepali Falgun month (February to March in the Solar Calendar). Holi, like Dashain and Tihar, celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the arrival of spring.
During this beautiful event, Nepalese and international tourists will toss dry powder and colored water at each other to offer their heartfelt blessings and well wishes. The people of the hilly region of Nepal mark the festival on the first day. Whereas the Terai plains of southern Nepal celebrate the festival on the second day. To make it more clear, a famous city like Kathmandu will celebrate Holi on the first day, and another renowned city of Nepal- Chitwan will celebrate this festival on the next day.
Holi, one of the most important Hindu festivals, is mostly observed in India, Nepal, and other Indian immigrant communities across the world. However, when it comes to the greatest venue to celebrate Holi, Kathmandu will never disappoint!
The majority of stores close their service on the day. The entire Kathmandu valley engulfs in a carnival atmosphere. People douse with Holi powder and colored water whether they know each other or not. Some will be gently touched, some will be splattered, and yet others will be pursued by colorful water balloons. Please don’t be upset in any circumstance. This is a type of holiday benediction.
10. Mahashivaratri
Getting heat from the burning firewood during the festival of Shivaratri
Mahashivaratri is one of the major celebrated Hindu festivals in Nepal. This festival basically worships Lord Shiva. All the monks gather at various Shiva temples and worship. Devotees fast for the whole day and stay in a long queue to see the temple. The decorating lamps glorify the entire temple premises. The Idols are taken to the bath in Holy water. All the devotees of Nepal and India will visit the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. Devotees chant ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ all night. And there will be a huge crowd and celebration on this day.
11. Chhat Parva
Nepal marks the festival all over the Hilly and Terai regions of the country for four days. People take a ritual bath in the river. Devotees fast on the first day of the festival and worship the sun and offer prayers. They lit lamps and sing. People gather in the evening to perform cultural activities. Mainly people of Kathmandu valley and the lower plains of the Terai region including other hilly regions of Nepal. celebrate the festival
12. Tiji
Tiji is a unique celebration among the major festivals of Nepal. The festival is celebrated for almost three days in Lo-Manthang of Upper Mustang. This festival usually takes place in May. It’s a purification festival that takes place at the beginning of every harvest year. People perform ritual dances during this festival. Locals of Lo Manthan of Upper Mustang celebrate Tiji for World Peace.
Trekkers plan a trip to the Upper Mustang trek during this festival time to witness the beauty of the Tibetan people of Nepal and their cultural activities and rituals.
13. Shree Krishna Janmashtami
Krishna Janmashtami falls in August, on the day of Bhadra Krishna Ashtami. People worship Lord Krishna on the day, celebrating his birthday. Krishna Janmashtami includes traditional singing and dancing. Many devotees keep on fasting and worship Lord Krishna. Visitors offer flowers and food to Lord Krishna. Temples are bright with the offerings.
14. Chaite Dashain
Chaite Dashain or small Dashain is a famous religious festival. It falls in the last month, Chitra of the Nepali lunar calendar. Devotees fast on this day and visit temples to devote gods. They also worship the goddess Durga. At Chaite Dashain, people will eat delicious foods and enjoy themselves with their family, friends, and relatives, and also seniors offer tika to the juniors with all their blessings.
A beautiful and fantastic journey of Rara Trek offers several things to try. Hiking the pristine trail to Rara is a lifetime experience in itself. The real taste of Rara does not complete without trying some distinct requisites of the area. We recommend the visitor some things to try while you are in the Rara region.
1. Go on a boating escapade
The only boat here is an inflatable raft, so you would possibly need to line up for a ride. It’ll be well worth the wait because the colors beneath you’ll be unlike anything – from surreal reminder turquoise along the shore to dark blue within the middle. Clouds and trees get reflected on the crystal clear waters, making a leisurely boat ride a savory experience.
2. Trek to Murma top
A challenging 4-hour hike north of the lake brings us to the hilltop of Murma village. It’s not difficult to ascertain why at 3,600m this is often a favorite viewpoint to ascertain Rara from. contribute a sunrise and a sunset at distant horizons, and erratic clouds swimming at eye-level, and you get an otherworldly feel to what’s already an awe-inspiring vista. the sole facility here may be a telecom tower, so pitch a tent if you propose to spend the night at Murma Top.
3. Try Rhododendron extracts
Locally harvested and processed, rhododendron concentrate has a quite interesting taste and goes well with many snacks Danphe Hotel offers. They serve delicious snacks and even local spirits to concoct, a well-liked mix that includes Sprite and native moonshine.
4. Hike around the lake
It’s a classic one. Take enough food and hydration for a full-day hike around the lake on mostly flat trails. Some stretches go far through jungles also as a grazing pasture where you’ll expect to encounter water buffaloes, well-fed horses, and motionless cows, or maybe elusive red pandas if it’s your lucky day.
5. Relax and unwind
Kick back on the shores and relax after an extended trek. Watch the water ripple silently with the breeze and listen to the waves crash on the shores with stronger gusts. Watch gulls dive into the water and remain submerged for several seconds before resurfacing with predatory exploits between its bill. Heads up: The wooden machans by the lake are rather worn down and may sway albeit gently with any movement.
Alternative Routes to Rara Lake
Via Jumla
Travelers strapped with time have an expensive option that will get them to Rara and back range in just over every week. Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj then onwards to Jumla, whence two days of driving and trekking will get you to Rara. (You also can prefer to trek the whole way, which might require three additional days and involve climbing a few of passes over 3,000m in altitude.) While you don’t need to be ripped for this trek, do confirm to urge some exercise in weeks leading up to the trek. A day’s exploration later, we head to Talcha Airport within the morning, a mere two-hour trek, and fly back to Nepalgunj.
Itinerary
01 Day: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
02 Day: Fly from Nepalgunj to Jumla
03 Day: Drive from Jumla to Jhyari
04 Day: Trek from Jhyari to Rara
05 Day: Explore Rara and hike up to Murma Top
06 Day: Trek from Murma Top to Rara
07 Day: Trek from Rara to Talcha, and fly to Nepalgunj
08 Day: Fly from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu
Via Talcha
This short Rara trekking itinerary requires little fitness as you’ll be flying straight to Talcha from Nepalgunj, followed by a few hours trek to Rara. After having explored the world for each day or two, we walk back to Talcha and catch a plane to Nepalgunj. Short and sweet (and quite lazy, frankly speaking)!
Itinerary
01 Day: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj
02 Day: Fly from Nepalgunj to Talcha and hike to Rara
03 Day: Explore Rara
04 Day: Hike from Rara to Talcha and fly to Nepalgunj
05 Day: Fly from Nepalgunj to Kathmandu
Langtang is a beautiful village in Langtang Valley. It is one of the old villages of the valley. It falls under Gosaikunda Rural Municipality. The village is an important settlement of Langtang National Park. The village just before the Kyajin Gompa, the last camp of Langtang Valley trek. The valley is named after the name of the village.
Medical Facilities:
Before the Mega Earthquake of 2015, there was a clinic at Langtang village. It basically, served the local villagers including the trekkers.
2015 Nepal earthquake
The collapsed Langtang village after the mega earthquake of April 2015
A massive landslide resulting from an Avalance of Mega earthquake on 25 April 2015 destroyed the entire village. Only one structure was remaining with partial damage. And every buried under the landslide brought by the avalanche. The government took the initiative to rescue and evacuated the entire valley. The village suffered an estimated 310 deaths. The number includes 176 Langtang residents, 80 foreign tourists, and 10 army personnel. More than 100 bodies are still missing and could never be recovered.
After Earthquake, the Nepal Government including tourism stakeholders like the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal (TAAN) and other INGOs worked in the valley for trail restoration and rebuilding. Bridges have been constructed on the trail to Langtang Valley and everything is revived now.
