By Pradee Paudel

A small country nestled between two Asian giants, India and China, Nepal offers a surprisingly huge variety of things to explore and experiences to relish. With its three-dimensional picturesque landscape, shaped by its mountains, hills, valleys, dunes, and flatlands, Nepal has more diversity to offer than any other country of a similar size.

The opportunity to have an immersive experience of the immensely diverse geographical regions, climates, ecologies, cultures, and traditions within a short time and space makes a trip to Nepal uniquely rewarding. With a long history of convivial coexistence and interaction between Hindu and Buddhist traditions, Nepal has always been a fountainhead of ancient wisdom which continue to define the cultural values of Nepalese society and serves as a beckon to spiritual awakening and transformation.

An Ideal Destination for Inner Transformation

Although Nepal has witnessed many social and political upheavals in the last few decades and has been undergoing a rapid process of modernization, the core values of the society continue to be informed by the wisdom of Hindu-Buddhist traditions with their rich local flavors. Despite all the changes brought about by modern materialistic aspirations, the country still carries the aura of the exotic mythical land which had made it the ultimate destination of the Hippie trail in the 1960s and 70s.

The fact that Nepal continues to remain one of the top contenders among the must-visit destinations in the world and is revisited by thousands of passionate travelers years after years establishes that the country has a lot to offer to a visitor who intends to go beyond the overtly commercialized tourism and make their travels purposeful and fulfilling.

It is often said that you cannot escape yourself no matter where you go. Can it always be true? A seasoned traveler instinctively knows that it is only an oft-repeated euphuism that undervalues the importance of making journeys to distant places. There can be hardly anything as powerful as traveling to discover and even reinvent oneself. Unless you leave the comfort zone of your familiar world, you remain inescapably the same. It certainly matters where you go to escape yourself--or, to put it in better words--to embark on a journey of self-discovery with a better perspective on life. Because of its captivating nature and the ever-present ambiance of spiritualism, Nepal has remained an ideal place to take this journey.

The Colors of Mythical Kathmandu

When you arrive in Kathmandu on your first leg, you can feel the Kathmandu vibe in its atmosphere. The history of the modern metropolitan city goes back thousands of years and becomes shrouded with folktales, legends, and mythologies. In the beginning, the stupa of Swayambhu (called Monkey Temple in today's colloquial term) emerges from the lotus flower in the great lake that once covered the valley and the Buddhist saint Manjushri uses his sword to drain the lake for human settlement. A unique civilization takes root in the valley and flourishes under kings of varied dynasties and its history becomes layered with myths. The belief systems and practices of Hindu and Buddhist traditions intertwine and intermingle, enriching the cultural and spiritual life of the valley. In the valley of temples, one can find a shrine of worship in every turn and a story associated with its origin. Of the ten UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal, the valley alone homes seven, including Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan temples; Boudhanath and Swayambhunath stupas; and the durbar squares of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur.

Despite the frenzied rush for modernization, Kathmandu remains true to its authentic self at its core. The carnivals, known as 'Jatra' in the local vernacular, reconnect today's generations with their cultural legacies, revitalize the sense of community, and memorialize ancient wisdom. Year after year, the Carnival of Cow, for example, reminds one of the facts that life is ephemeral and one should not go grieving the death of the loved one. You deal with this somber reality of existence with a sense of humor. The living goddess, Kumari, epitomizes the personification of divinity in human form and celebrates the divine presence in humans.

A Complete Sensory Experience in Kathmandu

Taking a walk through the alleyways of the inner cities of Kathmandu, Lalitpur (Patan), and Bhaktapur, a visitor witnesses the uniqueness and richness of Newar culture in the valley. When one comes to a temple in the morning, they feel as if they have been transported to a different world: the smell of the butter lamps and incent sticks, the clamor of bells and prayer chants, and offerings of flowers give a visitor a complete sensory experience of an exotic land. The Pagoda architecture--which is said to have originated in Kathmandu and spread to East Asia, including China, Japan, and Korea--the temples with exquisite sculptures and the traditional houses with elaborately decorated doors, windows, and eaves show the heights the civilization has achieved in its art and architecture. Of course, one needs to taste Newa cuisine to truly appreciate them.

The myriads of feasts and festivities going on all year round, bring families together and strengthen the ideals of shared responsibility. They remind us that an individual is a part of a broad society as well as divine nature. An immersive experience of life in the Valley of Kathmandu can help a visitor to look at life from a different vantage point, develop a keen awareness of the diversities in human societies, and make necessary readjustments in their ways of living.

The Call of the Mountains

Once you leave Kathmandu, depending on what you are passionate about, you have a wide array of things to see and explore in the rest of the country. No matter whether you are an adventurer, nature lover, academic scholar, spiritual pilgrim, or art connoisseur, you have things to do for days and weeks.

