Why do they go to Nepal? Seasons in Nepal. Best time to travel

Before traveling to the Himalayas, I didn’t think much about the weather and seasonality. I thought that since on the map it was somewhere closer to the tropics, it meant that the climate was appropriate: palm trees and heat (except for high mountain areas, of course). I was thinking about having a summer for myself in the midst of the Russian winter. It turned out much cooler: in a month I saw all the seasons of the year, just moving around Nepal. This tiny country has all the climatic zones that change as you gain altitude: from the tropics in the south to the arctic zone in the Himalayas. So in one trip you can experience the entire climatic gamut.

There is no sea, no beaches in Nepal, entertainment centers, and there is no civilization in the usual sense either. Instead of these pleasures - chaos, garbage against the backdrop of palaces, original culture, formidable mountains and friendly people, whose cheerfulness defies Western logic. Plane tickets alone cost the same as a package deal beach tour. For me, you can’t end up here - you can only get there purposefully. But you still need to get into right time!

Choosing a travel time depends, first of all, on its purpose. The time frame for excursion and pilgrimage holidays is usually wider than for.

Of course, there are 4 seasons in Nepal, like throughout the world, but two seasons can be distinguished: “dry” and monsoon. Therefore, in my story I shift the emphasis from the usual sequence of spring-summer-autumn-winter to these two periods.

Low season

I’ll start with the time when you shouldn’t go to Nepal. No matter how tempting airline fares may be! The money saved on the flight will not justify the inconvenience of the low season. Moreover, there is also.

Monsoon

Monsoon lasts from late May–June to September.

Long rains in the mountains- not only sad, but also dangerous:

instead of the Himalayas there are clouds;
on the roads - landslides and floods;
leeches crawl right into your shoes.

This option is more likely for extreme sports enthusiasts.

You can hide during the rainy season only in Upper Mustang and Upper Dolpo - regions bordering Tibet, protected from the monsoons by mountains. Both areas are part of a restricted access zone, meaning that visiting requires an expensive permit (from 500 EUR for 10 days) and the accompaniment of a local guide.

In September, after a summer lull, some rivers (San Kosi, Karnali) open rafting season, but you need to take the choice of a company seriously: high water makes rafting in the Himalayas very dangerous.

In the city During the monsoon it is not very pleasant: oppressive heat (above 30°C) combined with heavy rains. You will have to move in dashes, without parting with your umbrella. Hotels, especially budget ones, can be damp.

I only experienced rare spring rains (in March), but they are also impressive. In an hour it turns into Venice: instead of streets there are streams of water that dry up just as quickly.

Monsoon in the subtropics is the season of malaria and intestinal infections.

I think it’s not worth the risk, and you won’t get any pleasure from such a trip, since the main value of Nepal (the mountains!) is hidden at this time.

Dry season

Winter in Nepal, despite its geographical proximity to the equator, is relatively cold, even at low altitudes. At night in Kathmandu the temperature can drop to 2°C, and during the day it does not exceed 18°C.

Such weather should not stop the seasoned Russian traveler, if not no heating in Nepalese homes. Heaters and air conditioners do not help much: electricity in Kathmandu and Pokhara is turned on according to a schedule, so you can stay in a stone refrigerator all night. Therefore, if you are planning a trip in winter, take a sleeping bag and warm clothes. Although puffers and hats can be bought locally.

Nevertheless winter months are more pleasant for trekking and excursions than the monsoon. You can go to “low” mountains (up to 5000 meters), for example, to the Langtang area, arrange a safari in national park Chitwan or learn paragliding in Pokhara. And all this without crowds of tourists, who will arrive only by mid-March. Even trekking to Everest or Annapurna Base Camp in December is completely doable.

But it may be closed. More precisely, they are closing it itself high point- Thorung La pass. Guest house owners in high mountain villages go to Kathmandu or Pokhara for the winter, so there may be problems finding accommodation for the night.

