About Chitwan National Park

How can you get to Sauraha?
Chitwan National Park is approximately 160 Km from Kathmandu.  You can either drive from Kathmandu to Sauraha, which takes approximately 4 hours.  The quickest way to get to Sauraha is to take a short 25-minute flight from Kathmandu to Bharatpur airstrip, and then drive for another 25 minutes with buffer zone views all along the way.  The distance from Lumbini (the birthplace of Lord Gautam Budhha and a World Heritage Site) to Sauraha is just 155 Km and from Pokhara to Sauraha is 145 Km.

Sauraha is easily accessible by road from Kathmandu or Pokhara, a scenic five hour drive.  Visiting Sauraha on your return from Pokhara will save you a day’s travel between Pokhara and Kathmandu.

Another exciting option is to travel to the national park via a leisurely two-day rafting trip on Trishuli River.  The first day is thrilling introduction to whitewater followed by a day of scenic floating through gorges and the middle hills before dropping on to the Terai plains.

When is the best time to visit Chitwan?
Spring-February until end of April and Fall-Mid September till mid December.

Accommodation:
Chitwan National Park offers a wide variety of accommodation, not only in size, facilities and visual appearance, but also in price range.  If you are looking for exclusive comfort with superior personalized service right in the heart of the park-then visit Sauraha for a preview of private luxury and budget accommodation.

Recommended Activities:
Bird Watching:
An early morning walk through the bush and along the Rapti River is necessary going to view many of the exotic birds, including the Giant Hornbill, Lesser Florican and Paradise Flycatcher.  This part, enjoy the movement of the migratory birds in the Beeshazari Tal.  Our experienced naturalists will accompany you to this wonderful birder’s paradise.
Elephant Safari:
Seated high on the back of a trained elephant exploring the grasslands and core area of the park, you become an integral part of the life of the national park.  The elephant safaris, though not the most comfortable rides, is an amazing experience.  In addition, it does not take long to spot at least a rhino in these forests.
Elephant Bathing:
Just chill out beside the tranquility of the Budhi Rapti River and watch the appealing elephants taking a bath or if it is too tempting, join them while taking a dip down the river.

Jungle Drive:
Drive into the heart of the park for a good chance to spot the rare species.  The drive takes you along timeworn trails with great opportunities of viewing big animals.  Do not forget tomove on to Kasara-the park headquarters wherein you will get the chance to visit the Kasara Durbar and the Crocodile Breeding Centre.  The Centre is housed with a number of breeding and hatchling ponds to produce and rear the animals until they are ready to release in the wild.

Canoeing:
A journey down the Rapti River in a traditional ‘dug out canoe’ offers you the chance to quietly observe the exotic species of birds and animals that come for a sip at the water’s edge.
Observation Tower:
Be calm and quiet on the 22-feet high wooden tower built in the prime location of the park, which offers unique chances to see the movement of the animals in the wilderness.
Nature Walk:
Walk out and stretch your legs deep into the forest accompanied by professional naturalists as they share their extensive knowledge with you on your way to prime spots in quest of rare and endemic species.  Be on the look out for the great one-horned rhinoceros, wild boar, sloth bear, bison, gangetic dolphins, gharial crocodile and the Royal Bengal Tiger.
Elephant Breeding Centre:
Of all the animals, elephants are probably the most graceful.  Our naturalists will take you to the Hattisar to demonstrate how elephants’ meals are prepared and how they eat in the Elephant Breeding Centre.  They will explain the nature and habits of elephants.  The unique Centre was established in 1985 for the captive breeding of domesticated elephants to avoid the pressure of wild elephants trapping for domestication.

Tharu Stick Dance:
Savour the magnificent cultural dance of the Tharu communities watching by the bon fire in the evening in any of the hotels of Saurha.
Buffer Zone Village Tours:
Experience the uniquely placed culture of the Tharu people.  Relish what their culture is like in the Tharu Village Museum in the heart of Sauraha in Bachhyauli.  For centuries, the Tharus have lived very close to this protected area and hence their tradition reflects their intimate relationship with the natural world.  Visit the Tharu village and share their world with them as you reach out to touch another culture.
Specialized Tours:
Enjoy the specialized tours which are packed with information about the Chitwan National Park, its majestic wildlife, its successful buffer zone programmes, the holy places around especially the Dev Ghat, and the naturalists are here to share their knowledge of the park with you to enrich your stay in Sauraha.

For anyone who visits Chitwan National Park, it eventually becomes an addiction.  If you sit back and think about it, sometimes you wonder, why! Chitwan National Park has a long history behind it and has the unique honour of being Nepal’s first national park. Established in 1973 to protect the wildlife of the lowland Terai, this national park of 932 sq.km. is unrivalled in the diversity of its life forms and a leader in advanced biodiversity conservation techniques and policies.  Since then, there has been no looking back for Chitwan National Park-Nepal’s first and riches national park.

As a primary destination crowned as the World Heritage Site in natural category, the Chitwan National Park offers a wildlife experience that ranks with the best in Asia.  Truly, the flagship of Nepal’s national parks, Chitwan is home to an impressive number of species.  Man interacts with the environment over many centuries-is very evident in the Chitwan National Park.  These treasures represent the cultures, persons and events that played a role in the making of the park and are conserved along with the park’s natural assets.  The most easily accessible amongst Nepal’s national parks, Chitwan is considered by many naturalists to be simply the best-managed park in Asia.

