Arihant Holidays

NEPAL:

Nepal is a tiny Himalayan country located between India and China. Among many things, this country's natural beauty, and people's tradition and culture are widely noted by Hundreds of Thousands of travelers who visit this land every year. Nepal also has Ten World Heritage Sites which are regarded as the Himalayan Spirit which Lives and Breathes! And some of the highest mountains in the world including Mount Everest lives in Nepal. Many other travel ingredients attract tourists to this land, and not to forget the friendliness and warmth of Nepali people.
Nepal is a Secular State (formerly known as a Hindu Kingdom), which is geographically, religiously, culturally, ethically and linguistically diverse - one solid reason why a small country like this offers so much to see for travelers. Here, above all, Guests are regarded as God, and a popular phrase is learnt by Nepalese from the early age - "Guest Equals God" (in Nepali : PahunaHaru BhagwanKo Rup Hun), so you treat Guests with honor as you would to God. Visit Nepal this year, for your adventure or holidays. It just might be the best travel experience of your life. Here, your money goes far, so you can do more with less. And you will always leave this beautiful country saying "I will be back for more" - visiting Nepal once is never enough!

 
Kathmandu:

A 218 square miles of land, situated above 4400 ft above sea level with three historic, artistic and cultural towns namely Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur together form what is known as the `Kathmandu Valley'. Kathmandu is the hub of Nepal's traditional culture and arts.  This is the place for rest, relaxation and easy-day sightseeing of historic and artistic temples and monuments, and mountain views. Being the capital city of Nepal, it offers much services including international airlines, hotels and other facilities. One also enjoys Kathmandu for night life, shopping and of course for the mountain views.

Places to visit:

Swayambhu:

The history of Kathmandu valley begins from the Swayambhu temple. This valley was a lake, but later when Bodhisattva Manjusri cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the waters to worship a lotus that he admired during his travel to the region, it lead men to settle on the bed of the lake and named this land Kathmandu Valley.  The word Swayambhu means "the self-existent" in English. Today this complex of stupas offers an opportunity to study the religious harmony in Nepal.  Tibetan monks, Brahimn priests and Newar nuns are the major worshipers here. Most of the monasteries have huge prayer wheels, fine Buddhist paintings and special butter lamps all add an elegant touch to the Swayambhu.

Pashupati:

When Lord Shiva came to Pashupati to escape from his boredom, he became famous as the lord of Animals (Pashupati)  Today, millions of Hindu pilgrimage pour into this temple. Many  Hindus from Indian sub contents, Nepal, Pakistan, Asia come to Pahsupati to pay their respects to the lord Shiva. From other parts of the world, many Hindus come to Pashupati to fulfill their dream of visiting the holiest Hindu pilgrimage in the world. You can see the  pagoda house which has gold-plated roof, silver doors and find woodcarvings. The linga (phallic symbol) of Lord Shiva, his images, statues, and  Bagmati river that flows beside it add to the holiness of Pashupati which lies just 1.5km from the international airport. The region is also surrounded by thick green jungle where monkeys and birds live and play and are often seen in large groups playing on the pavements of the temples in Pashupati. Sadhus who follow the life style of Shiva are found in Pashupati region. They paint their bodies with ashes, wear loin-cloths, Tika, and Rudraksha Malas.

Changu Narayan:

The temple, situated at Chingu village 12 km to the eat of the city,  is fully dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu (the god of creation). The temple is believed to be the most ancient temple in the Kathmandu valley. The temple covers over sixteen hundred years of Nepalese art history presenting some of the best samples of stone, wood and metal craft in Nepal. There is also everyone's favorite statue of Vishnu sitting astride his steed. For a view of the ancient arts this is a must see place.

Bouddhanath Stupa:

The 36 meter tall, among the largest stupas in South Asia, is a home to Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. It is situated on the ancient trade route to Tibet (6km to the east of the city). For shopping, the area is a bazaar of Tibetan jewelry, handmade carpets, masks, kukuri knives (the knives used by Gorkhas)  and Tibetan paintings known as thangkas. There are many stupas in the nearby surroundings all of which deserve a through observations by visitors.