A nice bonus for those traveling in winter - relatively low prices for airfare and accommodation.

High season

"Edges" of the dry season ( March-May And October November) is the ideal time to travel, what is considered the high season in Nepal. But there are some nuances here too.

Spring in Nepal

The main charm of spring travel, in my opinion, is rhododendrons blooming - national symbol Nepal. I would come again in the spring just for this extraordinary spectacle. It can be captured as early as mid-March in areas above 2000 meters, but this is only the beginning of flowering. The peak is in April, and the main “garden” is Ghorepani in the Annapurna region.

However, the bright colors on the slopes come at the cost of a gloomy sky. Mountain peaks They open only in the first half of the day; after lunch they are covered with clouds.

Although on the plains and in the Kathmandu valley it has been summer by Russian standards since the beginning of March (daytime temperature +25°C), higher in the mountains it is cooler, and after 4000 meters there is snow. If it weren’t for the warm down jacket and sleeping bag, my memories of the evenings in unheated guesthouses on the way to Everest Base Camp would not have been so rosy, and the frosty mornings would not have seemed so good.

Urban spring no less colorful. After all, it is at this time that the most vibrant and popular Indian festival takes place - Holi. But this is not the only celebration that I saw in Nepal. No less interesting is Mahashivratri - the main festival of Shiva with unusual traditions. And in April you can meet New Year in Nepali, which has nothing to do with the traditional one. Nepal has more than days in a year, and each one is unique.

Autumn in Nepal

October and November- high season: thanks to mild weather and clear skies The Himalayas appear in all their glory. The predominant color of the landscape after the monsoon rains is rich green, as opposed to the withered yellow of spring.

For lovers event tourism I advise you to plan a trip around Diwali - the Indian festival of lights, which is celebrated on a grand scale in Kathmandu.

In addition to natural beauty and festivals, it is worth preparing for traffic jams of tourists on popular routes and the corresponding prices for housing and air tickets. The best guesthouses are likely to be full - it's best to book in advance.

Therefore, I would not recommend rushing to the very peak: it is better to move the trip to the first half of October or the beginning of December. As a result, there is a double benefit: saving budget and nerves and the opportunity to see leisurely, authentic Nepal.

Finally

So after all: when is the best time to go to Nepal? Depends on why. This is what mine looks like Nepali calendar, based on our own experience and local advice:

January-February: cultural and pilgrimage tourism in Kathmandu, paragliding in Pokhara, visiting Terai, trekking in low mountains(Langtang, Helambu, Rara).
March, April: trekking and excursion program in the Kathmandu Valley, Chitwan, admiring the blooming rhododendrons. Together with the Nepalese we celebrate Shiva's birthday, Holi and the New Year.
May: rafting. It is already too hot in Kathmandu and especially in Chitwan.
June August: trekking to Mustang and Upper Dolpo.
September: rafting again, but only for experienced watermen.
October November: ideal time for a mountain hike. Trekking can be combined with rafting, kayaking and paragliding in Pokhara. And if there is time left, we will immerse ourselves in the festive atmosphere at the festivals of Dashain, Diwali and Newar New Year.
December: the end of the season and the opportunity to go through popular trekking routes almost alone.

To my recipe have a nice trip Nepal involves more than just preparation and timing. The main ingredients: openness, willingness to change your plans and adapt to circumstances (and the weather is not the main one).

Fly to Nepal you will have to make transfers - there are no direct flights from Russia, but air traffic is established, so ensuring your comfort and guaranteed arrival at your destination on time is the concern of the tour operator.

Obtaining a visa– the process is simple, but there are practically no failures.

Accommodation options in Nepal hotels a variety: from very budget to the most comfortable. The choice is yours!

Now Nepal is safe - conflicts over the establishment of a republic in the country ended with its proclamation in 2008.

Nepal is beautiful in many of its manifestations, although, let’s face it, certain moments of the trip can shock an unprepared tourist.

