This dance-drama is named 'Kartik Naach' because it is being performed on the Nepali month of Kartik, which falls on October or November.
Friday, 7 November 2014
Monday, 3 November 2014
Tallest and one of the longest ziplines of Nepal-Sarangkot
With a vertical drop of 600 meters over a total distance of 1.8km makes this the world's steepest, and is the world's most extreme zipline.
Tallest and one of the longest ziplines. It is also one of the fastest with top speeds of upto 140 kmph. This zipline is located at Sarangkot, about 10 km from the beautiful town of Pokhara.
Tuesday, 28 October 2014
Chhath Parva- Prey to the rising Sun
Chhath is a unique festival celebrated by natives of Mithila region of Nepal and India. Chhath puja is performed on kartika Shukala Shashti, which is the sixth day of the month of Kartika in the Hindu Calendar. This falls typically in the month of October or November in the Gregorian calendar. It is the only Vedic Festival dedicated to the Hindu Sun God, Surya, also known as Surya Shashti. The Chhath Puja is performed in order to thank Surya for sustaining life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes. The Sun, considered the god of energy and of the life-force, is worshiped during the Chhath festival to promote well-being, prosperity and progress. In Hinduism, Sun worship is believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and helps ensure the longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders.
The rituals of the festival are rigorous and are observed over a period of four days.
Day 1: Nahay khay
Nahay khay means bath and eat. This is the first day of Chhath Puja. People take a dip, preferably in the holy river near to their residence and bring home Holy water of the river to prepare the offerings. The house and surroundings are fully cleaned. The devotees eat only one meal on this day.
Day 2: Kharna or Lohanda
On Panchami, the day before Chhath, the parvaitins observe a fast for the whole day, which ends in the evening a little after sunset. Just after the worship of earth, the offerings of Kheer (rice pudding), Bananas and Puris are distributed. There is a tradition to observe fasting for next 36 hours even without water.
Day 3: Chhath
The day is spent preparing the prasad (offerings) at home. In the evening whole family accompanies the devotee to a riverbank, lake or a common large water body to make the offerings (Aragh) to the setting sun. In Kathmandu, Rani Pokhari is opened for Argha that day. In Janakpur, Argha is offered in Ganga Sagar.
The devotees offer prayers to the setting sun. This is very important part of Chat Puja. In the evening people gather together and perform cultural programs with music and dances. The folk songs sung on the evening of Chhath reflect the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Mithila Pradesh and its vicinity. People sing songs in Maithili, Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, the three main languages spoken in Terai and Madhesh region of Nepal. There are minor distinctions in celebration and puja performance among the regions and across families, but basically all celebrate the same festival with same enthusiasm and charm.
Thursday, 23 October 2014
Festival of Lights Tihar ' diwali '
Tihar (Nepali: तिहार) is a five-day-long Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal which comes soon after Dashain. Similar to Deepawali but with a regional variation. In Nepal all Hindu ethnic groups celebrate this festival with their own variation . Among the Newars, it is known as Swanti. The festival is celebrated from Trayodashi of Kartik Krishna to Kartik Shukla Dwitiya every year.
Tihar in general signifies the festival of lights, where diyas are lit both inside and outside the houses to make it illuminate at night. The five-day festival is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the Gods, but also to the animals like crow, cow and dog, who maintain an intense relationship with the humans. People make patterns on the floor of living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals outside of their house, called "Rangoli" which is meant to be sacred welcoming areas for the Hindu deities.
Dog festival
A German Shepherd from Nepal’s central police dog training school during a dog worship day at the Tihar Festival
Tihar in general signifies the festival of lights, where diyas are lit both inside and outside the houses to make it illuminate at night. The five-day festival is considered to be of great importance as it shows reverence to not just the humans and the Gods, but also to the animals like crow, cow and dog, who maintain an intense relationship with the humans. People make patterns on the floor of living rooms or courtyards using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals outside of their house, called "Rangoli" which is meant to be sacred welcoming areas for the Hindu deities.A German Shepherd from Nepal’s central police dog training school during a dog worship day at the Tihar Festival
Wednesday, 15 October 2014
Annapurna Circuit Tour- Plan and Demand as you go
Annapurna circuit is considered one of the best treks in the world though road construction is threatening its reputation and its future as a classic trek. Yet no one disputes that the scenery is outstanding: 17 to 21 days long, this trek takes you through distinct regional scenery of rivers, flora, fauna and above all - mountains.
