Discover Nepal

Nepal is a very beautiful country and I have always wanted to visit this place. It has been 2 long years that me and my boyfriend, Ryan started planning our trip to Nepal. The reason why It took us this long to make this trip happen is due to our work schedule and we also needed a good amount of time to train ourselves to be physically fit for some trekking adventure. We both felt that 2017 is the right time for us to visit and that we are definitely ready for Nepal.  

A SHORT INTRODUCTION ABOUT NEPAL

Nepal is located in South Asia between China in the north and India to the east, west and south. Nepal is surrounded by mountains and rivers. The world's highest mountain can also be seen and climb in Nepal, the mighty Mount Everest measuring about 8,848 meters above sea level. 

The weather in Nepal runs like the 4 seasons. Summer (May-July), Autumn (August-November), Winter (December-February) and Spring (March-April). Temperatures varies in different places.

Nepali is the official language of the state. English is also highly spoken by many Nepali nationals. Nepalese hospitality is very warm and they are very humble people. 

"Visiting Nepal once is never going to be enough." To find out why, feel free to continue reading my blog.

HOW TO GET TO NEPAL

You may reach Nepal by taking a plane ride when travelling from another country or a bus ride when coming from India. Unfortunately, there are only a few airlines that brings you directly to Nepal with limited and selected flying schedule. I can name at least 7 countries that are able to fly directly to Nepal, which is Hong Kong, DOHA, Abu Dhabi, India, Singapore, Guangzhou and Thailand. These are the airlines that I saw flying direct when I was at the airport. In order to reach Nepal, connecting flights will be required. All international flights only stop at Kathmandu (Tribhuvan International Airport) and going around within Nepal by plane can be taken by their local airlines (Buddha Air, Tara Airlines and Himalayan Airlines). 

Left - Our plane tickets coming from Hong Kong to Nepal

Right - Waiting for our baggages. It was very crowded.

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time to visit Nepal will depends on what kind of excursion, festivals or activities you are looking for. The best time for trekking season is during October, being the most peak season and until February. The weather are supposedly to be nicer and cooler. If you are looking to experience some Nepalese festivals, then you will definitely need to check when the celebrations are being held and whether it is the right fit for you. Other activities such as Paragliding, bungee jumping, zip lining, water rafting and other outdoor activities are known to be available all year round but it is not highly recommended during the monsoon season which is around July, August to mid-September.

HERE ARE THE LIST OF POPULAR AND MAJOR FESTIVALS IN NEPAL:

• Dashain and Tihar (September) - This is the biggest festivals based on religion in Nepal
• Buddha Jayanti (May or June) - The birthday of the Buddha
• Gai Jatra (August - September) - One of the most popular festivals in Nepal
• Teej (August - September) - The fasting of Nepalese women, lots of prayers and purification
• Janai Purnima - Celebrated by the Hindu community of Nepal
• Shree Krishna Janmastami (August - September) - The birth of Lord Sri Krishna
• Fagun Purnima (late February or early March) - The celebration of colours, the Holi festival
• Indrajatra (August - September) - Celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists
• Maghe Sankranti (mid January) - The harbinger of the holy month
• Mahashivaratri (February - March) - A celebration dedicated to the Lord Shiva

THE DO'S AND DON'TS  

Just like any other countries, there are some Do's and Don'ts that visitors should be aware of and should be respected accordingly.

DO'S

• Cover up and don't wear anything too revealing
• Tip the staff. Be generous!
• Try different types of restaurants and dishes, especially Nepalese delicacies
• Respect the locals and those who are older than you. Address them with "Dai" for men and "Didi" for women.
• Take pictures of everything. For example, receipts, tickets, certificate, etc
• Always ask questions when unsure especially when you are doing trekking
• Make the effort to learn some Nepalese simple phrases. For example, greet everyone "Namaste" which means good day, good morning or hello and say "Dhanyabad" for Thank you. 
• Be kind and be friendly to whoever you meet in Nepal
• Always buy your bus tickets or activities via agency or hotel
• Take good care of your belongings and don't be clumsy

DON'TS

• Do not touch someone's head or feet as this is considered as impolite
• Do not wear short shorts especially for women
• NO PDA (Public Display Affection). Most of the Nepali people are conservative and it is disrespectful to show any signs of affection towards your loved one. 
• Do not drink water from the tap. Always drink water from a water bottle or boiled water
• Do not give money to beggars as it will just encourage them to rely on begging
• Don't go to any unknown places, make sure you are with someone 
• Don't feed the monkeys when visiting temples with monkeys around
• Avoid being dehydrated, always have a bottle of water with you
• Don't take any pictures of someone without their permission
• Avoid bargaining too much, only bargain once and try to be reasonable and sensible too
• Don't order too much food, try not to waste food. Think about the people who have nothing to eat or struggling to work for meal.

