The main attraction of Nepal is considered to be its mountains. The country contains all or part of the eight largest mountains in the world. This has made it possible to create a huge number of routes for hiking tours in the mountains, which usually lead to the most picturesque places. In addition, many people are attracted by the possibility of kayaking on mountain rivers. However, in addition to the great opportunities for outdoor activities, it is worth paying attention to the rich cultural heritage of Nepal, its identity and the richest mythology and religion. Here you can watch and sometimes participate in various religious ceremonies and rituals. One of the most densely populated parts of Nepal is the Kathmandu Valley, where today there are three largest cities: the current capital of the country – Kathmandu and the old Lalitpur, Bhaktapur. According to ethnicityology, the largest city of Kathmandu, despite the performance of the capital’s functions, it has remained practically unchanged over the past 100 years. Here and now there are the same narrow streets, many houses of various constructions, a huge number of various temples. There is not a lot of space in the valley, and this, in turn, has led to the fact that the cities are very close to each other, so it is quite difficult to say exactly where Kathmandu ends and Lalitpur begins. But this did not affect the fact that there are beautiful green meadows outside the city, and the Nagarzhun nature reserve is located not far from the capital. The city is literally filled with historical sights, one of the most interesting is the Kasthamandal temple, which gave the city its name, Ashok Vinayak and Jagannath temples, built in the 3rd century BC. The world-famous Shiva Temple, which became popular thanks to the incredible carvings with erotic content. You should definitely visit the Kumari temple, which today is home to a living personification of the deity. Special attention should be paid to the stupas of Kathmandu, some of the most famous are Swayambhunath, which was founded more than 2 thousand years ago, Budnat, which is the largest stupa in Nepal and is considered the center of Buddhism, a huge number of Buddhist monasteries in the northern part of the city. The center of the city is the Palace Square, around which there are a huge number of temples. Here you can visit the numismatic museum, the beautiful palace of Singh Darbar, which now houses the secretariat of the government of the country. Near the square there are many different markets, merchants and other places of worship, so you can explore this part of the city all day long. Tourists will also be interested in the old town of Tundikhel, which is famous for its Dharahara tower and fountains with golden taps. It also houses the Kaiser Library, which is considered the center of all the oldest books and manuscripts. For those who want to give a gift to their loved ones and buy souvenirs, it is worth visiting the Tamel quarter, where there are many small tourist shops and the most famous Yak and Yeti hotel in Nepal, which was opened by a Russian traveler. Across the Bagmati River, the so-called satellite city of the capital – Lalitpur, which until 1768 was the capital of Nepal, originates. There are also many interesting sights here, among which it is worth highlighting: the 4th stupas of Ashoka, which are subsidized by the III century BC, the terracotta Temple of a Thousand Buddhas, the world-famous Buddhist monastery Rudravarna Mahabihar, which is famous for the fact that all Nepalese kings were crowned here, the Krishna Mandir temple and many other religious and historical monuments, which is unique in its execution. Another former capital of Nepal and an interesting tourist attraction is the city of Bhaktapur, the main inhabitants of which are Hindus, and this was noticeably expressed in its architecture. Today, this city is the third largest in the Kathmandu Valley, despite the fact that its size is not so large. In this city there are more than 10 Vishnu temples, the world-famous Golden Gate, the unique Malla Palace and several ponds that are considered sacred. Today, one of the most popular resorts in the country is the city of Pokhara and at the same time it is the second largest city in Nepal. This city is located on the coast of the beautiful lake Fewa-Tal, which is located at an altitude of 827 m above sea level. It is safe to say that this landmark city is perfectly adapted to meet tourists; there are many hotels and restaurants along the entire coast of the lake.
Kitchen
India and China had a great influence on the national cuisine of Nepal. Many culinary traditions have been taken from Asian cuisine, due to which the main dish in Nepal is rice and spices. But this does not prevent the fact that the country is also rich in its national dishes, most of which are somehow related to the fact that the country is located in high mountainous areas. The southern part of Nepal, bordering India, adopted some culinary traditions from there, which is the reason for their great love for oblong Indian rice, spices and vegetables. In addition to rice, Nepalese often eat potatoes. For lovers of spices, Nepal will become a real mecca, the variety of spices that is presented here is simply amazing. Nepalese seasonings differ from Indian ones in that they are not as spicy. In the highlands of the country, meat became more widespread, although in other parts of the country it is not as popular due to religion. Almost the entire population of Nepal is Hindu or Buddhist, and this, in turn, prohibits them from eating meat. But the indigenous peoples of Nepal usually eat meat and not only wild, but also domestic animals. One of the most common dishes in the country is considered “dal wat tarkari”, which is rice with spices and bean grease, which is usually served with fish, eggs or fruit. In local cafes, tourists can try a traditional Nepalese dish – mamo, which is a large-sized dumplings stuffed with minced meat, but they are cooked unlike Russian steamed dumplings. Food in such cafes is very cheap, for example, a full meal for 4 people will cost only $10. In winter, indigenous peoples eat, butter and sugar dishes. Such food adds a lot of energy, which is needed by people living in the mountains.
