The National hero of Nepal King janak

Janak SanskritKhmerTamilThaiMalayor Raja Janaka were the kings of Videha Kingdom. Their capital was Mithila, which is believed to be present day Janakpur, Nepal. The most famous Janak was Seeradhwaj; he is mentioned in the Ramayana as the father of Sita and also there are references to him in Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Mahabharata and Puranas.

Legend of Janakas

The Janakas were known to versed in the knowledge of the Atman, and remained free from attachments even while living as householders and rulers.

Janak in Ramayana

In Baal Kand of Valmiki's Ramayana, Seeradhwaj Janaka (more popularly known merely as Raja Janak or King Janak) proposed a test of strength in which suitors vying for his daughter's hand in marriage would have to string the great bow of Lord Shiva. Lord Rama passed this test of strength, and Janaka's daughter Sita (also referred to as Janaki) wed Rama and together they resided in Ayodhya.

Seeradhwaj Janaka was not only a brave king, but was also as well-versed in the shastras and Vedas as any rishi. He was the beloved pupil of Yaajnavalkya, whose exposition of Brahman to the king forms one chapter of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna cites Seeradhwaj Janaka as an illustrious example of the Karma yoga.

Seeradhwaj Janaka was also said to be a Rajarshi having spiritually advanced and reached the state of a rishi, though he was a king administrating the kingdom of Mithila. He was also instructed by sage Ashtavakra upon the nature of the self or Atman; this exposition forms the content of the famous treatise Ashtavakra Gita.

According to the epic Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Janakas were a race of kings who ruled Videha Kingdom from their capital Mithila. The father of Sita named Seeradwaja Janaka. These epics mention many other Janaka kings who were all great scholars and lead the life of a sage though they were kings. They engaged in religious conversations with many sages.

The highest peak of the World Mount Everest

Mount Everest is also called Qomolangma Peak ( (Nepali: सगरमाथा), Tibetan: Chinese Zhumulangma Peak simplified Chinese: 珠穆朗玛峰; pinyin: Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng), Chajamlangma (Limbu), or Mount Chomolangma – is the world's highest mountain above sea level at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft). Part of the Himalaya range in Asia, it is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China.

In 1856, the Great Trigonometric Survey of India established the first published height of Everest, then known as Peak XV, at 29,002 ft (8,840 m). In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India at the time. Chomolangma had been in common use by Tibetans for centuries, but Waugh was unable to propose an established local name because Nepal and Tibet were closed to foreigners.

The highest mountain in the world attracts well-experienced mountaineers as well as novice climbers who are willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb. The mountain, while not posing substantial technical climbing difficulty on the standard route other eight thousanders such as K2 or Nanga Parbat are much more difficult), still has many inherent dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind. By the end of the 2008 climbing season, there had been 4,102 ascents to the summit by about 2,700 individuals.Climbers are a significant source of tourist revenue for Nepal, whose government also requires all prospective climbers to obtain an expensive permit, costing up to US $ 25,000 per person.By the end of 2009 Everest had claimed 216 lives,including eight who perished during a 1996 storm high on the mountain. Conditions are so difficult in the death zone (altitudes higher than 8,000 m/26,246 ft) that most corpses have been left where they fell. Some of them are visible from standard climbing routes.

Death Zone

At the higher regions of Mount Everest, climbers seeking the summit typically spend substantial time within the "death zone" (altitudes higher than 8,000 m/26,246 ft), and face significant challenges to survival. Temperatures can dip to very low levels, resulting in frostbite of any body part exposed to the air. Since temperatures are so low, snow is well-frozen in certain areas and death by slipping and falling can also occur. High winds at these altitudes on Everest are also a potential threat to climbers. The atmospheric pressure at the top of Everest is about a third of sea level pressure, meaning there is about a third as much oxygen available to breathe as at sea level.

In May 2007, the Caudwell Xtreme Everest undertook a medical study of oxygen levels in human blood at extreme altitude. Over 200 volunteers climbed to Everest Base Camp where various medical tests were performed to examine blood oxygen levels. A small team also performed tests on the way to the summit.