Accommodation / Lodges in Langtang Village
All the hotels have been reconstructed in Langtang village. The local lodges are relocated just behind the old village. The village has built many new Teahouses now and in operation. The teahouses in the new village are basic but comfortable.
We can name some of the lodges of Lantang village Peaceful Guest House, Hotel Red Panda, Himalayan Guest House, Sunrise Guest House, Eco Guest House, Tashi Delek Guest House, Tibetan Guest House, Lucky Guest House, Shangri La Hotel, Everest Guest House, Hotel Moonlight, Buddha Guest House, Village View Hotel, etc.
Getting the Langtang village
A day’s drive from Kathmandu takes you to Syabrubensi, the trailhead of the Langtang Valley trek. It is a 10-12 hour walk from Syabrubensi to reach the village. The trekkers, generally take a night halt before Langtang. So, it is a two-camp distance from Syabrubensi.
What to expect at Langtang?
Langtang valley receives the name from the same village. It is the densest settlement of Langtang valley before the mega Earthquake of 2015. The earthquake completely buried the Langtang Village under the debris. The beautiful waterfall coming from the side of Langtang Lirung beautifies the surrounding. You will witness the debris over the old Langtang village that had resulted in massive death and a huge loss. The memorial wall just before the new Langtang village record the names of people who lost their lives during the mega earthquake. Furthermore, visitors can often spot wild animals like Himalayan goats, Ghoral nearby the waterfall areas.
As a memory, there are many best souvenirs to take home from Kathmandu after your trip here. Nepal maintains its distinct recognition in handicraft production for the last several centuries. The unique and renowned architecture, arts, and crafts contribute to establishing a unique image of the country. The woodcrafts, Metalworks, clothing materials, tea, sculpture, paper made materials are most liked gifts. Similarly, dolls, trekking gear, and jewelry, among others are things of interest for tourists. While traveling to Nepal, the best souvenir to take home may be anything of your interest. The traditional Nepali gift includes handmade products to fine fabrics. The souvenirs are available to buy online.
The souvenir houses in Kathmandu and Pokhara sell and supply such products. Those wonderful gifts from Nepal can be a fantastic present for your near and dear.
The cost of buying such souvenirs may vary on your selection and type of product. The price ranges from uS$5 to US$1000. Sophisticated products, handmade metal products, or carpets are relatively expensive gifts from Nepal. However, you can allocate a smaller budget to keep your wonderful Nepali memory. Here, I present a glimpse of those unique materials for the traveler’s preference.
1. Pashmina
Pashmina, the warm shawls which are also known as Kashmiri, are made from the inner hair of a mountain goat called Chyangra or Capra Hircus. The luxurious Khasmiri Pashmina shawls are popular among tourists since the beginning. You can find varieties of items made from Pashmina that will cost according to the quality, volume used, and the product itself. Including Thamel, the products are available in different tourist sites of Kathmandu valley and Pokhara. You need to be aware of the duplicate products as copy products are also widely sold in the market.
2. Trekking Gears
Nepal produces almost all kinds of trekking and expedition gear inside the country. Besides that, the authorized shops of genuine international brands are also available in the markets of Kathmandu and Pokhara. The local trekking gears are available in better quality at a cheaper price. Most travelers prefer to buy locally made trekking gear. One needs an experienced eye to distinguish the quality of the products.
3. Stone and Beads Jewelry
Stone and Beads Jewelries are the best souvenirs to take home from Nepal. Products like Bracelets, earrings, necklaces, rings and many other items made of beads and stones are popular among tourists. Rudraksha is the most famous among all. The shops in Thamel, Bouddha, Patan, Kathmandu Dubar Square, and Pashupatinath and Lakeside of Pokhara sell the products.
4. Handicrafts as the best Souvenir to take home
Nepali is a country where handicrafts are popular from the very ancient time. Traditionally made goods with hands, look so beautiful, and are used for decorating the houses too. Bhaktapur. Durbar Square, Thamel, and Patan are some places for getting the best handmade items.
5. Tea and spices
Darjeeling tea is one of the most famous tea brands in the world. Eastern Nepal bordering Darjeeling and Sikkim produces a high volume of best quality teas. The teas grown in Ilam and the surrounding of eastern Nepal are often sold under the Darjeeling tea brand. Those tea products are available in different shops in Kathmandu. Including pure tea, other brands of teas mixed with spices, or made of pure spices are more popular among the tourists visiting Nepal.
Organic tea and spices are much loved. If you are fond of Tea, then it is a great place to find your choice of tea as there are lots of varieties. Spices like cardamom, pepper, chilly, cumin, and so forth are the famous spices that people buy. Nepalese Masala tea is very popular among visitors coming to Nepal.
6. Puppet dolls
Puppets of Nepal are unique since they are presented with the masks of different gods and deities. Puppets of lord Ganesh, Bhairab, and Kumari are more popular among others. The poppet dolls are available in the Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, and Patan Durbar Squares. They are locally made and
7. Masks
The carved face mask made of wood is another unique craft available to buy as a souvenir. The cultural and religious festivals and different chariot processions inside Kathmandu valley use the mask during sacred dances. The attractive copies of the masks are sold among the tourist. The masks represent the faces of different Hindu deities like Ganesh, Bhairab, Bhimsen, Durga, and Devi.
8. Singing bowls as the best Souvenir to take home
The Tibetan oral tradition claims the existence of singing bowls dates back to the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni (560 – 480 B.C.). The tradition came from India to Tibet, along with the teachings of the Buddha, by the great tantric master Padmasambhava in the 8th century A.D.
Singing bowls produce sounds that invoke a deep state of relaxation which naturally assists one in entering into meditation, the ultimate goal being enlightenment. They are a quintessential aid to meditation and can be found on private Buddhist altars, and in temples, monasteries, and meditation halls throughout the world.
Uses of Singing bowls
In addition to their traditional usage for meditation, singing bowls are used for deep relaxation, stress reduction, holistic healing, Reiki, chakra balancing, and World music. Many people find that the rich blend of harmonic overtones that the bells produce has a direct effect on their chakras.
Playing the bells usually causes an immediate centering effect. The tones set up a “frequency following response” that creates a balancing left/right brain synchronization. Meditating on the subtle sounds of the singing bowl tunes one into the universal sound within and without.
The singing bowls shops are available in tourist sites of the Kathmandu valley.
9. Nepali Fabric – Dhaka
Mr. Michael wearing a hat and Khada made with Dhaka Fabric
Dhaka is a traditional hand make fabric. It is a unique product of Nepal’s small cottage fabric industries. Its history is back from the 19th Century and gaining popularity in all cultures and around the world. Generations have transferred the art of making Dhaka fabric to another. Nepali traditional Topi (hat) and Scarf, Cholo, Shawl, Coat, and also the bridegroom’s attire use the Dhaka fabric. Modern fashion uses the fabric as fashionable wear as they showcase it in different national and international fashion shows. The Dhaka fabric store is available in the old market of Ason and Bhedasingh.
10. When to go for Souvenir Shopping
The shops around the heritage monument site like Bouddhanath, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square have dozens of Souvenir shops. They sell authentic goods and items. You can take a short break during the site visit time and check out some. Further, the street of Thamel has numerous shops to buy souvenirs and gifts for you. If you wish, you can take help from your guide to find the authentic shops. You can check some shops nearby during your cultural tours too.
11. Finally “Namaste!” / “Namaskar!”
Namaste is a sacred gesture. You use your two palms to touch each other and place them just in front of your heart to greet the people and forms of gods. Even, Nepali culture suggests doing Namaste whenever or wherever you see even a dead body. Nepali with Hindu culture considers a dead body as a form of “Lord Shiva”. The Namaste Greetings, I honor, respect, recognize and bow to the light in you and me. It is a traditional practice to greet or say goodbye. This is a common practice in Hindu Culture. Many yoga practices, meditations, and prayers use the Namaste pose in the form of a Yoga pose. It holds secret wisdom.
