Gorkha

Gorkha, situated at 140km west of Kathmandu at an altitude of 1,135 meter, is the ancestral hometown of the Nepal's ruling royal family. Gorkha is only 18 km up a paved road of the Pokhara-Kathmandu Highway. A brief visit on the way to or from Pokhara would provide more insights into Nepal than one is likely to get at lakeside in Pokhara.

Gorkha's small town is perhaps the most important historical town of Nepal. From its hilltop fortess, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the ninth generation paternal ancestor of the present King, launched his lifelong attempt to unify the independent states of Nepal, a wildly ambitious project which succeeded due to his brilliance, and the effectiveness of his locally recruited troops. The British term "Gurkha" evolved from the name Gorkha, referring to the famed fighting soldiers of the region.

Gorkha's centerpiece is the magnificent Gorkha Durbar with a fort, a palace and a temple with excellent views of the surrounding valleys, and the Mansalu range.

Of Interest

Gorkha Bazaar is primarily a cobbled street market place where by people from neighboring hill dwellings come to trade. There are a few temples near about, but not much. Yet, it is worth a visit as it provides a very good vista of the quiet charm that soaks a typical hill village of Nepal.

Gorkha Durbar is the main attraction of Gorkha, an hour steep walk up a hill from the bazaar area. It used to be the dwelling of King Prithvi Narayan and his ancestors. The Durbar itself is a humble, yet quite impressive, complex of a temple, fort, and a palace built in the Newar style of Kathmandu. The view of the Himalayan range and the deep valleys from up there is quite breathtaking.

Gorakhnath Cave, ten meters below the palace's southern side, is the sacred cave temple of Gorkhanath. The cave is is carved out of the solid rock and is among the most important religious sites for mainstream Brahmins and Chhetris of Nepal.

Gorkha is also an alternate starting point for a few trekking routes in the region. Gorkha-Trisuli is an easy three day walk along unspoiled Nepali country side. One can also walk a long day's walk to Besishahar, which is the usual starting point for Annapurna and

Manang area treks. One can also walk through Besishahar area to Pokhara in a four days.

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Getting there
Gorkha is five and half hours from Kathmandu, four and half from Pokhara, and two hours from Chitwan. If travelling by bus, take the bus to Pokhara, get off at Abu Khaireni on the way to Pokhara from Chitwan or Kathmandu. From Abu Khaireni, take a bus to Gorkha, the ride is 21km. If you are travelling to Pokhara from Kathmandu or Chitwan, or vice-versa, you can make Gorkha a daytime stop-over. Bus fare would cost you between US$1-US$3 from Kathmandu, depending on whether you take the local bus or a more comfortable "tourist bus".

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Accommodation
Basically, two choices. Gorkha Hill Resort is a rather expensive upscale hotel (about US$30) with a great view of the Himalayas. The fact that it is located 4km from the town makes it a little inconvenient if you don't have your own transportation. For about US$8, there is also a very basic lodge closer to the town.

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Dining
Not much. There are a number of local eateries serving dal-bhat (the staple Nepali food of rice with vegetables and lentil soup). Gorkha Hill Resort serves decent food (primarily to their guests) for a steep US$8-US$10 price range. If you are there for a day trip, bringing your own sandwich etc. from Kathmandu or Pokhara is perhaps better.

            

Trekking Routes

GORKHA

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          Having 5 hours of drive from Kathmandu, we overcome with a smile of people from the land of Ancient Nepal;the birth place of King Prithvi Narayan Shah - The Great, the Founder of modern Nepal.The beautiful old palace known as Gorkha Durbar with two attractive temples of Gorakhnath & Kali are situated on a hill overlooking the snowy peaks of the Himalayas.


          This is a short trek provided by prettiest foothill scenery, mountain views and village life being away from the crowd.

Tansen (Palpa)

Tansen, an ancient hill town, with its architecture strongly influenced by Newari migrants from the Kathmandu valley is waiting to be discovered by the tourists. Situated at the southern slope of the Mahabharat range; about half way from the Indian border to

Pokhara and the Himalayas, this town offers an opportunity to experience genuine Nepalese culture, away from westernized places like Thamel in Kathmandu or Lakeside in Pokhara. Old artistic Newari houses and cobbled streets shape the townscape. The town's hill, Shreenagar, allows breathtaking views of the Himalayan range from Dhaulagiri in the west to Ganesh Himal in the east.

Tansen is the district administrations headquarter of Palpa district, one out of 75 districts in Nepal, and since 1957 a Municipality. It is itself often referred to as Palpa, and its people (population approx. 13,000 in the core area) as Palpalis.

At an elevation of about 1350-m (4430 ft) above sea level the town experiences a pleasant climate throughout the year. The maximum temperature, even in pre-monsoon times, hardly exceeds 31°C (88 F) and only in December/ January the minimum temperature can fall below 10°C (50 F). The annual precipitation is about 1500 mm of which 90% falls in the monsoon season.

Of Interest

• History
• Language
• Religion
• Economy
• Tansen town
• Sights around the vicinity of Tansen
• Fairs
• Festivals
• Getting there
• Accomodation
• Dining
• Other Useful Information

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History

The name of the town "Tansen" has its origin in Magar language, meaning "northern settlement". Magars are one of the ethnic groups of Nepal having their own language, culture and history, and are assumed to be the first settlers in this area. Around 600 years ago, Nepal was divided into several small kingdoms and hill states. In this region, they were known as "Bahra Magarat", meaning the "twelve regions of Magar". The percentage of Magar population in these districts is very high till today.

During the invasion of Muslims into India, numerous kings and clans escaped from there to the northern hill areas. In the late 15^th century, they entered the Himalayan region. Some of them conquered the local kings and established their own states. The former Sen - Dynasty of Palpa, founded by Rudra Sen, had its roots in those days. Under the reign of his son, Mukunda Sen (1518 - 1553), the kingdom of Palpa reached its largest expansion and Tansen became its capital. The kingdom of Palpa spread as far as the Koshi River in the east, Gorakhpur in the south and today's Gulmi and Kaski districts in the west and north. Mukunda Sen, though unsuccessful, attacked Kathmandu valley too. After ruling thirty-five years, he resigned and spent the rest of his life as a saint.

In 1806, after a lot of political unrest, the kingdom of Palpa, which until then had been independent, was annexed into the kingdom of Nepal and was then administered by a governor, appointed from Kathmandu.Political changes in Nepal brought up changes in the administration too. Today the head of Palpa district is the CDO (Chief District Officer) and Tansen is one out of 58 Municipalities in Nepal.

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LANGUAGE

Due to the diversity of the ethnic groups living in this area, one also finds a diversity of languages spoken. Although the main language is Nepali, in the core area the Newari community is partly using their own tongue as do the Magar people in the surrounding villages.

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RELIGION

The main religion is Hinduism, followed by Buddhism. Parts of the population are Muslim and also a small Christian community has established itself.

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ECONOMY

Before the major road between Butwal and Pokhara was built, connecting the plains of the Terai with the foot of the Himalayas, Tansen was an important commercial center for North/South trade (Tibet/India) and the main bazaar for the surrounding districts. With the development of better infrastructure and industry in this country, which had been molded for centuries by mountains and porter services, the importance is now shifting to the plain Terai, to new industrial centers and into villages along the new roads.

The main occupation of today's inhabitants are in small business and industries, handicraft, trade, public service, health service (United Mission to Nepal runs a big hospital in Tansen) and education. In the surrounding villages, agriculture is still of high importance.

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TANSEN TOWN The town of Tansen is a prosperous looking- collection of red brick houses set on the steep hillside and is among the largest far-flung Newar trading posts scattered across the hills. Though the Newar community forms one of the major communities in this place now, the place originally belonged to the Magar community, one of the most delightful ethnic groups of Nepal.

Tundikhel, the large plateau in the southeast part of the town, near the bus park, is the best starting point to discover the fascinating destinations of the town. The former kings of Palpa made this artificial plateau when they needed a drilling and parade ground. Today Tundikhel is a popular gathering place for people to chat, walk and play in the afternoon. A statue of King Birendra marks the southwest corner of the Tundikhel; the building at the north side is the town hall.

Amar Ganj Ganesh Temple is a beautiful three-storey pagoda style temple. The rest house of the temple that has space to shelter thousand people has been converted into a school. On the premises of the school, there's an old small one-storey temple of Bhairab. The mask of Bhairab, which is worshipped here, was snatched from Kathmandu by Mukunda Sen, King of Palpa. To
get here, one needs to follow the northeast path from Tundhikhel.

Amar Narayan Temple is one of the largest temples in Tansen. The whole temple complex, including the temples, the ponds and the park was built under the reign of Amar Singh Thapa, the first governor of Palpa. According to a legend, a holy spring (or lake) is hidden under the three-storey pagoda style Narayan Temple. The two other temples of the ensemble are dedicated to Vishnu (to the west, next to one of the ponds) and to Shiva (to the south, next to the staircase). The remarkable huge dry stone masonry wall surrounding the whole premises is called "The great wall of Palpa". One can get here by taking a west path from Tundikhel and then turn right to get to the temple at its upper end.

Sital Pati (shady restplace), near Ason Tole, is the most popular square in Tansen. The square is named after the white octagonal shaped building, that lies in the middle of the square. The Sital Pati was built under the order of Khadga Shamsher, governor of Palpa from 1891- 1902. Khadga Shamsher, an ambitious politician, was exiled from Kathmandu after plotting against the Prime Minister.

The south corner of the square leads to Baggi Dhoka, the main gate to the Tansen Durbar, the former palace and today's district administration's headquarter. Baggi Dhoka is the gate where the chariots of religious festivals have to pass through. The fine woodcarvings on the buildings on both sides of the gate represent the fine Newari craftmanship. This Baggi dhoka leads to the palace grounds. The right route leads to the Bhagwati Temple, that was built in 1815 by Col. Ujir Singh Thapa to commemorate the victory over the British-Indian troops in the the battle of Butwal.

If you return to the Durbar grounds and continue your way to the palace itself, you will find an older, smaller palace, built in 1927. Today the Durbar houses the district's administration. There still exists a room called "the throne hall" in the Durbar's second floor.

The gate opposite to the palace leads to Makhan Tole, the main bazaar of Tansen that focuses the town's commericial activity, notably the sale of Dhaka cloth. Of woven cotton or muslin, this cloth is characterised by jagged, linear designs orginally made famous in Bangladesh. With principal colours of red, black and white, the cloth is used to make saris as well as "topis" (Palpali topi), the hat that is an intergral part of the national dress for men.

Taksar is another interesting place of the town, where for centuries the famous bronze and brass works of Tansen were produced. One can have a look at how the famous ancient articles such as Karuwa (water jug), Hukka (water pipe), Antee (jug for Nepali brandy) etc are produced.

Shreenagar hill, at 1525 m high, is about an hour uphill from the town center. While climbing this hill, one can not only enjoy a breath-taking panoramic view of the Himalayas running from Dhaulagiri in the west to Ganesh Himal in the east, but also get pleasure of passing through peaceful forest, pine plantation and decidious forest with a lot of beautiful rhododendron flowers. There is a statue of Buddha at the eastern end of Shreenagar ridge. It takes about half an hour to reach this statue. Thai monks donated the Buddha statue with the monkey and elephant. It commemorates a part of Buddha's life. According to the legend, when Buddha was meditating in a jungle for roughly three months, a monkey and an elephant served him in many ways.

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Sights around the vicinity of Tansen

Ghorbanda - Kumal Gau (Potter's Village) The village of Ghorbanda is on the way to Pokhara from Tansen. It is the best place to see the unique style of pottery making in Nepal. The articles produced here are traditional water pitchers, pots and "Handa" (a vessel with holes in the bottom; used for brewing rokshi, which is Nepali brandy).

Ranighat Ranighat is the palace built on the banks of the Kali Gandaki river by Khadka Shamsher in remembrance of his beloved wife Tej Kumari. It takes about two hours to reach this place from Tansen. On the way, one has to pass through a small settlement called "Hatti Dhunga" (elephant stone).

Ramdi A half days walk through fertile landscape shaped by terraced rice fields lead to Ramdi at the banks of the Kali Gandaki. Ramdi is a "Ghat" (cremation place) where people bring their deceased relatives for their final rites. Besides this, Ramdi is famous for its cave temples, where the

farmers from surrounding villages offer milk to protect their cattle from leopards and jackals.

Ridi Ridi, sacredly located at the confluence of the Ridi Khola (stream) and the Kali Gandaki, is visited by pilgrims from Nepal and India who take holy bathes and worship at the temples. Additionally, like in Pashupatinath, in Kathmandu, old people

arrive and stay here to take their last breath and get cremated at the banks of the holy Kali Gandaki. Furthermore, Ridi is the locality for the biggest yearly fair of the area. The walk down to Ridi will take around five hours, rewarded by beautiful landscape. To return to Tansen, we suggest you takae a bus or jeep.

Bhairabsthan A pleasant walk along the mountain ridge to the west of Tansen will bring you the alleged largest golden trident of Nepal. After walking roughly 9 kms, you will reach Bhairabsthan, a temple sitting atop a hillock. The temple's statue of Bhairab iis kept hidden, because it's sight is unbearably frightening and it is said that people who catch a glimpse of it are in danger of losing their liver. So even the priests worship the statue from behing a curtain.

The main days of worshipping for the common people are Tuesday and Saturday. In the yard of the temple you can see the largest golden trident of Nepal, the centre of the ceremonies. From the temple's terraces you again have a beautiful view of the Himalayan range.

Satyawati Lake To leave the beaten track and visit the site of an important fair, Satyawati lake, a bit more effort is needed. You have to take a morning bus to Butwal and get off at "Chaubis Mile"(Twenty four miles). From there you first descend to the valley of the river Tinau and then steeply ascend through dense jungle (it deserves the name here) to the pecuilar lake on the top of the mountain ridge. The lake is said to be the home of a goddess. To avoid backtracking and

to have impressive views of the Himalayan range, you should follow the ridge to the south and then descend through picturesque villages back to the road and take a bus to Tansen.

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Fairs

Maghe Sankranti Mela (Ridi Mela), held in Magh (Jan/Feb) in Ridi Bazaar, is the most important fair of this region. The fair, lasting three days, is well known for the sale of local handicrafts and products such as woolen blankets, wooden pots, bamboo products, sugarcane cakes, walnuts, medical herbs and a kind of dried cottage cheese.

Besides the busy trading, a large number of Hindu pilgrims from different parts of Nepal and India take a holy bath in the Kali Gandaki River and worship at Ridikesh Temple.

Satyawati Mela (Night Fair) is held in the full moon night of Kartik (Oct./ Nov) at Satyawati Lake. According to the legend an old goddess lives here, Satyawati Bajai (grandma). Today she is said to be hard of hearing, she possesses supernatural powers. Pilgrims from the surrounding hill districts and Terai attend this mela to ask Satyawati Bajai to fulfil their hopes. For that, they circle the lake three times shouting their wishes for sons, employment, wealth, death of enemies etc to this goddess. Goats and cocks are sacrificed and pigeons are set free. Mute children should drink the waters of the lake to be healed. The fair which starts in the evening, ends before sunrise, so as not to offend the goddess.

Parvas Mela is held on Shivaratri in Fagun (Feb./Mar.) in Parvas, 6kms south of Tansen.

Lalpati Mela is held on Holi in Fagun (Feb./Mar) in Lalpati in the center of Madi valley.

Rambha Pani Mela is held on Krishnaastami in Bhadra (Aug. /Sept.) in Rhamba Pani, 30 kms east of Tansen.

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Festivals

It goes without saying that the Palpalis celebrate the Hindu and Buddhist festivals listed in the Nepali festival calendar. But there is a week of special festivals in this area worth mentioning, starting with Janai Purnima at the full moon day in August.

On Janai Purnima, Brahmin and Chetri men change their religious threads, worn from shoulder to waist. Traditionally on this day, the Gai Jatra Festival is announced for the following day.

Gai Jatra (Cow Festival) was launched by a former king of the Kathmandu valley to heal his wife from a deep depression after the death of the prince in a smallpox epidemic. So this festival combines the remembrance of the deceased with an attempt to cheer up the mourners. Families who experienced a death during the previous year form

processions through the town singing religious songs. Children of the mourning families, dressed like kings and saints, lead some of these processions. Wealthy families may even hire a choir for an impressive remembrance procession in the evening. Huge artificial cows, made of bamboo, cloth, paper etc. are carried around, accompanied by clowns. These groups perform small ironic and satirical dramas in public squares and entertain the town.

Gai Jatra is followed by Ropai Jatra (Rice Planting Festival), when farmers of the area show the city people the pleasure of rice planting, "ploughing" the streets of Tansen while singing folk songs. On the next day's Bag Jatra (Tiger Festival) men dressed as tigers and hunters roam around the town to caricature the favorite hobby of the old rulers.

For the Chariot Festival, where chariots of Ganesh (elephant headed god of success), Bhimsen (strongest hero) and Narayan (one out of the trinity of Hindu gods) are carried through Tansen, the town inhabitants light candles in their windows and offer flowers, fruit and money to the chariots passing through their houses.

Bhagwati Jatra marks the end and climax of the week of festivals. The goddess Bhagwati, who symbolizes power, supported the fight against the British-Indian troops. People stay in the Bhagwati temple the night through to worship, sing, dance and observe the placing of a statue of Bhagwati into a chariot.
The following morning government officials, as well as the army, police and many Palpalis make up a large procession through the town. However, due to the topography of the town the chariots do not have wheels and are not pulled by animals, but are carried by members of a special ethnic group, the Kumal, whose usual occupation is pottery.

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Getting There

From Kathmandu
Daily bus services (duration 8 - 10 hours)
7.00 a.m.: "Sitara bus" leaving from the new buspark in the north of Kathmandu.
6.30 a.m.: "Sajha bus" leaving from Sajha bus station in Patan Pulchowk.
5.00 p.m.: "Nightbus" leaving from the new buspark in the north of Kathmandu.

You can also fly from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa and take a bus up to Tansen. Unfortunately, there is no direct bus service and you have to change buses in Butwal.

From Pokhara
Daily bus service (duration 6-8 hours) 7.00 a.m. Tourist coach to Sunauli. You have to get off at Bartung junction and take a bus or jeep for the 4-km link road to Tansen.

From Chitwan
There are two possibilities to reach Tansen. Having made your way from the National Park to Narayanghat, you can either catch the "Sitara bus" or "Sajha bus" coming from Kathmandu on its way to Tansen (duration 4 -5 hours), both buses arrive around noon in Narayanghat Pulchowk; or take one of the several buses to Butwal (duration 2 - 3 hours) and change there for a bus to Tansen.

From Lumbini
Unfortunately, there is no direct bus service from Lumbini to Tansen. You have to change buses in Bhairawa as well as in Butwal.

From Butwal
It can be easily seen that Butwal is the most important traffic junction for Palpalis to nearly all destinations. Buses leave every 40 min. for Tansen, as do buses from Tansen to Butwal. The duration of the journey is approx. 2 hours.

From Sunauli
There is a daily tourist coach service from Sunauli to Pokhara. You have to get off at Bartung junction and take a bus or jeep for the 4km link road to Tansen. Several local buses leave Sunauli for Butwal, where you have to change a bus to Tansen.

From Bardia
There is a direct bus service twice a week from Guleria via Kohalpur to Tansen, and daily buses leave from Kohalpur to Butwal, where you can easily get a bus to Tansen. For departure times, connections and length of journey, please ask your hotel or lodge in Bardia National Park.

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Accommodation

There are large number of low budget accomodation around the buspark. The approximate cost to stay a night or two around nice hotels range in price between US$5-US$15. "Srinagar", "The Bajra", "The White Lake" and "Gauri Shankar" are some of the decent hotels of this place.

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Dining

There are large number of small restauants in the town, selling Nepali dishes and snacks. "Nanglo West" restuarant at Sital Pathi square is one of the excellent restuarants that serves western style, Palpali, Nepali, Indian and Chinese cuisine. Hotel Srinagar provides some western meals too.

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More Information

Tansen Municipality Office
Tundikhel, opening hours 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Telephone: 20109/129

Tourist Information Center
Tansen Municipality runs a tourist information center on the campus road near the buspark. Basic information is available here, concerning in-town hotels, bus connections and tickets etc. Opening hours 11a.m. - 1p.m. daily, except Saturdays.

Money Exchange
The Rastriya Banijya Bank at Makhan tole, near the Tansen Durbar, changes a limited amount of foreign currencies, including US $, German Mark, British Pound, French Franc. It also cashes travelers cheques.

News
The two English language newspapers published in Nepal, "Kathmandu Post" and "Rising Nepal" are available in the town.

Communication
There are several shops and hotels offering national and international fax and telephone services.

Hospital
United Mission Hospital to the east of the town, telephone number: 20111. A number of western doctors of various nationalities are available here.

Cinema
A cinema hall showing Nepali and Hindi movies is situated near the Tansen Durbar.

Possible Purchases
Quintessentially products of Palpa include Karuwa, dhaka cloth and dhaka topi. These can be obtained from many shops in the town.

Information Providers for places to visit in Tansen are by:

PALPA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

GETUP PALPA, GROUP FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND TOURISM UPGRADING.

DED, GERMAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICE.

Hilly Region

Kathmandu Vally

The Kathmandu Valley, the capital, is the political, commercial and cultural hub of Nepal. Spread across an area of 360 square kilometers and at an altitude of 1336 meter above the sea level, Kathmandu is an exotic and fascinating showcase of a very rich culture, art and tradition. The valley, roughly oval bowl measuring 24 km east-west and 19 km north-south, is encircled by a range of green terraced hills and dotted by compact clusters of red tiled-roofed houses.

A remarkable legend speaks that the valley was once covered by a lake until the Bodhisattva Manjushri raised his sword of wisdom and sliced a passage through the mountain walls, draining the water and creating the first settlements. The valley embraces most of Nepal's ethinc groups, but Newars are the indigenous inhabitants and the creators of the valley's splendid civilization.

Not very long ago, it was said that there were just as many houses as there were temples and shrines in Kathmandu valley. Now, of course, that fact does not hold true because of the rapid urbanization and population growth in the

last three decades. Nevertheless, the valley still exhibits a living, breathing entity,a vital culture that has miraculously survived till now.

The valley consists of three fabulous cities of great historic and cultural interest. These legendry cities go by the names of:

• Kathmandu
  
• Lalitpur or Patan
  
• Bhaktapur

Beyond the urban milieu of these three ancient cities of the Kathmandu Valley, there are also villages and small towns that provide charming glimpses of rural life.

• Bandipur (in the Kathmandu-Pokhara Prithivi Highway)
  
• Banepa
  
• Daman
  
• Dhulikhel
• Nala
  
• Nagarkot
• Phulchowki
  
• Shivapuri
  
• Tika Bhairav
  
• Timal Narayan

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Getting Around

Sightseeing can be best done on foot or ride a bike in Kathmandu Valley. Bus travel in the city is cheap but a little time-consuming and crowded. The cenral bus station to travel around the valley in Kathmandu city is at Bagbazar and that of Lalitpur is at Lagankhel. There are trolley buses (electric buses) that operate from Tripureshwor (near the national stadium in Kathmandu city) to Bhaktapur city. Taxis or cabs are reasonably priced, but you will probably have to bargain on the price in advance as drivers are sometimes unwilling to use the meter. There are three wheeler environmentally friendly white and green tempoes. The main station of these tempoes is at Newroad, infront of Royal Nepal Airlines office. They are cheaper and fastest means of travel around the three cities of Kathmandu valley. There are motorbikes for hire around freak street such as Thamel.
You can't rent cars to drive yourself, but you can rent a car with a driver - a trip around the valley will cost you about $40 plus fuel.

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Accomodation

Kathmandu City offers excellent ranges of places to stay, from expensive international style hotels to cheap and comfortable lodges. Thamel is the tourist quarter of Kathmandu city. In general the lodges of Thamel provide a double room for $5 to $10 per night (depending upon your bargaining skills) with basic facilities like running hot shower facilities, flush toilets, foam mattresses and clean sheets. Then there are the so-called "hotels". Most of these are slightly more luxurious than the "lodges" with probably attached bath, carpeting, furniture etc. These hotels quote their prices in dollars ranging on average $15-$40 per night. Finally you can also stay at "luxury hotels" which are generally Over-priced, like any world-class hotel, at a range of $100-$300 per night.
Hotels in Kathmandu City

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Dining

Eating out in Kathmandu is a real joy because of the tremendous variety of restaurants to be found here. There are plenty of restaurants that offer traditional Nepalese festival dishes, international cuisine such as Italian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Indian, Korean and so on.
In Kathmandu, you should try Newari cuisine: the Newars (original inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley) have a very rich history of culinary art.
Since Nepal is a Hindu Kingdom, beef is strictly prohibited among both the Hindus and Buddhist. Hence it is little bit difficult to find restaurants that offer beef.
Restuarants

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Season
The popular time to visit Kathmandu is August through December. Medium-weight and easy to wash cottons can be a good choice year-round in the Kathmandu valley. It is recommended that between October to February, woolen sweaters, jackets or similar other warm outfits are necessary. For months from June to August, it is recommended that you bring an umbrella or raincoat and a pair of sandals with you as these months are the rainy months in the Kathmandu Valley. Expect lot of walking even if you don't plan to trek. So it's recommended that you bring comfortable footwear: sneakers and sandals are the best.

Lumbini

Lumbini is the place where the Gautama Buddha was born. The exact year of his birth is strongly disputed, with possible dates ranging from the 11th to the 6th century BC. The town of Lumbini is one of the four holy places in Buddhism: the sites of his birth, enlightenment, first discourse, and death. All of these occurred outside, in nature.The site remained neglected for centuries. Only in 1895 it was rediscovered by a German archaelogist. A temple and a bathing pool are believed to be originals from the era of Buddhas birth. The Buddha himself exhorted his followers to visit what are now known as the four original places of Buddhist pilgrimage: Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.The Buddha himself exhorted his followers to visit what are now known as the four original places of Buddhist pilgrimage: Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.The Buddha himself exhorted his followers to visit what are now known as the four original places of Buddhist pilgrimage: Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Sarnath and Kushinagar.

                        Master Plan

The Lumbini Master Plan as prepared by famous Architect Kenjo Tange in 1978 covers an area of three square miles on north-south and encompasses three zones each covering one square mile. The three zones are united by a 1.474 meter walkway and a canal. The zones are

a. the sacred Garden
b. the Monastic zone and
c. the New Lumbini Village

The heart of the design is the Sacred Garden located in the southern part. The ultimate objective of the design is to create an atmosphere of spirituality, peace Universal brotherhood and nonviolence consistent with the time and Buddha's message to the world. The Sacred Garden shelters the ancient monuments at the center in a freshly restored atmosphere of serene and lush forest all around the complex.

(map of lumbini)

The Monastic zone is situated in the forest area north of the Sacred garden, divided by a canal, there are East and West Monastic Enclaves having 42 plots each allotted for new monasteries of Theravada and Mahayana sects of Buddhism. Nearby, across the central link bridge, a research center, a library, an auditorium, and a museum provide facilities for research and study on Buddhism.
The Northern part of the site is being developed as the New Lumbini Village which is also a gateway to the outer world where the visitors can find comfortable lodges and restaurants offering high standard facilities.

Concerning the birth of the Lord Buddha here, the Chinese account articulates a very interesting incident saying that Queen Mayadevi, mother of the lord had a bath at the pool here and then grasped the branch of a tree facing the east, she brought forth the Lord on the ground thus, making Lumbini a sacred place. It is also said that Lord Buddha walked seven steps as soon as he stepped on the mother earth.

The central feature of Lumbini is the sacred garden that is spread over 1 sq. mile. Historically, the region is an exquisite treasure-trove of ancient ruins and antiquities. The site, described as a beautiful garden in the Buddha’s time retains its legendary charm and beauty embracing the Mayadevi temple inside it.

The Maya Devi temple is a distinctive shrine of importance and has the bas-relief image of Maya Devi, enshrined in a small pagoda-like structure. The image shows Maya Devi , mother of the Lord Buddha, supporting herself by holding on with her right hand to a branch of Sal tree, with newly born infant Buddha standing upright on a lotus pedestal. Two other celestial figures are depicted in an act of showering water and lotuses bestowed from heaven. The famous Maya Devi stone sculpture, also known as the Nativity Sculpture was installed here in 4th century AD.
 
The single most important place of the Lumbini and to the entire Buddhist world for that matter is the stone slab located deep in the Sanctum Sanctorum. Revealed after hard and meticulous excavations under the three layers of ruins over the site of the famous Maya Devi temple, the stone slab foundation pinpoints the location of the original place marking the exact spot of the birthplace of Lord Buddha. This spot being the most sensitive requires proper conservation and exposition to allow pilgrims and visitors to observe in slut the Marker Stones here.

Nearby, and just to the west of the Mayadevi temple, stands the Ashoka pillar- the oldest monument so far found in Nepal erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC. The pillar is the first epigraphic evidence relating to the life history of Lord Buddha and is also the most visible landmark of the garden. The historic importance of the pillar is evidenced by the inscription engraved in the pillar in Brahmi script. It is said that the great Emperor Ashoka visited the site in the twentieth year of his ascendancy to the throne and as homage to the holy place of Lord Buddha.

To the south of the pillar, we find a sacred pond- Puskarani- believed to be the same sacred pool in which Maya Devi took a holy dip just before giving birth to the Lord and also where infant Buddha was given his first purification bath. Architecturally, the pool has projecting terraces in descending order and is reverted with fine brick masonry. The holy site is surrounded by a row of stupas. These stupas are also believed to be built as early as 3rd century B.C while some stupas with square, rectangular and circular bases are said to be added in the medieval period.

A host of shrines, stupas, monasteries, meditation centers and courtyards built or being built in the International Monastic Zone here by various countries such as Japan, Korea, China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, France, and Germany embodies the country’s respective architecture and gives Lumbini, an international feel with a message of universal friendship and brotherhood. Out of these symbols of universal peace and brotherhood, the World Peace Stupa built by Japan can be taken as one of the most attractive stupas there. It is said that one can really feel the peace and calmness of Lord Buddha's warmth when he sets his foot there.
Lumbini rests on the foothills of Churia range and can be accessed by both Air and Land route.

RAMAGRAM Ramagram is the maternal state of Lord Buddha situated in Nawalparasi district and some 76 kilometers from Lumbini. Legend has it that after the death of Lord Buddha his relics were divided between eight states- Magadh, Vaishali, Kapilavastu, Alkappa, Ramagram, Vediwa, Pawa, and Kushinagar. Ajatasatru, the king of Magadh is said to have grabbed the relics of Lord Buddha from other states and built another stupa but he could not grab the relics at Ramagram as it was believed to be protected by Nagarajas or serpent kings. Ramagram Stupa It is said that the relics of Lord Buddha is still in the ovum of the present stupa of 9 meters in height. A research recently done by LDT and Department of Archaeology also proved that the different artifacts and antiquities are laid in the ovum of Ramagram Stupa.

DEVADAHA The country of Koliyas, where Mayadevi, mother of Gautama Siddhartha, was born, is certainly a holy place of pilgrimage and a household name for the Buddhists. In Buddhist literature the Koliyan Kingdom where Mayadevi was born, is mentioned by various names- Koliyanagar, Vyaghranagara, and Devadaha. The Koliyas of Devadaha are known as the maternal tribe of Gautama Buddha, and the Koliyans of Ramagrama are known as the famous claimants to the relics of the Buddha Master in Kusinagara.. Devadaha Village

TILAURAKOT There are many Important Buddhist sites of interest around Lumbini. Tilaurakot being one of them is located some 27 kms. west of Lumbini and there lies the ruins of the historic town of Kapilvastu believed to be the capital of Shakya republic where Siddhartha lived and enjoyed his life until his thirtieth year. There are ruins and mounds of old stupas and monasteries made of kiln burnt bricks and clay mortar. The remains are surrounded by a moat and the wall of the city is made of bricks. Remains of Kapilavastu Palace in Tilaurakot

KUDAN Kudan is located about two kilometers south of Taulihawa. It gives the visitors one more area of interest with a huge mound of structural ruins with a duster of four buildings and a pond excavated in 1962 indicating the existence of a huge Gupta style temple in ancient times. This place is identified as Nyagrodharama vihara, built by King Suddhodana for Lord Buddha. Remains of the Palace at Kudan

GOTIHAWA Moving about five kilometers south-west of Taulihawa, we reach a village called Gotihawa which has an Ashokan Pillar standing on a slab. The upper portion of the pillar is lost and only the lower portion about 3.5 m high is still intact. This site is identified as the birth place of the past Buddha Krakucchanda. A Broken Asokan Pillar at Gotihawa

ARORAKOT If we move about nine kilometers north-east of Taulihawa we reach a large rectangular fortified area popularly known as Arorakot. The fortified area is the natal town of Kanakamuni Buddha. A brick line is seen to the south and an elevated mound towards the North West corner. Remains of the ancient moat and brick fortification around the Kot still reflect its history there. A Broken Asokan Pillar at Gotihawa

NIGLIHAWA If Another site of archaeological importance, about 8 kms, northwest of Taulihawa, is Niglihawa. The site has a quadrangular pond locally known as Niglisagar surrounded by bushes. On the western bank of the pond there are two broken pieces of the Ashokan pillar. The pillar bears two peacocks on the top part and an inscription reading om mane padme hum. Two Broken Pieces of Asokan Pillar at Niglihawa

SAGARHAWA At about 12 kilometers north of Taulihawa we see a forest area called Sagarhawa. In the midst of the forest there is a huge rectangular pond popularly known as Lumbusagar. The ruins of the ancient pond which was excavated as the site of “massacre of the Sakyas” can still be located on the south-west bank of the sagar. Two Broken Pieces of Asokan Pillar at Niglihawa

Pokhara

The ‘Jewel of the west of Nepal’ is known as Pokhara which is one of the most favorable touristy destinations of around the globe. With the magnificent range of Annapurna Himalaya as a backdrop and the serenity of the three lakes of Phewa, Rupa and Begnas, Including other five Pokhara is the ultimate destination for relaxation. This valley has also been offering the adventures sports such as paragliding and ultra-light flights and boating, bird watching, trekking and mountain biking as it’s other attractions.

The tourist district of Pokhara better known as ‘Lakeside Pokhara’ is quite distinctly separate from Pokhara city. Lakeside sprawls beside Phewa Lake and is evocative of Thamel in Kathmandu except for the ample space and miniscule traffic which makes Pokhara so much more enjoyable and relaxed. The enchanting Pokhara valley with the dominating presence of Mt. Machhapuchhare (6977 m) is more famous by its name Fishtail in the background is the gateway to the Annapurna region trekking where trekkers find their Shangri-la. The crowded bars and restaurants are the places to seek companionship.

Pokhara’s bewitching beauty has been the subject of many travel writers. Its pristine air, the spectacular backdrop of the snowy peaks, the serene lakes and the surrounding greenery make it ‘the jewel in the Himalaya’, a place of remarkable natural beauty. Warmer than Kathmandu because of it lower altitude, Pokhara is pleasant in the winter and has a rich flora and fauna making it ideal for bird watching.

The people of this region are predominantly Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers from Bramans and Chhetreis and others. Gurungs and Magars are also known for their valor and have earned world-wide fame as fierce Gurkha warrior soldiers. The other well-known ethnic group found here are the Thakalis. Known for their entrepreneurship, they run many tea houses along the trek routes in the Annapurna region. 

Places to see in pokhara

Mountain Views: 
Pokhara is blessed with stunning panoramic views of the Annapurna range which forms its surroundings. Although not the highest in the range, Machhapuchhare dominates because of its proximity to the valley and can be seen from anywhere in Pokhara. Stretching from east to west, the Annapurna massif includes Annapurna 1 to IV and Annapurna South. Further away are seen the giants, Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Manaslu (8,163m).
Phewa Lake: 
Pokhara is famous of enchanting Phewa Lake and along its eastern shore has grown the Lakeside town where tourists gather. It is the largest and most beautiful lake of the three lakes attracting a large number of visitors who enjoy boating on its see. Lakeside or Baidam, is a thriving resort town of hotels, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops that allows travelers to relax and yet have all they need.
Barahi Temple: 
Located in the middle of Phewa Lake, the Barahi temple is the most important monument in Pokhara. The two storied pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of' Ajima who represents the female force Shakti. Sacrifices take place here and the largest crowds of devotees are seen on Saturdays, the official holiday in Nepal.
Seti River George: 
An amazing aspect of Pokhara is the vanishing river. A natural wonder, the Seti Gandaki goes underground, vanishing from sight in many places along its route through the city. At various points the river is barely two meters wide where its depth reaches an astonishing 20 meters or more. Deep Georges are to be viewed from K.I. Singh Bridge and Mahendrapul. Here the river can be seen in all its ferocity gushing down the deep gorge that it has carved over millennia.

David's Fall:
Locally known as the Patale Chhango (Nether Fall), David's Fall (known variously as Devin's and Devi’'s Fall) is a charming little waterfall located about 2 km south-west of the Pokhara airport on the Siddhartha Highway. Many years ago a trekker named David or Devin is said to have been washed away by the river Pardi Khola and disappeared in an underground passage beneath the fall.
Mahendra Cave: 
A major attraction of Pokhara is the Mahendra Gupha, a limestone cave reached after a 15 minute drive from lakeside north of Pokhara. Visitors will be well-advised to bring their own torches to closely inspect the formations though there have been managed permanent electricity lights in the recent days. There is another deep cave called Bat's Cave known as the ‘House of Bats’ owing to a number of bats living within its walls.
World Peace Stupa: 
World Peace Stupa can be seen on the top of a hill on the southern shore of Fewa Lake. It has four images of Buddha facing in four directions. The dome shaped pagoda is an impressive sight and its  hilltop location commands a great view. It is a great vantage point which offers spectacular views of the Annapurna.
The Old Bazaar: 
A stark contrast to Lakeside Pokhara, the old Pokhara Bazaar is 4 km away from Fewa Lake. It is a traditional bazaar and a colorful gathering place for an ethnically diverse group of traders. The temples and monuments bear a close resemblance to the Newari architecture of Kathmandu Valley.
Bindabasini Temple (Mandir) :
Except for the large concrete buildings that have cropped up, the market place retains much of its original charm. It makes for a pleasant walk; there are shops selling anything from edibles and clothing to cosmetics and gold. The old bazaar is also home to one of Pokhara's most important shrines', the Brindhyabasini Mandir. Perched on a shady hillock, this white dome-like structure dominates a spacious stone-paved courtyard.
Museums: 
The Pokhara Museum is worth a visit. Located between the bus stop and Mahendra Pul, it showcases the ethnic mosaic of the diverse cultures that thrive in western Nepal. The lifestyles and history of the Gurungs, Thakalis and Tharus are attractively represented by models, photographs and artifacts. Of much interest and also a major attraction is the recently discovered remains of an 8000-year-old settlement in Mustang. Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except on Tuesdays and public holidays.
Another interesting museum in Pokhara is the Annapurna Regional Museum (Famous as Butterfly Museum) which is also known as the Natural History Museum. Run by the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), the museum has an exceptional collection of butterflies, insects, birds and models of wildlife found in the area. Located at Prithvi Narayan Campus, east of the old bazaar, it is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm except on Saturdays and public holidays.

International Mountain Museum :
The International Mountain Museum (IMM) has an impressive frontage. It was built with the objective of recording, documenting, exhibiting and chronicling the entire past up to the present day, the development of mountain and mountaineering activities in the world. It has received much support from the many mountaineering clubs and associations as well as individual donors from around the world. The museum was established by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) with  the theme ‘Man, Mountain and Mountain activities around the world’. Accordingly, the entire display area of the museum has been divided along the theme. The exhibition Halls are:
Hall of Mountain People: This hall exhibits the customs, traditions, heritage, culture and way of life of the mountain people.
Hall of World Mountains: This hall showcases all fourteen peaks over 8000 m. and displays geological facts related to the origin of world mountain systems. The hall also exhibits and explains the flora and fauna of the Himalaya.
Hall of Mountain Activities: Highlighting historical ascents and explorations in and around the mountainous regions, this hall is dedicated to mountain activities such as mountaineering and trekking. Interestingly, it also showcases the development of climbing gears and other essential mountaineering equipment.

Surrounding Areas

Pokhara is the place from where some of the most popular treks in the Annapurna region begin and end. Among them, the highly recommended treks are the panoramic Poonhill Trek, Annapurna Basecamp Trek, intensive Annapurna Circuit and Jomsom and Muktinath Treks. For those with limited time on their hands, there are a number of short treks that are equally fascinating like the Sarankot, Naudanda, Ghandruk or Ghorepani treks. The Sarankot (1,592m) trek is as hiking which is popular for its bird’s eye view of Pokhara and the spectacular panoramic  view of mountains. It lies west of Pokhara and the hilltop was once the location of a Kaski Fort.

Things to do in Pokhara

Motor Biking
Nothing quite compares to the thrill of exploring the valley on a motorbike. With natural beauty abounding around Pokhara the ride is an adventure packed with thrills and excitement.
Boating 

Fewa Lake naturally draws visitors towards it. The second largest lake in Nepal, Fewa measures approximately 1.5 by 4 km. The other two lakes, Begnas and Rupa Tal are located 15 km out of Pokhara at the end of a road that turns off the Prithwi highway. Less visited but no less beautiful, both these lakes are excellent for boating and preferred by those seeking serenity and peace. There is much greenery and tranquility. Taking a swim on a warm sunny day can be the highlight of your stay in Pokhara. It is also possible to hire a boat for the day or on an hourly basis. When it comes to choosing a time, the best time for boating in Pokhara is in the winter months between October and February, when the skies are clear and the mountains cast their shadows on the lake's tranquil waters.

Ultra-light Flight 
Go up in an ultra-light aircraft and get a sweeping bird's eye view of the entire Pokhara Valley. It is an exciting ride that allows unrestricted views of the mountains and the scenic lakes far below. Ultra-light flights are operated from Pokhara Airport beginning September through June. They can take off and land on a field or even a dirt road, and in areas where other planes fear to tread. With a limited capacity, it seats only two, a passenger and the pilot. Ultra-lights can fly for hours and ascend to a maximum height of 5000 meters.
Paragliding 
Paragliding is perhaps the most rewarding of short duration adventure sports given the fact that there’s nothing between you and the scenery unfolding before you. In the distance lie the majestic Himalayas and down below are the villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungles, a true bird’s eye view and a fascinating one at that.
Fishing 
For anglers, the lake has a special meaning; it could mean his/her biggest catch. Fishing rods can be rented from the shops around lakeside.
Golf 
Pokhara has the space and climate suitable for golf and the sport was introduced here many years ago. There are two world class golf courses in Pokhara.
Pony Riding 
Pony riding is one of the delightful way of getting around Pokhara. Rides are available upon your requirements.
Rafting 
Nepal’s rivers rank high in the world of white water rafting and Pokhara is ideally situated for raft trips along its rivers. The most popular river for rafting is the Trishuli River, which flows along the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway and visitors are recommended to obtain this trip (one or two days) on the way to Pokhara from Kathmandu. Equally good with plenty of exciting rapids are the Kali Gandaki (three days) and Seti rivers (one day) which is attached in Pokhara.
Short Hikes 
Pokhara is the perfect place for relaxing before and after a trek, and for the avid trekkers, a respite between treks. But there is much to see around Pokhara as well and some yearn to explore the sights and sounds around Pokhara. The usual sightseeing tour lasts about 3-4 hours but can be extended by several hours to spend more time at places that hold special interest.
Mountain Biking 
For those seeking a more physical challenge, mountain biking provides just the means as there is no better way to enjoy an exploratory trip in the urban centers of Nepal. Take to the countryside and there’s endless possibilities leading to unlimited fun. Ride through lush green rice fields, delightful little hamlets, up and down the hills, along river banks, around temples, past the stray cattle, over suspension bridges and along the highway.