Even at base camp the low level of available oxygen had direct effect on blood oxygen saturation levels. At sea level these are usually 98% to 99%, but at base camp this fell to between 85% and 87%. Blood samples taken at the summit indicated very low levels of oxygen present. A side effect of this is a vastly increased breathing rate, from 20-30 breaths per minute to 80-90 breaths, leading to exhaustion just trying to breathe.

Lack of oxygen, exhaustion, extreme cold, and the dangers of the climb all contribute to the death toll. A person who is injured so he can't walk himself is in serious trouble since it is often extremely risky to try to carry someone out, and generally impractical to use a helicopter.

People who die during the climb are typically left behind. About 150 bodies have never been recovered. It is not uncommon to find corpses near the standard climbing routes.

Various records

The youngest person to climb Mount Everest was 13-year-old Jordan Romero in May 2010. Apa Sherpa holds the record for reaching the summit more times than any other person (20 times as of May 2010^[update]).

The fastest ascent over the northeast ridge was accomplished in 2007 by Austrian climber Christian Stangl, who needed 16h 42min for the 10 km distance from Camp III to the summit, just barely beating Italian Hans Kammerlander's record of 17 hours, accomplished in 1996. Both men climbed alone and without supplementary oxygen. The fastest oxygen-supported ascent over the southeast ridge was Nepalese Pemba Dorjie Sherpa's 2004 climb, using 8h 10min for the 17 km route. The fastest ascent without supplementary oxygen over the southeast ridge was accomplished by French Marc Batard who reached the summit in 22h 30min in 1988.

The first descent on ski was accomplished in 2000 by Davo Karnicar.

The oldest climber to successfully reach Mt. Everest's summit is 76-year-old Min Bahadur Sherchan, who did so 25 May 2008 from the Nepal side. Sherchan beat the previous record set in 2007 by 71 year old Katsusuke Yanagisawa.The oldest climber to successfully reach Mt. Everest's summit from both sides (Nepal and Tibet) of the mountain is 60-year-old Dr. Julio Bird, a Puerto Rican cardiologist at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Dr. Bird reached the summit of Mt. Everest from the north side at 7:00am on May 17, 2010.

Famous Hotel's in Nepal

Hyatt Regency is one of the Famous Hotel's in Nepal. Kathmandu is a luxury 5 star city resort hotel situated 10 Km from the city centre of Kathmandu, Nepal, on the road to Boudhanath Stupa - the most holy of Tibetan Buddhist shrines outside Tibet. The hotel is 4 Km from Tribhuvan International Airport and very close to the business district and shopping areas. The Boudhanath Stupa is within ten minutes walking distance from the hotel. The hotel is also host to Club Oasis Spa, a sanctuary of calm in Kathmandu, Nepal. Introducing the timeless quality of Nepal's rich and fascinating culture represented in the arts and architecture, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu with 290 rooms is set on 37 acres of artistically landscaped grounds. The hotel is four kilometres from Tribhuvan International Airport and very close to the business district and shopping areas. The Boudhanath Stupa is within ten minutes walking distance from the hotel. The hotel offers International standards of service and accommodation to the discerning traveler.

Hotel Yak and Yeti,is one of the Famous Hotel's in Nepal. is a premier five-star deluxe oasis in the heart of Kathmandu, Nepal. Modern day sophistication greets cultural heritage in the ample grounds of the 100-year-old palace and newly designed structure of the hotel. Find refuge among antique fountains, gilded temples and emerald gardens as you remain just moments away from all the shops and adventure of the Kathmandu city, located at Durbar Marg.

The hotel has total of 270 rooms divided into standard & deluxe categories. A 120-room hotel with 5 star amenities started it’s operation in 01st September, 1977. After a successful run of 12 years, the need was felt to enhance the hotel’s size and facilities.

Now an extension of 150 deluxe rooms and suites have been built (designed to harmonize with the special features of the Lal Durbar) to supplement the existing accommodation, bringing the total number of rooms available in the hotel to 270 rooms.

Soaltee Crowne is one of the Famous Hotel's in Nepal. Kathmandu is considered a legendary landmark within the Kathmandu cityscape and is also the premier hotel of the Kingdom. It is spread over 11 acres of space and surrounded by manicured gardens and with views of the mountain ranges, the Soaltee Crowne Plaza offers a resort atmosphere for both business and leisure travelers.

