Explore Himlaya

Bhaktapur Durbar Square represents the medieval architecture of Nepal

Posted on March 21, 2014 by ehta

Mr. Ejvind Mortensen and Ms. Jonna Pedersen from Denmark through our exclusive country partner Kipling Travel recently toured around Nepal. Their trip included the tour of the Nepalese capital Kathmandu, the birthplace of Buddha Lumbini and the city of festivals Bhaktapur. Here we have a feedback by Mortensen and Pedersen after the completion of Holiday in Nepal with Explore Himalaya.

Our holiday to Nepal was a very good experience with many good memories. Bhaktapur is an amazing place and we are missing it. We wish we would have spent few hours more at Bhaktapur.

We are really very happy. The service of Explore Himalaya was excellent with relevant advices and friendly staffs. Our every expectation was fulfilled.

Guides were very informative and they even provided supplementary information to our every question.

Few photographs of diverse Nepal

Posted on January 12, 2014 by ehta

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Thronging devotees to Hindu sacred shrine Pashupatinath on Mahashivratri

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An ancient grandiose palace of Forbidden Kingdom- Mustang

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A far-flung hamlet on the Nepalese mid-hills on the Langtang Trial

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A traditional way of farming in Nepal. Oxen plough the fields and farmers sow the seeds

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Lonely planet says, “Most beautiful place in Kathmandu but missed by many”- Garden of Dreams

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Expression of nature itself- Pokhara, a paradise on Earth

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Sacred land- Lumbini where Gautam Buddha was born

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Celebrating Indra Jatra to please the “God of Rain Indra” at Kathmandu Durbar Square

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A wonderful ridge to summit- Tsergo Ri- Langtang Region, Nepal

Tyangboche Monastery aginst the back drop of Mt. Ama Dablam- Everest Region, Nepal

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Sherpa women harvesting their staple food in the Himalayan Region of Nepal

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View ubiquitously available while trekking in Nepal

The best Cultural, natural and wildlife encounters in Nepal

Posted on June 4, 2013 by ehta

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Display of artistic Aakhi Jhyal (Windows as eyes) at Kathmandu Durbar Square

This tour leading to Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan and Lumbini is the ideal family holiday. The tour is especially designed with the perspective to impeccably allow the visitors to travel around the cultural and natural diversities of Nepal. The tour covers six leading cities of Nepal as well as the road adventure in the mountainous highways. The tour is an absolute pleasure trip exploring the urban and sub-urban Hilly and Terai regions of Nepal. The tour takes you the places in Nepal where the visitors can explore the cultural best of this amusingly diverse nation. Kathmandu valley consists three cities (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan).

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Bright sunny day at ancient courtyard- Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The artistic stone, wooden and metallic galleries of primeval Nepal in the culturally and spiritually significant monuments and the shrines of Kathmandu Valley prides on the festive culture of Newaris, seven UNESCO Heritage sites and thousands of other less known Heritage sites scattered all around the valley.

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Backstreet of ancient temples- Patan Durbar Square

The glamorous beauties in nature with the awe-inspiring Himalayan views of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Ranges including the most unique mountain Fishtail is the glory of mesmerizingly striking city Pokhara. Pokhara is the city where every appealing beauty in the nature dwells. Crystal clear Lakes, mysterious caves, mythological falls, deep gorges and hilltops overlooking the city with the great Himalayan views are the major attraction of Pokhara. Chitwan is the city where wildlife safari is an extra-ordinary fun.

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An amazing beauty on the Planet Earth- Pokhara

Dense vegetation and the expectations of encountering the several endangered species suddenly out from the bush is thrilling adventure at Chitwan. Also, the unique cultural dance of Tharu tribal amidst the bonfire is yet again a worthwhile cultural come across at Chitwan. Lumbini, the holiest site of entire Terai is an UNESCO Heritage Site which is a birth place of Great Lord Buddha who inspired the global philosophy of peace. The most important of four magnets for Buddhist pilgrimage, Lumbini is full of meditating monasteries throughout the entire sacred surroundings.

