Nepal Sales Mission to Australia

The number of Australians travelling to Nepal is on the rise. Whatever the traveller's interest, budget or inclination, Nepal has plenty to offer to Australian visitors. In this tiny Himalayan Kingdom, you will find an astonishing diversity of sightseeing attractions and adventure opportunities found nowhere else on earth.

Just as Nepal�s popularity as a tourist destination has increased over the last three decades, so has infrastructure and the possibility of visiting the far-flung parts of this mountain Kingdom. Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for the country and engages a sizeable number of locals. Today, Nepal has emerged as a destination that prides itself on offering the discerning traveller and tourist the best of services, suiting a whole range of budget and offering multiple possibilities to explore this land.

Located between China and India, Nepal stands at the defining frontier of civilisation in this part of the world, showing a true multi-cultural, multi-ethnic amalgamation. A cultural crossroad for centuries where Hinduism and Buddhism not only flourished but created a unique culture, Nepal�s heterogeneity is seen in the multiplicity of ethnic and caste groups who speak over 70 languages and dialects.

The rich tapestry of the cultural heritage of Nepal is synthesized in the Kathmandu Valley that houses three ancient cities of Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. The skillfully built temples and palaces, delicately engraved stone and metal images, carved wooden columns and pillars, and the history laden shrines and chaityas or stupas of these three historical cities offer a wealth of insights into the Valley's rich past.

Adventure tourism here dates back to the early attempts to scale the world�s highest peaks. It has come a long way since. While trekking, mountaineering and game watching have long been popular, an entire range of other possibilities have been explored in the recent years � rafting, biking, fishing, rock climbing, paragliding, ultralight aircraft, hot air ballooning, mountain flight, boating, pony treks, jet scooter, boating and bungy jumping. The list is endless.

The Nepal Himalaya has not been called the greatest mountain range on earth for nothing. After all, it is crowned by eight of the world's 14 highest mountains including the jewel in the crown, Mt. Everest, standing tall at 8,848 m, the highest point on earth. That's not all. Countless number of peaks are scattered across the length and breadth of the country � well, some of them don't even have names.

Everest, though the loftiest, is not the only one of Nepal's roster of superlatives. The deepest gorge in the world, the Kali Gandaki Gorge, slices through two of the tallest mountains in west-central Nepal. Tilicho, the world's highest lake wheezes at an altitude of 4,919 m in the north central part of the Kingdom. The 800-km stretch of the Nepal Himalaya is the ultimate playground for mountaineers. But mountaineering in Nepal is more than climbing sheer rock faces. You also travel among the legendary Sherpa people.

Trekking is another way to appreciate the natural charm of the Himalaya. As one walks through the pretty vales and dales, forests of rhododendron, isolated hamlets, temples and monasteries and past quaint villages, you will also encounter people of different cultures offering a fascinating taste of traditional rural life.

The glacier-fed rivers thunder on their way south to the sea offering world-class white water for rafting and kayaking. For adventure of the wildest kind, there is jungle safari in the sub-tropical foliage of the Terai in the densest forest in South Asia. This is home to rare animals and birds where the Royal Bengal tiger has surprised many a tourist by his majestic appearance.

A one-hour mountain flight offers spectacular views of the Himalaya offering closest possible aerial views of Mt. Everest and other eight thousanders. Only awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains on earth. Apart from these adventure activities, many more special interest tours are conducted in Nepal throughout the year and matching all tastes.

For Buddhists and students of Buddhism, Nepal has always been a cherished place. This was where, in 623 BC, Lord Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini. Lumbini also finds a pride of place in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Festivals are an essential part of Nepalese life that garner tremendous local participation. Festivals also offer visitors a valuable opportunity not only for having fun but gaining insight into various aspects of Nepalese culture. The religious festivals follow the lunar calendar, while national festivals have fixed dates. Wherever or whenever you arrive in Nepal, you can be pretty sure of being at the right time for one or more special events.

To conserve this natural heritage, the government has set aside an area of over 16,500 sq. km spread over 8 national parks and four wildlife reserves. Two of these, the Everest National Park (1148 sq. km) and the Royal Chitwan National Park (932 sq. km), are listed as UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites.

Village Tours have also become popular among tourists. Village tours allow visitors to experience a stay in a typical Nepali village. This gives visitors an opportunity to observe the rich Nepalese cultural tradition from the closest quarter and intermingle with the locals. Besides, any expenses made at that level directly contribute to the welfare of the local community, hence giving the visitor a sense of satisfaction. Village Tours are conducted in Sirubari, Gorkha and other places. In fact, Nepal Tourism Board's entry �Sirubari Village Tourism Project" has won the prestigious PATA Gold Award in Heritage & Culture - Heritage Category at the 2001 PATA Gold Awards. Sirubari is a small village nestled on the southern slopes of a ridge in western Nepal. Pokhara, about 20km to the northeast, is the nearest major center. The village, which is inhabited entirely by the Gurungs, is small and compact with neat and clean trails connecting the mainly stone and slate built houses.

The attraction of Sirubari is that there are no hotels, lodges or restaurants in the village. All tourists coming there are assigned a house where they sleep and eat. Accommodation is simple but comfortable and clean. You eat what the hosts eat. Toilet is on the outside of the house but is clean. There is ample running water and guests are provided hot water for shower. There is no electricity at the village but there is a telephone line.

Eating is a special affair in Nepal. The Nepali cuisine is unique in taste, aroma, cooking style and presentation. Some are spicy and piquant while others are tangy and well-seasoned, the list is endless. There is food for every occasion and festival. Kathmandu offers an incredible selection of dining joints that serve authentic Nepali food complete with ethnic ambience and cultural shows.

For more information on destinations in Nepal, travel safety concerns and other relevant facts, check out NTB's Website www.welcomenepal.com

Nepal Tourism Board Bhrikuti Mandap Tourist Service Center Tel: 977-1-256909 Fax: 977-1-256910 E:mail: info@ntb.wlink.com.np