A weekend in Nepal — the roof of the world: The first thing you notice as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu are the mountains — in Nepal, you’re never too far away from them.
The mountains are a part of Nepal’s very identity. You’ll lose count of the number of establishments named after some of the world’s highest peaks, of which Nepal has eight. The titans are everywhere: Everest Bank, Machapuchre water, Annapurna Saaris, Makalu Tours, Sagarmatha Bakery. The world’s tallest peak, Mount Everest, is also pictured on all the Nepalese Rupee banknotes.
Women in public life
As you drive into town, you feel that it’s a country very much like India. The most obvious one is the overwhelming presence of women in public life.
Here, women are not anomalies or novelties in their respective fields. They ride scooters and motorcycles, run tea stalls, and trade in the raucous markets.
I was in town for work and had extended my visit to include the following weekend to get some sightseeing. The day my meeting was scheduled, we were rained due to a heavy downpour. Luckily, the next few days, we had clear blue skies. The monsoon season officially begins in Nepal in May and lasts until August.
What’s on offer
Before traveling to Nepal, I often asked what is there to even see in Nepal?
Just within the Kathmandu Valley, there are seven Unesco world heritage sites. From the Royal city-states of Patan and Bhaktapur to Boudhanath, the center of Tibetan Buddhist life in Kathmandu, and Pashupathinath, the holiest Hindu temple in all of Nepal, the country has plenty to offer to tourists interested in history and culture.
If the weather permits, the best way to explore these sites is on foot. Just be warned that the hike to the top of Swayambunath, also known as the Monkey Temple, will shatter your hamstrings. But it’s worth it even for the bird’s-eye view of the capital from above.
Another great hike in the Himalayas is the trek from Nagarkot to the temple of Changu Narayan. You will pass along the verdant Nepalese countryside and terraced fields.
A trip to Kathmandu would be incomplete without getting lost in the labyrinthine alleys and the collection of temples in Durbar Square — the city’s heart. Suppose you wait till late in the afternoon. In that case, you might even catch a glimpse of the Kumari, the living goddess at the Kumari Bahal.
Besides the cultural sites, you’re bound to run into many interesting characters along the way.
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Finger-lickin’ good
One aspect of Nepal that is grossly underrated is its food scene.
Nepal is a majority Hindu and Buddhist nation; hence plenty of delicious vegetarian options are available. You cannot travel to Nepal without savoring a plate of Momos — dumpling-like pockets stuffed with various fillings. Then there are the countless mom-and-pop noodle shops selling different kinds of pasta, ranging from soupy to dry varieties. Tibetan cuisine is another behemoth and a world unto itself that needs to be further explored.
Kathmandu also has a vibrant cafe scene, many featuring live music.
Never lost in translation.
Almost everyone in Nepal can speak a bit of Hindi. The Nepalese have freedom of movement agreement with India, where many students go for higher studies. Here, Bollywood influences them; thus, a large section of the population has attained proficiency in the language.
Tourist sites
The Thamel neighborhood of Kathmandu is the hub of tourist activity. It’s backpacker central.
Hostels, nightclubs, restaurants, travel agents, porter stands, and aging bookshops all vie for space in this cramped little block of the city. While I’d highly recommend everyone to stay in Thamel, I would warn against waiting too long, lest you get too used to the area’s creature comforts and forget to explore the real Nepal outside.
As I mentioned earlier, the Mountains, specifically the Himalayas, are deeply imbibed in the Nepalese DNA. The cherry on top of any Nepal vacation would be to catch a glimpse of at least one of these mega-structures.
There’s no better way than to trek to one of them directly. If you’re short on time, however, the next best option is to take the mountain flight.
An hour-long aerial odyssey takes you over the world’s roof. The star attraction at the journey’s end is a face-to-face moment with the highest point on Earth — Mountain Everest.
I couldn’t think of any other way to end my visit to Nepal. I don’t know how I’ll be able to top this on my future travels.
Dhanyavad Nepal!