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Somebody is here- Animals in wild facing camera at Chitwan National Park

The en-route activities on the snaky highway includes rafting and canoeing. On the highway from Kathmandu to Chitwan a fast flowing Himalayan River, Trishuli is popular for white water rafting. Visitors have an opportunity to cover the part of distance from Kathmandu to Chitwan via Trishuli experiencing the stimulating white water raft. The rafting is just 3 hours long yet full of River adventures. Trishuli also allows an opportunity of canoeing.

As well as at Pokhara the visitors are privileged with the popular Paragliding session from the most popular hill-top of Pokhara, Sarrangkot. Or, the visitors are also offered with the luxurious heli ride to the most exotic Himalayan destinations which includes the mighty Everest and the popular Annapurna.

Gautam Budhha was born in Nepal- Preserved area at Buddha’s birthplace- Lumbini

Tour of Nepalese popular destinations and few off-beaten hotspots

Posted on March 21, 2013 by ehta

A Danish couple Ms. Ulla Glyngoe and Mr. Finn J. Glyngoe from our exclusive country partner Kipling Travel were on an off-beat tour of Nepal from March 04, 2013 to March 16, 2013. Their tour was blended with the most popular destinations as well as few shadowed hotspots, which are equally appealing and have abundant resources to demonstrate exactly what the visitors wanted to see.

Beginning with classic Kipling sightseeing program at Kathmandu, the couple headed to the hilltop Buddhist shrine Swayambhunath. The cultural tour continued to the cultural backstreets of Patan and Bhaktapur. Driving along the Prithivi Highway stretched 200 kilometers through the twists and turns against the colossal hills the couple reached to Pokhara. On the way to Pokhara, they deviated an hour drive to Bandipur and settled there for a night. This hotspot endows with the great variety of newari culture and of course the striking sunrise and sunset views. Beyond Bandipur at Pokhara an hour hike to Peace Stupa, sailing tour in Fewa Lake and the sightseeing tour at Pokhara was fascinating.

Now, the off-beaten journey along the thrilling Siddhartha Highway kicked off. The highway cutting the soaring hilsl right from the middle throughout offers frequent turns and somewhere makes the complete circling course towards Tansen. Tansen is at right deviation from Bartung- a place at Siddhartha Highway. Tansen is a quixotic medieval hill town having great historical and cultural importance. The Glyngoes settled a night there after the brief sightseeing tour. Next place they visited was the most important magnet related to Buddha- Lumbini. Ashoka Pillar, Lumbini Garden, Mayadevi Temple and dozens of other monasteries are worthwhile exploring in Lumbini. The soothing tranquility during the thorough exploration of Lumbini is undoubtedly the most important sensation any visitor experiences there.

Finally, the mid-western national park- Bardia National Park provided the couple with thrilling wildlife adventure during the jungle safari on an elephant. Post jungle activities which went on for couple of days they flew back to Kathmandu from Nepaljung Airport and departed back home on March 16, 2012.

Visit to the most important places in Nepal.

Posted on January 23, 2013 by ehta

Ms. Maria Estela and Mr. Gualter Mello from Brazil toured the best of Nepal and additionally, they also explored Lumbini, Nagarkot and Himalayas on a mountain flight. Their tour kicked off on April 7, 2012 from Lumbini and their last destination was Nagarkot on the 14^th. On 15^th, the day after the completion of their tour, they departed Nepal.

Apart, from the best of Nepal (Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan) Lumbini is a prominent holy place to visit, which lies at lower Terai region of Nepal. Lumbini is the birth place of the founder of Buddhism, Gautam Buddha. Lumbini evokes the holy sentiments to millions of Buddhist around the world. The Buddhist devotees and cultural and historical visitors visit Lumbini every year in huge numbers. Lumbini is a pride of Nepal and it is an UNESCO heritage site. Ashoka Pillar, the image of Mayadevi, Puskarni- the sacred pool, Sanctorum of Buddha’s birthplace and numerous big and small monasteries, shrines and stupas at Lumbini provides the sensation of eternal peace.

After the completion of exploring Lumbini and the best of Nepal, the Brazilian visitors also ventured to Himalayan region on a mountain flight. The mountain flight in Nepal is an extreme opportunity to witness the beauty in the highlands of Nepal in a very short period of time. The Brazilian citizens had already covered the geographically diverse regions in Nepal; from lower Terai to High Himalayas. After the mountain flight, the tour continued to Nagarkot. After, the awe-inspiring sunrise view at Nagarkot the tour finally got completed.

The happy Brazilians departed Kathmandu on April 15.

Lumbini from India.

Posted on December 2, 2012 by ehta

Lumbini, where Buddha was born.

On September 29, the group of six Mr. Laursen Peder, Ms. Laursen Alice, Ms. Lille Lilly, Ms. Norstrand Gerda, Mr. Scharff Kristian and Mr. Soelberg Per were cordially received by Explore Himalaya at the Sunauli border. They were escorted to their hotel. Once they recreated themselves from the long tiring journey, they made their ways towards Lumbini. The sacred place on earth is the birth place of Buddha. Their souls experienced the peacefulness as they were in the land of Buddha; pioneer of Buddhism and peace.

Overlooking a part of Pokhara from Sarangkot.

They moved towards the mountainous region of the country leaving behind the plains towards Pokhara. After enjoying the couple of days sightseeing in Pokhara and a night stay at the Sarangkot hilltop overlooking Pokhara the team headed towards Bandipur the small hilltop village 65 kilometers east of Pokhara. Bandipur is popular for the great mountain views of the Annapurna ranges and the charismatic Fishtail.

Bandipur- a hilltop

On October 3, the team hiked to Samari for their Home-stay programs. Their journey continued on October 4, to the Kalabari with 3 hours walk. Next morning after visiting the Durbar Square in Nuwakot the team came to the urbanity yet historical city of Kritipur.

Bhairavi Temple Nuwakot.

On October 6, 7 and 8 the team had the plans to have the close view of the Kathmandu valley. They visited Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath and the Durbar squares of all the 3 cities within the valley. They made their ways back to their home late evening on October 8.

Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Pics: Explore Himalaya.

Nepal is the tourism hub for families and individuals with diverse geographical topography and Explore Himalaya is the leader in the tourism industry.

Archeological Excavations to find out Lord Buddha’s maternal home

Posted on April 15, 2012 by ehta

The Department of Archeology under Nepal Government has begun excavations at Bhawanipur, Kerwani in Rupandehi believed to be Lord Buddha’s maternal home. Archeologists are trying to unearth evidence of Devdaha being the actual home Lord Buddha’s mother Mayadevi by conducting detailed excavations at the above site.

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Marker stone marking the exact spot of Lord Buddha's birth inside Mayadevi Temple, Lumbini

(Pic: Julien Van Loye)

Lumbini on BBC’s 10 sites of Religious Pilgrimage

Posted on March 12, 2012 by ehta

One of Asia’s best gift to the world is Buddhism. Based on Lord Buddha’s teachings of ‘Ahimsa’ (non-violence) &’ Dharma’(truth), Buddhism spread from Nepal and India to the rest of Asia and the world. Lumbini, the Birthplace of Lord Buddha, which lies in Nepal, has become a major centre of pilgrimage for Buddhists worldwide. In an article posted in bbc.com/travel entitled ‘10 Sites of Religious Pilgrimage,’ Lumbini together with Mecca, Vatican City, Golden Temple, Badrinath, Wailing Wall etc. has been listed as the 'must-visit' pilgrimage destination.

In order to promote Lord Buddha’s birthplace and his message of peace, Nepal’s government has declared year 2012 as Visit Lumbini Year.

Buddha Purnima Mayadevi Temple

Maya Devi Temple, Lumbini during Buddha Purnima (Pic courtesy : NTB)

Tag: Lumbini