Best time to travel

Season is a concept that defines weather in Nepal. From June to September, the Terai, the southern part of the country, experiences heavy rainfall due to the monsoon climate. The ideal time to travel across the country is in October-November: both temperature and humidity are optimal for overcoming trekking routes, as well as sightseeing, because in cities you will also have to walk a lot. In March-April it is also comfortable here, and there are fewer tourists, so prices for flights and accommodation are lower, but there is less greenery mountain slopes, which are shrouded in a light haze in the morning. In December-February in Nepal the air is clean and transparent, but in the highlands it is quite cold, and above 5000 meters the passes can be covered with snow.

Most tourists fly to Nepal only to climb Everest or “gain” access to Tibet (if, of course, they fly at all). Lena Satarova spent a month in mountainous country without doing either one or the other. Now he tells us what else you can do there and how it’s generally possible to travel around the country itself, where only men ride on night buses, and knowledge of English helps only in communicating with Buddhist monks.

Well, first of all, the title is a lie. He jokes and flirts.

If you are in Nepal, then you are already in the mountains. Plus or minus flat terrain can be found only in the south, on the border with India, the rest is larger mountains, smaller mountains and mountains of medium height. But let's talk about everything in order.

Reason 1. No visa problems

In November, for the first time in my life, I went to Thailand for the winter. Until the new year I managed to live and work there safely ( ). But then a tickle came to my butt, I suddenly closed my laptop, moved out of the miracle house onto Koh Samui and started driving around Thailand without a goal or understanding of “who we are, why we are and where we are going.”

When the visa was almost over, I realized that I needed to go somewhere. There wouldn’t have been enough money for a ticket to Ukraine anyway, and in general I didn’t want to. Therefore AirAsia and special offer for those who want to fly to Kathmandu! Let's take it! There is EXACTLY money left on the card for this most tempting offer.

And the last 200 dollars in cash is enough to buy a visa for a month ($40 for 30 days - and no bank statements) and... we'll see.

Reason 2. Cheap prices

I’ll say right away that in Nepal everything is really very cheap. The most expensive dish in the world tourist place will cost 40 hryvnia. And so - the first time I had lunch in a place where tea with milk, flatbreads, rice, curry and dal cost 100 Nepalese rupees (about 30 hryvnia).

The Nepalese are not fools; they understand that for “white people” their prices are pitiful. White people, in turn, really don’t give a damn and only take taxis, eat only in restaurants in the center and don’t really walk around the city. So only according to the temples that they will be allowed to enter.

That’s why Nepalese boys’ eyes pop out of their sockets when they see that a tourist is 1) alone; 2) refuses a taxi; 3) trudges off to look for a bus; 4) refuses a taxi 15 more times; 5) gets on the first bus he comes across and says “take me just straight, dazent meter wer.” The cost of travel in Kathmandu is UAH 5.

Reason 3. Make friends with locals

Hostel roof

There are no problems finding a hotel or hostel in Kathmandu. I used the website hostels.com and found myself a decent hostel for 100 UAH/day with breakfast (in hryvnias it’s not cheap, in dollars – you understand). The next morning it turned out that there were only two people living in this hostel, besides me. And both of these people are from Kyiv.

Kyiv is good, but I would still like some local Hanuman as a friend to explain what’s really going on here. Why are there Montessori schools for creative development everywhere, but there is so much trash along the roads that you could build castles? Why is it colder inside houses than outside, and why do outlets only work for 5 hours a day? Why does the tangerine seller know English like a university professor, but the bus drivers know nothing at all? And why, after all, are there no signs in English along the road from the airport? And not in the center either.

I knew what would save me in such a situation if I were in Europe. Couchsurfing.org, of course! What about Nepal? It turned out that he also saved in Nepal.

Reason 4. Learn how to cook curry

We agreed to meet with Roham from Lalitpur (a city neighboring Kathmandu, which the locals themselves consider to be a district of Kathmandu) near the Monkey Temple. Roham turned out to be a serious man - wearing glasses and riding a bike.

