My five-day visit to the land of the Himalayas made me enjoy the peaceful and wooded environment of this landlocked country. The country has land borders with India and China and these two countries have visible influences on Nepal’s culture. A country that was never colonized by any other country, the independence and the humbleness of Nepali are undoubtedly evident in their words and actions.
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| Foggy Himalaya mountain ranges at Sanga, Nepal |
Morning of June 4, we arrived in Kathmandu, the capital and the biggest city of Nepal. The city is a valley surrounded by the Himalaya mountains. The views of the mountains will amaze you from the top once the plane started to descend. Filipinos traveling to Nepal can obtain visa on arrival. A single-entry visa good for 15 days will cost you $25. Payment counters are accepting certain currencies but better to have US dollars or Nepali Rupees.
The city of Kathmandu is already home to several UNESCO world heritage sites. Several attractions can be visited within the city.
Entrance fees for tourist attractions are higher for foreigners compared to the locals and the SAARC nationals. Paying a much higher entrance fee is the same experience I had in India. (my blog in my India tour can be viewed here.Setting Foot in Incredible India
We visited the following tourist spots in Kathmandu.
Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square (they also call it Kathmandu Square) - Entrance Fee 1000 Nepali Rupees
Several ancient temples can be found inside the square. At the time of our visit, the square was under major repair and most of the temples were closed for visitors. Some temples collapsed during the 2015 earthquake and the reconstruction is still on-going.
It is also beautiful outside the square so we also enjoyed posing for Instagrammable photos.
The palace of Kumari, Hindus and Buddhists living God is also just outside the square.
Monkey Temple - (also called Swayambhunath temple) - Entrance fee - 200 Nepali Rupees
This UNESCO world heritage Buddhist temple is at the highest peak in the city of Kathmandu. The Buddhist shrine can be reached after climbing more than 300 steps. A lot of monkeys can be seen in the place and the reason why it was named Monkey temple. At the top, one can enjoy overlooking the entire city of Kathmandu.
Bhoudanath Temple - Entrance Fee - 400 Nepali Rupees
This Buddhist temple, also a UNESCO world heritage site has one of the biggest stupa in Asia. The stupa itself and the old building structures surrounding it are camera perfect. We also enjoyed walking around the shrine because it is surrounded by cafes and souvenir shops. A big prayer cylinder can also be found here which we circled clockwise. The view outside and at the entrance of the temple is not that tourist inviting, but you will be amazed once you get inside.
Royal Palace (Narayanhiti Palace) - Entrance Fee 500 Nepali Rupees
The palace is the former home of the Royal family of Nepal and is now converted as a museum. Cameras, cellphones and bags are not allowed to be carried inside. Visitors need to keep them in lockers provided for them near the entrance.
Garden of Dreams - Entrance Fee 200 Nepali Rupees
Behind the tall walls surrounding the garden is a cozy, beautiful and green park at the heart of the city of Kathmandu just minutes walk from the Thamel shopping hub.
Inside the garden are cafes and bars offering variety of meals. Its two thumbs-up for Kaiser cafe's moderately priced gnocchi pesto and pasta in squid ink.
Thamel Shopping Streets
Strolling the streets of Thamel is one of the best things to do in Kathmandu. Both expensive and budget friendly souvenirs can be found here. Hotels, cafes and bars, restaurants and money exchange as well as travel agencies offering tour packages are all here. Don't forget to buy clothes and stuffs that are made in Nepal.
Outside Kathmandu
Bhaktapur - The ancient city of Bhaktapur is a half hour drive from Kathmandu. The Bhaktapur Durbar square (Entrance fee - 1500 Nepali Rupees) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is famous for the amazing architecture of its palace and temples. The whole city is like the Vigan of the Philippines.
Sanga - situated in this town is one of the tallest Shiva statue in the world. It is usually a side-trip for tourists visiting Bhaktapur. (Entrance fee - 100 Nepali Rupees)
Nagarkot - a village in central Nepal famous for the Himalayas views. Eight out of the thirteen mountain ranges of Himalayas, including Mt. Everest can be viewed from their famous viewing tower situated on top of a hill. We are not mountaineers and trekkers, and a glimpse of the Everest from the tower is already an overwhelming joy. Climbing the tower is at your own risk. There is no entrance fee and expect no security staff to check on you when climbing the tower. I did climb anyway despite my fear of height. Going up to Nagarkot from Kathmandu is already an adventure as you will see from the top the land areas and valleys of Nepal. Nagarkot can be compared to the Philippines' Baguio city.
Patan - situated in the center of Patan city is another UNESCO world heritage site, the Patan Durbar square (entrance fee - 1000 Nepali Rupees). The old royal palace of the former king of the city is the main attraction of the square. Heavily damaged during 2015 earthquake, most of the temples in the square are being reconstructed.
Hotel Himalaya Hub - our accommodation for five days.
Despite situated 10 minutes walk from the busy Thamel hub, their friendly staff and the services they extend to us made our stay comfortable. The hotel is a cool and nice place to stay.