THE NEPALESE CULTURE & ETHNICITY

Visiting some of Nepal's museum and reading informations from the internet helps me to know more about the people and its ethnicity. Nepal is filled with different types of ethnicity. There are about 101 ethnic groups in Nepal and with over 92 languages. Nepali is the official language and it is what majority of the local people understand and speak in daily life.  

There are many kinds of customs and traditions in Nepal depending on which ethnicity they came from. Festivals occurs almost every month and it is the most colourful and eventful of their time. In Nepal, religion is an important matter and it is being practiced on a daily basis. The religion in Nepal consists of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism, Sikhism and animism. 

HERE ARE A LIST OF DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS ON NEPAL:

THE NORTHERN HIMALAYAN PEOPLE

The northern Himalayan people are mainly the Sherpas, Lopas, Manangis, Dolpa-pas and Baragaonlis who speaks Tibetan language. 

HILLS AND VALLEY PEOPLE

The hills and valley people are among the Magars, Gurungs, Tamangs, Newars, Thakuris, Chepangs, Brahmins, Sunuwars, Thakalis and Chhetris. 

THE TERAI PEOPLE

The Terai people consists of the Tharus, Darai, Majhi and Kumhal who speaks north Indian dialects. 

HOSPITALITY

While Nepal is known for its warm and welcoming hospitality especially towards the visitors. I have notice two things about the hospitality in Nepal while I'm visiting that I would like to share.

So for starters, I honestly find Nepal's hospitality very welcoming. It immediately made me felt like I'm at home already as soon as I landed in Nepal. The Nepalese people are very friendly and they are absolutely easy to talk to. If you are lucky and of course if you also got a friendly personality, then you might get a lot of information from the local whenever you are in doubt. Nepalese people also enjoys entertaining guests and making sure that they are being taken care of. 

Meanwhile, there are some locals that are quite laid back and it almost looks like they are on holiday too. What I meant about this is that, the service is quite slower than usual and some really take their time to bring you your order. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing but this is just what I have noticed while I'm in Nepal. I feel like the time is slower in Nepal. But I do believe that there are always room for improvements. 

But overall, I am satisfied with the hospitality. I admire how some locals would still try their best to communicate with the tourist even though they don't speak a lot of English. Sometimes, it's not about how much you know but it's the effort that you put into it. I truly appreciate the warm welcome from the Nepalese people that I have met during my visit. 

NEPALESE FOOD  

Nepali food has been influenced by Tibetan and Indian styles of cooking. The regular and daily Nepali food is Dal Bhat (Lentil soup with boiled rice) together with some curried vegetables and some pickles. Momos (steamed or fried dumplings) would be the second most popular Nepali dish. 

Left - Steamed Chicken Momo

Right - Chicken Dal Bhat with crispy chip

I love eating Nepalese food. There are so much richness and spices in almost every dishes. Before coming to Nepal, I have already tried plenty of Nepali dishes here in Hong Kong, so I am quite familiar with the dishes. I have my top 5 favourite Nepalese dishes that I would recommend everyone to try.

Take note that Nepal doesn't serve any Beef as Cows are Nepal's national animal, so it is very obvious that they don't eat beef, let alone serve it to the people in the restaurant. So don't ever look for beef in the menu. 

HERE ARE SOME OF MY TOP 5 FAVOURITE NEPALESE DISHES:

MOMO

Left - Tuna and Cheese Momo

Center - Buffalo Momo 

Right - Vegetable Momo

One of the most popular Nepalese dish will be the "Momo" - Dumplings with meat or veggies with Chatne sauce. Momo are served with various types of meat such as, Chicken, Pork and Buffalo. There is Vegetable Momo available in any restaurant too for those who don't eat meat. My most favourite Momo would be the Buffalo Momo because it has more flavour and very mouth-watering. 