Soaltee Crowne Plaza Kathmandu is located in the suburbs of Tahachal just ten minutes away from the city centre and 15 minutes away from the airport. The hotel offers free coach transfers to the hotel on request (subject to availability). There is a complimentary city shuttle to and from the hotel at regular intervals. The hotel also can arrange chauffeur-driven cars or coaches for business or sightseeing as there are no car rental facilities in Nepal. The hotel has five world-class restaurants and a Bar. Bukhara features meals cooked in tandoor, using recipes and methods preserved since the mediaeval ages. Garden Terrace Coffee Shop serves multicuisine breakfast, meals and light snacks. Al Fresco serves authentic Italian meals and is the most popular Italian restaurant in town. China Garden serves oriential delicacies from around South East Asia and Rodi Bar located just off the lobby offers the choicest drinks and snacks.

Radisson Hotel,is one of the Famous Hotel's in Nepal. An international standard hotel in a modern design, with eight floors providing dramatic views of the surrounding mountains. This hotel is located in Lazimpat and is situated in the heart of the city adjacent to the Royal Palace and is just minutes away from all the attractions, including the exciting Thamel district-full of the city's Restaurants and Nightlife, the historic Durbar Square, Durbar Marg and many of the main temples. The hotel is 9 km or 25 minutes drive from Tribhuwan International Airport, and has 163 beautifully appointed rooms, including terrace rooms with private outdoor terrace, suites, a presidential suite, 2 exclusive floors of Plaza Club rooms with club lounge.

This Kathmandu lodging offers 160 beautifully appointed modern rooms, which include Superior Rooms, Deluxe Rooms, Club Rooms and Suites. Our Kathmandu, Nepal hotel's rooms boast high-speed Internet, mini bar, safety deposit locker, hair dryer, direct dial telephone, satellite television, iron/ironing board, automatic wake-up call and more. All rooms and suites are all fully air conditioned, as well. In short, we provide everything you need to feel at home during your Kathmandu vacation or business trip.

Hotel Shangri-la,is one of the Famous Hotel's in Nepal.Rudyard Kipling wrote that the wildest dreams of Kew are the facts of Kathmandu. This still holds true for the city that is the world's most exotic destination. With views to the high Himalaya, the ancient buildings, venerable temples and narrow lanes of Kathmandu reveal never-ending secrets. Its magic entices visitors from all over the world.

The cultural richness of this society creates an intricate fabric that can be overwhelming. The perfect retreat is the charming Shangri-La Hotel. This intimate 97 room property has the warmth of welcome for which the Nepalese are renowned, plus a high degree of comfort. Each air-conditioned room offers multi channel television and music, direct dial telephone, mini-bar and pleasing modern décor.

The Top Floor is a recently added cloister that offers a serenity that invites the Business Traveller to 22 state-of-art rooms created to offer every luxury, every convenience and 2 Deluxe Suites that rival the finest in hoteliering. A club lounge, individual safes and coffee makers that match the very best in the world are some of the other facilities that await you at The Top Floor.

Taking tea in the award- winning gardens, served by uniformed waiters, it is easy to imagine that you are in another era. However, the modern world is certainly evident in the fitness centre, swimming pool and the range of cuisines on offer at Shangri-La's restaurants. The Jazz Bar serves fine continental cuisine and also specialises in Chinese and Oriental dishes. The Shambala Garden Café and the Bakery have a wealth of sweet delights.

Whether sipping a High Lama cocktail in the Lost Horizon Bar or watching a performance of masked temple dancers in the garden, the mystery of Kathmandu is ever present. Indeed, this is Shangri-La.

Hotel de I' Annapurna is one of the Famous Hotel's in Nepal. was established in 1965, Hotel de l’ Annapurna prides in being the first Five Star Hotel of Nepal. The capital based, centrally located Hotel’s hospitality exemplifies the nation’s philosophy “Athiti Devo Bhawa ( Guests are like Gods )”

For over 2000 years, the name Annapurna has symbolized all that is glorious in Nepal, a name that celebrates Nepalese culture in its many form.

