Nepal, officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is located mainly in the Himalayas but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
WHY VISIT NEPAL?
Nepal is a beautiful country and one that’s just so incredible. Nepal is one of those countries that really is awe-inspiring and totally diverse.
I promise you, any trip you take will be filled with the most incredible (and friendly people), yummy food and some of the best places to visit in Nepal. It’s a diverse country that you’ll love.
WHERE TO GO IN NEPAL ?
1.) Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the slightly dusty but never boring capital and usually the first stop to find some of the best places to visit in Nepal.
One of the best things about Kathmandu has to be the eclectic mix of temples, historic sites, shrines, restaurants and bustling streets.
Once you’re in the city, make sure to head over to
1) Pashupatinath Temple.
2) The UNESCO site of Boudhanath Stupa.
3) The (monkey temple of) Swayambhunath .
4) The Kopan Monastery.
2.) Pokhara
The beautiful city of Pokhara is on the shores of Lake Phewa and is best known for its unparalleled views of the snow-capped Annapurna Himalayan range , which is more impressive than anything that can be shown in a picture. Pokhara truly is one of the best places to visit in Nepal.
Besides Pokhara being an amazing place to explore, it often acts as the gateway to the Himalayas. With green forests, underground caves, beautiful waterfalls, the Valley of Orchids, and the Massif Glaciers.
3.) Lumbini
Whether you’re a believer or not, Lumbini will wow you with its beauty and tranquillity . Visit the
1)Maya Devi Temple
2) The Lumbini Monastic Site
3) The Royal Thai Monastery
4) The World Peace Pagoda
4.) Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur was one of the three “Royal Cities” of Nepal from way back in the day. Although it suffered significant damages during the earthquake of 2015, it still remains one of the best places to visit in Nepal .
Spend some time at the 1)Durbar Square where you can see the Royal Palace and a couple of temples. Visit the Nyatapola temple, the Dattatreya temple, Taleju temple, and Bhairavnath temple.
Bhaktapur is also known for its puppets, handicrafts, and lovely pottery which you will find in the market.
5.) Patan
Patan, which is also known as Lalitpur which literally translates to “Beautiful City” is a unique city full of exquisite architecture, wooden carvings, and religious art that easily makes it one of the best places to visit in Nepal.
Don’t forget to check out
1) The Golden Temple
2)The Patan Durbar Square
3)The Krishna Mandir
4)The Khumbeshwar Temple
5)The Patan Museum.
6.) Bandipur
Bandipur is most well known for the Siddha Gufa (Caves) and for its Newari culture. With charming row houses, old temples and monuments, the hilltop town of Bandipur will make you feel like you have travelled back in time.
7.) Panauti
Panauti is only about 30-40 miles away from the bustling heart of Kathmandu, but it feels like a million miles away! Considered to be one of the oldest towns in Nepal, Panauti is one heck of a spot to visit and possibly one of the best places to visit in Nepal.
Make sure to visit some of the ancient temples like; The Kali Temple and the Doleshwor Mahadeva Temple. Make sure to spend some time to wander the old streets and visit the historic markets that line them. It’s a lovely spot for an afternoon visit.
8.) Tansen
Nestled deep within the hills of western Nepal, Tansen is pretty far by road from Kathmandu but a great little place to stop on your journey around the western fringes of Nepal.
Make sure to visit the; Tansen Durbar, Muldhoka, The yummy Nanglo Bakery and the Ranaujeshwori Temple.
WHEN TO VISIT NEPAL ?
As the monsoon dissipates in September, Nepal welcomes beautiful clear skies, fresh air and incredible views. October and November are two of the best months to visit . The verdant landscapes following the rains are ideal for photographers.
HOW TO VISIT NEPAL FROM INDIA ?
When an Indian citizen whats to travel out of the country , generally a passport and a visa is needed but that's not the case if you want to travel to Nepal from India. Indo-Nepal border is an open border and one can visit Nepal whenever he wants , just carry proper id proofs along with you .
Almost 70% of tourist places in Nepal is in the eastern side of the country centered about Kathmandu.so when visiting Nepal from India , you can cross the border from Nautanwa which is near Gorakhpur , Uttarpradesh .
Off all the borders why i suggest this one is that if you go from this route then you can cover all the major places mentioned in the list above easily and then can actually go to Sikkim which is indeed a very beautiful place .
You can follow this schedule plan ( if you want to) after entering the border -
First destination after crossing the border will be LUMBINI , then you can head to TANSEN .
Then next stop would be POKHARA and then go to KATHMANDU via BANDIPUR.
Then visit PANAUTI via PATAN and BHAKTARPUR from KATHMANDU .
From PANAUTI you can either take a U turn and can return back from the same border via CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK or you can get lost in the Himalayas and can go for a trek . Or if you decide to do something extraordinary , then you can visit DARJEELING from PANAUTI via DAHARN and ILAM.