Tourism in Nepal

1. Background information:

Nepal is located in the north of the South Asian subcontinent, bordering China's Tibet in the north and India in the southeast and west. Nepal has an area of about 14, square kilometers and a population of more than 2 million. Mainly divided into Aryan and Mongolian lineages. It is the only Hindu country in the world. It is also the birthplace of Buddha Sakyamuni. The terrain here rises northward from the southern region with an altitude of only 7 meters to 8848 meters. There are not only tropical jungles where Bengal tigers and rhinos live, but also the Himalayas, the roof of the world. The civilization of Nepal can be traced back to the day when Christ was born thousands of years ago.

Nepal's political system is a constitutional monarchy with multi-party cooperation. (Recently, Nepal's activities are very active and the political situation is not very stable.) The tourist season is April-May for mountaineering and October-November for hiking and drifting. During the peak season, the transportation and accommodation expenses increase obviously. Nepal has a pleasant climate, with an average maximum of 3 degrees and a minimum of degrees. June, July, August and September are rainy seasons.

2. Visa:

There are only two places to apply for a visa to Nepal in China, one in Beijing and the other in Lhasa. The signing procedure is very simple. Just hand in a photo, fill out a form and pay a visa fee (27 yuan, Lhasa, Beijing 255 yuan, Beijing Consulate Tel: 65321795). The Nepalese Consulate in Lhasa is open from 1: 3 to 12: from Monday to Friday, and you can get a visa the next day. It is said that it is a lot of trouble to apply for a visa at the Nepalese embassy in Beijing, because I applied for a visa in Lhasa, so I am not sure.

3. Transportation:

1. Land

Lhasa-Kathmandu: You can find a Toyota jeep to take the delegation to Zhangmu at Ya Hostel in Lhasa, with a price of 2-3 yuan per person, and you can arrive at Zhangmu on the same day. Nice scenery along the way! But we must gather enough people to leave. Another way is to go from Lhasa to Shigatse, and then find a bus from Shigatse to Zhangmu. The price is similar to that from Lhasa to Zhangmu. It is said that there is a bus from Lhasa to Zhangmu, but when I went there, I just happened to catch up with some road collapses in the rainy season and stopped.

When you leave the country from Zhangmu Port, you have to go downhill to Friendship Bridge. This terrible road is about 8 kilometers long, and you can go down by car. However, Nepal's quotation is extremely outrageous and requires great patience. Fortunately, there are a lot of cars to attract customers, and it usually takes only 15-2 yuan to make a deal. Cross Friendship Bridge and enter KODARI Port, and there will be a bus to Kathmandu. The bus fare is about 3 or 4,3 rupees a day. Or you can go to BAHRABISE first and then to Kadu. There are many buses from KODARI to BARHRABISE and from the latter to Kadu, which add up to about 2 rupees.

2. Airplane (Because I don't have the money to fly, the information may not be accurate! )

The only domestic direct flights to Nepal are Shanghai and Hong Kong, both of which are operated by Royal Nepalese Airlines. There are two classes in Shanghai every week, Tuesdays and Fridays, and the fare fluctuates greatly with the season. The standard one-way price is $375, and only $25 in the off-season. There are more flights in Hong Kong, three or four times a week, and there are also stops in Bangkok.

4. Attractions in Nepal:

1. Kathmandu Palace Square: It is a symbol of royal power in history, and there are many ancient temples where the coronation ceremony of the king was held. The square is small, surrounded by many exquisite ancient buildings of different sizes, pagodas and shrines. The walls and eaves of buildings are covered with all kinds of statues.

2. Pasubadinat Temple: Located 5 kilometers east of Kathmandu, this temple is famous for its gorgeous architecture with double gold roofs and silver doors and windows. Unfortunately, this temple only allows Hindus to enter. There is a muddy river in front of Pasubadinat Temple, which is the holy river Bagmati River. The biggest wish of Hindus before they die is to lie on the river in front of the temple, wash their feet with the water of the holy river and die there. On the banks of both banks of the river, square platforms are built, which is the place where the river altar is cremated. It is said that the river altar in the north of the bridge is burned by gentlemen or nobles. The body of the deceased was first washed in the sacred river, wrapped in a shroud, and then carried on a woodpile with thick sleepers. Then, the eldest son and his family carried the deceased around the woodpile clockwise for three times, and then ignited it. First, it was burned from the mouth, and then the firewood under it was ignited until it was reduced to ashes. Finally, the ashes of the deceased were scattered into the river. At this point, the funeral ceremony is complete.