Establishing base camp at a gracious sanctuary in the heart of the city, situated on an expanse of 5.53 acres at Durbar Marg, the hotel is in the vicinity of embassies, consulates, key government offices and airlines offices. It is also in close proximity to the city’s financial district.

Since it opened in 1965, Hotel de l’Annapurna has created its own unique history. From Maharajas and Princes to various Kings, Presidents, CEOs and entertainers, Annapurna has played the perfect host, supportive of their every need.

Built in 1965, the hotel is an architectural marvel and has an exclusive pagoda styled roof reflecting the local culture. The hotel is a gracious landmark of Kathmandu, showcasing contemporary Nepalese influences along with Tibetian “Thangkhas” paintings creating an atmosphere of beauty and serenity.

Supremely comfortable. A room at Annapurna begins with a liberating sense of space – your guest room or suite is often among the destinations finest. Designed to inspire, its beauty connects you with the surrounding environment, while ensuring your comfort and convenience.

The Everest Hotel,There are few places in the world that combine the best for all. The joyous climes of Nepal - the mountain kingdom, unfold a tapestry of adventure, history, nature and a culture that has its origins in the mists of time.There are few places in the world that combine the best for all. The joyous climes of Nepal - the mountain kingdom, unfold a tapestry of adventure, history, nature and a culture that has its origins in the mists of time.

The unique experience of this wonderful country holds a special fascination for the seeker of heritage, or adventure loving outdoor enthusiast and the business person in search of an idyll to hold his business conference or meet.

Here in the sun-kissed valley and snow clad peaks, the visitor discovers vibrant and thriving culture, untouched by time, that lives in the by-lanes of busy cities and amidst the plush trappings of modern life.

The Royal Nepalese kingdom is a vibrant nation that reaches out to the guest with the warmth that symbolizes the tradition of ancient Hindu and Tibetan cultures.

The Malla Hotel, is one of the Famous Hotel's in Nepal.Superbly located between the Royal Palace and Kathmandu's fashionable tourist district, Thamel, in the heart of the city. The Malla Hotel is only a 20 minutes drive from Kathmandu's International airport.

Besides excellent accommodation and Central location the Malla Hotel is Offering a well equipped business center, extensive meeting and conference facilities

The Malla Hotel provides fine dining in the Tara, our premier Italian restaurant, while the Imperial Pavilion specializes in Szechuan and Cantonese cuisine. Delicious Continental and Indian fare is served in the Rendezvous, while our new garden coffee shop, the Patio is available for all day refreshment. Or relax with a drink around the Pool or in the inviting Luxury of the Cocktail Club.

Religious Site Of Nepal

In Nepal, religion permeates every facet of life with festivals, daily rituals, family celebrations and religious observances. At every step one can see temples and shrines, processions and devotional music. Although Nepal is famous as the world’s only Hindu Nation, Hindusm,Buddhism and other faiths loving together in tolerance and harmony.

Pashupatinath Temple Shiva, the destroyer, is historically
the god most worshipped in the country. He may be worshipped as the holy ascetic, depicted with his consort Parvati and holding a trident and a small drum or more often in the form of the linga, an elongated stone representing his generative powers. The most important linga is situating in the holy shrine of Pashupatinath to west of Kathmandu. In front of Shiva temples one usually sees a statue of Nandi, the divine bull that serves as Shiva’s vehicle. Another popular form of Shiva in Nepal is the terrifying Bhirav. Different aspects of Bhairav plays major roles in many of the Valley’s festivals.


Swayambhunath There is a variety of Buddhist practices
in Nepal, the Buddhism of the endemic Newar people, perhaps related to the ancient Buddhism that passed out of India one thousand year ago; the Buddhism of the Sherpa, Tamang and Tibetan people and the relatively modern incursion of Theravadin or Southern Buddhism.