After the spread of Coronavirus, many other countries are starting to use it for greeting.
Benefits of Namaste
The right pose of Namaste includes a simple bowing of your head, a symbol to surrender the universal energy, god. Accepting the presence of God in the people you meet.
The Namaste posture is Yogasana believes that while doing Namaste, the tension in the human mind reduces and makes you feel comfortable.
While doing Namaste, the mind can concentrate. As a result of this, the body can focus on things better.
The posture of Namaste is suitable to get relief from tension. While doing this, the person will have a feeling of happiness on their face. So, with the smile on his face, it helps to strengthen the relationship between individuals.
While doing Namaste, you keep your hands in a fixed position, let the wrists and fingers flexible to move, and it is good to hand yoga.
Yoga believes that when the mind and senses bow to the Heart Chakra, body and soul achieve a union. The key, however, is to go deep into the Heart Chakra where the soul glows its life-giving presence, bringing breath and heartbeat to your body.
Therefore, in Hindu culture, the Namaste posture is the suitable one as it can reduce the chances of harm. As it avoids physical contact to reduce viruses that can spread from shaking hands with each other. Nepali culture includes Namaste and every individual practice it.
Take home ‘Namaste’ as the best souvenir from Nepal.
All you need to know about the teahouse trekking in Nepal is its availability and facility concerning the area you are going to visit. Most of the trekking trails in Nepal serve the tea houses’ accommodation. Hence the treks are called ‘tea house’ treks. It means every night you end up at a simple lodge with basic accommodation and a meal. The type of trek is also called “Lodge to Lodge trek”. The best part about the teahouse trekking – you only have to carry very minimal gear.
The concept of the Teahouse developed from tea shops of the past days. The teahouse trekking refers to staying in a lodge for each night of your trek. The major trekking routes in Nepal are teahouse treks, and allow the trekker to travel with the minimum budget and gear.
A teahouse varies from large comfortable, well-built lodges with common areas to a small bamboo hut lodged within the forest on a steep hill. More comfortable tea houses are available in popular trekking trails of Everest (Khumbu), Annapurna, and the Langtang region.
What is Teahouse?
Teahouses may vary a bit concerning the trekking region, however, most of them are simple stone and wooden buildings. It looks like huts that have a kitchen, a communal eating hall and bathroom area, and many basic bedrooms. The rooms usually have two single beds and a table. The foreign trekkers visiting the area are specifically the target customer of the teahouses. But, in remote areas, they may be serving a few rooms ranging from 2-6 beds.
The rooms of Teahouses are basic but are clean. Generally, bathrooms are common. If an attached bathroom is available, make your mind to pay some extra. Rooms are twin sharing and provided with a mattress, a pillow, and a thick blanket. During the cold season, you might need to top up another to get warm enough. You may carry a light sleeping bag for optional management while trekking in peak tourist season. Trekkers choose to skip the hot shower during their trek. Some tea houses offer hot bucket showers at small pay.
If you are worried about the cold or cleanliness, you can either take one from Kathmandu or Pokhara with you. Trekking gear like Sleeping bags with inner is available on hire or purchase in Kathmandu and Pokhara.
Popular Teahouse trekking trails of Annapurna Regions
The cost of lodging is minimum in Teahouse (approx US$5) per night. If you are trekking with a packaged trip and the price includes lodging and meals, it covers teahouse expenses except for the snacks and extra drinks. Otherwise, the trekkers who travel only on guiding service or on their own are expected to eat all their meals at the teahouse at which they are staying.
The menu of Dal Bhat, momos, pasta, pizza, and other rice and noodle dishes are similar in all tea houses. However, the taste differs from one to another tea house.
Some dishes take a long time to prepare and the teahouse owner prefers to get them prepared before. It is advised to check it before eating. It will be wise to order a fresh meal, to avoid getting sick. Trekking crew; guides and porters generally eat Dal Bhat every day. Since it is Nepal’s regular meal and is generally consistent, healthy, and readily available wherever you go.
Expect to experience a dearer menu price with a rise in altitude and a long distance from the trailhead. For example, the food is more expensive at Annapurna Base Camp than in Ghandruk. The cost varies because of the transportation cost and access from the road.
A healthy portion of Dal Bhat
The mobile network is extended in almost all trekking trails. Trekkers can enjoy the data package for the internet. Besides, many tea houses in trekking trails of Nepal, have wi-fi and charging outlets available nowadays. The charging points and wifi are available in the dining hall at least. The teahouses in the lower part of Annapurna Base Camp Trek, Manang, Syabrubesi, and Namche Bazaar of Solukhumbu have better internet connections.
You can charge your extra batteries and electronic devices with a minimum fee. Generally, they have power outages at most teahouses. But be sure to charge whenever you get the chance!
Do all trails have teahouse trekking?
The major trekking areas of Everest, Annapurna, and Langtang regions have tea houses and lodges with standard facilities for accommodations. Besides the major trekking rouse, most of the beaten trails are getting more lodges and tea houses for tourist accommodation. The area like Dolpa, remote part of Kanchenjunga, Rolwaling, and Western Nepal does not have enough tea houses. Trekkers still carry their camping equipment while traveling such areas.
The ‘Crisis Communication Unit’, of the Nepal Tourism Board(NTB), is successful in bringing 158 tourists stranded in Nepal – Lukla that includes international and domestic tourists, Nepalese guides, and porters to Kathmandu on 29th March 2020. 56 of them were brought via Tara Air, 51 from Summit Air, and 51 from Sita Air. The flights were operated in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal(CAAN), U.S. Embassy, British Embassy, Embassy of Russia, local government bodies, airlines, and tourist police.
Likewise, out of 133 tourists rescued from Pokhara today, 68 were British, 44 American, and 21 South Korean nationals. As of March 29, a total of 1,255 travelers within the country has been rescued. The rescue team has given top priority to following the health and safety guidelines set by the government during all rescue operations.
Also, to comply with the lockdown rules set by the government, all vehicle services related to the rescue of international tourists have been suspended for now. The rescue in the future will be scheduled as per requirement upon the confirmation of the next outbound flights and as per special request of diplomatic missions only. Source: Nepal Tourism Board
Update: 25 March 2020
Current Situation of tourist stranded in Nepal
Currently, at least 234 foreign tourists are in Nepal. Amid the main tourist season, Nepal Government is compelled to announce the lockdown throughout the country. There were few tourists stranded in different trekking destinations, as spring is the main season to trek Nepal. The foreign tourists were hiking different trekking trails when the Nepal government announced lockdown to respond to the rapid outbreak of COVID 19, Coronavirus.
Like other countries of the world, the Nepal government imposes lockdown throughout the country. In the first phase, Nepal has announced the lockdown for a week.
Since the number of stranded tourists is low, there is no shortage of accommodation available. However, the situation cannot be the same in the few days to come. Some of these tourists won’t be in any position to pay for accommodation or meal for say the next week when they were expecting to be only here for a couple of days.
Nepal Tourism Board along with the private sectors is initiating picking up the tab to look after some of these stranded visitors.
As per the updated information received from Nepal Tourism Board on 25 March 2020
Currently, there are 96 foreigners in Lukla of the Everest Region. The Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality varifies the number of stranded tourists. They are staying in a different hotel at Lukla. Among them, tourist police verify that two of them are from Ukraine.
Three Finish citizens are stranded in the Langtang area. They have just arrived after Langtang Valley Trek and are now staying at Syabrubensi.
There are four Dutch tourists blocked in the Late Mustang District. Since it is a peak trekking season there are 29-30 tourists stranded in different hotels Annapurna Base Camp trekking route. They were hiking back to Pokhara from the Base Camp. Now, they all have arrived at Ghandruk Village.
Now, it seems that the Mustang area is holding more foreigners concerning other regions. There are 40-50 foreigners stuck at Jomsom. They have been staying in different hotels in Jomsom. Similarly, 18 people are staying in the Muktinath area.