Later, Roham tried to convince me that he was from the Brahmin caste, and when I refused to believe, he reminded me that he actually had an iPhone and, again, a bike!

“Not many people in Nepal have their own motorcycle,” a Nepalese business school graduate taught me. – Nepal – very beautiful country, but very poor.”

And the Brahman is right about this! The nature of the country is crazy - even in the north, closer to Tibet, even in central regions, where Kathmandu is located. The Himalayas, no matter how you look at them, are full of energy.

But this is not the only thing that knocks the locals off their feet. While I was living with Roham and his brother in Lalitpur, the people in Kathmandu were on strike. I was surprised to learn that just 20 years ago Nepal was a monarchy. It became a republic in 2007, which was preceded by the mass terror of the Maoists; Civil War; the madness of the prince, who shot the whole family and shot himself; the authoritarian policies of the new king; alliance of leading political parties with Maoists; and finally, the declaration of the kingdom as a democratic federal republic. The last king of Nepal is still alive, but he is no longer considered an incarnation of the god Vishnu. Sorry dude.

Everest Times Monthly Magazine

In general, the political life of Nepal is so busy that people have no time to think about how to become richer. They all fight - among themselves or with each other. The main source of foreign exchange earnings - foreign tourism - and that was blown away, because rosy-cheeked Jack somehow became scared of traveling to a country where there were huge army training grounds every kilometer.

India and China happily support the existing order of things, because Nepal is precisely what is beneficial for them as a “shadow zone” - poor, wild and ready to do anything for a hundred dollars. Doesn't remind you of anything?

But I got completely distracted. This is not about that, but about the fact that while living in a house with Nepalese, I learned to cook real Nepalese curry. And in general, I learned how to throw hearty dinners out of nothing. An invaluable skill for a Ukrainian.

Reason 5. Don’t worry, be happy

Once culinary school was fully completed, I went to Pokhara for a week and a half of doing nothing but yoga and jogging. India is India, and Nepal is also a country in which more than 70 percent of the population is Hindu, so the place is teeming with gurus ready to impart knowledge.

I decided to leave the Internet gurus to the coiffed Europeans and take care of my body myself. I’ve been practicing yoga for about three years, so I just needed to find a place where my head asked to touch the ground and my feet asked to touch the sky. Pokhara turned out to be just such a place. More precisely, not Pokara itself, but a small “Village of Happiness” (that’s what it’s called) nearby.

Pokhara is a town from where expeditions to the main peaks of the world start. In the 60s, Pokhara was overrun by hippies and since then it has been a place where people come to “get into it.” For example, my grandfather from London lived with me in the hostel. He says I come here every year for 4 months. Grandfather has a beard of 30 centimeters and all his fingers are in rings. What is he doing there all day?

Reason 6. Learn to communicate without knowing the language

And whoever is not a Hindu in Nepal is, of course, a Buddhist. It cannot be otherwise, because in the north is Tibet, and in the south is the village where Buddha himself was born. It's called Lumbini.

Since I already know how to cook and stand on my head, it’s time for meditation. With these words I calmed myself during the first days in the Myanmar monastery on the territory of Lumbini, where I took vippassana.

I won’t tell you how the meditation practice went, I will only say that when I left the temple, I realized that you can communicate without knowing the language. For example, using intonation. This new skill helped me no longer be afraid of getting on the wrong bus.

And to learn a language, it’s enough to listen to how the monks speak. Even a hippoded Englishman would envy such pure and intonationally verified English as theirs.

Read us at
Telegram

Hello friends! I returned from another trip to Asia, and it seems like I’ve lived and seen so much, but I still remember my first time with special trepidation. independent travel to Nepal in 2012. On that trip, for the first time, instead of a travel bag, I took a backpack with me; At the same time, leaving behind prejudices, he began to eat in local canteens and learned to storm local buses.

