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  • Nepal
    Overview
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  • Things not to miss
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The ultimate thing not to miss in Nepal: an unequalled scenic and cultural experience. The exquisitely preserved Kathmandu Valley town of Bhaktapur is built in dark carved wood and glowing pink brick, and adorned with fine stone sculptures. Clustered round the great white stupa, with its all-knowing Buddha eyes, is a thriving Tibetan Buddhist community and pilgrimage centre. Help wash down an elephant in the shallows of the great Rapti River. These steamed meat or vegetable dumplings, resembling plump ravioli, are an addictive snack. They’re served with a chilli sauce, and you can find them everywhere from street stalls to fancy restaurants. Dasain is the high point of the busy Nepali festival calendar. Masked dancers perform elaborate rituals in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, people travel for days to be at home with their families, and children celebrate by playing on bamboo swings. Even if you don’t trek, you cannot miss a hilltop view of the world’s greatest and most inspiring mountain range. Nagarkot is the classic viewpoint outside Kathmandu; Sarangkot outside Pokhara. This winter festival brings tens of thousands of Shiva devotees to Pashupatinath, the holiest of river gorges. Worshippers flock to Janakpur’s Mughal-style Janaki Mandir to pay homage to legendary lovers Ram and Sita. You’ll get closer to a wild rhino than might seem advisable at Chitwan and Bardia national parks. An intensely urban quarter of narrow alleys, noisy markets, fabulously carved temples and rowdy political rallies. Chickens under the seats, sunbathers on the roof and spectacular hairpin bends: rides on a public bus may be uncomfortable, but they get you close to everyday life. Leaving aside homebrew beer and raksi firewater, hot, sweet, milky, spicy chiya is Nepal’s national drink. Not just for adrenaline junkies, but a wonderful way to experience rural Nepal. The ancestral home of Nepal’s royal family is a quintessential hill town, albeit one with a fine ridge-top temple and palace compound. Relax in a boat on Pokhara’s placid lake, soak up stunning views of the Annapurna range and perhaps have a swim. Kathmandu and Pokhara are spilling over with yoga classes, meditation sessions and retreats, inspired by both the Hindu and Buddhist traditions.