Kathmandu Durbar Square:

This is a durbar of history and arts. One can see artistic monuments, find the house of the living goddess, learn about the Kal Bhairam temple, red monkey god, and hundreds of erotic wood carvings.  The kastamandap rest house located within the durbar square is said to have been built from a single tree, it is because of this house, Kathmandu valley got its name. There is also a museum located at the Durbar Square which presents a complete history of Nepal's King and Rulers.


Pokhara:

Pokhara is situated at about 827 meter from sea level, and is located 124 miles (about 200 km) west of Kathmandu and can be reached by plane in 35 minutes or in 5 hours by bus. Pokhara is the next destination after Kathmandu for many adventure and pleasure trips in and around Pokhara. Pokhara is often called the enchanting Himalayan valley with a heart of major actions and adventures.

Surrounded by beautiful snow-caped mountains, with a magnificent lake of crystal-clear pure Himalayan water, all-year round pleasing weather, and friendly Pokhralis will greet you with a smile and leave you with the most unforgettable moments in your life. So pack up your bag, load your camera, and get ready for Pokhara experience!


Places to Visit:

The Fewa (or Phewa) Lake

The Fewa Lake is 1.5 kilometer long, second largest lake in Nepal, offers an excellent view of the mountains and their reflections on the lake. Many tours and trekking operators and hotels are located on the lakeside. One can easily find a place to sit back, relax and enjoy great meal while enjoying scenery here. You will also enjoy boating on the lake. Most hotels and guest houses have traditional designs and layouts which match with the surrounding views. The photo on the right is of Rara Lake, another popular lake located in Pokhara.

Davi’s Fall

Witness a unique waterfall that lies 2 Km from central Pokhara City. The water fall directly goes into a deep and narrow canal with no ends. It is believed that this deadly waterfall took the life of a tourist named David, who fell down into the canel and was never found, and hence the name David waterfall, named in his memory by the people of Pokhara. This place has many nick names like Davy's Fall, David's Fall or Davis's Fall, all mean the same thing `The Davis Water Fall'

Begnas and Rupa Lake

The name Pokhara is derived from the word Pokhari, which in Nepali means pond or a lake. There are about eight lakes in Pokhara and besides the the fewa lake, the other two lakes known as Begnas Lake and Rupa lake located about 15 km from Pokhara are ideal places for relaxation, boating and fishing. Get to Begnas by bus, or by a taxi, or cycle from Pokhara. Visit Begnas Bazaar for a unique hillside market experience.

Seti Gandaki / Gorge

Seti Gandaki and Seti Gorge are other two important places to visit in Pokhara. The Seti gandaki flows right through the city, it runs completely underground at many places. There is a local myth that the entire land of Pokhara floats on the Seti river. Rivers in Nepal are known for their strength and the purity as entire source is from the Himalayan range.

Mahendra Cave (Gufa or Gupha in Nepali)

Mahindra cave is located about 10km north from central Pokhara. It is a natural site located across the Seti river pass the Batulechours village.

Annapurna Range Skyline

The most spectacular sight in Pokhara is the sight of Annapurna range. This range stretching from west to east includes Dhaulagiri, South Annapurna, Annapurna 1, Hiunchuli, Fish-tail (Machapuchare), Annapurna 3, Annapurna 4, and Annapurna 2. In Pokhara, the holy unclimbed mountain Macchapucchre (or also known as Fishtail Mountain), located in the middle of the Annapurna range, can be seen standing right in front of our nose.

Everyone in Pokhara wakes up early to greet the mountains during sunrise. The reflection of sunlight from a mountain is always a breathtaking site. You will never forget the sight of the fishtail mountain standing right before your eyes saying "Good Morning!"

Chitwan:

If you wanted to see birds and animals in Nepal, this is where you would come. For animal lovers, Chitwan national park offers them an opportunity of a life time to see Royal Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, various species of birds and butterflies. Your choice of Resorts and lodges are located in the region. Most include elephant safaris, jungle walks, canoeing and cultural activities.