Article of Chitwan National Park

Set against the backdrop of the Himalaya, the Chitwan Naional Park is home to an incredible variety of wildlife, including several endangered species.  Of all the world’s remaining forests, one of the most enchanting is Chitwan National Park in the himalayan Kingdom of Nepal.  Here inside the park, you will discover a lost world of towering trees and twisting vines, of pre-historic rhino and lumbering trees and twisting vines, of pre-historic rhino and lumbering elephants, of crocodile, python and deer;  of brilliantly colored birds and if you are fortunate-the superb Bengal Tiger.  Visit a wonderful world of lush riverine forests, tall elephant grass, lakes and rivers-home to some of the most endangered animals on earth, the elusive tiger and the prehistoric rhinoceros, including many speices of mammals, birds, insects and reptiles.  Around 400 one-horned rhinoceros make their home in the lush forests of Chitwan, along with several other wild species.

In the waters of the two mighty rivers that drain the Chitwan valley, the Narayani and the Rapti, you will find a diversity of riverine wildlife including the endangered fish-eating gharial crocodile and the marsh mugger crocodile.  Chitwan is a bird watcher’s paradise, with over 528 species of resident and migratory birds having been indentified so far.  The endangered Giant Hornbill, the Paradise Flycatcher, the Large-Pied Kingfisher and the Racquet-Tailed.

Drongo are among the more exotic resident birds in Chitwan.  Fore serious brid watchers, Beeshazari Lake (a Ramsar Site) provides a unique venue for watching migratory waterfowl, waders and shore birds that congregate from December to February every year.

An unbeatable feeling of being in the wild.  Experience a selection of well-appointed hotels in Sauraha that offers up-close-and comprehensive wildlife tours of three or more days.  There are a host of options to explore the park, accompanied by resident naturalist and guides: elephant-back safaris, canoe rides, jungle walks, bird-watching tours, and jeep drives.

Background - Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is situated in south central Nepal in the sub tropical lowlands of the inner terai of Chitwan, Makawanpur, Parsa and Nawalparasi districts. It lies between 27°16.56’- 27°42.14’ Latitudes and 83°50.23’-84°46.25’ Longitudes. The altitude ranges from 110m to 850m above sea level. The park is bounded by the Rapti and Narayani River in the north, Parsa Wildlife Reserve in the east and Madi settlements and India border in the south. The physiography of the park consists of the Terai and Siwaliks. Three major rivers Narayani, Rapti and Reu, and their floodplains; and several lakes and pools are the major water sources of the park.


Being the first protected area of Nepal, it has a long history of over three decades in park management and rich experiences in nature conservation. Chitwan was a big game area for the royal families, Rana rulers and their guests. The area comprising the Tikauli forest from Rapti River to the foothills of the Mahabharat extending over an area of 175 km2 was declared as Mahendra Deer Park in 1959. The area south of the Rapti River was demarcated as a Rhino Sanctuary in 1963. It was proclaimed as Royal Chitwan National Park with an area of 932 km2 in 1973. After the peoples’ revolution in 2006, the park’s name was changed to Chitwan National Park.


In recognition of its unique biological resources of outstanding universal value, UNESCO designated CNP as a World Heritage Site in 1984. In 1996, an area of 750 km2 surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone, which consists of forests and private lands including cultivated lands. The buffer zone contains a Ramsar Site – Beeshazari Lakes.


The park and the local people jointly initiate community development activities and manage natural resources in the buffer zone. The government of Nepal has made a provision of plowing back 30-50 percent of the park revenue for community development in the buffer zone.

 

About Chitwan

Chitwan District is one of the seventy-five Districts of Nepal, a landlocked country of South Asia. The district is in the western part of Narayani Zone with Bharatpur, the seventh largest city of Nepal, as its district headquarters. It covers an area of 2,218 km² (856 sq mi), and in 2001 had a population of 472,048 people. Bharatpur is a commercial and service centre of central south Nepal and merger destination for higher education, health care and transportation of the region.
The district takes its name from the Chitwan Valley, one of Nepal's Inner Terai valleys between the Mahabharat and Siwalik ranges, both considered foothills of the Himalayas.
Narayangarh, on the bank of Narayani River, is the main town with numerous shopping zones where people come from all over the district and neighbouring districts.
Now there are about 40 Village Development Committees (each of which has nine wards or villages) and one sub-Metropolitan city - Bharatpur and a municipality Ratnanagar each of which has more than nine wards or urban areas.
Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the Terai region, which formerly extended over the foothills of Nepal

Origin
The name Chitwan is a composite of the Sanskrit words चित्त, transliterated "citta" meaning heart and वन, transliterated "vana" meaning jungle or forest.^[1][2] Thus, the meaning of Chitwan is Heart of the Jungle.