In general, I fell head over heels in love with this small country! Especially later, after the first experience of conscious traveling and perfect and.

By the way, I shot a short video at the foot of the “roof of the world”, check it out:

And now, having gathered all my own experience into a pile, I want to talk about how you can go to Nepal on your own and why this is extremely necessary for all romantics, vagabonds and idealists! Go...

Father Everest, hiding behind a cloud

There are a lot of reports on my blog. Read it! For now, I'll give you some facts:

Nepal is the only country whose official religion is Hinduism.
8 of the 14 eight-thousanders on the planet are located in the country
6/7 of the country is covered by the Himalayan ranges
The population is predominantly rural, only 17% lives in cities (open, smiling and friendly)
Multinational. The territory is home to about 100 different caste peoples speaking 70 different dialects.
One of the poorest countries in the world, but one of the most relaxed and safe.
- one of the most interesting cities peace. (and one of my favorites)
Street traffic dies out after 10 pm. Everyone sits at home, goes to bed early, and it’s almost impossible to get a taxi.

How to get to Nepal

In view of geographical location, the simplest and affordable way to get here - by plane! international Airport in country 1 - Tribhuvan, in the city of Kathmandu.

You can check the prices of air tickets using the form

The airport, I must say, is very poor and is rightfully included in the 10 most disgusting airports in the world. But getting out of it is quite easy. Taxi prices are about 5 dollars to tourist area Thamel.

Plane to Lukla at Tribhuvan airport

You can also get here by land, but only from the Indian side, from where there is a lot of public transport going to Kathmandu and Pokhara. Unfortunately, communication with China is much more complicated. Despite the presence of excellent roads, You can get from China to Nepal only by purchasing a permit to travel along the Tibetan Autonomous Okrug, which cannot be obtained without purchasing organized tour. Yes, and it’s not very necessary).

Border, Indian side

Visa

One of the biggest advantages of the country, of course, is the simplified visa regime (also, 90% of the budget income comes from tourism). You can get a visa at the border and at the airport.

The prices are as follows:

2 weeks – 25 dollars
1 month – 40 dollars
3 months – 100 dollars

If you bought a short visa, but decided to stay in the country (and this happens very often), you can extend your stay at migration offices for $2 per day, for up to 5 months a year.

Especially big fans of trips to Nepal do a trick: They enter 5 months before the end of the year (for example, in August), and leave in the spring, for example, in May. As a result, they have 5 months this year, and another 5 next year, without having to make “corridors”. Why such a long period, you ask??? It's all about the stunning atmosphere of the country and its crazy natural landscapes!

Prices

Probably the lowest in Asia. you can find from 3 dollars a day (the two of us lived for 80, paid for the whole floor). Food is cheap (between 1-1.5 dollars per meal). Vegetables and fruits are also at reasonable prices.

But if you, like me, are looking for something more comfortable, I highly recommend the following hotel in Kathmandu that had awesome Wi-Fi for work.

The fun begins when you, with your white foreign face, start looking for local transport somewhere in the unpronounceable wilderness. Here the imagination of drivers and sellers takes very frightening forms. The way to counteract, as elsewhere in Asia, is bargaining! With a smile and positivity, without haste or aggression.

Alas, I have witnessed more than once how our people, neglecting the bargaining process itself, belittled the personal dignity of both the seller and his goods. It is clear that with this approach the price did not fall even a rupee and the tension on both sides was enormous.

In addition, I noticed that the price can change in a completely incomprehensible way. What today cost a conditional 2000 rupees, tomorrow may begin to cost 3200, and the day after tomorrow 1800. The pricing process here is as irrational and transcendental as the nature of Buddha and the exit to the rainbow body.

Accommodation for 200 rupees on the Annapurna Circuit Trek

Naturally, attempts to inflate prices occur at every step and it is often difficult to understand the real situation. But you have to accept it all! Nepal is no exception in the pan-Asian picture of the world. There are a lot of other advantages.