DAL BHAT

Left - Chicken Dal Bhat with Chapati

Center - Chicken Dal Bhat with rice and crispy chip on top

Right - Another dish similar to Dal Bhat, Mashed Cheese with vegetables and curry sauce

Dal Bhat is very popular in a lot of Nepalese restaurant. This is a set meal good for lunch or dinner time. Dal Bhat is served with rice or Chapati with lentils, potatoes or beans on the side. The main meat for Dal Bhat would be Chicken, Buffalo and Goat. There is also a Vegetable Dal Bhat.

CHOWMIEN

Left - Chicken Chowmien

Right - Vegetable Chowmien

Chow mien is served with fried noodles with a lot of vegetables such as carrots, cabbages, bell peppers, garlic and onions. Chow mien is also served with Chicken, Pork and Buffalo.

THUKPA

Thukpa is a soup noodle in Nepalese dish. Just like the Thukpa, it contains a lot of vegetables and it serves with meat such as Chicken or Pork with lemon to add more flavour. The soup is very tasty and satisfying. This is one of my favourite Nepali dishes and this is something I will always be craving for.

ALOO KAULI (GOBI)

Aloo gobi is prepared with some sliced potatoes, cauliflowers and spices. The dish itself looks very simple but the taste is very nice and trust me you won't be able to stop yourself from eating this dish once you started. 

NEPALESE BEVERAGES

TEA

Tea is probably my favourite drink of all time. Coming to Nepal makes me more excited to try out different types of teas. The teas are served with the tea spices and fresh fruits. I would definitely recommend the Ginger Lemon Tea, Fresh Lemongrass, Fresh Mint Tea and Black Tea. 

MASALA CHAI/ TEA

Masala Chai is very popular all around Nepal. Masala is served with fresh milk. I have tried Masala tea in lots of different styles. I love how I got the chance to taste Masala Tea in many different styles. 

YAK MILK

It is a must for you to try Yak Milk when visiting Nepal for trekking. If you are lucky to bump into a Yak farm while trekking, you should definitely give Yak Milk a go. It is fresh and good to drink it while it's warm. 

BEER

The top 2 popular local beers are Everest and Gorkha. I have actually tried both of these famous beers and I absolutely love it. I thought the taste would be a lot stronger than other commercial beers like San Miguel or Carlsberg. In my opinion, it is quite smooth and I really enjoyed drinking them. 

KHUKRI RUM

Khukri Rum has an alcohol content of 42.8%. The Khukri Rum is placed in a bottle with the shape of Nepalese Gurkha dagger, Kukri. I have never tried this drink yet, but I would definitely try it when I go back to Nepal. 

EXPENSES AND CURRENCIES

The currency in Nepal is the Nepalese Rupees (NPR). The notes are divided into 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 being the highest notes for Nepalese Rupees. For your information, there are no coins in Nepali money. You may exchange Nepalese Rupees all around the cities in Nepal. I heard that Thamel is a good place to exchange with better rates. It is impossible to exchange your money to Nepalese Rupees outside Nepal unless you are exchanging it from your Nepali friend overseas. Make sure to ask for smaller notes when exchanging, for paying smaller bills. Be sure to also exchange your Nepalese Rupees back to your original money currency before leaving Nepal or better yet just keep it, in case you are planning to come back to Nepal next time. 

On the other hand, US dollars are also highly used in Nepal. Some rates are indicated in USD too. 

WHY NOW IS THE TIME TO VISIT NEPAL

Do I have one question? Yes, why wait? Just do it!

But seriously, Nepal is a very beautiful country. It is filled with plenty of giant and breathtaking mountains, plus the world's highest mountain is there, the great Mount Everest. Although, Nepal have no beach but Nepal is surrounded with a lot of large and amazing lakes all over Nepal.  

Since the 2015 massive earthquake occurred, it is a sure thing that Nepal will not suffer another natural disaster until 60-70 years later. So it's pretty much safe to visit Nepal now. 

Another reason to visit Nepal is that the more people visit the country, the more it will help develop the country even better and help the Nepalese people to earn more income. Traveling to Nepal is also like traveling with a cause, which is helping them grow. 

