Taste of Nepal

We leave the US for our flights to Kathmandu, Nepal.

We will fly into Nepal’s capital city Kathmandu. Upon arrival we will be met by the tour representative who will transport us to the hotel. The tour leader will provide an overview of the tour and places we will be seeing.

We will begin the day in one of Kathmandu’s 3 royal cities – Patan City .– In this old Newar city, you will see the historic Durbar Square, the Golden Gate, the sky-piercing temple of Taleju, and the statues of Yogendra Malla, Krishna Mandir, Sati Temple, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, Mahabouddha, and the Golden Temple with views of old carved wooden windows through the streets, curio shops, and Bazaars. Patan Durbar Square is part of the ancient Royal Palace. This Durbar Square is the smallest among the three Durbar Squares, considered the most beautiful. There are many temples around this place, and it is perhaps the most stunning display of Newari architecture to be witnessed in the country. There are three central courtyards or chowks, they are Mul Chowk in the center, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Chowk are in the Square. There is a masterpiece of stone architecture at Sundari Chowk. On the way, you can visit the Golden Temple, the statue of Yogendra Malla, Krishna Mandir, etc.

In the afternoon we will go to  Swoyambhunath & Kathmandu Durbar Square for sightseeing.

Swoyambhunath means ‘Self-Observation.’ It is believed that Swoyambhunath was established more than 2,000 years ago. An inscription dating 460 A.D. states that King Manadeva carried out the construction. Swayambhunath developed into an important Buddhist learning site by the thirteenth Century. It is popularly known as the Monkey Temple amongst tourists. Swayambhunath occupies a central position as it is one of the most sacred monuments amongst Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is in the middle of the old city of Kathmandu in Basantapur. The complex was a residence for Nepal’s family before the construction of the Narayanhiti Palace. The establishment of the Palace dates back to Licchavi times.

There are about fifty temples in the vicinity, including the titular deity temple, Taleju Bhawani. The Durbar is divided into two courtyards: the Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar, and Shiva-Parvati Temple. The inner courtyard consists of the Hanuman Dhoka and the main Palace. It also houses two museums. Important ceremonies, like the coronation of the Nepali monarch, are held in the Kathmandu Durbar Square. Most of the palace premises are open for tourists throughout the week during office hours.

After a very full day of touring, we will be driven back to our hotel.

We will have an early breakfast at our hotel in Kathmandu, then check out and have a 5-6 hour drive to Chitwan. Upon arrival, we’ll check-in at the resort and have free time until lunch at the resort. Then we will visit Royal Chitwan National Park.  This park is a testimony of successful nature conservation in South Asia. This first national park of Nepal was established in 1973 to preserve a unique ecosystem that is invaluable. The national park covers 932 sq. km and is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of Nepal’s southern central part. It is home to more than 43 species of mammals and is especially renowned for protecting the endangered one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, gharial crocodile, and many other common species of wild animals. The wildlife consists of endangered species of gaur, wild elephant, the four-horned antelope, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, striped Hyena, monitor lizard, python, chital, hog deer, barking deer, sloth, palm civet, wild dog, langur, and rhesus monkeys.

In the afternoon we will do the Tharu village tour; this cultural tour lasts for 1.5-2 hours.

In the evening we will have a slide show presentation by one of the resident naturalists, which will feature the Royal Chitwan National Park’s history and facts, as well as topics relating to its wildlife.

We will get a wake-up call followed by tea or coffee and proceed for bird watching. The Royal Chitwan National Park is home to more than 530 species of birds, and the Park Naturalist will help us identify them. Some of the birds’ species are Cormorants, Herons, Cranes, Ducks, Egrets, Storks, Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Swallows, Orioles, Drongos, Babblers, Hawks, Osprey, Falcons, Kestrel, Parakeets, Ibis, Kites, Woodpeckers, and many others. Bird watching is always best done in the early mornings on foot.

We’ll return to the hotel to enjoy a full breakfast. Then we’ll do the Morning Jungle Safari by Jeep, the most exciting activity in Chitwan. With an experienced driver at the wheel and an expert naturalist leading us deep inside the forests on the jeep tracks, Jeep Safari in the jungle is an unusual program, exploring the magical mystery of the forest from the comfort of our seats. This exciting activity searches for wildlife, such as several types of deer (spotted dear, barking dear, hog deer), monkeys, wild boar, sloth bear, Hyena, leopard, and, if we are lucky, the Royal Bengal tiger. We will visit deep inside the national park, where the Naturalist will brief us about the forest with its variety of trees, species, birds, etc.

Lunch is back at the Resort. The afternoon is free to enjoy how we wish.

In the evening we will get to watch a Tharu Cultural dance. Farmers and townsfolk from nearby villages will show some of their traditional dance skills.

After breakfast at the resort, our driver will drive us to Rajko Danda, about 5 hours away. We will stay at a village homestay.

The highlights today will be that we get to experience authentic rural life, taste organic food, and experience the rapidly fading culture. We will have lunch and go on a walking tour of the village and visit the primary school. This district has significance in Nepal’s history as home of the last ruling Royal Family. Moreover, this district is one of the many recruitment areas of the world-renowned Gurkha soldiers.