Nepal is not well-developed compared to other countries, they have no skyscrapers buildings and no big shopping malls. Traffic is worse because of the narrow roads and most of the highways even in the city are not properly cemented, but the country has its own charm, a charm every traveler could not resist. For my experience, Nepal is one great destination for adventures.
The city of Kathmandu is already home to several UNESCO world heritage sites. Several attractions can be visited within the city.
Entrance fees for tourist attractions are higher for foreigners compared to the locals and the SAARC nationals. Paying a much higher entrance fee is the same experience I had in India. (my blog in my India tour can be viewed here.Setting Foot in Incredible India
We visited the following tourist spots in Kathmandu.
Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square (they also call it Kathmandu Square) - Entrance Fee 1000 Nepali Rupees
Several ancient temples can be found inside the square. At the time of our visit, the square was under major repair and most of the temples were closed for visitors. Some temples collapsed during the 2015 earthquake and the reconstruction is still on-going.
 |
| Inside Hanuman Dhoka Square |
It is also beautiful outside the square so we also enjoyed posing for Instagrammable photos.
 |
| Outside Hanuman Dhoka Square |
The palace of Kumari, Hindus and Buddhists living God is also just outside the square.
 |
| The palace of Kumari |
Monkey Temple - (also called Swayambhunath temple) - Entrance fee - 200 Nepali Rupees
This UNESCO world heritage Buddhist temple is at the highest peak in the city of Kathmandu. The Buddhist shrine can be reached after climbing more than 300 steps. A lot of monkeys can be seen in the place and the reason why it was named Monkey temple. At the top, one can enjoy overlooking the entire city of Kathmandu.
 |
| At Monkey temple |
This Buddhist temple, also a UNESCO world heritage site has one of the biggest stupa in Asia. The stupa itself and the old building structures surrounding it are camera perfect. We also enjoyed walking around the shrine because it is surrounded by cafes and souvenir shops. A big prayer cylinder can also be found here which we circled clockwise. The view outside and at the entrance of the temple is not that tourist inviting, but you will be amazed once you get inside.
Royal Palace (Narayanhiti Palace) - Entrance Fee 500 Nepali Rupees
The palace is the former home of the Royal family of Nepal and is now converted as a museum. Cameras, cellphones and bags are not allowed to be carried inside. Visitors need to keep them in lockers provided for them near the entrance.
Garden of Dreams - Entrance Fee 200 Nepali Rupees
Behind the tall walls surrounding the garden is a cozy, beautiful and green park at the heart of the city of Kathmandu just minutes walk from the Thamel shopping hub.
Inside the garden are cafes and bars offering variety of meals. Its two thumbs-up for Kaiser cafe's moderately priced gnocchi pesto and pasta in squid ink.
 |
| Garden of dreams landscape |
Thamel Shopping Streets
Strolling the streets of Thamel is one of the best things to do in Kathmandu. Both expensive and budget friendly souvenirs can be found here. Hotels, cafes and bars, restaurants and money exchange as well as travel agencies offering tour packages are all here. Don't forget to buy clothes and stuffs that are made in Nepal.
 |
| at the shopping streets of Thamel |
Outside Kathmandu
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| At the streets of Bhaktapur |
Sanga - situated in this town is one of the tallest Shiva statue in the world. It is usually a side-trip for tourists visiting Bhaktapur. (Entrance fee - 100 Nepali Rupees)
 |
| At Sanga, Nepal - the tallest Shiva structure in the world |
Nagarkot - a village in central Nepal famous for the Himalayas views. Eight out of the thirteen mountain ranges of Himalayas, including Mt. Everest can be viewed from their famous viewing tower situated on top of a hill. We are not mountaineers and trekkers, and a glimpse of the Everest from the tower is already an overwhelming joy. Climbing the tower is at your own risk. There is no entrance fee and expect no security staff to check on you when climbing the tower. I did climb anyway despite my fear of height. Going up to Nagarkot from Kathmandu is already an adventure as you will see from the top the land areas and valleys of Nepal. Nagarkot can be compared to the Philippines' Baguio city.
 |
| Climbing up Nagarkot viewing tower |
Patan - situated in the center of Patan city is another UNESCO world heritage site, the Patan Durbar square (entrance fee - 1000 Nepali Rupees). The old royal palace of the former king of the city is the main attraction of the square. Heavily damaged during 2015 earthquake, most of the temples in the square are being reconstructed.
 |
| At Patan Durbar Square |
Hotel Himalaya Hub - our accommodation for five days.
Despite situated 10 minutes walk from the busy Thamel hub, their friendly staff and the services they extend to us made our stay comfortable. The hotel is a cool and nice place to stay.
Nepal is not well-developed compared to other countries, they have no skyscrapers buildings and no big shopping malls. Traffic is worse because of the narrow roads and most of the highways even in the city are not properly cemented, but the country has its own charm, a charm every traveler could not resist. For my experience, Nepal is one great destination for adventures.
Nice Nepal! waiting for my key chain! haha :)
ReplyDeletePag nagkita tayo... :)
Deletetake care :) God bless.
ReplyDelete