Nepal is a must-see destination for visitors of the Himalayas. Wedged between China and India, Nepal is geographically one of the most amazing places on earth. Eight of the world’s ten highest mountains, including Mount Everest, and altogether more than 240 peaks over 20,000 feet (6,096 meters) are located within Nepal’s borders. Kathmandu is the nation’s capital and largest metropolis. It is here where our journey started.
Itinerary
For centuries, Kathmandu has been considered one of the least accessible places in the world. For most of its existence, the city was off-limits for outsiders. Only since the 1950s, it has become an important destination for mountain climbers and adventure tourists. Nowadays, Kathmandu is a bustling, noisy and madly colorful city, a fascinating melting pot of diverse cultures and customs.
Nepal has eight World Heritage sites and has won two Heritage Awards – one for the medieval city of Bhaktapur and another for the Dwarika’s hotel, which is where we were lucky enough to stay.
Dwarika’s is not just a hotel. In fact, it is a compound that resembles more a small ancient town than a resort. Its buildings are all beautifully enriched, inside and out, with intricate woodcarvings and terracotta work. Everything, down to each single brick, is handcrafted and lovingly maintained. The spirit of a once proud but now bygone era still echoes within the intimate courtyards and romantic settings. But Dwarika’s is also about modern-day luxury and world-class hospitality and service. Dining options range from festive 24-course traditional Nepali-style dinners to organic spa food for the extra health-conscious.
Our sightseeing tour of Kathmandu started with a visit to Bhaktapur. Built in the 9th Century, it is the oldest and best-preserved city in the Kathmandu Valley. Its many magnificently ornate temples and palaces are among the most unique and valuable heritage sites in the world.
We also paid a visit to the immense Boudhanath stupa, a central place of Kathmandu’s ancient mythical roots.
Our tour continued for the rest of the day with stops at Durbar Square, Hanuman Dhoka, the Royal Palace, the temple of Kumari – the “Living Goddess” and the Pashupatinath temple, which is one of the most important Hindu temples in all of Nepal. Hindus believe that to die and to be cremated here will finally release them from the cycle of reincarnation.
The next day, a short flight took us further west to the town of Pokhara. Flying in clear weather, we could closely see several of the most spectacular peaks in all the Himalayas, including the looming peaks of Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal and Gurkha Himal. (Some of these names may be more meaningful to mountain climbers than to simple nature lovers like myself.) Every Himal (range) consists of many more giant peaks, glaciers and gorges, all with their own history of mountaineering and exploration. Then, as we approached Pokhara, we could get our first glimpse of the imposing Annapurna range, including its highpoint, the summit of Annarpurna I – 26,545 feet.
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