Industry

Chitwan is famous in Nepal because of its dominant production of mustard from which mustard oil is produced. This popularity of the mustard plantation in Chitwan is attributed to the predominant soil type of the place. The soil in Chitwan is mostly of the type silt. The silty nature of the soil is in turn attributed to the flooding over the ages in the past from the rivers like Gandaki. Chitwan is also profusely spotted with lands with soil type clay which are very good for use as rice fields. Other popular cash crops in the region are maize and wheat. The soil there is also very good for growing various types of vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, radish, potato, broccoli, cucumbers, pumpkins, and carrot.
Chitwan hosts 80% of the country's poultry industry, and is also famous for floriculture, mushroom cultivation and bee keeping.
At present Chitwan's largest business area, Narayangarh, is less accessible due to the movement of the main bus terminal due to the previous king's son's anger with the politics of the citizens of the city. This bus terminal is however no longer in use following a successful people's movement in 2006. It is believed that Nepali leftist revolutionary leader Prachanda spent his childhood and youth in Chitwan. Chitwan is adapting South Korean model of development system called "Saemaul Undong or New Village movement" in Nepali context Nepal Saemaul Undong or Namuna Bikas Aviyan or Model Development Campaign at Piple Village of East Chitwan since 22 February 2003. ( Listen or read the text http://saemaul.com/english/video.asp )

Places of interest

Chitwan has a particularly rich flora and fauna. Nepal's first national park, the Chitwan National Park together with the adjacent Parsa Wildlife Reserve support a species diversity much higher than any other on the Indian subcontinent. Rare species include Bengal tiger, gharial and the world's second largest population of Asian Rhinoceros, but also leopards, Mugger crocodile, Indian rock python and several species of deer. The protected areas are guarded by a battalion of the Nepal Army and patrolled by seven anti-poaching units Das Dhunga is a famous place in Chitwan - the people's leader Madan Bhandari was killed there in an accident.
Chitwan is also famous for saiyatha basically Rambag (kabi Dada). Rambag is known as Kabi dada now. There are some famous kabi like-Surendra Astafal, Ganesh Sharman, Arjun Astafal, L.B Chhetri, Gopal Poudel, Nabaraj Dhungana. it is located south part of kalayanpur, west part of narayanpur, east part from fulbari and north part of kailashnagar. It is in Bharatpur municipality-13. Eighty five % of people in Rambag are service holder in government or private office. Ninety percentage people are literacy.

Chitwan National Park

 

When planning to travel to Nepal the first things most people imagine are usually the beautiful Himalayan mountains, trekking through them and the unique yet distinctly different cultures found throughout the country. Travel to the jungle might sound like an absurd option to some who want to vacation here, but for those that have done a little more research on Nepal's travel destinations are well aware of its varied terrain that includes alpine peaks, a hilly region, and tropical jungle as well.

Nepal's Chitwan National Park is not only one of the most

River Along Chitwan National Park

River Along Chitwan National Park

popular parks in the country but it is also the largest protected area as well. Chitwan caters to tourists in the fact that it is one of the most interesting, unique travel destinations in the country. This in mind, there are many Nepal travel websites filled with information about Nepal's most famous wildlife national park at Chitwan, but they explain little about the park by limiting the information to just travel activities. There are even more sites that claim the park as being an amazing organization for wildlife preservation, this may be true but that was not always the case. The Chitwan National Park is not just an ideal place to vacation, for the most part it always has been, but in its past it had a different view of what was a relaxing travel activity for those visiting the park.

Gharial Crocodile, Nepal

Gharial Crocodile, Nepal

In the 1940's-1950 the Terai was owned by Nepal's Rana rulers who claimed the beautiful region for themselves and had Chitwan as their own royal and private hunting grounds. The kings would only invite who they thought were important government persons or other royalty from other countries to travel here and to participate in special hunting parties at their reserve. During such parties, hundreds of Bengal tigers, tens of one-horned rhinos, leopards, exotic birds and other animals like crocodiles and bears were killed, yet these outrageously high numbers of kills did not even put a dent in the population of these species (at first).

Over time with extreme hunting parties traveling through the park and collecting trophies like the one with King George V from England which had a recorded tally with up to 600 elephants alone – not including the other dozens of wildlife species claimed as glorious prizes.

Where the Rana reign thought they were providing large sections of high quality unspoiled habitat for the animals to flourish, the land alone was not enough. As the hunting reserve progressed the one-horned rhinos, usually prized solely for its horn, would have a fluctuation in population from 800 down to 100 in as little as 9 years.

One-Horned Rhino In Chitwan

One-Horned Rhino In Chitwan

With this magnificent and treasured animal population depleting, the kings ceased their hunting parties and made efforts to protect and restore Chitwan's rhino population. The preservation was enforced with a royally funded conservation project in 1959 and the numbers of the rhinoceros steadily increased. After the efforts and success with balancing this wild species population, the park took other steps to conserve not just the rhinoceros but the unique land that these animals call home. Chitwan was officially proclaimed a protected national park in 1973 and would eventually have the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and would also be known to have one of the strictest anti-poaching policies around the world.

Introducing Pokhara

Imagine a perfect triangular mountain, capped by snow and buffeted by the icy winds of the Himalaya. Imagine a millpond calm lake, perfectly reflecting the snowy peaks. Now imagine a village on the lakeshore, thronged by travellers and reverberating to the sound of 'om mani padme hum' from a hundred shops selling prayer flags, carpets, masks, singing bowls and CDs of Buddhist mantras. That's Pokhara.
  Nepal's second city, at leastin tourist terms, Pokhara is the end point for the famous Annapurna Circuit trek and the starting point for a dozen more treks through the mountains of the Annapurna Range, including the perennially popular Jomsom Trek and the equally dramatic (but less busy) trek to the Annapurna Sanctuary. It's unashamedly touristy, in the Thamel mould, but the setting is spectacular - the perfect pyramid of Mt Machhapuchhare looms high above Pokhara, reflected in the placid waters of Phewa Tal.
For many travellers, Pokhara represents a last chance to stock up on creature comforts before hitting the mountain trails. For others, it's a place to enjoy a steak dinner and cold beer after weeks of daal bhaat in the hills. Even if you aren't a dedicated trekker, there's plenty here to keep you busy. Pokhara has numerous museums and there are some fascinating caves, waterfalls and Tibetan villages in the surrounding hills.