Sights of Nepal

Mountains . Great Himalayas. Just the thought or viewing of a report about or can cause liberation from the tenacious clutches of Samsara. The mountains here are the main religion, attraction and meaning. Rafting, climbing, trekking, hiking and other motherfucking is the best way to accumulate life experiences.
Religion. In a place near the border with India, there is the birthplace of Buddha and the palace that he left to become enlightened. The number of pilgrims and tourists there is very large.
In addition, there are a lot of caves scattered in the Himalayan valleys where great yogis indulged in their austerities in order to achieve liberation. Many of them today are points of active pilgrimage flow, mainly of the Buddhist persuasion. And what monasteries there are!
Culture. The fertile valleys of the foothills have attracted settled tribes since ancient times. Just look at the famous Durbar squares of old Kathmandu with paved roads, unique Newar architecture of ancient temples and palaces. In one of them, by the way, lives the living goddess Kumari: a little girl whom the Nepalese seriously endow with divine qualities.
People . Open, friendly and beautiful. Outwardly, they are very different, and sometimes responsive to the point of annoyingness. I love their police, which I sincerely perceive as my main assistant in logistics and disagreements.
National parks in the jungle. Reservations wildlife, where you can very carefully look in order to observe different animals in their natural conditions. The most popular: Bardia and Chitwan.

Himalayan giants. The distant snowy peak on the left side of the photo is Everest.

One of the squares of Bhaktapur

Nepal also has its own characteristic disadvantages (or features?).

Disadvantages of traveling in Nepal

Road safety. The road surface, especially in remote regions, is a mixture of stones and dust. Vehicles- killed Indian jeeps and old buses. It's clear that the wild ones mountain serpentines, coupled with the natural desire to drive fast, such a trip becomes very dangerous.
Constant power outages. I remember how, during the 3 months of my Nepali period, I was looking for places for my work. Because the shutdown in the dry season reaches 12-14 hours a day. For such cases, there are mobile applications Nepal Load Shedding.
Unstable political situation. Nepal has long been torn apart by all kinds of confrontations and strikes. Political parties, in friendly solidarity, organize mutual strikes (popularly called “BandA”), “thanks to” which can easily paralyze the movement of all transport throughout the country. Cafes and restaurants are closed, guest houses operate in semi-siege mode. Fortunately, during such events, tourists are not disturbed, and intercity transportation (for example, Kathmandu-Pokhara) is carried out without any problems (but under heavy police supervision). I remember how the leader of the Maoist Communist Party stated in his interview that “don’t worry and come to us, no matter what. Of course, we butt heads with each other here... But we all love you, tourists.” Wise!
Cold winter and rainy summer. In January, temperatures in Kathmandu can drop to 0 degrees, in the mountains - even less. However, at this time there are a lot of sunny days. And, if you wrap yourself up warmly, you can have a good and pleasant winter. In the summer there is a continuous veil of monsoon rains, leeches and humidity. The tourists are scattering (in the mountains it’s completely miserable with snow and rain) and the mango season begins.

On the roads of Nepal

Something like this!

Conclusions and Conclusions

I admit, I wrote the previous section with some degree of tension. Because looking at the object of love from all possible sides can sometimes be problematic. And it’s almost impossible to go to Nepal without being on your own. Everything here is too tailored for adventurers, romantics and the spiritually afflicted.

Temples, mountains, holy places and endlessly smiling Nepalese people. Of course, there is a place for chic and luxury, but somehow it is all inappropriate, pretentious, stupid and superficial. I remember in 2011 I lived in Kathmandu for 3 days in a 5-star hotel as part of a tour to. Apparently, it was necessary to balance the Tibetan household tin with something)

To sum it up, I will say: come to Nepal. He's magical! I sincerely hope that you, throwing away your stupid suitcases, take your backpacks with you and go to the heart of the Himalayas! For me, this will be the best reward for all my countless graphomaniac works.

