Saroj Lamichhane
Production Editor
All semesters end with a break for students. Getting out of their comfort zone during these seasons will teach students to understand a different world.
Making holidays productive is an attribute of a good student. Travel allows you to understand how people live and interact in a different world.
In fact, we all live and interconnect in a small village of the planet. This is my understanding of travel after going back to Nepal in December.
Nepal is a beautiful landlocked country in Southern Asia. It is surrounded by India and China.
It consists 90 snow-capped mountains above 22,966 ft. The highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest, 29, 029 ft. also lies in Nepal.
Traveling to Nepal will let you experience three distinct geographical regions with a dissimilar climatic condition: Himalayan to the north, Hilly to the center, and the Terai to the South, also popular as a jungle region. Experiencing freezing 32 degrees in Idaho and taking a sunbath in Kathmandu the next day will exhilarate anyone like me.
One of the coolest things to observe in Nepal is the mountains. I live in Nuwakot, a hilly region of Nepal, which is 22.6 miles from the capital Kathmandu.
Throughout the journey to my house from Kathmandu, I get to see the passing of green mountains all the time. The geography gives you an opportunity to observe the panoramic view of the Himalayas.
The cost of lodging and food in Nepal is cheaper in prices and quality in services.
Restaurants offer special Thakali Thali for 350 rupees, about $3, for lunch or dinner. Popular Nepalese dumplings called Momo—with varieties like steamed or fried, vegetarian or chicken Momo, chilly or c Momo, Jhol Momo, Paneer Momo and cheese Mom—range from only $1 to $4 in price.
Nepalese chow mein is also popular, like dumplings. It often comes with chicken or vegetables for just $1 to $4.
The cost of lodging ranges from 8,000 rupees to 30,000 rupees (about $70 to $260) for a night in a single or twin room. Lodging deals often come in a package or separately. It varies depending on the season.
As of a 2017 counting by the World Bank, Nepal sustains a population of 29.3 million. It is 11 times smaller than the U.S. population.
Despite the small population ratio, Nepal is culturally diverse with four castes, 36 sub-castes and a variety of religious people.
People don’t want to miss visiting Pashupatinath temple, especially if they are a devotee of Lord Shiva. It is on the banks of the Bagmati river in Kathmandu.
Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as the Monkey Temple among travelers around the world, is a perfect place to observe the panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley. It is a Buddhist scripture that tells the premise of Kathmandu. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha in the western part of Nepal, will also widen your cultural horizons while experiencing Nepal as a traveler.
The next popular tourist destination includes the lakeside city of Pokhara. Sarangkot Paragliding is an adventure task to do in Pokhara. The cost of paragliding ranges 7,000 rupees to 10,000 rupees (about $60 to $90).
In Pokhara, you can observe the mountainous views of the Annapurna Ranges, Mt. Fishtail, Lamjung Ranges, Dhaulagiri and more. The second largest lake of Nepal, Phewa Lake of Pokhara, will give people a chance to sail or hire a boat and visit the island temple in the middle.
People with a passion for adventure will find trekking in Nepal a priority.
The biggest lake in Nepal, Rara Lake, which lies in the far western region of Nepal, is a perfect option to experience a hike with incredible views. Visiting Rara Lake will inform you about the culture of the western, the mid-western and the far western region of Nepal.
In Nepal, you’ll find cheap accommodations, delicious food, fascinating culture and stunning natural views. Consider visiting the mountainous country on your next international trip.