For the adventurous, travel agents in Pokhara offer a slew of adventure activities, from trekking and microlight flights to river rafting and jungle safaris. Paragliding from Sarangkot viewpoint has to be one of the most thrilling experiences in the subcontinent. Alternatively, bring a good book and spend your days reading in a café overlooking languorous Phewa Tal.

Phewa Lake

Phewa Lake, Phewa Tal or Fewa Lake is a lake of Nepal located in the Pokhara Valley near Pokhara and Sarangkot. It is the second largest lake inNepal and lying at an altitude of 784 m (2,572 ft) it covers an area of about 4.43 km² (1.7 sq mi) with an average depth of about 8.6 m (28 ft) with maximum water depth is 22.8 m (75 ft) when measured with echo-sounder (depth measuring gauge; PLASTIMO ECHOTEST II) on 5 December 2009. Maximum water capacity of the lake is approximately 46 million cubic meters (37,000 acre feet).^[1] Annapurna looms in the distance from the lake and the lake is famous for the reflection of Mount Machapuchare on its surface. The holy Barahi mandir (temple) is situated on the island located in between in the lake.

 

Phewa Lake in 1982

The eastern Pokhara Valley receives irrigation water through a canal running from a reservoir by the Seti River in the north of the city. Phewa Lake is also used for commercial fishing. The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Lake Side and Dam Side). It is mainly made up of little shops, little hotels, restaurants and bars. The larger hotels can be found on the southern and south-eastern fringes of the Pokhara city, from where the view of the mountains, mainly Machapuchare, or Fishtail Mountain, is seen best. To the east of the valley are few smaller and few bigger lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupakot Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects.

Phewa Lake was slightly enlarged by damming. It is in danger of silting up because of the inflow during the monsoon. The outflowing water is partially used for hydro power. The dam collapsed in the late 1970s and it was rebuilt by the Chinese.

from Sarangkot
Location	Pokhara
Basin countries	Nepal
Surface area	4.43 km2 (1.7 sq mi)
Average depth	8.6 m (28 ft)
Max. depth	22.8 m (75 ft)
Water volume	0.046 km3 (0.011 cu mi)

Tourism and economy of Pokhara

After the annexation of Tibet by China that led to the Indo-China war the trading route to India became defunct. Today only few caravans from Mustang still arrive in Bagar.

 

Pokhara stupas

Pokhara has become a major tourist hub of Nepal, more than making up for the loss of its trading importance. The city offers a combination of nature and culture and is mostly known as the gateway to the trekking route "Round Annapurana", which is usually a trek of 25 days.

Pokhara is quite a modern city with only few tourist attractions in the town itself. Most interesting is the old centre in the north of the city (Bagar, Purano Bazar) where many old shops and warehouses in the Newari style can still be found. Although more seldom, mule caravans still arrive there from Mustang.

Temples worth visiting in the older part of town are Bindhyabasini temple and Bhimsen temple. Another temple, Barahi temple, is located on an island in the Phewa lake, accessible only by boats.

The modern commercial city centre at Chiple Dhunga and Mahendrapul (now called Bhimsen Chowk, named after a Shahid (Martyr) in Jana-aandolan II, April, 2006) is halfway between the lake and Purano Bazar, the old centre. Apart from this there are several subcentres in other parts of town: in the north in Bagar, in the south between Prithvi Chok and Srijana Chok (mainly hardware stores), and in the east, on the other side of the Seti, in Ram Bazar.

Phewa lake in 1982

Phewa lake and lakeside view from Sarangkot

On a hill overlooking Phewa Tal from the south is the World Peace Stupa (at 1,113 m) QTVR built in 1996 with a view of the lake, across the city and of the snow peaked mountain ranges of Manaslu, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himal.

The best viewpoint of Pokhara is Sarangkot (1,600 m) and Thulakot (in Lekhnath a part of famous Royal Trek from where four lakes Phewa, Begnas, Khaste and Dipang and whole Annapurna range can be seen) to the west of the city. Paths and a road lead almost to the top of Sarangkot with an excellent view of the mountains and the city. On the summit of Sarankot there is a Buddhist stupa, which also attracts many tourists. The mountain museum is another attraction of Pokhara.