One Italian Doctor Ginamarco Polito is in Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal.
Six foreign tourists were hiking in the Manaslu circuit trek and are recently arrived at Arughat and Mahhakhola of Gorkha. They are accompanied by 6 more Nepali workers. So, the number is 12 in Arughat and Machhakhola. There are altogether 7 foreigners at Gorkha bazaar including 3 Australian and 2 Spanish citizens. District Administrative Office, Gorkha verifies the data.
There are a total of 19 people stuck in Sankhuwasabha including 8 foreigners, as per the Makalubarun National Parks.
Updates 26 March 2020:
Khumbu Pasanglhamu Rural Municipality has arranged free meals (three meals a day) at Lukla. The stranded tourist can have the meals free of cost.
Restaurant & Bar Association (REBAN) has arranged free meals for stranded tourists in Kathmandu
Trekking Accommodation for Annapurna Base Camp Trek
It is best to have information regarding Annapurna Base Camp Trek Accommodation. Whenever you are heading trekking, you should have to know about some places where you can stay safe.
Annapurna Base Camp Trek is the most popular trekking trail in Nepal. Every year, many foreigners enter Nepal and choose Mt. Annapurna (the 10th highest mountain in the world) for trekking.
It would have been good if you are familiar with the types of accommodation you are getting during the trekking. So that, you will be well prepared for the different types of trekking you will be accommodated during the time. Since the Annapurna base camp is a popular trekking route, the route has been well developed. Therefore, you will find much good and tourist-friendly accommodations during Annapurna base camp trekking.
It’s well-known information that the Annapurna base camp trek is the classic, legendary and popular trekking destination of Nepal. It has become successful in attracting visitors as they will get an experience of the local and traditional cuisine, local culture and tradition, river tracks, Himalayan flora and fauna, magnificent mountain views as well as walking through the bamboo and rhododendron forest. Besides this experience, if you get good and friendly accommodation for taking a rest after mesmerizing yet tired trekking, it would have become an awesome experience.
Types of Accommodation on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
Hotel /Lodge Accommodation
During the Annapurna base camp trek, tourist-friendly hotels and lodges will be provided. Besides this, according to your budget and wishes, you will find the luxury hotel and teahouses as well. The facilities like accommodation and roads have been increased after the increment of tourism activities on ABC. Therefore, if you want to stay in a luxurious and deluxe hotel and lodges in Annapurna base camp, you will find this option too. These lodges and hotels provide you the comfortable facilities like comfortable beds with pillows, electric blankets, hot and cold showers along with free wi-fi.
Teahouse Accommodation
After hotel and lodge, teahouse accommodation is the local and popular accommodation in the Annapurna base camp trek. The teahouses are built and managed by the locals. It provides the basic facilities for the trekkers to take a rest and plan for the further walk. The basic accommodation service in the local teahouse provides a basic wooden bed with a simple mattress, pillow, and blanket.
Every teahouse has a solar and electric heater shower, however; some teahouses will provide a bucket for the hot shower. In the Annapurna base camp trekking trail, you will get a western, attached bathroom with hot and cold shower service in the low altitude area. However, in the high-altitude area, you may get squat toilets and outdoor taps.
Camping Accommodation
Camping accommodation is generally done in the remote area mainly by climbers because of the lack of a teahouse and other accommodation facilities. Besides the expedition, there is some trek that lacks accommodation facilities i.e. Dhaulagiri, Dolpa, and Kanchenjunga. Trekkers or climbers usually use tents for the accommodation. Besides this, they will be taking the cooking staff and cooking food with them. Since camping accommodation has its beauty, it is normally avoided if there is an easily available teahouse, lodge, and hotel.
Accommodation in Pokhara
Pokhara is a beautiful city of lakes. It takes around 5/6 hours to reach Pokhara from Kathmandu valley. Since the city is highly influenced by modernism, the purity of the valley is still present. Pokhara provides you with a wide range of good and luxury hotels ranging from tourist standards to 5-star properties. There is an option for choosing basic to 4-star hotels. The 4-star hotels are luxury hotels with standard facilities. You can enjoy boating, rafting, paragliding, and exploring local museums in Pokhara.
Ullery
A lodge of Ulleri Village and Annapurna mountain range at the backdrop
The Ulleri village provides a nice hotel for trekkers’ accommodation. The village provides you with a beautiful farming site with a low-altitude green forest. It also provides you a wide variety of teahouses and lodges according to your choices. The village has more than 20 teahouses with basic facilities. The villages are the starting point of the most popular sunrise view trail of the Ghorepani Poon Hill trek. All the teahouses have western toilet facilities along with a hot and cold shower. Sometimes, it is difficult to get proper accommodation during the peak trekking season. It is a low altitude place near Pokhara city. Therefore, you will get accommodation at a reasonable price.
Ghorepani
Another overnight stay during the Annapurna Sunrise Trek is Ghorepani village. Ghorepani is the gateway to the Annapurna region. Besides this, it offers panoramic views of mountains with sunrise and sunset over snow-capped mountains. It provides you with a wide range of accommodation, therefore, you can choose the accommodation according to your budget.
Since Annapurna base camp is a popular trekking trail, it can be crowded during the peak trekking season from March-June and September to December. At that time, you have to share your room with your friends. Therefore, it is always better if you let us know which types of accommodation you want to experience during the ABC trek.
Tadapani
On the third day of the trek, we will be staying at Tadapani. This village has a limited teahouse with basic facilities. Therefore, you may need to share a room during the peak trekking season. However, a single room would be available for you in the off-season. Most of the teahouses of Tadapani have western types of restrooms with cold and hot showers.
A teahouse lodge at Tadapani
Chhomorung
Chhomorung is a beautiful village and it offers you a mesmerizing view of Mt. Fishtail. Regarding accommodation, Chhomorung also provides basic facilities teahouse. As we go up in high altitude, we will get basic accommodation like a bed and a pillow. If you are lucky, you will get an electronic blanket.
Dovan
This is the famous stop after Chhomorung. In Dovan, you will be getting a few teahouses with normal accommodation facilities like a western bathroom and hot shower. Because of the limited teahouse, you need to share the room with your friends during the peak season. Therefore, early booking will help us to book the room as per your choice.
Deurali
As we have already mentioned, there is a limited teahouse with basic facilities at a higher altitude, we did not expect many teahouses in Deurali too. Therefore, we need to share the room in Deurali as well. If you want to spend your time in the private room in Deurali, you have to pay extra money for the booking. Therefore, we recommend our avid travelers book the room in advance.
Base Camp
We will get teahouse even in Annapurna Base Camp too. Annapurna base camp trek accommodation is the amazing one where you can view the world’s highest mountain with its surrounding peak. However, the teahouse is even limited in base camp. Here, you have to pay an extra amount to enjoy the hot shower. Sometimes, you may not get a hot shower during the peak trekking seasons because of the crowd.
Information regarding the basic price of the tea house accommodation during the Annapurna base camp trek:
The price varies for the accommodation in a teahouse in the Annapurna base camp trek according to the altitude, types of accommodation, and the season of the year.
You may have to pay high costs during the peak season like March-May, September- December in the Annapurna region due to the crowded route. Therefore, early booking helps us to minimize this problem.
There is a chance of getting good accommodation when you trek during the off-season.
Normally the price of the accommodation will be approx $5 per night for the basic facilities with comfortable and warm local hospitality.
Does the teahouse in Annapurna base camp always open?
Annapurna base camp is a modest type of trekking in Nepal. It is one of the high altitudes trekking in Nepal. However, you will find the teahouses for the accommodation in the base camp as well. The teahouse will be opened if the weather is good and there is no heavy snowfall. Therefore, getting information about the weather condition is foremost before going on this trek.
The trekking accommodation has different options varying from simple teahouses to standard lodges and deluxe and luxury mountain resorts in Nepal. The accommodation choices are available as per the type of tour and the budget of the traveler.
