Legends abound in Kathmandu. From the mythical beginnings of the valley in which Manjushree, the patron deity of the Kathmandu Valley came upon a lake wherein lay a lotus bloom and struck the southern end of the lake with a sword cleaving the rock and draining the lake to reveal what is today the valley of Kathmandu. The spot where the lotus bloom once stood is marked now by the Stupa of Swoyambhunath, the oldest of its kind in the world and a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.
But more than legends, it is the stark reality that greets you wherever you go in Nepal in the form of the mighty Himalaya that never fails to inspire and instills a sense of awe in you. And there is perhaps no other city, quite like Pokhara from which to admire the immensity of the western Himalaya which rise out of the valley floor a mere 30 kilometers away!
Your tryst with the beauty of the Himalaya are followed by a flight to the Chitwan National Park where the story of one of the most successful conservation efforts in recent times continues to play out in this habitat of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the one horned Rhino in addition to the sloth bear, wild boar, gaur (bison), 4 species of deer, 2 species of monkeys, 2 species of crocodiles, leopards and over 400 species of birds and various reptiles.
This tour involves three half day sightseeing tours in Kathmandu and Pokhara and one and half days of activities in Chitwan. The tour will take you through the Kathmandu Durbar Square – whose temples are some of the finest specimens of Nepalese architecture and the Patan Durbar Square – noteworthy for its fine art and craft in addition to traditional Newari building styles. In addition, the tour will also take you to the Pashupatinath Temple – one of the holiest Hindu shrines in the world and an important pilgrimage stop for Hindus, and Boudhanath Stupa – the largest Stupa of its kind in the world with dome-shaped structure with its all seeing eyes of the Buddha looking to the four cardinal directions.
The flight to Pokhara is short but the views can be breathtaking as the plane wings westward from Kathmandu past Mt. Manaslu (8156 m.) and the Annapurna massif including Mt. Annapurna I (8091 m.), two western Himalayan giants. A half day tour takes in the must-see sites in Pokhara. Spare time in Pokhara allows you to browse the lake side district, go boating on the lake, go zip lining, take in an ultra-light flight or go para gliding! Pokhara is fast turning into the “go to” destination for adventure activities in Nepal.
Just 30 km to the north are 140 unbroken kilometers of the western Himalayan Range including Mt. Annapurna I (8091 m) and Mt. Dhauligiri (8167 m.). The horizon however, is dominated by a far smaller, but infinitely more spectacular peak – Macchapuchhare (6993 m.)or “Fish Tail” which seems to rise off the same valley floor 25 kilometers to the north and spectacularly ends in a “Fish Tailed” peak. Evenings in Pokhara have their own charm especially in the Lake Side district, dotted with fancy restaurants facing the Phewa Lake, lazy shops and simple guest houses with lush gardens that bloom year round.
The drive to Chitwan National Park can take up to four hours through scenic villages and forests. The park is one of the shining examples in conservation efforts in this country. It is a sub-tropical jungle consisting 70% of teak forests bordered by the Siwalik and Mahabharata Ranges, dotted with marshes, swamps and lakes. Designated in 1973 as the Royal Chitwan National Park it covers an area of 932 sq km and is a remnant of the continuous band of forests and grasslands which once extended all the way from Pakistan to Burma. The Park is home most notably to the Royal Bengal Tiger and the great one horned rhinoceros among others. It is also the site of one of the most successful crocodile breeding programs which helped bring back the Gharial (a fish-eating crocodile) back from the brink of extinction. Activities, here include jungle walks, walking with elephant, jungle drives and canoe rides along the river.
| LEVEL: Easy |
| These trips are good for families with children as well as for senior citizens. |