Nepal Now

Rebecaa Slater

In March 2015, I was lucky enough to host an educational trip with our client, Ventours International Travel in Nepal. Nepal was always in my wishlist since I was a little girl. I always had a longing to make it to the top of Himalayas, watch a bengal tiger in Chitwan National Park, witness Hindu Festival and visit Kathmandu to explore the mystic and exotic images.

I was deeply saddened when the news broke that a devastating 7.8 earthquake struck just east of the district of Lamjung in Nepal on April 25. Having fallen in love with this country and its people, the euphoric high I was riding post trip turned into feelings of heartbreak and helplessness. Instantly, I decided to channel my energy to help Nepal even in the smallest scale possible. I understood that fact that tourism industry which contributes to about 80% of nation’s economy would be severely affected post the earthquake. To be a part of tourism recovery and speak informatively, I had to assess for myself regarding how things were on the ground. Fortunately I had a venturous FAM trip to Bhutan planned for August, which offered the perfect opportunity to combine the two countries, as many visitors do.

Upon arriving at Kathmandu, my first impression of the city was that it looked beautiful. I am sure that if you have never been to Kathmandu before, you cannot actually make out the difference the devastating earthquake has caused. Of course, this is not to say there are still thousands of people within the country, many in more remote parts, who face the challenge of having to rebuild their homes and their lives. But, most parts of the country were left untouched by the earthquake.

My first and foremost concern was to visit all seven UNESCO groups of monuments and buildings located within the Kathmandu Valley. I got a chance to visit Changunarayan temple perched on a high hilltop located just a few kms away from Bhaktapur. Luckily, my visit coincided with two famous hindu festivals : Janai Purnima and Gai Jatra. I celebrated and observed Janai Purnima in Patan, the city of fine arts. Only two temples were damged here with everything else intact and beautiful as ever. . The next day was Gai Jatra, the festival of cows that commemorates the death of people during the year. Walking through the streets of Kathmandu Valley was very eye-pleasing. Young children were disguised to look like cows ,people playing musical instruments and sporadic “holy men” joining the congregation, all providing a kaleidoscope of color and great energy. Watching people rejoice and celebrate the festival with so much lively spirit is a fantastic local experience that you should never ever miss.

My entire trip was purely focused on Kathmandu Valley. During my 8 days stay in Kathmandu, I decided to stay at two hotels .The first, Dwarika’s Hotel “a tribute to the architectural and cultural heritage of Nepal,” has become one of my favorite hotels in the world. The second hotel was the Gokarna Forest Resort, traditionally the royal hunting grounds of the kings of Nepal. It is situated within a 470-acre forest, which offers shelter to birds and animals in the Kathmandu Valley; one can even enjoy a round of golf on their par-72 course.

Bhaktapur is one of my favorite places to be whenever I am in Nepal. It is a place rich in cultural heritage and is also the cultural capital of the country with history dating back to the eigth century. We stayed at Nyatapola restaurant overlooking the whole of Bhaktapur Durbar Square where you can watch how daily life unfolds. It gave us an opportunity to observe the vibrant depth of Newar Community. The charming narrow streets house producers of local handicrafts, pottery and pashminas. The city is proud to be listed as one of the 10 cleanest within Asia.

The next day was spent at Swayambunath, one of the oldest Buddhist Temples. Situated on a hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu Valley, the temple holds great significance for Buddhists and Hindus around the globe. The all-seeing Buddha eyes that stare out from the top of the Stupa have become synonymous with Nepal. I had to climb 365 ancient steps of stairs through the forest populated with monkeys to reach the temple. But, it was definitely worth it. The site has a wonderful ancient atmosphere, especially when you approach on foot with the pilgrims. You can enjoy a phenomenal view of the Valley from the top.

I wanted a perfect ending to the day. Thus, I decided to go to Pashupatinath Temple for an enchanting evening experience. Pashupatinath is a famous Hindu Temple and is also one of the oldest Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. I got a chance to witness the daily aarati ceremony. Situated amid the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, which flows into the Ganges, the temple is built in a pagoda style with gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. Even though only hindus are allowed inside the temple, one can enjoy the stunning view of the whole temple complex from other side of the river.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is still impressive despite of being affected by the earthquake. Luckily the kumari house where the 9 year old living goddess resided was left untouched by the earthquake. According to Gautam Shakya, an 11th-generation caretaker of Kumari, it was because of the Kumari’s powers that the temple remained intact.

Few places I would recommend everyone to visit are:

Kokhana and Bungamati

Two ancient villages that relies mostly on agriculture and have preserved their culture and history.

Kathmandu Bead Market

The dazzling alley of the bead dealers is hidden between two buildings and temples. Most of the merchants here are Muslim who came to Nepal from South Asia and Tibet in the 15th century. Beads here are usually imported from India, Indonesia, Japan and China. Local married Nepalese women gather here to buy the merchandise.

Garden of Dreams(Keshar Mahal)

A neoclassical historical garden created by the late Field Marshal Kaiser Shamsher Rana in the 1920s, is located in Thamel, the center of the tourism industry in Kathmandu.

Being a Tourism goodwill ambassador of Nepal, I will keep supporting Nepal in tourism recovery process not only for a short time but also in the foreseeable future. My only wish is to see Nepal being politically and economically stable after the establishment of the new constitution.

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