In the past days, there were limited local lodges. Trekkers often have to stay in tea shops for the overnights. Another option was setting camps for accommodation. Trekkers have to go to the local agents for all the camping arrangements. The agents offer full camping support. The trekking staff crew used to carry two men’s tents, and kitchen units with cooking tents. The camping team accompanies a head cook-kitchen staff, guides, and porters.
Later on the locals in some areas like Annapurna, Everest and Langtang trekking regions established simple lodges to provide and lodging. Trekkers in those days tagged these Trekking Accommodations or the Trekking lodges as “teahouses”. The traditional Bhatti or teashop accommodation is very rare on the main trekking trails, nowadays. Unlike before, we have trekking lodges with efficient operations, an English food menu, and attractive dining halls, these days. The owner normally speaks English Language and the staff has basic hospitality training.
Everest and Annapuran regions have the best trekking accommodation relative to the less crowded trekking destinations in Nepal. Since the areas are popular destinations for adventure trekking. The maximum number of trekkers visiting Nepal, choose these two areas as their destination.
Facilities in trekking accommodation
Trekking Lodge / Tea house is typical local guest house generally run by a family
Either use stone/wood walls with tin roofs as construction materials
Have basic facilities with solar power, hot showers on demand outside the room.
Serve meal from the Food Menu, you can enjoy local food
Provide Telephone, western toilets, small bar, and even WIFI in some areas.
Have shared toilets and bathrooms generally outside of the room.
A separate dining hall and generally have a heating system.
Bedrooms do not have heating systems, generally have twin beds with mattresses or foam pads, a cotton pillow, and a blanket. We suggest carrying an extra sleeping bag to remain enough warm.
Tea House Lodges play English songs and staff speak basic English for communication
Accommodation cost varies with region and distance from the trailhead. However, they charge reasonably. Whereas, Everest Base Camp route is relatively expensive.
Expect less comfort on Less trekked trails
Many lodges in the Annapurna and Everest regions have solar or electric-heated showers.
Don’t’ get surprised to do laundry under outdoor taps or in a tin bucket.
Teahouse
Teahouses or simple teahouse lodges may vary a bit concerning the trekking region, however, most of them are simple stone and wooden buildings. It looks like huts that have a kitchen, a communal eating hall and bathroom area, and many basic bedrooms. The rooms usually have two single beds and a table. The foreign trekkers visiting the area are specifically the target customer of the teahouses. But, in remote areas, they may be serving a few rooms ranging from 2-6 beds.
Pashupatinath Evening Prayers – Sandhya Aarati is the most loved vibrant ritual of Pashupatinath Temple. The ritual is performed every evening for approximately 1.5 hours. The ritual conducts at the bank of the sacred Bagmati river. The Sandhya Aarati faces to the west from the eastern side of the main temple of Pashupatinath. The holy river divides the temple premises into two sides. The main Pashupatinath Temple being on one side and the location of this Aarati on the other.
The Bagmati river has a great significance in the Hindu religion. Devotees believe that taking a dip in this river washes away sins. Along with different prayer songs, offering cow ghee lamp, and music, incense, and lights regular things to offer the lord. The three priests conduct the Pashupati Aarati custom with oil lamps, lanterns, and other religious elements by chanting the sacred mantra and songs.
Nowadays, the ritual has been the most attractive ritual of the temple area. Thousands of people visit temple premises every evening to attend rituals as a ceremony. The priests perform the Aarati by taking oil lamps and moving them in a circular motion and dedicating their act to the Divine. Devotees sing the Bhajan (songs with religious themes) during the Aarati, creating blissful surroundings. The Aarati starts at 6 pm every evening. This is a ritual that allows everyone to be a part of it and creates an environment of the union of God and the devotees.
The Pashupati Bagmati Sandhya Aarati started as a regular tradition since the year 2006. Since then, this Aarati has been a regular practice captivating hundreds of thousands of people every year.
Important UNESCO World Heritage Site
Pashupatinath Temple is the most visited UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Monument of Kathamndu Valley. People of all religious faiths visit the temple area to witness the cultural and archeological aspects of the temple. Travelers can enjoy the customized tour of the Pashupatinath to observe the evening prayers at the bank of the Bagmati River. Booking a 4 Days Cultural tour of Kathmandu Valley lets you visit all the monuments of UNESCO World Heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley.
Most valuable Hindu Ritual
The Hindu religion considers the Aarati Puja as the most valuable ritual. A Bhajan is a song with praise of gods that is more valuable than a song. Prayer is more sacred than Bhajan, and finally, Aarati is the most important of them all. Hindu believes that the Aarati is the highest form of prayer.
The Bagmati Aarati at Pashupatinath gives reverence to the holy river Bagmati and the Pashupatinath temple. Followers perform the “Tandav” dance at the same time enjoying the moment in full. Tandav is a cosmic dance performed by Lord Shiva at the time of full bliss and Pralaya. The devotees pay homage to Lord Shiva playing the same dance.
Many visitors take part in the Aarati every day. People take Monday as the right day to worship Lord Shiva. There are more attendees at the Aarati rituals on a Monday evening. The Aarati is a prime enchantment at some stage on the day of the Maha Shivaratri and Hari Talika Teej festival.
Hindu faith believes in the presence of God in every living being. Religion posts the significance of good for every person instead of on a top one. The very belief is portrayed throughout the Aarati. During Aarati, prayers are sung for the betterment of complete humanity and Aarati as a primary common purpose. The ritual of Aarati concludes by hailing for the well-being of every living soul and thanking God for the kindness bestowed.
There are some special activities to experience with Nepal in 3 Days tour or even a short period in Kathmandu. Many traveller consider the 3 Nights and 4 Days Nepal tour in Nepal as an idle itinerary to travel with family and kids. To date, Kathmandu is home to the only international airport in the country. It will be a great idea to stick to the capital city when you are on a very tight schedule. The major UNESCO cultural heritage sites are in and around Kathmandu. Geographically, they are not so apart, but you have to expect hectic traffic in some junction between the monument sights.
Travelers can enjoy their short Nepal Holidays in 3 Days tour. The tour itineraries are customizable to extend more days to visit more destinations.
Patan Durbar Square, One of the Prominent Royal Palace of Medieval Nepal
To date, Kathmandu is home to the only international airport in the country. It will be a great idea to stick to the capital city when you are on a very tight schedule. The major UNESCO cultural heritage sites are in and around Kathmandu. As the valley houses the major cultural heritage sites, it is best to spend a few days to a week exploring the significant heritage sites here. Especially, 3 Days to 6 Days Nepal insight tours are effective to have your best time. Geographically, they are not so apart, but you have to expect bad traffic. So the best decision is not to try to pack too much into your days.
A 3 nights 4 Days standard itinerary of Kathmandu Valley Heritage Tour including incredible sunrise view
1st Day: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,300m/4,264ft)
2nd Day: Full day Sightseeing
3rd Day: Full Day Sightseeing and Drive to Nagarkot
4th Day: Observe Sunrise, Drive back to Kathmandu for departure
The Kathmandu Valley is so full of historical, architectural, cultural, and religious treasures that you don’t need to leave to have a rich experience in Nepal. Spend the first three days checking out the most famous sites listed in UNESCO World Heritage of Kathmandu: the Kathmandu Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Squares, Swayambhunath Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, and Boudhanath Stupa. You may check the Kathmandu Valley Heritage tour to experience the cultural richness of the valley.
3. Chitwan Wildlife Jungle Safari
A popular Jungle Safari package is organized Chitwan National Park for Nepal in 3 days tour. The exciting activities of Jungle Safari / Wildlife Safari carry out in Chitwan National Park. The national park situates in south-central Nepal within an area of 932 sq km area. UNESCO designated Chitwan National Park as a Natural World Heritage site in 1984. Since then it is the center of attraction to every national and international visitor. The forests of the national park are famous for birdwatching and other Jungle Activities. It preserves the most endangered species of mammals and reptiles
3 Days Nepal tour with Chitwan Jungle Safari
1st Day: Kathmandu to Chitwan
2nd Day: Full-day Jungle activities.
