Places to visit in nepal

Nepal tourism is highly popular as it has the highest mountain peak of the world, the Mount Everest. Tourism in Nepal is filled with activities like trekking, hiking, mountaineering, jungle safari, rafting, tours and so on. It is truly a traveler paradise as adventure tourism is something which can be enjoyed to a great extent in Nepal. Nepal tourism consists of many wonderful places to visit and the country is loaded with spectacular views of various landscapes. The birth place of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha, Lumbini falls to the south of Nepal and is one of the highlights of tourism in Nepal. Tourism industry is the largest service industry and source of foreign exchange and revenue; it is the main source of economic sustenance after agriculture in Nepal.
Tourism in Nepal has been seeing increase in the number of visitors each year which only reflects the growth of this industry in Nepal. There are famous pilgrimage destinations like; Pashupatinath, Muktinath, Swargadwari temple, Gosainkunda Lake, Halesi, Khaptad, Gadimai, Kankalini, Pathibhara, Budhasubba, Bishnupaduka, Dantakali, Baraha Kshetra, temples at Devghat, Manakamana temple which is in the Gorkha district and more in Nepal. There is no dearth of activities that one could undertake in their trip to Nepal. The popular tourist destinations in Nepal are, the capital of this place Kathmandu, The Kathmandu valley, Chitwan, Jankapur, Pokhara, Bhaktapur, Patan, Palpa, Ilam Nagarkot, Annapurna region, Everest region, Langtang region and many more places.

Popular tourism types in Nepal are business, adventure, cultural, sustainable / Eco-tourism, pilgrimage, educational, sports, rural, medical, backpacker, Geo tourism etc. Tourism in Nepal is also boosted with the adventure activities like; ice-climbing, trekking, hiking, rock climbing, paragliding, jeep flyer, bungee jumping, jungle safari, mountain biking, white water rafting and more. For those who love adventure travel, Nepal offers endless options along with the beautiful views of the landscapes. Other popular tourist activities which are part of tourism in Nepal are city tours, cultural tours, bird watching, boating and so on. A tourist not only gets to enjoy the trip with majestic views of the various peaks but also gets an opportunity to understand the culture, hospitality of Nepali people and village life of this country. Some popular travel trips to Nepal are listed here that provide a taste of real Nepal tourism.

History and Heritage Sights

Nepalese architectural heritage is represented in the unique design of built structures like the pagoda and Shikhara-style temples, shrines, monasteries, palaces, individual homes, stupas or Chaityas (Buddhist hemispherical structures that do not contain the mortal remains of Buddhas or other holy persons), Sattals (wayside rest house), Patis (public rest house), Pauvas (one or two-storey public rest house), Dhunge Dharas or stone waterspouts, Dabalis or open platforms, Ghats or river banks, ponds, pillar statues, minarets or towers, forts and so on.

UNESCO has included seven monument sites of the Kathmandu Valley in the World Cultural Heritage list. Of the seven sites, three are centred around the ancient medieval palaces of the valley, namely the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar (palace) in Kathmandu, Patan Durbar in Patan (Lalitpur) and Bhaktapur Durbar in Bhaktapur. These palace complexes were the residences of the Malla kings. The other world heritage sites are the Swayambhu Maha Chaitya, Boudhanath Stupa, the temple complex of Lord Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and the Changu Narayan Temple in Bhaktapur.

Museum and Galleries

Nepal's museums are of great historical value as they showcase artifacts covering many centuries and various dynasties that ruled the country. Kathmandu Valley houses a number of museums and art galleries displaying art work of the past and present. The museums have rich collections of archaeological, historical and artistic importance.Some are: The National Museum at Chhauni, Museums at Kathmandu Durbar Square, Museum of Natural History at Swayambhu, National Library at Puchowk, Kaiser Library at Thamel, National Birendra Art Gallery at Naxal, Asa Archives at Tangal, National Art Gallery at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, National Woodworking Museum at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bronze and Brass Museum at Bhaktapur, Nepal National Ehnographic Museum at Bhrikuti Mandap.

Some of the important museums and galleries are elaborated.

Holy and Pilgrimage Sites

Nepal has several ancient pilgrimage sites. Each temple is attached to a legend or belief that glorifies the miraculous powers of its deity. Kathmandu has also been described variously as "Land of Gods" and as "land of the largest congregations of magnificent historical monuments and shrines ever built". Kathmandu Valley is home to the famous Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhu Stupa and several other famous temples. Hundreds of famous temples are located in and around the Kathmandu Valley. Pashupatinath, Swoyambhunath, and Boudhanath are the sites that are also listed in the UNESCO Heritage Sites. Pashupatinath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is the holiest Hindu destination in Nepal.Swoyambhunath is believed to have been established more than 2,500 years ago.

Hill Stations

Nepal is basically known for its altitudinal variations, ranging between 100 m above the sea level to pinnacle of the Earth, the Mt. Everest. This fact describes Nepal as the mountainous country encompassing many sky-penetrating mountains with lush green meadows, serene hills and deepest gorge. Notable among hill stations nearby in Kathmandu and nearby include: Nagarkot, Dhulikhel,Kakani amongst others.

Nagarkot, located 32 kilometers east of Kathmandu, is one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur district and is renowned for its spectacular sunrise view of the Himalaya when the weather is clear. Nagarkot has become famous as one of the best spots to view Mount Everest as well as other snow-topped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. Dhulikhel is a scenic and ancient town situated 30 kilometers east of Kathmandu on the Arniko Rajmarg (Kathmandu Kodari Highway). From here one has a panoramic view of the Himalayan range.

Parks and Garden
 

There are several parks and gardens in Kathmandu where you can sit, relax and enjoy.