KATHMANDU

"A very busy and chaotic city I ever seen in my life" 

Now that is what I thought about Kathmandu when I first arrived. The roads are bumpy and the floors were not even. Aside from the traffic and rough roads, there are many things to do and see in Kathmandu. This is the main city of Nepal, which explains why it is so busy and crowded. 

Left - Shopping areas in Kathmandu

Right - Cows chilling around the side roads

We were fortunate enough to have our Nepali friend, Bijay accommodating us when we were visiting Kathmandu. I feel like without our friend guiding us and bringing us to places, we wouldn't survive Kathmandu or we might have a hard time getting into places. 

 

THINGS TO SEE IN KATHMANDU

THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS

Visiting Nepal will not be complete without experiencing any treks in Nepal. Mountains and hills are the golden treasures of Nepal, it is their pride and expertise. There are a wide range of trekking selections for you chose from being easy to difficult treks. There are plenty of trekking agencies for you to chose around Kathmandu. Please note that Trekking permits are required on most of the trekking routes around Nepal (TIMS), make sure to add this to your list of requirements. 

HERE ARE A LIST OF TREKKING ROUTES STARTING IN KATHMANDU:

• Everest Base Camp (5,416 meters) - 12-13 days
• Everest Base Camp 3 Passes Trek (5,540 meters) - 18 days
• Mount Everest Summit (8,848 meters)
• Gokyo (5,357 meters) - 12 days
• Island Peak Trek
• Cho-Oyu (8,201 meters)
• Lhotse (8,586 meters) 
• Makalu (8,463 meters)
• Kangchenjunga (8,586 meters)

THE GREAT BOUDHA STUPA

The Boudha Stupa is one of the world's heritage site. This is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple. It was built in the 14th century. This heritage is not only for meditation but it is also a popular tourist site. The stupa consists of 3 large platforms and the top tower bears the Buddha eyes on all four sides. 

The entrance fee for a tourist is 400 NPR for a one day ticket. Inside the heritage, you can also see a lot of shops selling different types of goods such as, spices, cloths, souvenirs, paintings, sculptures, snacks, pots, religious beads and stones and jewelries.

DURBAR SQUARE

Durbar Square was built between the 12th and 18th century by the Malla kings. Durbar Square was where the city's kings were once crowned. Durbar Square has became a living museum from past to present. 

Since the deadly 2015 earthquake occurred, Durbar Square had been damaged horribly and most of its temples and buildings had been torn apart. Up until this day, you may still see the destruction caused by the 2015 earthquake. 

THAMEL

Thamel is a place for shopping, food and drinking. There are plenty of shops to buy your souvenirs and restaurants to fill your hungry stomach. There are also plenty of drinking places such as pubs, restaurant & bars, live bands, clubs and shisha bars around Thamel. Thamel is probably the only area that opens until late night. It may get crazy at night so be careful. Don't go there alone, always go with a group of people. 

KAISER LIBRARY

Kaiser Library is also known as the Leshar Library. Visiting this library should be on your list as the main reading room contains some antique globes, stuffed tiger's heads and antique armours. 

THE LIVING GODDESS

Kumari, the living goddess can be found in Basantapur, where the Kumari (goddess) lives. While visiting Nepal, you should definitely take the chance to have a glimpse of the living goddess. During late August or early September, the festival "Indra Jatra" is being celebrated and it is one of the most colourful festival in Nepal. The Kumari will also parade across the city in her golden palanquin. 

THINGS TO DO IN KATHMANDU

MOUNTAIN TREKKING

Trekking in Nepal is probably the most popular thing to do. Majority of the people visiting Nepal will most likely go for some trekking adventure. Why is that? The reason is that Nepal have so many beautiful mountains to trek. As you stroll around Kathmandu, you will see plenty of trekking agencies and trekking shops. 

When I visited Nepal on September 2017, I went trekking to the Mardi Himal for 6 days. I booked through "Plan Himalaya". I had a nice experience and I have definitely achieved what I came to Nepal for. I would be more than happy to share my trekking experience with you all.

My blog about my Mardi Himal Trek will be added within 2 weeks. 

ROADTRIP

Roadtrip around Kathmandu can be a fun and a thrilling experience. Getting around different places in Kathmandu would give you a chance to know more about the culture and its heritage. It is easy to rent a car in Nepal but be sure to look for a reliable car renting company and driver. 