A short flight or trekking of a few days to the north brings you face to face with the panoramic view of the Himalayas--the roof of the world and the fabled land of the abominable snowman or yeti. Of more than 1300 mountain peaks in Nepal, eight are among the fourteen highest peaks of the world above 8000 meters. The peaks like Ama Dablam, Manaslu, Kangchenjunga, Dhaulagiri, and Fishtail, to name a few, are regarded to be some of the most magnificent beauties of nature.

The extreme topography of the land and panoramic vista, make the Himalayas a perfect place for adventure and sightseeing. Also, the enclaves of human settlements in the mountains preserve the traditional practices in their pristine forms. Whether one goes for an Everest base camp trek or a meditation in a monastery, one finds the experiences deeply fulfilling. Living among the Sherpas, one can see why they attribute the mountains, glaciers, and lakes to the divine presence and why they receive fellow humans (even if they are strangers) with warmth and affection.

If the formidable mountains of the Himalayas take the ultimate test of human courage, endurance, and stamina, they are also said to have a deeply humbling effect on visitors. Sometimes, one needs to confront nature in its harsh yet sublime form to be filled with awe, to realize one's limitations in the face of nature, and escape the traps of ego. It is certainly true that after visiting the Himalayas, one does not remain the same.

Exploring the Green Hills as an Artwork of Nature

Below the Himalayan range stretch the green hills, covering a large chunk of the country. Coming down to the hills, the glaciers of the high mountains turn into roaring rivers. Since the formation of the Himalayas, these rivers have carved their ways into the hills, forming deep gorges and dramatic waterfalls, lakes, and fertile valleys. The hilly region, covered mostly by lush wilderness and stepped paddy fields around the human habitations, has one of the richest biodiversities in the world.

National parks, wildlife reserves, and protected areas in the hills provide a sanctuary to rare birds, reptiles, and animals, some of which are only found in Nepal. The community forest initiatives are seen as a success story of the countermeasures taken by the locals to reverse the challenges of deforestation and habitat loss. Many ethnic communities of the culturally diverse society have found their home in the hills of Nepal and present a unique example of harmonious coexistence. Whether one chooses to follow the world-renowned trekking routes--such as Annapurna Circuit Trek, Upper Dolpo Trek, Poon Hill Trek, etc.--or takes an unconventional route, one has a rare opportunity to appreciate the grandeur of nature.

Finding oneself in unspoiled nature, away from the confines of sedentary modern life, one feels rejuvenated both in body and soul. Above all, a traveler also has an opportunity to slip into the different world of the locals and experience a lifestyle that has existed in tune with nature. The heartening encounters with the warm and smiling people, toiling in their fields or herding their cattle in the remote pastures of the country, make a visitor introspect and add newer perspectives to their worldviews.

Terai: The Fertile Land Where Nature and Culture Flourish

The southern lowland (also known as Terai) of Nepal below the hilly region presents a huge contrast to the higher lands of the country. The river systems of the hills form mighty rivers when they come to the plains. This narrow strip of fertile land, also known as the breadbasket of Nepal, mostly remains hot and humid and receives a lot of precipitation during the monsoon season. Covered by tropical and semitropical vegetation, the Terai region has an immensely rich diversity of animal and plant species.

Wetlands, wildlife reserves, and national parks offer a glimpse of a wide variety of birds, animals, and reptiles--including the prized sightings of the Bengal tiger, one-horned rhino, Asian elephant, gharial crocodile, river dolphin, etc.--that are native to Indo-Gangetic plain. A jungle safari deep into the forest and grassland gives a visitor a feeling of being transported to a prehistoric world in which humans had to survive with a constant and keen awareness of other animals around them. What makes the expedition most thrilling and memorable is the cacophony of birdcalls that reverberate through the wilderness. A visitor may return from their jungle expedition with only regret that they could not stay longer.

Terai is also home to more than half of Nepal's population which makes the land equally fascinating from a cultural perspective. If life in the Himalayan region has the flavor and influence of Tibetan culture, you can say the same thing about Terai which shares an open border with India. As a melting pot of the country, this region celebrates a vibrant and colorful way of life. The jovial festivals of Holi (festival of colors) and Diwali (festival of lights) put the multicultural nature of Nepalese society on display.

For the Hindus across the world, Janaki Temple in Janakpur, the birthplace of Hindu goddess Sita and a historical center of the ancient Mithila Kingdom, and for the Buddhists, Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, remain important sites of pilgrimage. Every year, millions of travelers from around the world visit these landmarks to pay tributes to the sacred lands and to experience the modern revival of their faiths. A visitor, regardless of their religious/spiritual leaning, comes to witness the richness of human civilization and humans' efforts to reach a higher level through their spiritual quests.

In a Nutshell

What makes Nepal an ideal place for transformative travel is also its position between the two great civilizations in its north and south. For many travelers, Nepal serves as a gateway to China and India. Due to the geographical and cultural proximity of Nepal to Tibet and north India, one can have a feel of both societies in Nepal. For anybody wishing to also explore beyond Nepal, it can be the best place to get started with cultural and other forms of acclimatization.

This blog is first published on the Author's LinkedIn. Publish with permission.