There are four regions that are passed through on the trek; Lamjung, Manang, Mustang and Myagdi. Lamjung and Myagdi of the lower elevations are both predominantly Hindu and with lush green subtropical valleys with villages and terraced farming.
Manang and Mustang are of the higher elevations and are predominantly Tibetan Buddhist. The Manang people are Gurung (not Tibetan descent) and are very proud of their unique cultural heritage and merging of lower land Gurung and Tibetan cultural influences. People of Mustang identify themselves a lot closer with Tibet and the Mustang region has actually been part of Tibet in history. Mustang also is one of the last places in the world to view the ancient Bonpo Religion in action. Villages to note for Bonpo are Thini and Lupra near Jomsom, and Nargon near Kobang.
The trek goes counter-clockwise from Besisahar to Nayapul and reaches its summit in Thorung La (pass) at the height of 5416m, or 17,769 feet. The route goes past the following mountains: Manaslu (an 8,000-plus meter peak), Langtang Himal, Annapurna II and IV, Annapurna III and Gangapurna, and, of course, Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri -- passing through the world's deepest gorge in between those two 8,000-plus meter peaks. Poon Hill, at the end of the trek, affords views of those two mountains, as well as South Annapurna and Macchupucchre, the "Fishtail Mountain."
The trek also goes through Buddhist villages and Hindu holy sites, most notably the village of Muktinath, a holy site for both Buddhists and Hindus, and Braga, one of the oldest monasteries in the region.
Budget for 1000 NR per day if you are a very modest-spending trekker, though those on a budget can get by with less and people who want to live it up a little should allow for more. Please note that despite the efforts of ACAP there are still some wild swings in pricing that will surprise. For some reason, the region between Tal and Chame is more expensive than from Chame to Manang which is more difficult to access! As the prices seem to be fairly set throughout each village though, do not concern yourself with hunting around a village looking for a cheaper place and try not to stop at the first lodge you see so that trekkers are spread through the village. Quite often the nicest lodges are on the way out of town.
Ascending the Marshyangdi valley
Passing Manaslu and Hinchuli
Visit old Buddhist monastery in Braga
Explore beautiful Manag village
Crossing the Thorung- La ( 5416m)
The Pilgrimage town of Muktinath
View of Dhawagiri Ice- flow
The world deepest gorge and the Kaligandaki valley
Natural Hotspring at Tatopani
Sunrise at Poonhill with magnificent mountain views
General Itinerary Details
Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1345meters). Hotel
There you will be met by our Airport Representative and transferred to hotel by private tourist vehicle. Overnight at hotel on BB plan.
Day 02 City guided tour in Kathmandu.
After breakfast, at 9 am sightseeing tour to Pashupatinath( famous Hindus temple in south Asia, Boudhanath( Biggest Buddhist stupa in the world) Patan city (16 century royal palace), Syambhunath( Buddhist hill top temple), Kathmandu City. Overnight at the hotel on BB plan.
Day 03
Drive from Kathmandu to Besi Shahar (830m/2723ft). Driving 5:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 04
Drive to Syange and trek to Chamje(1560m/5118ft). Driving 2 hours and Walking 4:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 05
Chamje to Dhararpani (1810m/5938ft). Walking 5:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 06
Dharapani to Chame(2725m/8940ft). Walking 6 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 07
Chame to Pisang (3190m/10466ft). Walking 5:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 08
Pisang to Manang(3500m/11483ft) walking 5 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 09
Rest in Manang for acclimatization, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 10
Manang to Yak Kharka (4090m/13418ft). Walking 5 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 11
Yak kharka to Throung Phedi(4441m/14570ft) walking 6 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 12
Thorung Phedi to Muktinath via Thoroung-la passes (5416m/17769ft). Walking 8:30, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 13
Drive to Tatopani( 1110m/3636ft). Driving 6 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 14
Tatopani to Shikha( 2020m/ 6116ft) walking 5 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 15
Shikha to Ghorepani (2834m/9298ft). Walking 4:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 16
Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3210m/10531ft) to trek to Tadapani( 2520m/8316ft) Walking 6:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 17
Tadapani to Nyapul and drive to Pokhara. Walking 5 hours and drive for an hour, O/N at hotel at 3 stars, FB plan
Day 18
Drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. O/N at Hotel,
Day 19
After breakfast, the trip ends, our Airport Representative will drop you to the Kathmandu international airport for your final flight departure from Nepal.