The major touristic attractions of Pokhara are its scenic views in and around town and the cable cars. Many of them are not mentioned in guides or maps. The Seti Gandaki (White Gandaki) and its tributaries have created spectacular gorges in and around the whole city. The Seti gorge runs through the whole city from north to south. At places it is only a few metres wide and the river is so far down below that, at places it is not visible or audible.In the middle of the city, the gorge widens to a canyon looking like a crater. In the north and south, just outside town, the rivers created canyons, in some places 100 m deep. These canyons extend through the whole Pokhara Valley. Viewpoints are not easy to find. One place is the Prithvi Narayan Campus and the other side at the foot of Kahu Danda, where several rivers and canyons join. Behind the INF-Compound (Tundikhel) one can see the Seti River disappear into a small slit of a wall about 30 metres high which is especially impressive in monsoon. Betulechaur in the far north of Pokhara is known for the musicians caste of the Gaaine(people who sing). The Tourism Year 2011, as declared by the government of Nepal is hoping to have about hundred thousand tourist visiting Nepal and Pokhara is one of the first choice of tourists. Lakes,Mountains and the scene that can be viewed from Pokhara is awesome so the main tourism field is considered as Pokhara and the country is economically benefited from this tourism sector

Structure of Pokhara

Pokhara spans 8 km from north to south and 6 km from east to west but, unlike Kathmandu, it is quite loosely built up and still has much green space. The Seti Gandaki flowing through the city from north to south divides the city roughly in two halves with the down-town area of Chipledunga in the middle, the old town centre of Bagar in the north and the tourist district of Lakeside (Baidam) in the south all lying on the western side of the river. The gorge through which the river flows is crossed at five points, the major ones are (from north to south): K.I. Singh Pul, Mahendra Pul and Prithvi Highway Pul. The eastern side of town is mainly residential.

About half of all tourists visiting Pokhara are there for the start or end of a trek to the Annapurna Base Camp and Mustang.
Lake Phewa was slightly enlarged by damming. It is in danger of silting up because of the inflow during the monsoon. The outflowing water is partially used for hydro power. The dam collapsed in the late 1970s and has been rebuilt. The power plant is located about 100 m below at the bottom of the Phusre Khola gorge. Water is also diverted for irrigation into the southern Pokhara valley.

The eastern Pokhara Valley receives irrigation water through a canal running from a reservoir by the Seti in the north of the city. Phewa lake is also used for commercial fishing. The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Baidam, Lakeside and Damside). It is mainly made up of little shops, little hotels, restaurants and bars. The larger hotels can be found on the southern and south-eastern fringes of the city, from where the view of the mountains is best. To the east of the valley, in Lekhnath, are several smaller lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupa Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects. There are no beaches in the valley, but one can rent boats in Phewa and Begnas Tal.

About Phokhara

Pokhara is situated in the northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley, which is a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley. The Seti River and its tributaries have dug impressive canyons into the valley floor, which are only visible from higher viewpoints or from the air. To the east of Pokhara is the municipality of Lekhnath, a recently established town in the valley.

In no other place do mountains rise so quickly. In this area, within 30 km, the elevation rises from 1,000 m to over 7,500 m. Due to this sharp rise in altitude the area of Pokhara has one of the highest precipitation rates of the country (over 4,000 mm/year). Even within the city there is a noticeable difference in the amount of rain between the south of the city by the lake and the north at the foot of the mountains.

The climate is sub-tropical but due to the elevation the temperatures are moderate: the summer temperatures average between 25–35 °C, in winter around -2–15 °C.

In the south the city borders on Phewa Tal (lake) (4.4 km² at an elevation of about 800 m above sea level), in the north at an elevation of around 1,000 m the outskirts of the city touch the base of the Annapurna mountain range. From the southern fringes of the city 3 eight-thousanders (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu) and, in the middle of the Annapurna range, the Machapuchare ('Fishtail') with close to 7,000 m can be seen. This mountain dominates the northern horizon of the city and its name derives from its twin peaks, not visible from the south. The porous underground of the Pokhara valley favours the development of caves of which three prominent ones can be found within the city: Mahendra, Bat and Gupteswor. In the south of the city, a tributary of the Seti coming from Phewa Lake disappears at Patale Chhango (Nepali for Hell's Falls, also called Devi's or David's Falls, after someone who supposedly fell into the falls) into an underground gorge, to reappear 500 metres further south.

Tourism places in Nepal

Palpa (Tansen)

Visittansen.com is launched to promote Tansen city and its surroundings as a tourist destination and their products all over the world. Tansen, a typical newari town, is the best hill station in the South West region of Himalayan country Nepal. It is the administrative headquarter of Palpa district, one of the 75 districts of Nepal. It lies between Pokhara, a famous tourist city and Lumbini, a birthplace of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism.

Tansen is famous for various kinds of handicrafts, textile and organic coffee. Karuwa, a water jug made of bronze, typical Nepali cap & shawl made of Dhaka textile are legendary souvenirs from Tansen. Recently an organic coffee from Tansen and its surroundings is getting worldwide attention due to its unique taste.

In view to develop Tansen city and its surroundings as a one of the tourist destinations of Nepal as well as to find global market for their products, Visittansen.com will play a major role by providing information about the city.

 Tansen, a typical newari town, is the best hill station in the South West region of Himalayan country Nepal. It is the administrative headquarter of Palpa district, one of the 75 districts of Nepal. It lies between Pokhara, a famous tourist city and Lumbini, a birthplace of Lord Buddha, founder of Buddhism.
   The township of Tansen is among a few towns outside the capital which bears a rich legacy of the traditional art and architecture. Perched on the lap of the spectacular Srinagar Danda (hill) Tansen, commands a gorgeous panorama of the Himalayas as well as the plains of Terai. Located at an elevation of 1310 meters Tansen is a pleasant place to visit during any season of the year. The hill of Srinagar, half an hour's walk up Tansen Bazaar at an elevation of 1524 m. is rare vantage point to view the contrasting manifestation of nature. An Incredibly Long panorama of the mountains encompassing Kanjiroba, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Langtang Himal at a stretch is visible from here on one hand, while on the other the plains of Madi valley and the bigger terai also comes to distinct view from the same point.

                       Tansen is a good put off point for short as well as long treks. You can visit some of the beautiful points on the Kali Gandaki river such as Ranighat Palace and Ramdi Ghat the dense and serene woody slopes of Rambhapani and Satyawati lake.For longer treks you can choose any area in Annapurna-Dhaulagiri region such as Dhorpatan, Jomsom, Ghorepani or Annapurna Sanctuary. Tansen also provides opportunity for study of Buddhist culture and the life and culture of Magar tribes.

                       Tansen is famous for various kinds of handicrafts, textile and organic coffee. Karuwa, a water jug made of bronze, typical Nepali cap & shawl made of Dhaka textile are legendary souveniers from Tansen. Recently an organic coffee from Tansen and its surroundings is getting worldwide attention due to its unique taste.

Culture of Nepal

A typical Nepalese meal is dal-bhat-tarkari. Dal is a spicy lentil soup, served over bhat (boiled rice), served with tarkari (curried vegetables) together with achar (pickles) or chutni (spicy condiment made from fresh ingredients). The Newar community, however, has its own unique cuisine. It consists of non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian items served with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Mustard oil is the cooking medium and a host of spices, such as cumin, coriander, black peppers, sesame seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, methi (fenugreek), bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, chillies, mustard seeds, etc., are used in the cooking. The cuisine served on festivals is generally the best.

 

The Newari Music orchestra consists mainly of percussion instruments, though wind instruments, such as flutes and other similar instruments, are also used. String instruments are very rare. There are songs pertaining to particular seasons and festivals. Paahan chare music is probably the fastest played music whereas the Dapa the slowest. There are certain musical instruments such as Dhimay and Bhusya which are played as instrumental only and are not accompanied with songs. The dhimay music is the loudest one. In the hills, people enjoy their own kind of music, playing saarangi (a string instrument), madal and flute. They also have many popular folk songs known as lok geet and lok dohari.

The Newar dances can be broadly classified into masked dances and non-masked dances. The most representative of Newari dances is Lakhey dance. Almost all the settlements of Newaris organise Lakhey dance at least once a year, mostly in the Goonlaa month. So, they are called Goonlaa Lakhey. However, the most famous Lakhey dance is the Majipa Lakhey dance; it is performed by the Ranjitkars of Kathmandu and the celebration continues for the entire week that contains the full moon of Yenlaa month. The Lakhey are considered to be the saviors of children.
Folklore is an integral part of Nepalese society. Traditional stories are rooted in the reality of day-to-day life, tales of love, affection and battles as well as demons and ghosts and thus reflect local lifestyles, cultures and beliefs. Many Nepalese folktales are enacted through the medium of dance and music.
The Nepali year begins in mid-April and is divided into 12 months. Saturday is the official weekly holiday. Main annual holidays include the National Day, celebrated on the birthday of the king (28 December), Prithvi Jayanti (11 January), Martyr's Day (18 February), and a mix of Hindu and Buddhist festivals such as dashain in autumn, and tihar in late autumn. During tihar, the Newar community also celebrates its New Year as per their local calendar Nepal Sambat.
Most houses in rural lowland of Nepal are made up of a tight bamboo framework and walls of a mud and cow-dung mix. These dwellings remain cool in summer and retain warmth in winter. Houses in the hills are usually made of unbaked bricks with thatch or tile roofing. At high elevations construction changes to stone masonry and slate may be used on roofs.
Nepal's flag is the only national flag in the world that is not rectangular in shape.^[72] According to its official description, the red in the flag stands for victory in war or courage, and is also color of the rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal. Red also stands for aggression. The flag's blue border signifies peace. The curved moon on the flag is a symbol of the peaceful and calm nature of Nepalese

Transport in Nepal

 

 

 

The total length of roads in Nepal is recorded to be (17,182 kilometres (10,676 mi)) , as in 2003–04. This fairly large network (still considered a very inadequate connectivity with the rural hill areas) has helped in the economic progress of the country in the field of agriculture, horticulture, vegetable farming, industry and also tourism.

 

^[104] In view of the hilly terrain, transportation facilities in Nepal in general and Kathmandu in particular, are mainly by road and air with limited rail link in the terai region.

Through the process of Five Year Plan developments, the first transmountain highway, later named Tribhuvan Highway, linking Kathmandu with Bhaise, a distance of 126 km (78 mi), was built and further extended via Hetauda through Birganj to Raxaul in India, a distance of 64 kilometres (40 mi) (built by Government of India in 1956). Another trans-Himalayan highway that was built in 1963 connects Kathmandu with Kodari, a distance of 114 kilometres (71 mi) (built by the Chinese), and links to Tibet. Another highway called the Prithvi Highway, within the country, connects Kathmandu with the Pokhara Valley over a distance of 200 kilometres (120 mi) (built by the Chinese).