3rd Day: Bird watching and returning back to Kathmandu.
4. Chisapani Nagarkot Easy Hiking
Hikers can participate in the easy hiking trip of Chisapani -Nagarkot to experience the exciting trip in Nepal for 3 Days tour. Chisapani Nagarkot Dhulikhel Hiking is suitable for hiking for people with limited time. The 3 Days in Nepal experience trip fits travelers of all age groups, solo travelers, friends and families, and students. Since this is an easy and short hike, this would be better for the family trip too. The narrow paths inside the Shivapuri Nagarjuna National Park take you through dense forests and quaint villages.
3 Nights / 4 Days Chisapani -Nagarkot-Dhulikhel hiking program
1st Day: Drive from Kathmandu to Sundarijal (1 Hrs Drive) & Hike to Chisapani (4 Hrs)
2nd Day: Hiking from Chisapani to Nagarkot (6 Hrs)
3rd Day: Hike from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel (5 Hrs)
4th Day: Drive from Dhulikhel to Kathmandu [30 KM/2 hour drive]
5. Bardiya Jungle Safari
Royal Bengal Tiger – Bardia Jungle Safari
Bardiya Jungle Safari is the best way to explore the wildlife and Jungle in Nepal. Bardiya National Park Jungle Safari is the largest as well as the off-the-beaten National Park of Nepal. This national park has preserved some of the best habitats in Asia. Jungle Safari in Nepal provides you with one of the most thrilling experiences in Nepal.
Bardia Jungle Safari Experience – 3N/4D
1st Day: Fly to Nepalgunj and Drive to Bardiya National Park.
2nd Day: Full day Jungle walk
3rd Day: Full-Day Jeep Safari
4th Day: Breakfast and Departure after lunch as per Schedule.
After Breakfast, you will go around the Karnali River to observe local people’s activities and then will move to Nepalgunj Airport to get back to Kathmandu.
6. Ghorepani Poon Hill Short Trek
Sunrise View from Poon Hill
The people who often look for 3 to 4 Day short Trek love to grab the Ghorepani Poonhill trek. Starting and concluding in Kathmandu needs an extra two days to make it 6 Day Nepal trek. However, the trek is categorized under short trek, it has some difficult challenges as we have to climb a staircase consisting of 3300 steps on the way to Ghorepani.
If you wanted to go a little further afield and get some mountain views, follow this Kathmandu Valley Day Tour, which includes Nagarkot, Bhaktapur Durbar Square – Heritage city, and Changu Narayan– the oldest temple where history began.
2 Nights 3 Days Nepal Experience through the short itinerary of Poon Hill Trek
1st Day: Drive to Ulleri and trek to Ghorepani (2,860m) – 6 hours
2nd Day: Hike to Poon Hill (3,210m) & Trek to Tadapani (2,660m)
3rd Day: Trek to Ghandruk (1,010m) & ride to Pokhara – 2 hrs trek and 2.5 hrs drive
Final Say
Aside from the excursions described above, Nepal is a tiny yet extensive place to visit. Without a sure, three days in Nepal is insufficient, but you may talk with our travel adviser to design an itinerary that best suits your interests. Within three days, you may have the opportunity to explore tens of options for learning about Nepal’s culture, traditions, and natural beauty. Some examples include experiential tours, yoga, Buddhism, meditation, cuisine tasting, food preparation, bird watching, and pilgrimage.
Yama Panchak is another name for Tihar. Almost all the Nepalese communities celebrate Tihar in various forms. Tihar is a festival of lights and colors where every house of every nook and corner is decorated with lights and flowers. Though there are various names of Tihar such as Swonti according to the Newari people and Diwali according to the Indian people, the main theme of Tihar remains the same.
The house and the whole locality seem amazingly beautiful being decorated with the traditional lamp – Diyo made up of clay, where the twisted cotton is dipped in the oil and is lighted. The fireworks add more delight to the Tihar festival.
Festival Highlights
Glorify yourself within the festival of colorful flowers and lights of Deepawali
Experiencing the social harmony through Festival
Worshiping Animals as a valuable part of daily life
Preserving the brotherhood and sisterhood
Tihar is celebrated for five days. The first day beings from the Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna Paksha and ends on the fifth day with the Dwitiya of Kartik Sukla Paksha. Every day of Tihar carries a special meaning and significance. The very first day of Tihar is Kaag Tihar in which the crows are worshipped by offering foods and sweets on the roof of the house. Kaag (crow), the informant of Yamaraj is believed to bring the message of sadness and misery. Therefore, people worship Kaag with a belief that the Kaag would not bring any message of sorrow to their house.
The second day of Tihar is Kukur Tihar. This day is celebrated as Khicha Puja by the Newari people. The dog is considered the agent of Yamaraj and also the guard of hell. Furthermore, this day is celebrated as Narka Chaturdashi. So, the dog is worshipped by putting tika (Dot of the red color (abir) and yellow color (Kesari) ) and garlands and people offer sweets and food to the dogs. Also, they are worshipped for their loyalty.
Laxmi Pooja
The third day is Gai Tihar or Laxmi Pooja. On this day, people clean their houses, decorate with colorful flowers, and make impressive designs of Rangoli in front of their doors with seven different colors. The colors include the seven colors of the rainbow – VIBGYOR ( Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red ). The house is decorated and cleaned to welcome the goddess of wealth – Laxmi and other gods and goddesses so that they will bless their home with wealth and happiness. The day becomes busier but the level of satisfaction is more than the tiredness. Also, they worship Gai (cow) – the symbol of goddess Laxmi. At the auspicious time of the evening, Goddess Laxmi is worshipped.
The women take fast and prepare varieties of delicious sweets and desserts and also prepare selroti. The adults and the children gather together and play Deusi Bhailo by singing the folk Deusi Bhailo song and dancing to various songs.
The fourth day is Goru Tihar. This day is celebrated according to the people and their traditions. The people worship ox in this day. The Newari people celebrate this day as Mha Puja – i.e they worship themselves. This day also marks the beginning of a new year Sakha Sambat. Some people worship Govardhan Parbat (hill).
The main day of Tihar
The fifth day is Bhai Tika where the sisters worship their brothers for their long life. With certain rituals, Bhai tika is celebrated. Every step of the ritual has separate importance and meaning. The day, Bhai Tika has a long story back. It is believed that the Lord of death – Yamaraj went to put tika from his sister the Yamuna and she worshipped her brother as a ritual by putting Tilak ( tika with seven different colors) on his forehead, garland and prepared sweets and other food items for her brother. So. Yamarj announced that those brothers who put tika from their sisters would have a long life.
It is also believed that the turfgrass and the garland of Makhamali flower being fresh and not dried for the next year epitomize the long life of their brother.
In this way, the five days of Tihar are celebrated with joy and hope of the prosperous, long and healthy life of their beloved ones. The cherishing lights and colors, the joyous days with songs and dance, and the prayers for the loved one, Tihar, is a mesmerizing festival. The alluring beauty of the garden with the blooming flowers adds charm to the houses and also the festival of Tihar.
Tihar, a social festival
Tihar – being a festival of lights and colors, is a social festival. Nepal is a country that is rich in culture and traditions. After Dashain, Tihar is the biggest festival of the Nepalese people. The five days of the Tihar carry the significance of each day.
The adults and children of a locality gather together to play deusi bhailo together and visit door-to-door the same or another locality. This increases the social interaction between people. The relatives or the neighbors gather together in the house to prepare sweet dishes, Selroti, and the feast for Tihar. In this way, they socialize with each other. They get to know each other furthermore and have fun at the same time. To gather together and play swings in commonplace during the festival of Tihar is a part of the traditional practice during the festival.