The central beliefs and practices date back to the time of its founder, Gautam Buddha who was born in Lumbini in the southern Terai in about 534 B.C. Until the age of 29, the young prince led a sheltered life in the palace of his father, completely unaware of the problems and suffering of the world outside his palace wall. One day he convinced his charioteer to take him outside the palace, where he was shocked at the sight of an old man, a sick man, a corpse and an ascetic. For many years, Gautam practiced asceticism without success. One night beneath a pepal tree in the forest of Bodh Gaya he became enlightened. Henceforth known as Lord Buddha, the ‘enlightened one’ he traveled around northern India and southern Nepal preaching the Middle Path to enlightenment. At the age of eighty he passed into the final enlightenment.

Lumbini , the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam.
The Shakya prince and the ultimate Buddha, the Enlightened One, is the pilgrimage destination of the world’s millions of people faithful to all schools of Buddhism. UNESCO lists this nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka’s commemorative pillar as a World Heritage Site.

The main attraction at Lumbini remains the Sacred Garden ,which spread over 8sq km and possessing all the treasures of the historic area. The Mayadevi temple is the main attraction for pilgrims and archaeologists alike. Here we find a bas relief of Mayadevi, Buddha’s mother giving birth to him. Standing west to the Mayadevi shrine is the oldest monument of Nepal, the Ashoka Pillar. Emperor Ashoka erected the pillar in 249BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the sacred site. To the south of the pillar, we find the sacred pond, Puskarni, where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to lord Buddha.

There are other places of interest too nearby. It is accessible by air from Kathmandu to Bhairawa. From Kathmandu it takes about eight hours by bus or car.

Muktinath It is believed that all miseries / sorrows are relieved once you visit this temple (Mukti=Nirvana, Nath=God). The famous temple of Lord Muktinath lies in the district of Mustang and is situated about 18km northeast of Jomsom at an altitude of about 3,749m. The main shrine is a pagoda shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Set into the wall around it is 108 waterspouts from which pour holy water. The temple is situated on a high mountain range and is visited during fair weather. There are two ways to get to Muktinath from Kathmandu. Either take a direct flight from Kathmandu via Pokhara to jomsom and hike for a 7-8 hours via Kagbeni or to trek all the way from Pokhara which takes 7-8 days. It is believed that one should visit this temple after competing pilgrimages of four Dhams in India. This temple held sacred by Hindus as well as Buddhists. The Jwala Mai temple nearby contains a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural gas underground. Jomsom is a major center in the Annapurna region.

Gosainkunda One of the most famous pilgrimage destinations of Nepal is Gosainkunda lake which is situated at an altitude of about 4,36m. The best approach to Gosainkunda is through Dhunche, 132km to the northeast of Kathmandu. Dhunche is linked with Kathmandu by a motorable road. Surrounded by high mountains on the north and the south, the lake is grand and picturesque. There are other nice nine famous Lakes such as Saraswati, Bhairav, Sourya, Ganesh Kunda etc.



Devghat Devghat is a popular pilgrimage spot situated at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Trisuli rivers. It lies just north of the Chitwan National Park. During the Magay Sakranti festival in January, Hindu devotees gather here to take holy dips in the river. There are a number of scared and history sites around Devghat which provide interesting side trips: the Triveni temple and Balmiki ashram where the great sage Balmiki had his retreat, the Someswar Kalika temple and fort, Pandavanag where the protagonists of the Mahabharat once lived and the Kabilaspur fort built by the old kings of Palpa.

Manakamana This temple place at an altitude of
3900 ft.
offer very good views of the Ganesh, Manaslu and Annapurna group. The surrounding village though is a mixture of 20th century Nepali bar rock and 2nd World War aftermath. Every day hundreds make the journey to worship at Manakamana's Bhagwati Mandir. For Nag Panchami, in late July or early August, celebrants construct an entire shrine out of flowers and foliage. Visiting Manakamana is a very Nepali thing to do, and even if you don't sacrifice a goat you'll feel like you've received an initiation into the society.

Major Activities which can be done in Nepal

Mountain Climbing

The 800 km stretch of the Nepal Himalayan is the greatest in the world with eight peaks that rise above 8,000m including the highest in the world, Mt. Everest. Ever since the country opened its peaks to climbers in 1994, the Nepal Himalayan has become a great theatre of mountaineering activity and the drama of success and failure have provided impetus to thousands of men and women to meet the ultimate challenge. The Nepal Himalayan has been an attraction to many people, be they saints, philosophers, researchers or adventures.