Above itinerary can be customized at your request to accommodate your specific requirements. Please let us know whether you would like to make a shorter or longer. We will follow accordingly.Note of above Itinerary: O/N = Over Night, B & B = Bed & Breakfast, FB (Full Board) = Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
For More details Please Contact Us
There are four regions that are passed through on the trek; Lamjung, Manang, Mustang and Myagdi. Lamjung and Myagdi of the lower elevations are both predominantly Hindu and with lush green subtropical valleys with villages and terraced farming.
Manang and Mustang are of the higher elevations and are predominantly Tibetan Buddhist. The Manang people are Gurung (not Tibetan descent) and are very proud of their unique cultural heritage and merging of lower land Gurung and Tibetan cultural influences. People of Mustang identify themselves a lot closer with Tibet and the Mustang region has actually been part of Tibet in history. Mustang also is one of the last places in the world to view the ancient Bonpo Religion in action. Villages to note for Bonpo are Thini and Lupra near Jomsom, and Nargon near Kobang.
The trek goes counter-clockwise from Besisahar to Nayapul and reaches its summit in Thorung La (pass) at the height of 5416m, or 17,769 feet. The route goes past the following mountains: Manaslu (an 8,000-plus meter peak), Langtang Himal, Annapurna II and IV, Annapurna III and Gangapurna, and, of course, Annapurna I and Dhaulagiri -- passing through the world's deepest gorge in between those two 8,000-plus meter peaks. Poon Hill, at the end of the trek, affords views of those two mountains, as well as South Annapurna and Macchupucchre, the "Fishtail Mountain."
The trek also goes through Buddhist villages and Hindu holy sites, most notably the village of Muktinath, a holy site for both Buddhists and Hindus, and Braga, one of the oldest monasteries in the region.
Budget for 1000 NR per day if you are a very modest-spending trekker, though those on a budget can get by with less and people who want to live it up a little should allow for more. Please note that despite the efforts of ACAP there are still some wild swings in pricing that will surprise. For some reason, the region between Tal and Chame is more expensive than from Chame to Manang which is more difficult to access! As the prices seem to be fairly set throughout each village though, do not concern yourself with hunting around a village looking for a cheaper place and try not to stop at the first lodge you see so that trekkers are spread through the village. Quite often the nicest lodges are on the way out of town.
Highlights of the tour
Classic trek on ancient trade routesAscending the Marshyangdi valley
Passing Manaslu and Hinchuli
Visit old Buddhist monastery in Braga
Explore beautiful Manag village
Crossing the Thorung- La ( 5416m)
The Pilgrimage town of Muktinath
View of Dhawagiri Ice- flow
The world deepest gorge and the Kaligandaki valley
Natural Hotspring at Tatopani
Sunrise at Poonhill with magnificent mountain views
Watch Video
General Itinerary Details
Day 01 Arrival in Kathmandu airport (1345meters). Hotel
There you will be met by our Airport Representative and transferred to hotel by private tourist vehicle. Overnight at hotel on BB plan.
Day 02 City guided tour in Kathmandu.
After breakfast, at 9 am sightseeing tour to Pashupatinath( famous Hindus temple in south Asia, Boudhanath( Biggest Buddhist stupa in the world) Patan city (16 century royal palace), Syambhunath( Buddhist hill top temple), Kathmandu City. Overnight at the hotel on BB plan.