3. Patan: Founded in 299 AD, it is located in the southeast of Kathmandu with an area of 18 square kilometers. The beauty here is true and false, and you can't fully understand it in person. The red clay brick wall with clear lines under the blue sky is bright and graceful; The exquisitely patterned black-brown wood carving doors, windows and columns show exquisiteness and elegance; The shape of the square double eaves is a solemn and implicit comment; The stone temple, which consists of 21 vaulted cylindrical pavilions, is tall and majestic with a three-dimensional sense of space. The stone lion statue on the octagonal stone foundation holds its head high, and the reliefs on the colonnade and tower eaves are quaint and generous. The overall shape of the temple is comparable to that of ancient Roman architecture.

4. Sway Buna Pagoda: It is a world-famous Buddhist building, which is said to have a history of two thousand years. It is about three kilometers west of Kathmandu and is located on the top of a hill. According to legend, this is the place where the original Buddha Swa Buna appeared. From the foot of the mountain, it takes more than 3 steps to reach the building complex at the top of the mountain. The pagoda is a white steamed bun-shaped abutment with a brick square support and a brass-wrapped conical spire. What is even more striking is that each wall of the pedestal is painted with a pair of unforgettable big eyes-Zu's god eyes, which see everything and look kindly at the world. Next to it is a Tibetan Buddhist temple with a glittering prayer wheel under the tower. This place is also called the Monkey Temple. It is said that Manjushri, the ancestor of Nepalese from China, once shaved here. His hair turned into a tree, and lice in his hair turned into countless monkeys. There are really many monkeys on the mountain. The small ones follow the big ones, and the old ones run around with sucklings on their backs, not afraid of people.

5. Pokhara: It is located about 2 kilometers west of Kathmandu. It is famous for its lakes and snow-capped mountains. Standing on the platform of the hotel, you can see the lake with green waves nearby and towering green mountains in the distance. (But there are more mosquitoes by the lake in summer! )

6. Chiwanda National Forest Park is a good place to watch wild animals, where you can see monkeys, rhinoceroses, crocodiles, tigers, sika deer, peacocks, pheasants and other wild animals.

7. Drifting: Personally, I think it is a very interesting activity that should be participated in the most, but it must be done in a good season! The best season for rafting is from October to November. You can choose a river of Grade 4 or above, and there is a line that floats from the Chinese border to the Indian border for 9 days. According to the tour guide of that travel agency, you have done nothing but scream these nine days! Of course, the price is enough to make you scream. 15 dollars. (Tel: 977-1-439525 www. TLR-Nepal.com)

V. Travel agencies:

There are a dime a dozen travel agencies in Kathmandu, and you can find any one that can arrange everything from buying bus tickets and air tickets to rafting, hiking, mountaineering or package tours for you. However, you need to be patient and switch to a few more, and find one with a good comprehensive price-performance ratio.

6. Shopping:

On both sides of the street in THAMEL District of Kathmandu are shops one after another, with everything from carpets, national costumes, antiques, dolls, hand-carved wood, postcards, books, spices, various handicrafts to mountaineering and camping equipment. The most distinctive thing in Nepal is the famous Kuerke machete, which is bought in THAMEL, but all of them are fake products with high quality and high price. THAMEL has a specialty store called KHUKURI HOUSE(TEL 412314), which is a specialized store for buying Kuerke machetes. There are all knives with high, medium and low gears. A standard military Kuerke machete is about 12 rupees, but you have to pay a percentage tax (I forget exactly how much, not too much! ) This knife shop generally doesn't bargain. I will give you a certificate when I buy a knife.

7. Diet:

THAME in Kathmandu is a gathering place for tourists from all over the world. It is a tiny place with numerous shops and restaurants, and all kinds of delicious food range from French cuisine to China fried noodles, from Nepalese palace dishes to street snacks. But I suggest you go out of the tourist-only neighborhood like Tamir and try a restaurant where Nepalese locals go. I'm sure you'll get another reward. You need great patience to eat in Nepal, even if you want a cup of tea, you will wait for more than half an hour.

8. Exchange money:

In Zhangmu, the exchange rate is about 1: 9 (one RMB is exchanged for nine Nigerians), and there are also places where you can exchange money. Because the rates are different, you have to transfer to several more places.