Trekking The best way to experience Nepal’s unbeatable combination of natural beauty and culture riches is to walk through them. One can walk along the beaten trails o

r virgin tracks. Either way you are in for an experience for a lifetime. Along with forests of rhododendron, isolated hamlets, and small mountain villages, birds, animals, temple, mo

nasteries and breathtaking landscapes, you will also encounter friendly people of different cultures offering a fascinating glimpse of traditional rural life.

Bird Watching Nepal is a paradise for bird lovers with over 646 species (almost 8% of the world total) of birds, and among them almost 500 hundred species are found in Kathmandu Valley alone. The most popular bird watching spots in Kathmandu are Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Bagmati river, Taudaha and so on. Get your binoculars and look forward to a rewarding experience.

Mountain Flight Only awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains on earth. Mountain flights offer the closest possible aerial views of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga and the Tibetan Plateau. Mountain flights appeal to all category of travelers and have become a popular tourist attraction of Nepal. For those who are restricted by time or other considerations from going for a trek, these flights offer a panoramic view of the Himalayan in just one hour.

Rock Climbing For all those cliffhangers out there, Kathmandu offers a roster of stone walls that make for an experience of a lifetime. Now of late, Rock climbing has become a popular sport in Kathmandu, which offers some really terrific places for rock climbing. Nagarjun, Balaju, Shivapuri and Budhanil Kantha are some of the places where you can try this sport.

Rafting/Kayaking/Canyoning

Rafting is one of the best ways to explore the typical cross section of natural as well as ethno-cultural heritage of the country. There are numerous rivers in Nepal which offer excellent rafting or canoeing experience. You can glide on calm jade waters with munificent scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids, in the care of expert river-men employed by government authorized agencies. One can opt for day of river running or more. So far, the government has opened sections of 10 rivers for commercial rafting. The Trisuli river ( Grade 3+) is one of the most popular of Nepal’s raftable rivers. The Kali Gandaki (5-5+) winds through remote canyons and deep gorges for five days of intense rapids. The Bhote Koshi (4-5) is 26km of continuous white water and the raging Marshyanghi is four days of uninterrupted white water. The Karnali river (4-5) provides some of the most challenging rapids in the world. The Sun Koshi (4-5), 27km, requiring 8-10 days to complete, is a big and challenging river. Adventurers are provided with world-class services by rafting agents. Agencies here provide life jackets, camping and the standard rafting paraphernalia needed by world-class rafting. An extremely popular sport in Europe, cannoning is now available in Nepal. Cannoning gives you the freedom to explore some of the most ruggedly beautiful, yet forbidden places in the world.

Hot Air Ballooning Hot air ballooning is very popular with tourists for it affords the most spectacular bird’s-eye view of the Kathmandu valley and the Himalayan ranges towering in the background. On a clear day it’s a superb way to view the Himalayan (from over 6000m up), and the view of the valley is equally breathtaking.

Bungy Jumping The ultimate thrill of a bungy jump can now be experienced in Nepal at one of the best sites that this sport can boast of anywhere in the world. Nepal’s first bungy jumping site is situated 160m. Over the Bhote Koshi river, inviting you to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush in the surroundings of this amazing place. The jump, at 160m., is staffed and operated by some of the most experienced jumpmasters in the business.

Paragliding Paragliding in Nepal can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure seeking. A trip will take you over some of the best scenery on earth, as you share airspace with Himalayan griffins vultures, eagles, kites and float over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungle, with a fantastic view of the majestic Himalayas.

Ultralight Aircraft Ultralight aircraft take off from Pokhara and offer spectacular views of the lakes, mountains and villages. This is an ideal way to see life from a new perspective. The choice of Pokhara Valley for ultra-light aircraft is appropriate chiefly because of the proximity of the mountains, and the scenic lakes. For those who wished they could fly birds when growing up, this flight is a must. It might be lonely at the top, but this flight is a must. It might be lonely at the top, but the spectacular view from up high certainly makes it all worth it. Flights are from the Pokhara airport beginning September through June. The flights take place from sunrise to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to sunset every day during these months.