Tihar is also a festival of the celebration of the siblings. The brotherhood and sisterhood are enjoyed and celebrated. The spirituality of the tradition is kept and preserved for generations to generations along with having fun and entertainment. The happiness of gathering around, listening to those long backstories with grandmother and grandfather, and meeting those siblings who were away, for the time being, is overwhelming.
Worshiping Sisterhood and Brotherhood
Tihar is the festival of celebration of sisterhood and brotherhood. Tihar is a festival for a family reunion. On the day of Bhai Tika- the main day of Tihar, Sisters offer blessing and Tika to their brothers with different presents for their long life, and brothers do the same in return. This is the most significant part of the Tihar festival to preserve brotherhood and sisterhood throughout life. The temple of Balgopaleshwor, located at the center of historical Rani Pokhara of Kathmandu, opens only once a year on the day of Bhai Tika of Tihar. People who do not have a brother or sister visit here to get blessings on the very day.
On the day of Bhai Tika, the sisters pray for the long life of their brother with a certain ritual of Bhai Tika. The sisters and brothers who couldn’t meet for months or years, meet on the day of Bhai Tika and share their happiness and sorrows along with the ritual of Bhai Tika.
Preparation Part of the Tihar Festival
Family members and relatives meet together for joint preparation of the Tihar Festival. The neighbors also gather together for the celebration of Tihar. Family prepares varieties of feasts, cuisine to enjoy at a place. Fireworks are another attraction of festivals, especially, in city areas.
Besides its diversity, Nepal is rich in festivals and cultures and traditional celebrations Among the various festivals, Dashain is the largest festival of the Nepalese whereas Tihar is the second largest festival. Tihar is the festival of lights and colors celebrated for five days. The very first day is Kaag Tihar and the fifth day is Bhai Tika. With various significance and stories that date back. Tihar is a festival of rejoicing.
Festival of Animal Worshiping
Tihar equally worships animals like Crow, Dog, Cow, and Oxen to respect their contribution to human life. On the first day, Kaag Tihar celebrates worshiping Kaag (crow and ravine). Nepal society has a faith to respect Crow as the messenger creature. So, people worship it to invite good luck rather than the pain and dismays.
Tihar Festival – Worshiping the dogs
The second day is for Kukur(Dog), to dedicate the prayers for loyalty and friendship of the dogs for humankind. Dogs are believed to be the agent of the Lord of death – Yamamaraj and believed that they can sense the death of the people early. The dogs are also considered the guard of the Narka (hell). So, this day is also celebrated as Narka Chaturdashi.
On the third day, Gai Tihar is celebrated. On this day, the cow is worshipped for all her favor to mankind. In the context of Nepal, the cow is also regarded as the mother. The cow is regarded as the emblem of the goddess of wealth – Laxmi. So, the evening is time for worshiping of goddess Laxmi with a belief that she will bless them with wealth.
On the fourth day, Goru Tihar is celebrated. This day is also known as Govardhan Puja. On this day, the hard-working friends of the farmers i.e ox are worshipped. Also during this day, a mini Govardhan is made with cow dung and worshipped. This depicts that even the cow dung is venerated in Nepal.
With all the significance of every day of Tihar, it is a festival that worships animals.
So Tihar – the festival of lights and colors, is also a festival for family reunions.
Tihar as festivals of light and color
Tihar – popularly known as the festival of lights and colors lasts for five days. Every nook and corner of the town and village decorates itself with the beautiful garlands of the marigold flower (Sayapatri Phool). Further, the artificial colorful bulbs and the traditional oil lamps (Diyo) make a festival bright. Everyone feels overjoyed with the illumination of those beautiful lights,
On the day of Laxmi Puja, people clean their houses and decorate the windows and the doors with garlands. They mark a line of red soil ( Rato Mato) to their temple where Laxmi is believed to be worshipped. Also, they make winsome designs of Rangoli in front of the doors with a belief to welcome the Goddess Laxmi as well as other gods. Seven different colors (colors of the rainbow), flowers, floors, and leaves of the plants are used to make Rangoli (customized Mandala).
The lights and colors are so beautiful that you feel like literally being in heaven. So Tihar is the festival of light and color.
Since the festival falls during the month of October/November many foreign take the opportunity to visit Nepal during the festival dates. Cultural tours around the Kathmandu valley lets you experience the decorated colorful streets with varieties of lights.
A festival of the goddess of wealth– Laxmi
Yamapanchak is another name of Tihar. Nepal marks Tihar for five days. Each day has its importance.
The Gai Tihar falls on the third day. Every household and business house conduct Laxmi Pooja – worshiping of the goddess of wealth during the evening of the same day. All the families decorate their houses and shops with colorful garlands of Merigold, prepare colorful Mandala structures. People assume the goddess Laxmi on the Mandala Structure.
The people clean their houses, decorate the windows and doors with the garlands of Merigold Flowers, and prepare sweet dishes to offer for Goddess Laxmi. All the activities of Laxmi pooja dedicate to the goddess Laxmi. Before the time of puja, people mark a red line from the front door to their temple and make the shape of the feet with their hands by dipping their hands in the red-colored water. This represents that Laxmi has entered the house. Then at the auspicious time, they worship the goddess of wealth – Laxmi.
Not only at home, but People also celebrate and worship Goddess Laxmi in the same pattern at the office, shops, and workplaces.
So, the second largest festival of Nepalese people – Tihar is the festival of inviting the Goddess Laxmi.
Nepal government puts all tourist visas on hold and cancels all spring climbing expeditions
The Nepal government, late Thursday night, decides to temporarily for a tourist visa on hold. The issuance of the on-arrival tourist visas to all countries and has put an end to all spring mountaineering expeditions, including Everest ascents.
The decision comes a day after the World Health Organization declared the Covid-19 outbreak a pandemic and urged countries to take precautionary measures.
“The visa suspension, which excludes diplomatic and official visas, will come into effect on March 14 and last until April 30,” a government official told the Post on condition of anonymity.
The meeting also decides to restrict traveller movement to and from India via land routes and adhere to strict quarantine measures at the border. Till date, the government takes no decision to close down schools and colleges.
“In case of emergency, any foreigners wishing to come to Nepal will need to submit a medical certificate declaring that they are free of the coronavirus while applying at Nepal’s consulate in their respective countries,” the official said. “The government has also decided not to issue visas for tourists entering Nepal via land routes.”
Tourist visa hold: forces to cancels all Everest Expeditions for Spring
According to the official, all spring expeditions, including Everest, have been cancelled.
The decision effectively puts an end to the lucrative spring climbing season, which is when most Everest attempts take place.
Mountaineers generally apply for Everest permits from the end of March. The spring season begins in early April as hordes of climbers start trekking for the Everest region. From hotels to restaurants, guides to porters, and airlines to helicopters, all eagerly await the spring climbing season as it generates much-needed income and jobs for the mountainous region.
The government alone earns around $4 million by issuing Everest climbing permits every year. The two-week summit window normally begins in the second week of May. Millions of dollars in income will lose to wipe out from the market after the call of Spring ascents.
China cancels all Everest Expeditions
In the wake of the global coronavirus outbreak, China has already cancelled all Everest expeditions from the Tibetan side.
The China Tibet Mountaineering Association, the body that issues climbing permits, notified expeditions on Wednesday that all Everest ascents from the northern side had been cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
Countries across the world are stepping up measures and revising travel advisories to control the virus spread.
The United States has suspended all travel from Europe to the country for 30 days and India is temporarily suspending almost all travel visas starting Friday as part of its efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic. India’s ban will be applicable until April 15.
Following China’s announcement, aspiring mountaineers from around the world were eagerly awaiting the Nepal government’s response.
In the last few years, it has mostly been Indians who’ve sought Everest climbing permits, followed by Chinese, Americans and the British. With China still battling Covid-19 and India reporting more and more cases by the day, things were not looking good for Nepal’s mountaineering season, said Rishi Bhandari, managing director of Satori Adventures.