In the evening there will be a cultural show by the Women’s Organization. We can enjoy drinking locally distilled “Hooch” as part of the cultural integration while watching the show.

Early in the morning we will walk up to Shiva temple (about half an hour) for the sunrise over the Himalayas (weather permitting). This is one of the main highlights of the whole tour. We will get a Himalayan panorama of more than 300 kilometers.

After breakfast, we drive to Pokhara (about 4 hours) and visit the city’s highlights, including the Gurkha museum, which explains Nepal and Bindabasini temple’s famous warrior history’s important Hindu temple Pokhara and visit Devi’s fall.

Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty. Situated at an altitude of 900m from sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley, the city is a center of adventure. The enchanting town has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. The serenity of lakes and the Himalayas’ magnificence rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic. 

We will have a Half-day sightseeing tour of Pokhara, to include Devi’s Fall. Also known as Devin’s and David’s fall, it is a lovely waterfall about 2 Km southwest of the Pokhara airport. Legend has it that a trekker (David or Devin) got washed away by the Pardi Khola and disappears into an underground canal beneath the waterfall. We will also visit Gupteswore Cave, one of the largest caves in Pokhara. It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is another natural wonder of Pokhara.

As soon as we get up, we will visit Bindabashini Temple, which is dedicated to the Hindu deity Durga (manifestation of Bhagwati, a blood-thirsty version of the goddess). This temple is located near the Old Bazaar of Pokhara. The white pagoda-styled building is of great religious significance to Hindus of Pokhara. Devotees throng to this temple daily and also offer animal sacrifices. One might even get to witness a Hindu wedding ceremony taking place on the temple premises. Then we’ll go back to our hotel for breakfast.

Next is a half-day sightseeing tour of World Peace Pagoda. The Peace Pagoda is a Buddhist stupa constructed with a focus on World peace for people of all races and creeds. Most of this structure was erected under Nichidatsu Fujii’s guidance (1885–1985), a Buddhist monk from Japan and the Nipponzan-Myōhōji Buddhist Order’s Founder. Meeting Mahatma Gandhi in 1931 hugely influenced him. As a result, Fuji decided to dedicate his life to promoting non-violence. Thus, he began building Peace Pagodas as shrines to World peace in 1947. This pagoda is balanced on a narrow ridge high above Phewa Lake. The bright-white Pagoda of Pokhara offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range and the lake. Pilgrims climb the hill using trails from the various parts of the city or take a boat across the lake to climb from the shore. Phewa Lake is the centre of attraction in Pokhara. It is the largest and most attractive of the three lakes that add to the magnificence of Pokhara. Rowing or sailing a hired boat across the water is available, to visit the island temple in the middle. From the pagoda we will hike down to lakeside (04 K.M. / 1.5 hrs. walk), then enjoy a 1-hour boat ride to cross the lake and visit the Barahi Temple. After the boat ride, we can shop at the lakeside market. The evening will be free for our own personal activities and dinner.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will be driven to Pokhara airport for a flight back to Kathmandu (a 30-minute flight).

When we arrive in Kathmandu we will get a transfer to our hotel, and the evening is free to rest.

On this, our last day back at Kathmandu, the morning is free to do as we wish. There will be an optional morning experience available, weather permitting (see Optional Excursions tab for details).

In the afternoon we’ll visit Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site situated on River Bagmati banks and one of the holiest Hindu shrines. The Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known exactly when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda, the deity here gained great fame as Pashupati, the Lord of the Animals. Pashupatinath Temple’s existence dates back to 400 A.D. The richly ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or holy symbol of Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple known as ‘The Temple of Living Beings”. The presiding deity here is Shiva, who is worshipped in the form of the lingam. However, only Hindus are allowed inside.

The Monasteries surrounding the most important and beautiful Stupa belong to four famous Tibetan Buddhism orders: Nyingma-pa, Kagyu-pa, Sakya-pa, and Gelug-pa. While circumambulating (walking around the stupa), we will be able to contemplate the prayer flags, prayer wheels, and be amazed by the magic of the Stupa, through mindful circumambulation around one of the biggest and beautiful stupas in the world. Buddhist and non-Buddhist people are encouraged to do this.

Boudhanath, which was built in the 14th Century, is possibly the world’s largest Buddhist Stupa. The Stupa has become one of the most important centers of Tibetan Buddhism. The construction of the Stupa serves as three-dimensions that shows the Buddha’s path towards enlightenment. The Stupa’s base is surrounded by 108 small images of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha and prayer wheels. Several monasteries have sprung up many different sects of Tibetan Buddhism around the Stupa, including one (on the west side of the Stupa) that houses an enormous seated statue of Maitreya Buddha splendidly adorned.

Afterwards is free time until dinner.

Our Farewell Dinner this evening will be a wonderful culmination of our trip to Nepal! We’ll be treated to traditional Nepalese food and culture, with tastes of a large variety of delicious local dishes, accompanied by classical folk music and dances from all over Nepal. We’ll listen to traditional folk music performed live, watch elegant dances performed in beautiful, glittering costumes, and experience and learn even more about Nepal’s rich and diverse culture. This will be a beautiful cap to end our cultural tour.

For some, this will be the end of the trip, and they will leave the hotel 3 hours before flight time for their international departure home. For others, the Nepal Trekking Tour will begin next.