Mountain Biking The best way to explore the Kathmandu Valley is on a mountain bike. Nepal’s diverse terrain is a mountain biker’s dream adventure comes true. Mountain biking offers an environmentally sound way of exploring this magnificent country, its landscape and living heritage. There are plenty of dirty roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker’s wildest fantasy. Mountain biking is specially recommended if you wish to explore urban centers of Nepal such as Pokhara and Kathmandu as well as the countryside. Adventurous souls may plan extended trips to such exotic locals as Namche Bazaar, and western Nepal. You could even do the entire length of Nepal across the plains. Mountain bikes are available for rent by the day or longer in many of the bicycle rental outlets in Nepal and around the city.

Jungle Safari National Parks located specially in the Terai region in Nepal attract visitors from all over the world. A visit to these parks involves game- stalking by a variety of means-foot, dugout canoe, jeep, and elephant back. One is bound to sight a one – horned rhino or two at every elephant safari. Besides the rhinos, wild boars, samburs, spotted deer, sloth bear, four-horned antelope are also usually seen. A Royal Bengal tiger may surprise you by his majestic appearance.

Tourism in Nepal

Nepal is well known for country of the Mt. Everest, the highest peak in the world and a famous destination for all type of Tourism. The world heritage Lumbini (birth place of Buddha) is also located in Nepal. Natural scenic landscape and biodiversity, high Himalayas, incomparable cultural heritage and other numerous peculiarities have made Nepal a well-known destination in the world tourism map . These qualities made Nepal a unique place giving high potentialities for the growth of tourism industry. The new government policies have shown greater concerns about the real value of tourism and its role to contribute in economic growth and overall tourism development in the country. Furthermore, tourism industry is considered as a major element for poverty alleviation and social equity.

International Tourist Arrivals(source: Economic Survey, 2009)

While analyzing the number of tourists visiting Nepal, their growth trend and length of stay, the number of tourists had increased by 37.2 percent to 526,705 during the calendar year 2007. The number of tourists in the calendar year 2008 totaled 500,277 with a decline of 5 percent. In 2006, the average length of tourist stay was 11.96 days, while this has come down to 11.78 days in the calendar year 2008. The number of tourists had increased by 37.2 percent to 526,705 during the calendar year 2007. The number of tourists in the calendar year 2008 totaled 500,277 with a decline of 5 percent. In 2006, the average length of tourist stay was 11.96 days, while this has come down to 11.78 days in the calendar year 2008.Of the total tourists’ arrival during the calendar year 2008, 27.5 percent were from Western Europe, 7.6 percent from North America, 3.2 percent from Australia and Pacific Region, 2.6 percent from Eastern Europe, 1.5 percent from Central and South America, 0.3 percent from Africa and 1.4 percent from other countries. Though shares of tourists arriving from North America, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and Pacific have declined in comparison to the figure during the same period in the preceding year, the tourist arrivals from Africa and other countries have increased.

Nepal

Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest mountain Of the world Mount Everest. Nepal is The Country Where The Gautam Buddha Who is Known as Light Of Asia was Born.The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000 ft (6,096 m) .
Hinduism is practised by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation of the World. Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of the Buddha. About half of the population live below the international poverty line of US$1.25 a day.
Geography
Nepal is commonly divided into three areas: the Mountain, Hill, Himalayan region and Terai Regions. These ecological belts run east-west and are vertically intersected by Nepal's major, north to south flowing river systems.

Republic
The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) won the largest number of seats in the Constituent Assembly election held on April 10, 2008, and formed a coalition government which included most of the parties in the CA.
The newly elected Assembly met in Kathmandu on May 28, 2008, and, after a polling of 564 constituent Assembly members, 560 voted to form a new government,with the monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party, which had four members in the assembly, registering a dissent note. At that point, it was declared that Nepal had become a secular and inclusive democratic republic, with the government announcing a three-day public holiday from May 28 to 30. The King was thereafter given 15 days to vacate the Narayanhiti Royal Palace, to re-open it as a public museum.
In May 2009, the Maoist-led government was toppled and another coalition government with all major political parties barring the Maoists was formed. Madhav Kumar Nepal of the Communist Party of Nepal was made the Prime Minister of the coalition government.

