Nepal
Once Upon Time in Nepal ...
Important informations
Be sure to bargain on purchases. Nepali Artisans can sell their products at high prices.
Clarify the price before getting in the taxi. Once you take a taxi, it may be too late. Transportation by taxi is cheap in Nepal. Taxi drivers add a device with a button next to the steering wheel to their vehicles. In this way, when you get into the taxi, the taxi driver increases the taximeter wildly by pressing this button rapidly when you are distracted. You can get off the taxi with prices you never want. attention 😀
Festivals are very important for Nepalese People. they can invite you into the game and throw water and paint, especially during water and paint festivals. I suggest you don't react angry. They poured a bucket of water over my head while I was walking in Thamel. I continued on my way without making a sound. with the anger trapped inside of me... 😀
Also, I've never been unfamiliar with the name. Half of Nepalese men share the same name as me. with only one letter difference. They call Bahadur instead of Bahadur. 😀
NEPAL TRANSPORTATION AND VISA
Nepal is in South Asia. To the north is China to the south, to India. Nepal can be reached in two different ways by plane. The first is by direct flight from Istanbul Airport, the other is by connecting to Doha or another city from Sabiha Gökçen. direct flight takes about 7 hours. The total flight time of the stopover is approximately 10 hours. One night stay in a hotel in Doha and continue to Kathmandu the next day.
There is a visa application at the door in Nepal. The visa fee varies according to the number of days you will stay. You can get a visa at the entrance with your passport, 2 current passport photos and the visa fee in dollars.
SHORT NEPAL HISTORY
Nepal was ruled by kings with absolute monarchy until 1990. It started to be ruled by a parliamentary monarchy after 1990. Civil war broke out in 1996 with the people and the Maoist revolutionary movement rising against the absolute monarchy. 13000 people lost their lives until the agreement in 2006. In 2008, a full parliamentary system was adopted. In this process, the Maoists (Nepal Communist party) have achieved great success. One of the most interesting events in recent history is that in 2001 Prince Dipendra killed 11 royal family members, including King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya, and then killed himself. The cause of this event is still unknown..
I worked for about a year in 2005-2006 due to work. this was the last days of the civil war. i was working at the new american embassy construction site. Sometimes we would stay at the hotel for days and not go to work because of these confusions. It contains a wide variety of religions, but 80% of the population is Hindu. 8 of the world's 14 highest points are within the borders of Nepal and the world's highest peak is in Nepal on Everest.
The climate gets harsher as you go higher in Nepal. Winters in Kathmandu are cold, although not very harsh. Snow is a little difficult to see. It even snowed for 10 minutes after a long time when I was there. the people there stated that it was the first in 20 years. In summer, monsoon climate prevails and heavy rain falls. therefore, the best time to visit is during the winter season.
DAILY LIFE
Nepal has about 28 million inhabitants. Its capital is Kathmandu. Because there are many different communities, many different languages are spoken. The official language of the country is Nepali and more than half of the country speaks this language. 80% of the country is Hindu, 10% Buddhist, the remaining 10% luxury part consists of Muslims and people of other religions. There is a caste system. It is one of the least developed and poverty-stricken countries in the world. The literacy rate is around 50%. The currency is Nepalese Rupee (NPR). After the 2015 earthquake, many protected buildings were demolished, some of them were lifted again, but most of them remained empty. The cleanliness of the streets is not good. Sometimes the garbage stays on the streets for days. Nepal is not a dangerous country for tourists. It is one of the countries where you can travel comfortably...
KATMANDU
Thamel
This is the liveliest center of Kathmandu. All hotels, bars, restaurants. Souvenir shops are usually found here. If you really want to have fun, this is the right address. you leave yourself to the rhythm of the music and go from one place to another with the dance. It is the region where many tourists from different parts of the world are most concentrated. My favorite bars were Buddha bar and Tom'n'Jerry. A very warm atmosphere welcomes you, especially at Buddha Bar.
Durbar Square
The palace where the oldest royal families lived is in this region. You can reach here in a short time by passing through the side streets of Thamel. It is on the UNESCO world heritage list. Many buildings in the square were destroyed in the 2015 earthquake. The buildings in the square are impressive and majestic. features woodwork is remarkable.
Swayambhunath Stupa
Also known as Monkey Temple. This place has been called the Monkey temple since 1970. You can reach here by climbing 365 steep steps. Since it is located at a high point, you can watch the city panoramically. this is a complex of dome-shaped stupas and temples. The temples are quite impressive and ornate. It is one of the holiest Buddhist temples in Nepla. It is believed to have been built by King Manadeva. It has been active since the 5th century AD. The monkeys found here are considered sacred. According to legend, the lice in the hair of Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom, turned into these monkeys.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square is located in the center of Lalitpur, Nepal. It is one of three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is paved with red bricks. There are many temples in the area. Patan's ancient royal palace overlooks the magnificent Durbar Square. This dense mass of temples is perhaps the most visually stunning display of Newari architecture to be seen in Nepal. It was damaged in the earthquake in 2015.
NBRC Kopan Monastery
Kopan Monastery was founded on a hill just north of the ancient Buddhist city of Boudhanath. You can enjoy the view of Kathmandu valley from the large terrace of the monastery. Surrounded by Bodhi trees around the monastery, this monastery was also home to the king of Nepal, who was an astrologer. The llamas came here in 1969 with their first western disciples. Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the reincarnation of Lawudo Lama, established this monastery for local children in 1971, keeping the promise that Lawudo Lama had made in the past. 360 monks are currently studying in Kopan.
Visitors come from all over the world. You feel a different energy when you visit this place. For this reason, it is one of the frequent destinations for tourists who want to find inner peace. you can sit on the grass and store energy for hours.
NAGARKOT
Nagarkot is at the northern end of the Kathmandu Valley, 32 km northeast of Kathmandu. Nagarkot is famous for its Himalayan landscapes – the Himalayan peaks at sunrise are an amazing sight to behold. If you came for a short time, you want to extend your vacation. Nagarkot is surrounded by dense forest-covered pine tree hills, giving you an idyllic landscape.
In this place, which I visited with my two french friends, we visited the villages by walking a lot. We played a game similar to billiards with the locals in a village. we can say that billiards is played sitting down and is cheap.
POKHARA
It is the largest metropolitan area in terms of area and the second largest metropolitan area in the country in terms of population. It is on the shore of Lake Phewa. The lake is ideal for tourism. The Annapurna Mountain Range, which has three of the ten highest peaks in the world, is within this valley. Pokhara is the center of Nepal tourism. It is a more tropical region than Kathmandu. nature is very beautiful. You can join walking tours. You can see different kinds of animals and relax by the lake in the evening.
WHAT TO EAT AND DRINK IN NEPAL
No matter which country you go to in the whole Asian continent, you will definitely encounter various types of the dish called ravioli in our country. Nepal's ravioli is called Momo. Pastry dishes, rice and spices are popular in Nepalese cuisine as in all of Asia. The thukpa, which is made from meat and vegetables as a soup, is famous.
One of the things you should pay attention to is tea. If you just want tea without explanation (due to the British influence), it comes with milk. You should specify that it is dairy-free.
Rafting is one of the fun activities...
