In April 2015, Nepal Dropdown content hit global headlines when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated the country, killing almost 9000 people. Two years on, Nepal continues to recover, but it remains as fantastic a destination as ever.
As the gateway to the Himalayas, it’s home to eight of the world’s ten tallest peaks and arguably the finest mountain trekking in the world - and visiting is one of the best things you can do to help the country get back on its feet. Here's everything you need to know to plan your trip.
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© l0ngtime/Shutterstock
Severe damage was sustained throughout central Nepal, with entire villages flattened. From the point of view of foreign tourists, though, the most visible damage occurred in the capital, Kathmandu.
In the city’s UNESCO-listed
But Kathmandu remains a deeply evocative city, and the area is home to some of the foremost religious sites in Nepal. Boudha is the site of a bustling Tibetan Buddhist community and one of the world’s largest stupas; the unblinking eyes of the Buddha gaze over the Kathmandu Valley from its golden spire.
For Hindus, cremation on the riverbank ghats at Pashupatinath marks the most auspicious passage into the next life; it’s a beautiful, unsettling place.
View of Swayambhunath Kathmandu, Nepal © Bon Appetit/Shutterstock
Just north of Durbar Square, the gleaming, twelfth-century Golden Temple is a must-see. Patan lost a couple of temples to the earthquake, but restoration work is going well.
The tourist area of
Patan © Hakat/Shutterstock
On Mount Everest, the earthquake triggered an avalanche which killed at least 20 people, marking the deadliest day in the mountain’s history. Many traditional lodges in the area were also damaged. But the route’s popularity with tourists meant that repairs got underway quickly, and the trek is as accessible – and spectacular – as ever.
The beautiful lakeside town of
Paragliding from nearby
, with the mountains in the background and huge Himalayan vultures soaring around you, is an unforgettable experience.
Paragliding near Machhapuchhre mount in Pokhara © Pikoso.kz/Shutterstock
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While the Himalayas form an impenetrable northern border with
In particular, tourists make the half-day bus trip from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park for jungle safaris and the chance to catch a glimpse of a Bengal tiger in the wild – you need to be lucky, but it’s an experience you’ll never forget. Even if the big cats are a no-show, you’re likely to spot the (even more endangered) Indian rhinoceros, sloth bears and macaques among numerous other critters.
Chitwan’s popularity used to push intrepid travellers to the quieter Bardia National Park, which is far out of the way in western Nepal. Since the earthquake, though, plummeting tourist numbers mean the crowds are less of an issue – although you are more likely to spot tigers at Bardia. Go now and see for yourself.
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