FOOD TRIP

Food hunting is probably one of the things every visitors would appreciate. Trying out different types of dishes would want you to crave for more. There are plenty of nice restaurant around Kathmandu. Here are some of my recommendation of restaurant for you to try on.

Left - BBQ

Center - Pad Thai Noodles in Nepalese style

Right - Buffalo Momo

• Tom Yum Goong
• Atithi Satkaar Restaurant
• The Tulip Kathmandu
• Thamel House Restaurant
• Thamel Momo Hut
• Utsav Authentic Nepali Restaurant
• Gorka Palace Restaurant & Bar
• Zibro Restaurant & Bar

BUNGEE JUMP ADVENTURE

If you are craving for some adrenaline, then bungee jumping in Nepal should be on your list  It is situated in a 160-meter above a suspension bridge. Imagine free-falling from a 160-meter bridge to one of Nepal's wildest rivers and get a touch of its water onto your face as you fall. That sounds a bit scary but thrilling isn't it? 

It is a 3 hour ride from Kathmandu to the Bungee jumping area. Getting there would require you to through an area near the Tibet border and the famous Friendship Bridge to reach the jump location. The price starts from 70-150USD depending on seasons and different packages.   

SHOPPING

Most of the shops will offer you a good price and bargaining is fine but be sure to be reasonable of what price you are asking for. There is also a higher chance to get a better deal if you buy more things from the shop. But to be honest, everything in Nepal is very affordable.

POKHARA  

Pokhara is known as the city of lakes. There are about 9 lakes in the city surrounded by more than 20 something stunning mountains. The largest lake in Pokhara is the Phewa Lake and from there you may visit some of its heritage and temple. There are also plenty of mountains/ hills to do for trekking. 

I love staying in Pokhara as there are many places to do and see around this area. It is also  tourist-friendly and less chaotic than Kathmandu. Even though the journey going to Pokhara and getting out of Pokhara is hard but it was worth it. To know more about why it is a tough ride to Pokhara, read "How to get to Pokhara from Kathmandu' below. 

HOW TO GET TO POKHARA FROM KATHMANDU

Getting to Pokhara from Kathmandu takes about 210 kilometres. Pokhara is reachable by plane, tourist bus, local bus and even private car. 

BY PLANE - EXPENSIVE BUT FAST

Taking the plane to Pokhara would be the fastest way to get there within 30 minutes but the cost is not cheap. It would cost around 100-120USD per person for a one-way ticket via Buddha airlines, Tara airlines and Himalayan airlines. But of course taking the plane would reward you with a more comfortable ride and a nice view of the mountains and if you're lucky enough maybe Mount Everest might even pop out when it's not foggy. 

BY TOURIST/ LOCAL BUS - CHEAPER BUT LONGER RIDE

The most ideal transportation for budget travellers would be taking the tourist/ local bus to Pokhara. Most of the tourist visiting Nepal and even some locals would most likely take the tourist bus. Why? Because it's more convenient, it's air-conditioned, seats are more comfortable compare to local buses and not a lot of stop-overs. The travelling time to Pokhara via tourist bus takes 6-7 hours (if no traffic, engine break down or accidents). The prices starts from 4-20USD depending on the season and which bus company you are taking. Be sure to find a reliable bus company, do your research and don't forget to read customer's feedback to know more. The buses normally assemble at Kantipath Bus Station. All buses leaves at 7:00am sharp.

BY PRIVATE CAR

Please note that by taking a private car does not guarantee you a faster ride to Pokhara and vice versa. It will still be about 5-7 hours ride and probably a rough ride too. The only good thing about taking private car is you get to stop whenever you want to and the whole car belongs to you. The price for renting a private car will start from 60-100USD for a one-way ride. 

MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE ON GETTING TO POKHARA

It is always good to GPS your location while traveling just to know where you are heading and how long will it take you.

Being a budget traveller, i obviously chose to take the tourist bus to get to Pokhara. I took a tourist bus form "Global Vacation Travels & Tours" for 7USD. The ride took us 7 hours to get to the "Bus Park" in Pokhara. There were about 3 stop-over, one for toilet break, second for breakfast plus toilet break and third for lunch and toilet break. The ride was a bit bumpy and dusty but since it is an air-conditioned bus, the dust didn't really bothered me that much. I took a few minutes nap from time to time and enjoying the view. 

