Travelling to Nepal is mostly associated with trekking to Everest base camp or around Annapurna. So people tend to think that it is does not make sense to go to Nepal, if you do not have 20+ days to spend in the mountains or you just do not like trekking. But Nepal has much more to offer besides this and is one of the most pleasant and interesting countries of the region to travel.
1. Durbar Squares (in Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur). Don't be surprised that they carry the same name – a Durbar Square is a generic name for an area outside a royal palace. These three cities were the centers on small kingdoms before the unification of Nepal. All three squares are Unesco Heritage Sites, with numerous temples, stupas and mausoleums. National Museum at Kathmandu Durbar Square demonstrates masterpiece wooden carvings, and the museum in Patan tries to explain the system of Hindu deities.
2. Photography. Kathmandu valley is a photographer's paradise. Terracotta-color walls, countless temples, statues and stupas, people in colorful dresses – you just need to keep your eyes open and your camera ready.
3. Hospitality. Nepalese people are kind and warm-hearted, they genuinely take care of a traveler instead of trying to rip him off like in nearby India. Most of them speak decent English, so the communication is normally smooth. Warning – you still need to bargain almost everywhere to get a reasonable price.
4. Mountain flight. You have a chance to see Everest without spending weeks and weeks on the trek. Small planes leave Kathmandu each morning and make a round trip to Himalayas for a breathtaking view of mountains over the clouds. They even let each passenger enter the pilot's cockpit to take the best pictures. In the end of the flight you get a glass of champagne and a mountain flight diploma.
5. Momos. Kathmandu offers restaurants with cuisine from all over the world – from Chinese to Italian, from Japanese to Israeli. But if you want to try local food, don't miss momos – chicken or vegetable dumplings with dipping sauce. I also tasted dessert momos with apples and cinnamon.
6. Singing bowls. They are mainly used for meditation, but also for healing practices. Learn how to extract a sound from them – it is not that easy as it seems.
8. Wildlife. The central part of Nepal is covered with jungles, where you can spot tigers, rhinos, gharials, bears, deers and hundreds types of birds. You may also visit the elephant breeding center and even bath in the river on the back of an elephant. Chitwan National Park is 1 hour flight plus 30 minutes drive from Kathmandu. The bus is cheaper, but it takes 7-8 hours due to bad condition of the roads and traffic jams.
9. SPA salons. After a long days of walking I really appreciated Thai massage. You may also opt for Ayurveda procedures, oil massage or even sauna.
10. Helping after the earthquake. Nepal was badly hit by 2015 earthquake. Many temples and private houses in Kathmandu valley were destroyed. The local people are working hard to restore the buildings, but you may still see the consequences of the disaster. Do not let this stop you from going to Nepal. On the contrary – the money you spend now in Nepal would help to rebuild this beautiful country.
Momos sound like heaven! I am a dumpling fiend so always excited to discover new varieties! I had no idea about the flights, i'm not a hiker so this definately appeals to me.
Have you been to Poland? If you are a fan of dumplings, this would be your paradise, they have 30+ types in some restaurants! (called “pierogi”)
Great to read this as trekking is often all you hear about Nepal. So many other things to do and relaxation and retreat seems to be at the heart of much of it. I would definitely want to try the momos.
It is such a pleasant place, indeed. A part of my heart stayed there.
We are planning on a trip to Nepal towards the end of the year, and trekking would be a large part of our trip. But it's great to know that Nepal isn't just all about the mountains, and that there is plenty of other things to keep you entertained! Thanks for sharing
Good luck with your trip. I think you will enjoy food, shopping and spa even more after you come back from the trek.
I totally agree with all of these! Nepal is an incredible place. Their hospitality really is generous, and yes. The Momos. I would return to Nepal just for those!
So cool! I really want to check out Nepal, and you've given me 10 more reasons why! I'm not super into trekking (I love a good hike, but snow camping? Nahhh), but those mountains give me serious heart eyes. Definitely would love to learn how to make momos, too! Thanks for sharing!
When I realized that trekking in Nepal means at least 3 weeks(!) in the mountains, with a backpack and walking 5-6 hours a day, I realized that this is not for me… yet 🙂 Still, it was a great trip.
Nepal has been on my list for awhile, but not for trekking, so I appreciate a travel post like this. Those momos look really good, and the apple cinnamon sounds even better. Saving!
Thanks! Hope you will enjoy Nepal as much as I did!
Nepal and Tibet are two of the places on Earth that fascinate me the most. I love all the photographies you added here, they make me want to pack and fly there!
Also, as someone else mentioned, Polish pierogi are just about delicious, we sampled a lot of variations when we were there last month!
Thanks for your kind words! It is a fascinating part of the world, definitely worth visiting.
Nepal looks like a really nice place! I would really love visit Nepal because I have heard so much about it. I really love those singing bowls and I would love to experience the culture there since my fellow travelers told me a lot about the meditation there as well.
So glad you showed more of Nepal as a destination, other than just trekking. I would love to trek one day, but this really gives a better feel for other things to see in the beautiful country when we finally get there!
Nepal is my dream destination! How long were you guys there for? The photos are so beautiful!
Thanks! We were there for a week and a half, and this was tight…
I'm sure it's hard to take a bad photo in Nepal! All great reasons… I'm convinced. Thanks for sharing and happy travels 🙂
Thanks! Yes, it is a photographer paradise 🙂
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Thank you!
I am convinced 🙂
I believe that you had great time in Nepal. After reading your review I am convinced to put it on my bucket list as well.
Thanks! It totally worth it!
These dumplings look to die for! Give me some good veggie dumplings and I can go wherever! nepal sure does sound like an amazing place and I wouldn't mind comming one day! Especially with those nepalese curries!
Nepal (and overall South-Eastern Asia) is a paradise for veggies!
Nepal is so beautiful! It's good to know that there's so much more to Nepal than hiking, especially if it's not your thing.
We are definitely not hikers, and we enjoyed the country so much, so I wanted to share.
Nepal is such an interesting country and, with this list, I am more intrigued. It's nice that it's not too touristy, which makes it even more perfect for adventures.
It is touristy, but they have all infrastructure for handling tourists, so it’s not bothering.
How I wish I could travel! We live in the US so we don't travel overseas ever. I love the photography and hospitality reasons to travel to Nepal. I love taking pictures so a new scenery would be great. I love meeting people and especially those that would welcome me. Beautiful photos that you have included! We helped with donations after the earthquake. I love helping so that would also be another reason I would want to go.
This is so kind of you to give donations, they really needed it, the country was badly hit. Hope you’ll be traveling the world sometimes in future!
I've never been to Nepal and it seems like such a wonderful place. I'd so love to take a mountain flight to see Mt Everest. It's beauty is truly stunning!
Schedule
And you don’t need to hike for 20 days just to see the mountain – very efficient :)))))
OMGGGG! Momos are THE BEST! I think that's probably my top reason to visit!
I ate them every day!!!
I have always thought of Nepal as a fascinating and mysterious place. Its colour and vibrancy hold a great appeal for me. The earth quake there in 2015 had a terrible effect on the people. Great photographs you really captured the essence of the place
Thanks a lot! The Nepalese are doing a great job rebuilding the country after the earthquake, I really admire these people!