December, 2024
Namaste Nepal
We had the opportunity to visit Nepal for 5 days. What a wonderful experience this was..! Here is our travel blog.
Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to Nagarkot, Himalayan Village of Nepal.
We stayed 2 nights at Club Himalaya
Day 2: Nagarkot- trekking
Day 3: Bhaktapur-Kathmandu
We stayed 2 nights at Hotel Thrive, a tropical courtyard.
Day 4: Mountain flight to Mt. Everest, Chandragiri Hills & Pashupatinath Temple (Cremation Ceremony)
Day 5: Back to Dubai
You need a visa to enter Nepal, but this can be done on arrival, it's easy and goes very fast (costs: 30 USD p/p).
Time difference with Dubai: 1 hour and 48 minutes (ahead)
Namaste Nepal, Top of the World
Day 1: Arrival & transfer to Nagarkot
After our flight of nearly 4 hours, we arrived around 1pm in Kathmandu-Nepal. It was a very clear day and during the landing, we were already treated to a first glimpse of the Himalayas. At the airport, we were welcomed by Rijan, a business associate of Valentijn, who arranged some things for us, such as a driver :-)
The time difference with Dubai is 1 hour and 48 minutes (ahead). Never had such a strange time difference. The driver brought us directly to Nagarkot, The Himalayan Village of Nepal, were we arrived around 3pm. After we checked in, we had a late lunch in the hotel, while we were enjoying the Mountain View of the Himalayan Range (mountains between 6500-8500 meters height).
Around 5pm the sunset started, and we could watch this spectacular event from the roof terrace of our hotel. Lovely!
In the evening, we went for dinner at Mandapgiri restaurant, a bit downhill from our hotel. It was cold, so an extra jumper, hat, scarf and hot drink were needed. Wonderful first day and evening!
Day 2: Nagarkot- trekking
Today, we started our day early watching Nagarkot's famous sunrise over the Himalayas, which was really beautiful. After breakfast, we went for a 10k hike. We were escorted by a local guide, which was relaxing and rewarding because of the panoramic views of the Himalayas.
Throughout Nepal we saw ‘prayer flags’, also known as ‘Lungta’. These colorful flags have significant symbolic and spiritual meaning. They are an essential part of Buddhist culture, often found at temples, Buddhist monasteries, holy
sites, and mountain passes and tracks, and are a visual feature of Nepal’s spiritual landscape. The wind that makes the flags flutter, symbolizes the spreading of prayers throughout the world, which helps sanctify the environment and promote positive energy.
After lunch, we went to the spectacular suspension bridge that provided panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valley. We enjoyed the sunset from the bridge. In the evening, we went for dinner in a local restaurant in the village.
Suspension Bridges of Nepal
Nepal has an extensive network of such suspension bridges, which are of vital importance to the local population, especially in the mountainous areas. They connect isolated villages and allow people to cross rivers and deep gorges, which is essential for transporting goods, visiting relatives and accessing basic amenities such as schools and markets. And besides their functional role, these bridges also contribute to tourism, as they offer a unique experience.
Day 3: Bhaktapur-Kathmandu
We began our day with watching the sunrise again and a little walk.
After breakfast, we got a pickup from our driver and he first dropped us at the Buddha Peace Park in Nagarkot.
After a short visit to the Buddha Park, we drove on to visited Bhaktapur.
Royal city Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is often referred to as the 'City of Devotees', was historically a royal city in Nepal (Kathmandu Valley is home to three historic royal cities: Kathmandu, Patan (also known as Lalitpur), and Bhaktapur)). Bhaktapur was founded in the 12th century by King Ananda Malla, and it served as the capital of the Malla Kingdom until the 15th century. The city's rich heritage is evident in its well-preserved palaces, temples, and courtyards, particularly in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
We booked a tour guide and visited Bhaktapur Durbar Square, a well-preserved heritage site, where we saw pagoda-style temples, intricately carved wooden windows, traditional Newar culture and well-preserved medieval architecture. Key highlights include the Nyatapola Temple, the 55-Window Palace, and the Pottery Square, where we saw artisans crafting earthenware.