While the journey to Pokahara was smooth, going back to Kathmandu was very rough. I booked with "Blue Sky" for 7USD. The ride was smooth for the first 5 hours, no traffic and only two stop-overs for toilet break and lunch. After having lunch, the most unpredictable thing happened, our bus engine broke down and had failed to recover. So we had to wait and hitch in another tourist bus. The bus that we got on does not have any air-conditioner and we sat all way at the back, since that's the only available seats left. It was hot, dusty and horrible. We were stuck for some time when we reach the highway, maybe some accidents? (guess we'll never know). Overall, the ride took us 11 frigging long hours. My bums hurts and i feel very dirty with all the dust all over me. But I am still thankful that we reached back to Kathmandu safely without getting stuck there any longer than 11 hours and also we were not involved in any kind of accidents. This is an experience that I would never forget. 

THINGS TO SEE IN POKHARA

THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS

Visiting Nepal will not be complete without experiencing any treks in Nepal. Mountains and hills are the golden treasures of Nepal, it is their pride and expertise. There are a wide range of trekking selections for you chose from being easy to difficult treks. There are plenty of trekking agencies for you to chose around Pokhara. Please note that Trekking permits are required on most of the trekking routes around Nepal (TIMS), make sure to add this to your list of requirements. 

HERE ARE A LIST OF TREKKING ROUTES STARTING FROM POKHARA:

• Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) (4,30 meters) - 7-10 days
• Annapurna Circuit (5,416 meters) - 15-20 days
• Mardi Himal Trek (overlooking the Machapuchre) (5,587 meters) - 5-7 days
• Sarangkot Naudanda Hiking - 1 day (4-5 hours)
• Poon Hill Trek (3,210 meters) - 5-7 days
• Manaslu Trek (5,135 meters) - 14 days
• Khopra Danda Trekking - 6-7 days
• Dhampus Village Trekking - 1-2 days
• Upper Mustang Trekking (3,810 meters) - 10-15 days

WORLD PEACE PAGODA

The World Peace Pagoda is a massive Buddhist stupa and it is situated on top of a hill on the southern part of the Phewa Lake. The view up there is fantastic and it is definitely gives you a panoramic view of the himalayan mountains. 

We took a boat ride from the Lakeside to get to the other side for 650 NPR for 2 people for a one-way ride. The boat takes us about 15 minutes to get to the other side of the lake. Then, we hike up for 30 minutes up to the Pagoda. We met a nice dog along the way and he followed us until he wasn't allowed to enter the World Peace Pagoda. There is no entrance fee to the World Peace Pagoda. 

Getting back to the Lakeside can do the same direction as how you reach the Pagoda in the first place or you may take a shorter trip by taking a taxi back to the Lakeside. The taxi fare cost us 900 NPR. 

OLD BAZAAR

If you have spare time in Pokhara, then you must visit Pokhara's Old Bazaar. This is where the old market started before Lakeside became the new shopping destination. One of the most important Shrine the "Bindhyabasini Mandir" is situated in the Old Bazzar. It is around 4km from the Lakeside.  

While visiting the Old Bazaar, you may notice that most of the shops are closed. Don't be surprise as this is very normal as most of the shops have already moved to the Lakeside, where the business are. However, there are still some shops offering you some golds, jewelries, spices, cloths and cosmetics. Visiting the Old Bazaar is not just for shopping but also to take some time to visit one of the heritage in Pokhara and to also help out the locals to earn some living by buying some of their goods. 

INTERNATIONAL MOUNTAIN MUSEUM

Left - Memorial for mountaineers who have lost their lives

Center - My favourite photograph in the Museum. It is a picture of a Porter carrying some heavy bags and sacks filled with equipment, cloths and food.

Right - The founders and creators of the International Mountain Museum

International Mountain Museum is one of the largest museum and the only mountain museum in Nepal. If you love mountains or if you are about to go for some trekking activities then visiting the Mountain Museum would be resourceful before doing your trek. The reason why Pokhara was chosen to build the Mountain Museum was because of its scenic location. 

The museum is very simple and informative. It has 4 different sections for visitors to see.

