After the solo trek to Annapurna Base Camp, I traveled to the Mustang district, followed by Pokhara and Kathmandu. In this post, I will talk about 5 things to do in Nepal. The country is synonymous with Mount Everest or Sagarmatha in Nepalese, meaning “The Head in The Sky.” From volunteering at a Tea Farm, College to exploring Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara, and Mustang District to doing Annapurna Base Camp Trek, I had many unforgettable experiences in Nepal.
THINGS TO DO IN NEPAL: EXPLORE MUSTANG DISTRICT
After a bumpy and long bus ride, I reached the headquarters of Mustang district, i.e. Jomsom (2740 m). Mustang Valley reminds me of Spiti Valley, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. Naked mountains, Himalayas, Tibetan Influence on Culture, Serene monasteries, Cold desert. Mustang is also known for its production of Apples like Himachal Pradesh. After spending a night at Jomsom, I traveled to Kagbeni (2800 m). I went straight to the Kag Chode Monastery at Kagbeni. As a happy coincidence, a theatre troupe from Kathmandu was performing a Tibetan play at the monastery that day. I spend a couple of hours enjoying the play. After lunch, i.e. organized by the monastery, I explored Kagbeni with a volunteer from the monastery. He gave me some insights into the town. We spoke about local culture, food, and Buddhist philosophy. I decided to continue my journey to Muktinath. I hitchhiked to Muktinath from Kagbeni. Muktinath is a sacred pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. It is located at an elevation was 3760m. After visiting the Muktinath Temple and Muktinath Monastery, I traveled back to Jomsom the same day and to Pokhara the next day.
THINGS TO DO IN NEPAL: EXPLORE POKHARA
I quite liked the Pokhara vibe. It is classified as a city, but I would say it is a Big cozy town. I stayed in the Lakeside area. I absolutely loved walking on the promenade along Phewa Lake and sitting on the lakeshore. I was totally engrossed during my visit to the International Mountain Museum. I learnt a lot about the history of the Himalayas. I enjoyed hiking to the World Peace Pagoda. The views of Pokhara from the top are majestic. Other attractions in Pokhara are Devi’s fall, Sarangkot, Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, Barahi Temple, Mahendra Cave, Begnas Lake etc. If you are looking to do Bungee Jumping, then you are at the right place. One of the highest bungee jumps in the world is located around 60 km from Pokhara, i.e. at The Cliff Nepal. I made Pokhara my base and did Annapurna base camp trek, and explored the Mustang district.
THINGS TO DO IN NEPAL: EXPLORE KATHMANDU VALLEY
I took a shared van from Pokhara to reach Kathmandu. In Kathmandu, I used Couchsurfing. I stayed on the outskirts of Kathmandu city. Away from the hustle-bustle! Two brothers and their parents hosted me. Nice people with clean hearts. During my 3 nights stay, I explored quite a bit of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, all in the Kathmandu valley. Durbar squares (Royal palace squares) in each city, known as Kathmandu Durbar square, Patan Durbar square and Bhaktapur Durbar square, respectively, are included in the UNESCO world heritage sites. These three places are ancient cities with rich culture and architecture. Due to the 2015 earthquake, a lot of infrastructures were damaged. Some have been restored, and some are under restoration. Even after the destruction, the beauty of these squares is a sight to behold. I absolutely loved exploring these squares, adjacent markets and its cozy lanes. It felt like I am transported to a different era. Two important Buddhist sites are found in Kathmandu, i.e. Swayambhunath and Boudhanath. Swayambhunath is located at the top of a hill. It also provides a great bird’s-eye view of Kathmandu city. While hiking to the Swayambhunath, be wary of monkeys! Boudhanath stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. Do explore the nearby market. Half an hour’s walk from Boudhanath will take you to Pashupatinath Temple. The sprawling Hindu temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. One of the most visited sites in Nepal. Do not forget to try Momos and Newar cuisine when in Kathmandu! Narayan Dai Ko Famous Momo, a shop located at the Kathmandu Durbar square, is famous for its momos.
THINGS TO DO IN NEPAL: VOLUNTEER IN NEPAL
After exploring Kathmandu, I travelled to Ilam. Ilam is known for its tea plantations. I volunteer at a tea farm for a week before leaving Nepal. Apart from the tea farm, I volunteer at a college in the far-west province of Nepal. If you are into volunteer travel, then Nepal has a lot of opportunities for you. A quick search on the workaway website will present many options in diverse fields and in the different parts of Nepal. It varies from Himalayan villages, educational institutions, Organic farms, hostels, Adventure sites, National parks etc. An assorted range of options to choose from based on your interests. Volunteering is a great way to support the local community, acquire new skills and immerse yourself in the local culture. You can read about my volunteer experiences in Nepal here.
THINGS TO DO IN NEPAL: DO A HIMALAYAN TREK
Traveling to Nepal and not doing a Himalayan trek is unacceptable 😉 There are treks from Easy to Moderate to Difficult. The length of the trek varies from 1 day to 3 weeks and more. The easiest one is Nagarkot panoramic hiking trail starting from Nagarkot village. It is a 12 km trail and offers stunning views of the Himalayas. Nagarkot is a village located around 28 km from Kathmandu. The most famous trek for non-professional climbers in Nepal has to be the Everest Base Camp trek. It takes 2 weeks to complete the trek. The base camp is located at an elevation of 5300 m. Pikey Peak Trek is a great alternative to EBC Trek as It takes 5 days. It also offers a view of Mount Everest. Other treks are Annapurna Circuit Trek, Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek, Langtang Valley Trek, Manaslu Circuit Trek, Poon Hill Trek, Three Passes Trek, Upper Mustang Trek etc. The only trek I did in Nepal was the Annapurna Base Camp trek. You can read about my ABC trek experience here.