Kathmandu
Next, we headed to Kathmandu, and we were overwhelmed by the crowds and the traffic. Kathmandu is another royal city and capital city of Nepal, with around 1,6 million people living here. We booked a hotel for 2 nights. Really a lovely hotel in the middle of Thamel. The hotel is hidden in a green courtyard, so we could calm down a bit again.
Durbar Square
Around 3 o’clock we went, with our guide, to Durbar Square, located in the heart of the capital. This historic complex, once home to Nepal's royal family, is an architectural masterpiece featuring palaces, courtyards, and temples.
We also saw Kamuri, a goddess of 8 years old (we were not allowed to take pictures of her). Kamuri, the local goddess worshipped in parts of the Kathmandu Valley, is often said to have a mysterious and elusive nature. She is considered a protector and guardian spirit, and her cult is associated with ensuring the safety and well-being of the community. One of the fascinating aspects of her worship is that she can only be seen for a few seconds.
Swayambhunath Temple
We finished our day at Swayambhunath Temple, located on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. The Temple (Buddhist Stupa) is an iconic symbol of Nepal, with its gleaming golden spire and all-seeing eyes of Buddha.
We climbed the steep steps, surrounded by prayer wheels and (many) monkeys, and enjoyed a panoramic view of the city, especially during sunset. The children found it very exciting with all those wild monkeys around them, because a friend of Dinand was bitten by one a few years ago, with all the consequences.
After this fully packed day, we went back to our hotel in Thamel and had dinner and a relaxing evening in the hotel.
The Lungtas of Nepal
The red-green, yellow-blue and white flags that you see everywhere in Nepal are the "prayer flags" (also called "Lungta") and have an important symbolic and spiritual meaning. These colorful flags are an essential part of Buddhist culture and are often seen in Nepal, and the Himalayan region.
The waving of the flags is a ritual that symbolizes the wind spreading the prayers throughout the world, which helps sanctify the environment and promote positive energy.
The flags are often hung at temples, Buddhist monasteries, mountain passes/trails and holy places, and are a visual feature of the spiritual landscape of Nepal.
Day 4: Mountain flight to Mt. Everest, Chandragiri Hills & Pashupatinath Temple
MT. Everest Flight
This morning we were picked up at 6:30 by our driver for our first activity: a mountain flight, operated by Buddha Air. It is a panoramic flight that took us on an exciting aerial tour of the Himalayas, including a close-up view of Mount Everest, worlds' highest peak.
Considered a good alternative to experience Everest and other peaks in the region, without the physical challenge of trekking or climbing. The flight lasted for about an hour and we were lucky, as we had clear blue skies and were treated to spectacular views. Great experience to see the grandeur of the Himalayas from a different perspective.
Chandragiri Hills
After this flight, we went straight to the other side of the city (southwest). This took a considerable amount of time due to the heavy traffic in the city. Around 11am we were at the base station of the Chandragiri Hills cable car, where we bought 4 tickets to go up (around 21 euros per ticket).
Chandragiri Hills is a peaceful retreat just outside Kathmandu. The cable car ride gave us spectacular views of the majestic Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley.
With the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple (also located here) in the foreground of the photos, the whole picture of Nepal was complete. We had lunch and did a few more activities, such as zip-lining and climbing the view tower. We took some more pictures with Nepalese ladies in national outfits, and then went back down with the cable car. The driver brought us back to Kathmandu city, where we continued the second part of the afternoon program.
Visiting Pashupatinath Temple (traditional Cremation Ceremony)
We went, with a tour guide, to the iconic Pashupatinath Temple, one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located along the Bagmati River, the temple complex is a spiritual hub that attracts pilgrims and visitors from around the world. We witnessed a traditional cremation ceremony, which we watched from across the river, and which gave us profound insights into Nepalese culture and spirituality. Read more about this ceremony in the Photo box below.