Day 03
Drive from Kathmandu to Besi Shahar (830m/2723ft). Driving 5:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 04
Drive to Syange and trek to Chamje(1560m/5118ft). Driving 2 hours and Walking 4:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 05
Chamje to Dhararpani (1810m/5938ft). Walking 5:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 06
Dharapani to Chame(2725m/8940ft). Walking 6 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 07
Chame to Pisang (3190m/10466ft). Walking 5:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 08
Pisang to Manang(3500m/11483ft) walking 5 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 09
Rest in Manang for acclimatization, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 10
Manang to Yak Kharka (4090m/13418ft). Walking 5 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 11
Yak kharka to Throung Phedi(4441m/14570ft) walking 6 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 12
Thorung Phedi to Muktinath via Thoroung-la passes (5416m/17769ft). Walking 8:30, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 13
Drive to Tatopani( 1110m/3636ft). Driving 6 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 14
Tatopani to Shikha( 2020m/ 6116ft) walking 5 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 15
Shikha to Ghorepani (2834m/9298ft). Walking 4:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 16
Ghorepani to Poon Hill (3210m/10531ft) to trek to Tadapani( 2520m/8316ft) Walking 6:30 hours, O/N at guest house, FB plan
Day 17
Tadapani to Nyapul and drive to Pokhara. Walking 5 hours and drive for an hour, O/N at hotel at 3 stars, FB plan
Day 18
Drive back to Kathmandu from Pokhara. O/N at Hotel,
Day 19
After breakfast, the trip ends, our Airport Representative will drop you to the Kathmandu international airport for your final flight departure from Nepal.
Above itinerary can be customized at your request to accommodate your specific requirements. Please let us know whether you would like to make a shorter or longer. We will follow accordingly.Note of above Itinerary: O/N = Over Night, B & B = Bed & Breakfast, FB (Full Board) = Accommodation, Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
For More details Please Contact Us
Thursday, 9 October 2014
Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita Speaks-One of the First Nepali Women to Climb Mt. K2
On the afternoon of July 26, after 16 hours of pushing upward, Maya Sherpa, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa Akita and Dawa Yangzum Sherpa made history and became the first Nepalese women to summit the infamously dangerous and unpredictable K2, a 28,251-foot (8,611-meter) peak which straddles the Pakistan-China border and on average, kills one of every four people who brave its slopes.
What’s more, of the 376 people who have reached the top, only 18 have been women. No surprise that Pasang has racked up many other mountaineering accomplishments—she was the first woman to climb Nangpai Gosum (7,321 meters) and has successfully summited Everest from the north side, Yala Peak (5,520 meters), and Ama Dablam (6,856 meters). We caught up with Pasang, who works as a mountaineering instructor in Nepal and a guide in the U.S. (and occasionally at her family’s restaurant Tibet’s in Lousiville) to get an inside look into their expedition.
Tuesday, 30 September 2014
Handicrafts of Nepal - Popular products made in Nepal
Products Description
Bags & Accessories :
Bags & Accessories :
Purses, hand bag, travel bag and the like made from cloth and Leather
Basketry Products :
Various types of products made from bamboo and cane split, stem or root.
Ceramics : Glazed and non glazed Earthenware
Christmas Decorations :
Ornaments products meant for decorating Christmas tree made from textile, metal and clay.
Contemporary Paintings :
Paintings using sketch and colors on canvas and other materials
Craft Paintings :
Paintings using wheat/ rice bran/ stem, waste thread and other materials.
Crazy/ Fancy Hats :
Hats with symbolic impression like flags, animals and other specially meant for big sporting events.
Ethnic Dolls :
Dolls & Puppets of Nepalese culture made of cloth, clay and wood.
Ethnic Garments :
Garments of traditional design.
Filigree Products :
Decorative articles such as animals, charm boxes made of brass, copper, white metal and silver with wire works and studded with stones.
Giftware : Small items made from different materials basically useful for offering gift.
Hand Knitwear : Articles made of hand – knitting such as pullovers, sweaters, mufflers, socks, legwarmers, caps
Handloom Products : Cotton cloth woven with non-mechanized handlooms.
Kathmandu