1 - Hall of Mountain People 

2 - Hall of World Mountains

3 -  Hall of Mountain Activities (equipments, ecology and environment)

4 - Hall of Temporary Display (Lakhang, library, artificial climbing wall, Mt. Manaslu & Yak model)

We took a taxi ride for 900 NPR (roundtrip). The museum charges 400 NPR for tourist, 80 NPR for Nepali nationals and 40 NPR for students. 

BARAHI TEMPLE

Barahi Temple is located in the middle of the Phewa Lake. Barahi Temple is a very important religious monument in Pokhara. It is used to worship by both Hindus and Buddhists. The temple is small but very peaceful and relaxing. Getting there will require you to take a boat ride, you can easily rent a boat around the Lakeside for a roundtrip ride. 

THINGS TO DO IN POKHARA

MOUNTAIN TREKKING

Trekking in Nepal is probably the most popular thing to do. Majority of the people visiting Nepal will most likely go for some trekking adventure. Why is that? The reason is that Nepal have so many beautiful mountains to trek. As you stroll around Pokhara, you will see plenty of trekking agencies and trekking shops. 

When I visited Nepal in September 2017, I went trekking to the Mardi Himal for 6 days. I had a nice experience and I have definitely achieved what I came to Nepal for. I would be more than happy to share my trekking experience with you all.

Check out my Mardi Himal Trek experience by clicking this link "The Mardi Himal Trek" to know about the trek.

PARAGLIDING & ZIP LINING

If you are craving for some adrenaline rush, well then Paragliding and Zip Lining are definitely your thing. it both gives you a 360 degree view of the Lakeside and some mountain views. 

You can easily book a Paragliding tandem flight and Zip Lining anywhere around the Lakeside in Pokhara. Just make sure to find the right and trustworthy agency. For booking of Paragliding, it must be done a day before your designated date. 

I booked my Paragliding flight with Buddha Paragliding for 65USD (including pick-up from hotel and pictures and videos)

ULTRA LIGHT & HELICOPTER TOUR

Ultra Light and Helicopter tour both brings you to a closer and nicer view of the mountains. There are different types of packages for both rides, which starts from 15 minutes to 1 hour. Prices may increase or may be cheaper depending on the season. Both of these tour operates daily and with a very precise schedule time too. They mostly do it in the morning time.

WATER RAFTING

If you fancy some water sports in Nepal, then you would probably enjoy water rafting. There are many rivers in Nepal and in Pokhara. The famous one would be the Mardi River, the water comes from the Holy mountain, Machapuchre. 

Water rafting can get really fun and wet too. I would say that you should definitely pick a perfect and suitable time to do this activity. 

SHOPPING

There are plenty of shops around the Lakeside in Pokhara. You can find a lot of cashmere and wool clothing shops, souvenir shops, stones and runes shops, trekking shops, supermarkets, tea shops and many more others. 

Most of the shops will offer you a good price and bargaining is fine but be sure to be reasonable of what price you are asking for. There is also a higher chance to get a better deal if you buy more things from the shop. But to be honest, everything in Nepal is very affordable.

FOOD TRIP

There are plenty of nice restaurants in Pokhara. Most of the restaurant are actually open very early but close quite early at night time. For some reason, people tends to close early around Nepal. 

HERE ARE SOME OF MY RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION IN POKHARA:

• The Blind Tiger
• The Moondance Restaurant and Bar
• Busy Bee Cafe
• Dunga Restro & Lounge Bar
• The Harbor at the Glacier
• Merhaba Kebab House
• Pokhara Thakali Kitchen
• Pokhara Pizza House
• Cafe Concerto
• The Black and White

RENT A BICYCLE

You can rent a bicycle but not a motorcycle as it is banned by the government due to road safety. Renting a bicycle is very easy. All you have to do is pay the deposit plus the rent fee and while handing over and leaving your passport or identification may be required, in case you didn't return their bikes. A nice bike ride around the Lakeside sounds very refreshing and relaxing. 

Overall, my Nepal experience was great and it is something I would cherish all my life. I would definitely come to Nepal and explore more places that I didn't have the chance to visit.

Would I recommend Nepal? Of course my answer will be Yes! Nepal is very rich in culture and I feel that people should come to Nepal to experience it themselves. 

If you got any questions, feel free to comment below or by email. I will be more than happy to help.

Yours Truly, 

Michelle Chan