Five things to do in Nepal – other than trekking through the mountains
Had enough of hiking? Now it’s time to see what else Nepal has to offer, from Unesco World Heritage site the Pashupatinath Temple to its wealth of wildlife wonders and a festival or two
Home to the world’s highest peaks, Nepal is globally renowned for its trekking adventures. But if hiking Annapurna or tackling Everest isn’t your idea of a holiday, there are plenty of other sides of Nepal to explore. There’s pristine nature, with 7,500 different types of vegetation, more than 60 ethnic groups with different cultures, customs and languages and a festival almost every day of the year.
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“There is much more to Nepal than the mountains. The culture, the people, the daily lives; this is what people want and this is what we have, ” says Shiva Dhakal, managing director of royal Mountain Travel, who has spent the last two years developing a network of 12 community homestays across the country.
Here we round up some of the lesser-known attractions that make booking a trip to the country essential.
1. Religious Nepal
Home to the birthplace of Buddha – Lumbini – Nepal is dotted with a blend of Hindu and Buddhist monuments, shrines and temples. Those wanting to delve into the country’s diverse origins and practices have a wealth of options to explore.
Pashupatinath Temple on the outskirts of Kathmandu is a colourful cacophony of life – and death. The Unesco World Heritage site is Nepal’s largest Hindu shrine. Half-naked, dreadlocked sadhus (holy men) offer blessings, while families bring their dead there to be cremated. The ceremony Antyesti (“last sacrifice”) is carried out on the riverbanks.