"Nepal, A country I have to visit again : and I did" Nepal by PierreZA

Nepal Travel Guide: 3,920 reviews and 10,577 photos

Introduction

When I planned this trip with a friend of mine, I was not sure as to what to expect.
After a long trip, via Doha, we arrived in Kathmandu, as the sun was setting. At the visa counter, we were greeted by a few elderly Nepali men, sorting out our visas within a few minutes.
Our plans included a visit to Pokhara, a few nights in Kathmandu and to explore parts of the Kathmandu valley.
Unfortunately we only had 6 days to see and do as much as possible.
I got to like Nepal since I started exploring Thamel, the tourist area of Kathmandu. Friendly people made it difficult not to like this place.
For one or other reason I thought Nepal would be very much like India, but I was totally wrong. Nepal can only be Nepal, unlike to any other country I ever visited.
It is not without problems, Nepal is a very young democracy and poverty is a major problem. When speaking to Nepali people in the 20-30 age group, you hear the same story from most of them; they want to leave Nepal, as they cannot find work or very good education in Nepal. The positive part of this is that they do want to return to wonderful Nepal.

So, I did return. I just got back from my second visit to Nepal (March 2011). I had a great time and spent a lot of time with locals, which was a very nice experience.
During this visit it was Holi festival, which was an unforgettable experience.

This page

Anapurna

This page on Nepal could be seen as an introduction to the country, a brief overview. For more detailed information, I am writing pages on Pokhara and Kathmandu (including Kathmandu Valley).
There are many thing to see and do in Nepal, and I only experienced a limited amount during this first visit.
I do plan to return as soon as I can, to experience more of Nepal.

Some highlights of my visit

Patan - Durbar Square

Kathmandu, with its temples, shrines, traditions and wonderful people
The beautiful Pokhara, with the Anapurna Mountains and Phewa Tal
Having wonderful conversations with the very friendly local people of Nepal
The hillstation of Nagarkot
Bhaktapur, another UNESCO WH site in the Kathmandu Valley
Flying from Kathmandu to Pokhara - amazing views!
There is more than enough shopping to do!

Last visit to Nepal: Mar 2011
Intro Updated Mar 27, 2011
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Reviews (25)

Transportation Local Customs (3)

You will see men and women walking with extremely heavy loads on their back, supported by their head & neck. In the... more travel advice

Souvenirs, tea etc Shopping (3)

There are many great souvenirs to buy in Nepal. Because of the many refugees, you will also be able to buy Tibetan... more travel advice

Books, books, books Shopping (3)

There are many very good bookshops in Kathmandu (mostly Thamel area). The range of books you can buy here is... more travel advice

Clothes Shopping (3)

There are many shops in Kathmandu (especially Thamel) and Pokhara where you can buy all your clothing needs for your... more travel advice

Hotels (2)
See All Great location
Transportation (4)
See All Domestic Air Travel
Warnings and Dangers (2)
See All Not safe

Comments (4)

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hunterV Feb 21, 2009 at 1:06 AM

Hello, Pierre! Great trip you've made! Good for you!
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Arkeolog Feb 21, 2009 at 12:58 AM

Hi Pierre, i likled your Nepal page. best wishes from Istanbul. Bora
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Behi Jan 31, 2009 at 10:51 AM

Never knew but u proved Nepal has many more to offer than what it seems.Thanks for Info.
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lynnehamman Jan 17, 2009 at 10:45 PM

Wow! Pierre- what a wonderful review & tips on Nepal! Pokhara looks absolutely beautiful.Its my kind of place. The pictures of the mountains are exquisite. We dream of doing the Anapurna Trail trek one day-if I can be fit enough!