Nepal is a fascinating and unusual country, in which the incompatible is combined, where they live according to completely different principles and rules that are unusual for us. Two big religions - Hinduism and Buddhism - coexist perfectly here. On the territory of one country there are also majestic mountain ranges, and enchanting plains, and even wild jungles! The civilization of Nepal is too ambiguous - in some settlements residents live in huts and have not even heard of electricity or running water, while in other regions there are full-fledged modern cities with good infrastructure.

Local time is also special, it differs from Greenwich by 5 hours and 45 minutes. And everything is explained very simply: a long time ago this small country tried to show its independence from its big neighbor India and for this purpose moved the time forward 10 minutes. But at the end of the twentieth century, the monarchs thought and decided to move away for another 5 minutes. And now we are confused in time))

Nepalese people are very friendly and hospitable. And this is even evident in the fact that a visa can be issued literally in 5-10 minutes immediately upon arrival at the airport or at any border crossing. And our Indian neighbors can freely move across the border both on foot and by transport, without bothering with passes, permits, etc.

One of the entertainments for visiting tourists is public transport. For local residents, this is, of course, everyday life, but for Europeans it is a real extreme! After all, not in every country you can ride on the roof of a bus overcrowded with passengers without breaking any rules.

Despite its attractiveness and uniqueness, Nepal is a very poor country. It is landlocked, there are no rich people here natural resources, Agriculture And transport infrastructure very poorly developed. Therefore, Nepal is one of the poorest and most backward countries in the world. But, nevertheless, the streets of Nepal are much cleaner and tidier than in India.

A third of the Nepalese male population is employed in the service sector foreign tourists are guides and porters for the Himalayas. The work of porters is very difficult; there are cases of their death right on the route. Even considering this fact, Nepal remains the only country in the entire world where the average life expectancy of women is less than that of men.

The daily life of the Nepalese may seem strange and incomprehensible to many of us. But they are used to it and can’t even imagine it any other way. For example, there is no heating in the houses of local residents, it is not even provided for according to the plan, so in winter it is very cold. The only exception is hotels, where you can ask for an electric heater. And then, it is not always possible to use it, since electricity in different areas of Kathmandu is turned on according to a schedule.

Another curiosity in home improvement is the lack of glass in the windows. Instead, there are only bars, and for the Nepalese this is enough. Therefore, do not be surprised if you see local residents who walk around at home in winter wearing jackets, warm pants and hats, and even go to bed, still covered with a blanket. But at the same time, wrapped in a hundred clothes, they can walk barefoot or in flip-flops, and because of this they often get sick.

In winter, Nepal has a very large temperature difference, from +25 during the day to -5 at night (this is in lowland regions). This is probably why even more or less successful Nepalese often go to bed on the floor with the rest of their family - it’s warmer.

Nepalese house in Chitwan

Since electricity is a great luxury for the local population, in order to save money they try to use solar energy to the maximum. Water is heated in black tanks, and they try to wash during the hottest time of the day, before it gets cold at night. All household chores are mostly done outside during the day in order to bask in the sun as much as possible. Well, in the evening, save electricity for those who have it. Therefore, their active day begins around 5 am, and by 9 pm everyone is already going to bed. For example, even classes at universities are held from 6 a.m. to 12 noon.

If the weather is cloudy, then the Nepalese have gatherings around the fires, which they light wherever they want - near their home, near the store, near their work... They gather with friends and relatives and spend days and evenings talking.

Most locals eat two meals a day - lunch around 10 am and dinner at 7 pm. There is not much time for breakfast, so they make do with a cup of sweet tea with milk. Everyday food doesn't offer much variety. Partly due to the poverty of the population, partly due to the fact that most Nepalese are vegetarians. Just as in every house you can eat borscht and potatoes, they serve dal (lentil soup) and rice almost every day for lunch and dinner. By the way, please note that eating is accepted only with the right hand. Their left hand is considered “unclean”, so it is not civilized to say hello, take something or give something to someone.