 

Tribhuvan International Airport

Air transport, the next in importance to Nepal (since it is a landlocked country) was also developed since 1953, first by the Indian Air Lines, and subsequently in 1959 by the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) with internal services starting with Kathmandu as the hub linking with many towns and cities within Nepal. Gradually, it spread to Indian and other international destinations. Now, Nepal boasts of 44 airports throughout the country.^[105] The main international airport serving Kathmandu and indeed Nepal is the Tribhuvan International Airport, located about six kilometres from the city center in the Kathmandu valley. Operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal^[106] it has two terminals, one domestic and one international. At present, about 22 international airlines connect Nepal to various other destinations in Asia and the Middle East, connected to cities such as Delhi, Kolkata, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Seoul, Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Dhaka, Islamabad, Karachi, Paro, Lhasa, Chengdu and Guangzhou.^[106] A recent extension to the international terminal has made the distance to the airplanes shorter and in October 2009 it became possible to fly directly to Kathmandu from Amsterdam by Arkefly^[107] Regionally, several Nepalese airlines operate from the city including Agni Air, Buddha Air, Cosmic Air, Gorkha Airlines, Nepal Airlines and Yeti Airlines connecting Kathmandu to many other major towns across Nepal.

Religion in Nepal

Hindu

Many Hindu temples in Kathmandu and the surrounding district are centuries old with some temples of national importance to Hindus. As discussed previously, the Pashupatinath Temple, Changu Narayan temple (the oldest) and the Kasthamandap are of particular importance. Other notable Hindu temples in Kathmandu and the surrounding valley include Bajrayogini Temple, Dakshinkali Temple, Guhyeshwari Temple and the Sobha Baghwati shrine.

The Bagmati river which flows through Kathmandu is considered a holy river both by Hindus and Buddhists, and many Hindu temples are located on the banks of this river. The importance of the Bagmati also lies in the fact that Hindus are cremated on the banks of this holy river, and Kirants are buried in the hills by its side. According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati river before cremation. The chief mourner (usually the first son) who lights the funeral pyre must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation as the Bagmati River is believed to purify the people spiritually.

 Buddhism

Left:Kopan Monastery. Right:Amitabh Monastery

Kathmandu and its historic stupas have been of major importance to Newar Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhist for centuries and attracts thousands of pilgrims annually. Kathmandu is the only place where Buddhism is still practiced in Sanskrit. Princess Bhrikuti and Araniko of Kathmandu valley had played a significant role in spread of Buddhism in Tibet. Besides, the clan of Shakyamuni Buddha are believed to have settled in Kathmandu valley. So, the valley imposes a large role for Buddhist pilgrims esp of the Bajrayana sect. Since the 1960s, the permanent Tibetan Buddhist population of Kathmandu has risen significantly so that there are now over 50 Buddhist monasteries in the area. Of major note are the International Buddhist Academy, Kopan Monastery, Amitabh Monastery and Tharlam Monastery.

 

An important gathering at Tharlam Monastery

The International Buddhist Academy (IBA) provides a academy for non-monastic Buddhist study and teaches the key Classic Indian Buddhist treatises studied by all Mahayana and Tibetan traditions. Kopan Monastery is located near the Boudhanath on the outskirts and belongs to the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international network of Gelugpa dharma centers.^[97] Kopan has become especially noted for teaching Buddhism to visiting Western foreigners. The first of what would become annual month-long (November–December) meditation courses was held in 1971 and was initially known as the Mount Everest Centre.^[98] These courses generally combine traditional Lam Rim teachings with informal discussion, several periods of guided meditation, and a vegetarian diet. Today the monastery is home to about 360 monks.

Cuisine and Festivals in KTM

Cuisine

Assortment of beans, Durbar Square

Cooking at Tharlam Monastery

Grocery store selling vegetables and imported goods

The cultural diversity of Nepal has facilitated the growth of a number of cuisines based on the ethnic groups and the geographical features of the nation. Popularly served though is Dal bhat, which is a dish of lentils and rice, generally served with vegetable curries and forms a staple part of the diet. Given that Kathmandu only had one restaurant in 1955,^[95] a large number of restaurants in Kathmandu have since grown up catering in Nepalese cuisine, Tibetan cuisine and Indian cuisine in particular and many others to accommodate both for Nepalese people and for tourists from all around the world. The growth of tourism in Kathmandu has led to culinary creativity and the development of hybrid foods to accommodate for tourists such as American chop suey, which is a sweet and sour sauce with crispy noodles, with a fried egg commonly added on top and other westernized adaptions of traditional cuisine.^[95] Kathmandu is particularly famous for "Mo: mo:". Mo: mo: or म:म: is a type of dumpling that origined from Tibet.Many street vendors sell mo: mo:. It is one of the most popular fast food in Kathmandu

The Toast Bakery, Kathmandu

Kathmandu cuisine

Gorkha beer

The national drink of Nepal is tea, widely served in Kathmandu, but is served extremely weak by western standards. Chiya, however, is richer and contains tea leaves boiled with milk, sugar and spices and the drink lassis, made of curds and sugar is also served in cafes and restaurants. Nepalese beer is available in such venues and in markets, including the national Gorkha beer brand. The popular Himalayan drinks of Chhaang and Tongba, typically made from fermented millent or barley and also sold, as are the harder spirit drinks of arak, made from fermented potatoes and rice. and rakshi, a modern type of Newari wine. Shops and bars in Kathmandu do, however, widely sell western and Indian beers, although shops are forbidden to sell alcohol on the first two days and last two days of the Newari month.^[95]
Fresh vegetables and fruit are widely sold in Kathmandu, particularly around the Durbar. The assortment of produce is diverse and some sellers may specialise in the sale of different forms of specific vegetables, such as beans for instance.Western convenience foods are sold in abundance in most of the shops, including Carlsberg beer, Coca Cola and various potato snacks and candy.