Quick Facts on Chitwan National Park


·   Chitwan is known as Chitwan National Park, mainly because the city's main attraction is the national park itself.

·   Chitwan National Park is included in the list of world heritage sites, this protected area has a forest with area of 360 square miles (about 932 square kilometers).

·   7 world class resorts run by park concessionaire are located inside the park alone, Other numerous resorts and hotels are located outside the park, all giving tourists with more options for price and services.

·   One Horned Rhinos and Bengal Tigers are the main two animals that are famous in the park. Spotting them while on a safari will be the joy of a life-time. To spot Bengal tiger, you might have to extend your stay in Chitwan a little longer!! Altitude of the park ranges from 492 feet (150m) to 2673 feet (815m).

·   Over  50 different mammals and 450 species of birds are located in the park   The prefix "Royal" is being slowly removed from many names in Nepal such as from the name Royal Nepal Airlines which is now Nepal Airlines. Similarly Royal Chitwan National Park is now just called Chitwan National Park.

Places to Visit:

The Park, People and Places - These are the places to visit.
Chitwan is also a place to learn about the Tharu people. The traditional dance and songs are performed in resorts and lodge entertainment.

Chitwan's National Park is the main attraction in the region. This park is regarded as the best national park of Nepal, and is also the most developed one. Elephant Breeding Center, Crocodile Farm are two other must see locations in the park.

Main activities in Chitwan include Jungle Safari, Bird Watching and Boat Tour. Jungle Safari is the most popular one. You will journey into the deep forest riding on elephant back, you will witness the preserved natural assets of Nepal, birds, flora and fauna. World's one of the most endangered species, Bengal Tigers are found abundant in Nepal, many in Chitwan national park. If it's your day, you might see them too.

The other major animal you will see is the one-horned rhinos whose famous place to live on earth is none other than Nepal. The park is also famous for bird watching, and boat tours. A walk to nearby villages is also a recommended thing to do.

If you like trekking or visiting other nearby regions, these are some places to go in or around the area.
Chepang Hills

A newly developed tourism area providing an unique opportunity for travelers isn't so far away than you think. Witness some local culture, traditions and embrace Chepang culture. On clear days, view mountain range from Dhaulagiri to Kanchenjunga. Depending on how far you wish to go, there are trekking programs from 3 days to 5 days to all the way up to 8 days. In comparison to other trekking areas, this trekking is easy, fun, relaxing and memorable. Route has become popular - now, Nepali travel agents offer complete travel package specially made for this region. A typical package would include arrival to Kathmandu, sightseeing, departure to Chitwan, trekking and then back to Kathmandu for your onward journey - all in 3 days or more.

 

Lumbini

Lumbini is the place where Lord Buddha was born. It is also the place were he gained enlightenment and became famous. Lumbini gets more Pilgrimage tourits than any other city of Nepal.

Buddha is also known as Siddhartha Gautam.



Places to visit:

Here one can see Maya Devi temple, the place where she gave birth to the lord,  and an Ashoka pillar which has inscriptions identifying the spot as the birthplace, ruins of ancient stupas and monasteries, and Pushkarni pond where Queen Mayadevi took bath before giving birth. The Lumbini region has been developed through Lumbini Trust, a none governmental organization. Newer temples and monuments are being developed by foreign pilgrimage here. All temples found in this region form this place a royal Buddhist pilgrimages destination. The China temple located in Lumbini is a complex of pagodas, prayer rooms and meditation cells developed by the Buddhist Association of China. There is also Myanmar Temple also known as Lokamani Cula Pagoda which soars into the sky. The International Gautami Nuns temple is also found here which is a replica of the Swayambhu stupa in Kathmandu. Many other temples are currently under construction, these include Japan temple, Sri Lanka temple, and Vietnam temple.

Lumbini Museum, Lumbini International Research Institute, and Kapilvastu Museum (situated 27km west of Lumbini in Tilaurakot) are other places see in this region. The Kapilvastu museum has ruins of ancient capital of Sakya kingdom where the Buddha spet his youth as Prince Siddhartha.