Environment
The dramatic differences in elevation found in Nepal result in a variety of biomes, from tropical savannas along the Indian border, to subtropical broadleaf and coniferous forests in the Hill Region, to temperate broadleaf and coniferous forests on the slopes of the Himalaya, to montane grasslands and shrublands and rock and ice at the highest elevations.
At the lowest elevations we find the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion. These form a mosaic with the Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests, which occur from 500 to 1,000 metres (1,600 to 3,300 ft) and include the Inner Terai Valleys. Himalayan subtropical pine forests occur between 1,000 and 2,000 metres (3,300 and 6,600 ft).
Above these elevations, the bio-geography of Nepal is generally divided from east to west by the Gandaki River. Ecoregions to the east tend to receive more precipitation and to be more species-rich.
From 1,500 to 3,000 metres , we find temperate broadleaf forests: the eastern and western Himalayan broadleaf forests. From 3,000 to 4,000 metres (9,800 to 13,000 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. To 5,500 metres (18,000 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows.
History
The first civilizations in Nepal, which flourished around the 6th century B.C. , were confined to the fertile Kathmandu Valley . It was in the region that Siddhartha Gautama was born 563 B.C. Gautama achieved enlightenment as Buddha and spawned Buddhism.
Nepali rulers' early patronage of Buddhism largely gave way to Hinduism, reflecting the increased influence of India, around the 12th century. Though the successive dynasties of the Gopalas, the Kiratis, and the Licchavis expanded their rule.
The kingdom of Nepal was unified in 1768 by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who had fled India following the Moghul conquests of the subcontinent. Under Shah and his successors, Nepal's borders expanded as far west as Kashmir and as far east as Sikkim (now part of India). A commercial treaty was signed with Britain in 1792 and again in 1816 after more than a year of hostilities with the British East India Company.
The Independence of Nepal and the First Free Election
In 1923, Britain recognized the absolute independence of Nepal. Between 1846 and 1951, the country was ruled by the Rana family, which always held the office of prime minister. In 1951, however, the king took over all power and proclaimed a constitutional monarchy.
In 1990, a pro-democracy movement forced King Birendra to lift the ban on political parties. The first free election in three decades provided a victory for the liberal Nepali Congress Party in 1991, although the Communists made a strong showing. A small but growing Maoist guerrilla movement, seeking to overthrow the constitutional monarchy and install a Communist government.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest metropolitan city of Nepal. The city is the urban core of the Kathmandu Valley in the Himalayas, which also contains two sister cities namely Patan or Lalitpur, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) to its southeast (an ancient city of fine arts and crafts) and Bhaktapur, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) to its east (city of devotees).

The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped valley in central Nepal surrounded by four major mountains, namely: Shivapuri, Phulchowki, Nagarjun and Chandragiri. It is inhabited by 671,846 (2001) people. The Kathmandu valley with its three districts including Kathmandu District accounts for a population density of only 97 per km² whereas Kathmandu metropolitan city has a density of 13,225 per km². It is by far the largest urban agglomerate in Nepal, accounting for 20% of the urban population in an area of 5,067 hectares (12,520 acres) (50.67 square kilometres (19.56 sq mi)).

Kathmandu is not only the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal but also the headquarters of the Central Region (Madhyamanchal) among the five development regions constituted by the 14 administrative zones of Nepal located at the central part of the country. The Central region has three zones namely, Bagmati, Narayani and Janakpur. Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati Zone.

Kathmandu, as the gateway to Nepal Tourism, is the nerve centre of the country’s economy. With the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal, Kathmandu's economy is tourism centric accounting for 3.8% of the GDP in 1995-96.

The city’s rich history is nearly 2000 years old, as inferred from an inscription in the valley. Its religious affiliations are dominantly Hindu followed by Buddhism. People of other religious beliefs also live in Kathmandu giving it a cosmopolitan culture. Nepali is the common language of the city, though many speak the Nepal Bhasa Newari as it is the center of the Newar (meaning: citizens of Nepal) people and culture. English is understood by all of the educated population of the city. The literacy rate is 98% in the city.