It is a country of several natural wonders, unique culture, a distinct way of life, rich art, and historical architecture. The number of tourists in Nepal is growing every year. It can be a paradise for lovers of the winter holidays. Thousands of foreigners come to the country to taste exquisite Nepalese food.
Other people travel around the country to watch the new species of unique birds and take photos of them. Except this, Nepal is the land of temples that attract foreign tourists from all over the world.
There are really so many reasons to go to this amazing country in South Asia. Given the diverse tourist destinations, it is important to choose the best places to visit in this country. Below we describe some of the most popular landmarks of Nepal.
Mount Everest and the Trek to Base Camp
The highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest reaches 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) high. Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay were the first humans who climbed Everest in 1953. Trekking in the Mount Everest area is popular now because of this legendary occasion.
There are different routes to access the Base Camp that are organized by many trekking companies. Mount Everest and the surrounding territory comprise Nepal’s Sagarmatha National Park listed the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. This region is the most scenic one in Nepal. The high season is from March to May and from September to December.
Boudhanath Stupa
The landmark is not far from Kathmandu, the capital and the largest city in Nepal. The Boudhanath Stupa is one of the world’s largest spherical stupas. It dates to the 6th century or even earlier. Today it is included in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List. All stupas are the symbols of enlightenment but at Boudhanath the symbolism is underlined most clearly.
Each separate shape represents one of the five classical elements. These five are earth, water, air, fire, and aether, and all of them are the attributes of the five Buddhas. Their unity reflects the structure of the universe.
Chitwan National Park
These days it is one of the most visited places in Nepal. The Park is close to the border with India, southwest of Kathmandu. It is listed as the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. It is a perfect place for wildlife watching and taking a jungle safari.
Chitwan Park is home to lots of animal species like Royal Bengal tigers, elephants, rhinoceros, sloth bears, leopards, gaur deer and many others. The local rivers and streams are inhabited by crocodiles and freshwater dolphins. A few hundreds of species of birds live within the Park. The locals call the Park “the second Serengeti” as tourists can move freely there.
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
Swayambhunath is located on a hilltop not far from Thamel, one of the neighborhoods in Kathmandu. Nowadays it is one of the holiest Buddhist places in the region (especially for Nepal’s Tantric Buddhists) and the second most important shrine there, after Boudhanath.
It was based in the 5th century and consists of a large stupa and a group of temples and shrines. Because of the huge number of monkeys that inhabit the temple, Swayambhunath is well-known as the Monkey Temple. Tourists like walking through the picturesque park area there.
Lumbini
Located about 250 kilometers away from Kathmandu, Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha Shakyamuni. It is one of the most popular landmarks of Nepal that listed the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site. It is also one of the holiest places for Buddhists.
Lumbini is notorious for the sacred Bodhi Tree, the pillars of Ashoka, the Shakya Tank, stupas, and the ruins of ancient monasteries. There is the famous Maya Devi Temple and its Sacred Garden. Travelers often visit the Lumbini and Kapilvastu museums there. Lumbini is home to lots of yogis and ascetics.
Durbar Squares
Durbar is the religious and social center of Kathmandu Valley. It is a complex of ancient palaces, temples, shrines, and statues. Durbar Squares are fantastic places that represent the local culture. The famous three Squares are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The Kathmandu Durbar Square boasts a large nine-story palace and several incredible temples. The Durbar Square in Bhaktapur features lots of monuments and a few temples (the others were destroyed by the earthquake in 1934 and damaged in the 2015 earthquake). The famous stone Hindu temple dating to the 17th century is on Patan Durbar Square.
Phewa Lake
Located in the city of Pokhara, it is the second-largest lake in Nepal. The beautiful views of the snow-capped Annapurna mountains extend from Phewa Lake. The holy temple of the Goddess Durga is situated in the center of the lake. It is also a popular landmark in the region.
Lots of pilgrims and tourists reach this pagoda by boat. There are many hotels and restaurants near the lake. They offer wonderful views of the lake. Different water activities, as well as treks and excursions, are popular with travelers. Another side of the lake is covered by dense forests.