Last year, the department had issued permits for 1,024 climbers, including 382 foreigners. Among them, 644 climbers reached the top.
According to WHO, as of today, 334,981 cases are confirmed. There are total14,652 death cases globally.
In SEAR ( South East Asian Region ), as of date 3/23/2020, there were 1776 confirmed and 58 deaths.
National updates
As of today, in Nepal total tested cases are 610. Out of the total, 608 cases were negative where two cases were positive. One case has already been recovered which was tested on 2076/10/09. The second case has been confirmed in 2076/12/09 who was in-home quarantine since 12/04. She is now in isolation in Sukraraj Tropical and Communicable Disease Hospital.
Updates of today
Nepal government announces the complete lockdown for seven days to be applicable from the early morning of March 24, 2020.
The lockdown rule also applies to international flights.
Nepal prepares the hospital of Kathmandu valley for the treatment of 1000 patients in normal beds and 120 ICU beds. Plus 125 ICU beds in every province.
Government postpones the Rubella vaccination program till mid-April.
Government orders every hospital to manage COVID -19 cases according to the “Algorithm to suspect COVID-19 infection based on the WHO Surveillance Case Definition”.
Nepal Government technical committee plans for the prevention, control, and infection of Covid-19 “Protocol for COVID-19 Screening at Point of Entry”.
Novel Corona Virus Outbreak: Is Nepal safe to travel?
Since there is no verified case of Coronavirus infection registered, Nepal is safe to Travel. However, Nepal is listed under the high-risk zone by WHO for the Corona outbreak. Recently has changed some of its immigration rules regarding the issuance of on-arrival visas for some countries. Putting the top priority for the security and health concerns Nepal takes the initiative.
The novel coronavirus (nCoV) is that the most embryonic virus/disease within the world of this date that originally appeared in Wuhan, China on 31st December 2019. This virus has influenced most of the countries within the world but the foremost affected remains China, as over 66,000 people are affected and 1300 people have already died due to this virus and therefore the count remains happening. Diagnosis is feasible to the date but vaccines are yet to be discovered, which makes it riskier. it’s become the subject of major concern because the virus is spreading around the country. This virus is termed to spread early from animal to human with immediate contact at large seafood and live animal market, then from human to human within the community.
Has it affected Travel in Nepal?
Unfortunately, similar to the rest of the world, it has badly affected the travel tourism of Nepal. The tourism season here was just to begin and now lots of travelers with prior bookings have canceled their trip. However, there is no effect of the virus in the daily life of the people living here. Unlike the people from several countries, they look comfortable and with no worries.
As Nepal shares an in-depth border with China, people find it obvious that Nepal will likewise are available in contact with the virus. But Nepal is safe to go to. The virus has not influenced the country in the least. With the primary diagnostic of coronavirus in China, the inter countries’ transport pauses. it’s had less chance of viruses entering Nepal. WHO has been organizing meetings and forums of funders and over 300 researchers and scientists to research and find the cure for it. Also, WHO has declared it as a worldwide concern and health emergency, not only in China and its neighborhood but all around the world. The National Health Public Laboratory is additionally working for vaccine development and rapid diagnostic of this virus.
Is coronavirus a real threat to Nepal?
Nepal has halted its National Tourism Campaign, Visit Nepal 2020. The campaign had the aim of receiving 2 million tourists in Nepal, and therefore the emergence of coronavirus in China, has spread fear in visitors’ minds that ‘Will it’s safe to go to Nepal?’ it’s a clear issue, but with the statistics and records published, the coronavirus infection has marked to be negligible in Nepal, hence the diagnostic result’s negative. It makes Nepal very safe to go to and explore around. Also, if it enters Nepal, there’s less chance of it spreading, as initial diagnosis and preventive measures are already released by other countries. And, with proper and immediate government actions and medical support, there remains a negligible chance of the infection spreading throughout. Also, with timely diagnosis and drugs, those who were suffering from this virus are completely recovered and are now out of danger.
Symptoms of novel coronavirus:
Common symptoms: cold, respiratory uneasiness, shortness of breath, fever, and cough, pharyngitis, and rapid heartbeat
Severe case symptoms: infection causing the severe acute respiratory syndrome, pneumonia, renal failure, and death too
Covering nose and mouth while sneezing and coughing
Washing hands regularly using soap and using hand sanitizers
Consuming the thoroughly cooked non-veg items, eggs, and other vegetables
Avoiding close contact with anyone showing symptoms like sneezing and coughing
Visiting the health worker for a timely check-up if any doubt.
Being the neighbor of the victimized country, China, Nepal holds the best responsibility to preserve its citizens from this general to severe epidemic. The main steps taken forth by the Government of Nepal include:
Nepal halted trade with China since its diagnostic
Rasuwagadi border is close since January 28, 2020
Nepal has suspended all the flights from China to Nepal
Set up health desk at Tribhuvan International Airport for checking any suspicious entries
The government strictly orders the hospitals to remain very careful about this virus and immediately inform the Health Ministry if any kind of respectful case
Although these are happening throughout the world, Nepal shows a serious concern and alerts everyone to stay safe and follow the precaution measures.
We, the team of Oriental Journeys present our heartfelt condolence to the deceased one and pray with god for the speedy recovery of all the infected people throughout the world.
Kathmandu valley preserves centuries-old monasteries in the core areas of Kathmandu and Patan. Besides this, many new Tibetan Buddha Monasteries around Kathmandu are under construction on the outskirts of the hill and local areas. Travelers with a keen interest in Buddhism can visit those monasteries to explore Tibetan Buddhist Monastery around Kathmandu. The other name for Monastery is “Gompa” or “Gumba” in common language. However, The Bihar (Bahaa) is the real name for monasteries in the local Newari language.
Oriental Journeys suggests you visit some beautiful monasteries lying in an exotic location around Kathmandu. These monasteries incorporate incredible Tibetan art and architecture. If you are planning your Nepal trip and especially thinking to spend some of your days in Kathmandu then, you can explore more about the lifestyle of monks and Buddhism by choosing to stay at a Tibetan monastery. Furthermore, the Monastery provides accommodation facilities as well for interested people. In addition to this, some of the monasteries listed here also have their schools. That school provides academic or philosophic or both educations to the students.
Some of the Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries around Kathmandu :
There are some important and famous Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries around Kathmandu. This includes Rigon Tashi Gompa, Kopan Monastery, and Naiki Gompa.
Rigon Tashi Gompa
The small and beautiful town of Pharping situates at the southern hillside of Kathmandu. It will take about 1-hour time to cover 20km of distance to reach Pharping. Pharping carries a historical and religious significance in Tibetan Buddhism as the site houses cave. It is used by Padmasambhava for meditation including vital monastery. The monastery of Pharping is also known as “Ripa Siddhi Sangathan”. Nearby the monastery lays one of the biggest statues of Buddha of Asia that is in the process of renovation.
Kopan Monastery:
In the northeast of Kathmandu, a small hill called Kapan is home to a popular monastery. Lying an approximate distance of 6 Km and a drive of 30 minutes from the heart of Kathmandu, it is also a famous viewpoint. Hundreds of students study various courses of Buddhism and meditation in the monastery. It is a perfect hub of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries. Besides this, it attracts a good number of visitors from around the world every day.
Naiki Gompa:
Naiki Gompa (Naagi Gompa) lies on a hilltop of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. It is only a nun monastery within Kathmandu valley. The Naiki Gompa premises are more than both by transportation or hiking. You can either take a mountain bike, motorbike, or a private vehicle to get there. Many people prefer to hike there enjoying the easy trail and peaceful nature and birdwatching on the way. However, Shivapuri Nagarjun National park authority lets you enter the national park only after issuing an entry permit. On the way, you will enjoy the panoramic view of Kathmandu valley.