The cafes have a wider selection of dishes. But we still do not advise you to order European dishes and meat. To be honest, Nepalese are not very good at cooking this. And if you've traveled so far from home, why not try some local treats? For example, one of the popular dishes is mo-mo - something like our dumplings or dumplings, steamed or fried in oil, stuffed with vegetables or lamb.

Meat dishes are rarely prepared and are mainly made from lamb, goat, chicken, buffalo or yaks. Beef is not consumed as the cow is a sacred animal. Therefore, on the streets of Nepal you can often find walking animals in search of something edible, which can even be discarded cardboard boxes.

Dairy products are not very popular. And if they are consumed, it is mainly buffalo milk and yak milk cheese. Although, for foreign tourists, there is always regular cow's milk in stores. We would like to warn you about frequent cases of divorce among foreigners. The scheme is simple: you are walking, a poor unfortunate child comes up to you and asks you to buy him food (mostly milk), you agree, and he takes you to the store where you buy a carton of milk for fabulous money. You give the package to him and leave, and he returns it to the seller and receives his share of the money. So be careful. In general, begging and scams from tourists are the daily life of Nepalese. But that’s not about that now.

Interesting sights of Nepal, except Himalayan mountains, there are also religious shrines, of which there are many. One of the sacred places is considered to be a stone located in Lumbini. According to legend, Buddha was born here.

One of the most visited and largest ancient Buddhist temples the world's top attraction is the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu. Often there are many monkeys running around the temple grounds, who are not at all afraid of people, and sometimes even behave very aggressively - snatching food, baring their teeth. One of the stupas in Kathmandu - Swayambhunath - is even called the Monkey Temple due to the large number of them.

The Hindu temple of Pashupatinath is one of the most revered places for Hindus. This is where the sacred cremation ceremony is held. According to tradition, only relatives of the deceased can be present at the burning. But tourists found a way to watch this procedure - everything is clearly visible from the shore opposite.

The capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, is famous not only for its religious shrines, but also for other famous places. For example, Durbar Square, which contains about 20 different temples and palaces, is listed world heritage UNESCO. Every year thousands of tourists from different parts of the world pass here.

Nepal's tourism business has one characteristic feature that is not very attractive to most foreigners. All the main attractions local residents can visit for free or for a small fee. For tourists, the price can be 10, 20 or even 50 times more.

Almost every temple has sacred drums. And most tourists, following the example of the Nepalese, consider it necessary to spin them, without even understanding what this action means. But we will tell you a secret - prayer wheels in Buddhism are used to connect your physical and spiritual activities, as well as to cleanse yourself of negative karma. By the way, you only need to spin the prayer wheel with your right hand and walk around it on the left side!

Just as the Hindus have a sacred river, the Ganges, the Nepalese have their own - the Bagmati. Only it differs significantly in size and looks more like a sewer ditch. So, you won’t know it the first time sacred place, so be careful))

Kathmandu is quite large and developed city. Well-known brands produce things here (Columbia, Deuter, North Face, Salewa). By the way, their quality is not as bad as for a fake product. And the prices will please everyone. So, don't forget to bring a couple extra dollars with you. We are sure it will be difficult to resist.

the store sells only condoms so that Nepalese people feel free to go there

Most popular look trade in Nepal is a pharmacy business, so you can find such a kiosk on every corner.

On the streets of Kathmandu you can see residents everywhere wearing dust masks on their faces. Often they (bandages, not residents)) are not the usual white hospital color, but multi-colored, with bright patterns.

All Nepalese are very smiling and love tourists, they always agree to take pictures with them (but most then demand a small fee for this).

In general, Nepal is a very attractive country, with its own traditions, its own characteristics, the unsurpassed beauty of the mountains, interesting routes and attractions. Every person who loves travel should visit here and, if not conquer, then at least look at the top of the Earth - Everest. By the way, you can do this by going with us to, and visiting other corners of this wonderful country by taking part in one of them.

It might be useful to read: