adventure of a lifetime: nepal
TRANSCRIPT
Adventure of a Lifetime: Nepal
Nepal is known for notonly the highest mountainpeak in the world (Mt.Everest), but also for thefact that its naturalhimalayas beautyconsisting of ecotourism,adventure tourism and richarchitectural masterpiecesare interesting attractionsfor visitors from all walksof life.
Located in Southeast Asia between China andIndia, Nepal is a mixture of various cultures which
all point to its interesting history deriving from theancient Sanskrit language. The country’s name
derives from ancient Vedic texts that is associatedwith the Newar populations, who had inhabited
Kathmandu valley during the prehistoric era.
Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Ghandruk Village
An inside glimpse into everyday Nepalese life, this
village depicts the importance of the simplistic, down
to earth living in which locals live off the land. After
you have finished hiking Mt.Everest or exploring
temples in monasteries, be sure to connect with the
local Nepali culture to get a better sense of how
different areas of this country’s society operate.
While the Himalayas and monasteries (such as Lumbini)tend to base their local economies more on tourism,
Ghandruk offers tourists the opportunity to appreciatethe agricultural sphere that defines hundreds of
Nepalese nationals in various corners or neighborhoodswithin the country. Full of quaint gardens with dahliasand land plots cultivating vegetation that have been infamilies for generations, take a step back to experience
the local Nepalese culture as well as the wondrousnatural beauty that marks the country as particularly
unique.
The Himalayas
Within the Himalayan mountain range alone, eightout of the ten highest mountains are currently
located amidst the snowy peaks that encompass theuntouched, pure nature reserves in this area. If
you’re planning to visit the Himalayas for your nextvacation, be sure to make the trip out sometime
from late October to early May in order to maximizeyour time hiking, exploring and seeing all the natural
scenes that this mountain range has to offer.
Lumbini
Lumbini is a well-known, UNESCO World Heritagesite due to its rich cultural value as the birthplaceof Gautama Buddha, who was the founder of the
Buddhist religion around 563 BCE. At this Buddhistpilgrimage site, visitors can experience the manyintricately designed temples, including Mayadevi,the different monasteries and monuments whichare still cherished by local Nepalese populations
across the country.
Currently, Lumbini is encompassed by
monasteries named Theravadin, Mahayan and
Vajrayana, which all date back thousands of
years in Nepalese history. To receive an
authentic Nepali experience, making the
pilgrimage to see this symbolic landmark is
essential when understanding the ways of life
in this uniquely woven society.
Currently, Lumbini is encompassed by
monasteries named Theravadin, Mahayan and
Vajrayana, which all date back thousands of
years in Nepalese history. To receive an
authentic Nepali experience, making the
pilgrimage to see this symbolic landmark is
essential when understanding the ways of life
in this uniquely woven society.
FoodSimilar to various countries across the world, localcuisines vary by region, agricultural practices andavailable resources in the surrounding area. The
standard meal which is often consumed by Nepaleselocals in most of the country, Dal-bhat-tarkari (lentils
and rice) is a staple dish due to not only itsaffordability for many residents, but also the low-fat
protein nutrients that the lentils contain.
Heading to NepalAnother great time ofyear to visit this countryis somewhere betweenMarch and April, whentourists can experiencethe freshly bloomedspring flowersthroughout the lightgreen foothills scatteredin the countryside.