I (Sandra) was persuaded to have a dot or “bindi” put on my forehead. In Nepal, especially within the Hindu and Buddhist traditions, a dot is often worn on the forehead, also called a "bindi". This dot has different meanings depending on the context. For Hindus, the bindi often symbolizes the "third eye", a spiritual center that represents wisdom and insight.
It can also be used as a sign of marital status, especially for women. In Buddhist traditions, a similar dot, often called a "tilaka", is used during rituals and prayers as a symbol of blessing and protection. The color and type of dot can vary depending on the occasion and personal preference.
After that I was allowed to take a seat between a number of so-called "Satan men".
These men paint themselves in all kinds of colors and wear red and yellow clothes; they mainly show themselves at certain places in Nepal, often during religious festivals or rituals. The phenomenon is sometimes misunderstood or associated with black magic, although it often has more to do with local rituals and popular belief than with actual Satanism. They are seen as messengers of the gods and play an important role in performing rituals and protecting the community from evil influences.
These rituals have nothing to do with the Western idea of "Satan" or evil, but rather with the complexity of the Hindu and Buddhist gods, who have both destructive and protective qualities. So while they may have a demonic appearance, in the Nepalese context they are spiritual figures who protect and cleanse the community.
Traditional cremation ceremony
The traditional cremation ceremony at the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu is a sacred Hindu ritual that takes place on the banks of the Bagmati River and proceeds as follows:
Preparation – The body of the deceased is washed, wrapped in white cloth (for men) or red cloth (for women) and then carried on a stretcher-like structure to the ghats (ceremonial steps along the river).
Rituals and prayers – The family performs ritual prayers and places rice and other offerings to guide the soul to moksha (liberation).
Immolation on the pyre – The body is placed on a wooden pyre after being rotated three times 360 degrees on the ‘stretcher’. The eldest son then has the honour of lighting the fire.
Ashes to the river – After a few hours, the ashes are scattered in the sacred Bagmati River, a ritual that symbolises the soul’s passage to the afterlife.
Dinner at Lemon Tree Premier Budhanilkantha
After this impressive visit, we went back to the hotel to freshen up. In the evening we were picked up by Rijan, who took us to a beautiful place in Kathmandu, Lemon Tree Premier Budhanilkantha, located on top of the hills in north of the city. Oh, what a view!
We enjoyed the company and the super delicious food. We played a few more games of pool and then went back to Thamel, where we spent our last night in Nepal.
Day 5: Back to Dubai
We had an 'lazy' morning, went to the gym in the hotel, and enjoyed breakfast. At 9:30am the driver picked us up to drop us at the airport. At 1:40pm: we flew back to Dubai. What a wonderful experience this was..! Here are our findings in a nutshell:
- It’s all about the majestic Himalayas and the world's highest mountain; the Mount Everest (8848 mtr).
- The people of Nepal are super friendly.
- The time difference 1 hour+48 minutes ahead of Dubai.
- Easy entry with visa on arrival (30USD p/p).
- Easy traveling (very tourist friendly).
- Paradise for hiking enthusiasts (short, long, easy, moderate and difficult hikes and trekkings).
- Good food (you should def try the momo ⬇️).
- Everywhere you can get good coffee (no instant coffee)
- Very good WiFi (restaurants, airport, hotel (rooms), public places).
- The "prayer flags" or "Lungta" have an important symbolic and spiritual meaning. These colorful flags are an essential part of Buddhist culture and are often seen in Nepal and the Himalayan region.
- Nepal has beautiful heritage sites.
- ‘NAMASTE’ is their greeting, meaning, in the simplest way, hello. Literally translated it means ‘I bow to you’. When someone says Namaste, they’re doing more than just saying hello and making a bow, it has a spiritual meaning. They’re saying ‘The spirit in me honors the spirit in you’.
- Nepal is a safe country with very low crime rate and no scamming mentality, as you can sometimes experience in other Asian countries.
- Most people speak a certain level of English.
- Nepal is very family / kids proof.
- Nice hotel stay in Thamel Kathmandu, district with lots of restaurants and shops.
- Chaotic traffic (but not agressive); go with the flow!