[edit] Festivals

Festive dance of Kiratis, an ancient ethnic group of Nepal

Most of the fairs and festivals that are observed in Kathmandu have their origin to the Malla period. This was further given an urban cultural touch, not limiting it to the Newari festivities, subsequent to the Gorkha conquest in 1768–69. The culture of Parbatiyas and new migrant communities were also harmoniously amalgamated. The festivities usch as the Ghode (horse) jatra, Indra-Jatra, Dasai Durga Puja festivals, Shivratri and many more are observed by all Hindu and Buddhist communities of Kathmandu with great devotional fervour and enthusiasm. Social regulation in the codes enacted incorporated the Hindu religious traditions and ethics. These were followed by the Shah Kings as had been followed by previous kings, as devout Hindus and protectors of Buddhist religion. Christian proselytizing was not allowed by the Shahs though Christian missionaries did try to spread the message of Christ in the Himalayan kingdom.^[96]

Tihar Festival.

Cultural continuity has been maintained for centuries – from ancient to modern period – in the exclusive worship of goddesses and deities such as the Ajima, Taleju (or Tulja Bhavani), Degutaleju, Kumari (the living goddess) and so forth in Kathmandu and the rest of the country.^[96]
The artistic edifices have now become places of worship in every day life of the people and thus a roaster is maintained to observe the annual festivals, which is intimately linked with the daily life of the people. It is said that there are 133 festivals held in year.^[61]
Some of the traditional festivals observed in Kathmandu now are: Bada Dashain, Tihar , Maghe Sankranti : (January), Naga Panchami, Janai Poornima, Pancha Dan Teej/Rishi Panchani, Indrajatra, Ghanta Karna, Buddha Jayanti, Sri Panchami, Maha Shivaratri, Phagu Poornima , Ghodejatra, Chaite Dashain, Nava Varsha, Seto Machchhendranath and Matatirtha Aunsi, apart from those mentioned earlier.^[60]

Museums in kathamandu

 Museums

National Museum of Nepal

Kathmandu is home to a number of museums and art galleries, including the National Museum of Nepal and the Natural History Museum of Nepal. Nepals’s art and architecture is a dazzling display from medieval to the present, which is a heady amalgamation of two of the ancient and greatest religions of the world – Hinduism and Buddhhism. These are amply reflected not only in the many temples, shrines, stupas, monasteries and palaces in the seven well defined Monument Zones of the Kathmandu valley recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site but also in its well planned and well exhibited displays in museums and art galleries spread all over the Metropolitan area and also in its sister cities of Patan and Bhaktapur. The museums display unique artifacts and paintings from 5th century AD onwards to date, including archeological exportations.^[89]

The Museums and Art galleries are: the National Museum; the Natural History Museum; Hanumandhoka Palace Complex; the Tribhuvan Museum; the Mahendra Museum; the Birendra Museum; National Library: the Birendra Museum; the Kaiser Library; the Asa Archives; the Patan Museum; the National Art Gallery; the Pujarimath Museum; the Bronze and Brass Museum; the NAFA Gallery; the Srijana Contemporary Art Gallery; the J Art Gallery; the NEF-ART (Nepal Fine Art) Gallery; the Moti Azima Gallery; and the Nepal Art Council Gallery.^[89] Some of the important museums and galleries are elaborated.

A Buddhist statue display in Kathmandu

The National Museum is located in the western part of Kathmandu near the Swoyambhunath stupa in the historical building which was constructed in early 19th century by General Bhimsen Thapa. It is the most important museum in the country, housing an extensive collection of weapons, art and antiquities of historic and cultural importance.^[90] The museum was established in 1928 as a collection house of war trophies and weapons, and the initial name of this museum was Chhauni Silkhana, which literally means "the stone house of arms and ammunition". Given its focus, the museum contains an extensive quantity of weapons, including locally made firearms used in various wars and leather cannons from the 18th–19th century and medieval and modern works in wood, bronze, stone, and paintings.^[90]

The Natural History Museum is located in the southern foothills of Swoyambhunath hill and has a sizeable collection of different species of animals, butterflies and plants. The museum is noted in particular for its serial display of diverse life species from prehistoric shells to the stuffed animals, birds, crocodiles and many others.^[90]
The Tribhuvan Museum contains artifacts related to the King Tribhuvan (1906–1955). It has a variety of pieces including his personal belongings, letters and papers and memorabilia related to events he was involved in and a rare collection of photos and paintings of Royal family members.^[90] The Mahendra Museum is also dedicated to a king, Mahendra (1920–1972 ). Like the Tribhuvan Museum, it includes his personal belongings such as decorations, stamps and coins and personal notes and manuscripts, but it also has structural reconstructions of his cabinet room and office chamber.^[90]
The Hanumandhoka Palace, a lavish medieval palace complex in the Durbar, contains three separate museums of historic importance, including the Birendra museum containing items related to the current monarch, King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah, including royal dress worn during various state and historic occasions, medals and honorary titles received from other head of states and many more.^[90]