MOUNTAIN EVEREST (NEPAL)

Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain (29,035) and part of the Himalaya mountain range, actually has a couple of names, depending on the language of the speaker.


In Tibet it is called Chomolungma, loosely translated into mother goddess of the universe. In Nepal is is called Sagarmatha, loosely translated into goddess of the sky. In English, Mount Everest is named in honor of the Sir George Everest, who first surveyed the mountain in 1841.

Being the tallest mountain means being an object to conquer. Reaching the summit stands as the goal for professional and amateur mountaineers alike. Many have tried, few have succeeded, although the number of successful summits continues to climb since Sir Edmund Hillary first accomplished the feat in 1953.

Most people travel to Nepal in order to see the mountain. Anyone planning a trip should consider traveling lightly. The increased number of tourists and mountaineers over the past couple of decades have created a variety of environmental problems, from truckloads of litter to air pollution.

On another environmental front, a dispute of sorts has arisen concerning Mount Everest's height. Chinese scientists concerned about melting glaciers caused by global warming hypothesize that the mountain may be shrinking. On the other hand, geologists using plate tectonics as a starting point, hypothesize that the Himalaya mountain range grows about two inches per year. The conclusive answer to the question is yet to be decided.

© 2009. Patricia A. Michaels

ouddhanath - is the largest and the most fascinating religious structure ever built in Nepal . This colossal stupa is known by the name of Boudhanath, the god of wisdom. This stupa stands upon a massive octagonal basement. It is in various levels of terraces, painted in pastel, and adorned with prayer flags of five different colors. The area of Boudhanath is also known as 'Mini Tibet' since you will see a large number of monasteries, which were constructed mostly in Tibetan style in last three decades. The settlement of Boudhanath has the largest community of Tibetan refugees. 


Pashupatinath - Pashupatinath, situated 5 km east of Kathmandu is dedicated to Lord Shiva, with two-tiered golden roof and silver door is considered one of the holiest shrines for Hindus. Although only Hindus are allowed inside the temple, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed in the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River . 


Kathmandu Durbar Square - is a wondrous cluster of ancient temples, palaces, courtyards and streets. The most noteworthy among them are the Hanumandhoka palace complex, and the Taleju temple. Even to date, all major state and social ceremonies, including the solemnization of coronations, are carried out in one or the other courtyards within this complex. The royal enclave presently houses three museums. The monuments in and around the area are so charming that each appears more wondrous than the one next to it. During this tour, you will also visit the Temple of Kumari (the Living Goddess) who represents a very ancient Hindu deity of Nepal locally known as Taleju, is Buddhist by birth. The building has intricately carved wooden balconies and window screens. The Kumari acknowledges greetings from her balcony window. Once a year, during Indra Jatra festival, the King of Nepal seeks the Kumari's blessings. O/N at Hotel. 

Day 03: Drive to Royal Chitwan National Park 
Royal Chitwan National Park (932 sq. km) is the most popular safari destination. It covers a unique ecosystem in the world, containing the Churia hills, ox-bow lakes and flood plains. Dominated by sal forests, the park has 50 species of grasses. The 43 species of animals include the endangered one-horned rhino, royal Bengal tiger, gharial crocodile, gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard and pythons. Your stay in Chitwan National Park will be highlighted with the different activities including Elephant back safari, Canoe ride, village tour, jungle walk, bird watching, Tharu cultural dance etc. 

Day 04: Full day jungle activities 

Day 05: Drive to Lumbini 
Morning drive to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace and compassion. It is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhist as well as place of reverence for peace lovers of any religious faith throughout the world. In Lumbini the central attraction is the sacred garden with Maya Devi temple depicting the birth of Lord Buddha, Ashoka Pillar pinpointing the birthplace of Buddha and Shakya Tank where Maya Devi, the mother of Lord Buddha, is supposed to have taken a dip before bringing forth the baby - Lord Buddha. Around this holy site, there are remnants of Monasteries and Chaityas built over the centuries following Buddha's birth in 632 BC. O/n at hotel 

Day 06: Lumbini 
Excursion to Tilaurakot (25kms) to the west, the ancient capital of Kapilvastu, the Kingdom of the Sakya Dynasty in which Lord Buddha was born. PM tour of Monastery Zone and the Lumbini Village . O/N at Hotel. 

Day 07: Fly back to Kathmandu . 
PM: World Heritage tour of Changunarayan and Bhaktapur. 


Changunarayan - is the most ancient Hindu temple in Kathmandu , and is dedicated to lord Vishnu. Another fact is that the complex is built on a peninsula, which was not submerged in water as most of the valley once was. The lavishly decorated two-tiered principal temple stands on a spacious courtyard, and is literally littered with artistic and priceless statues, idols and sculptures. Some date back to 4th century AD. 


Bhaktapur - is one of three sister cities, which still, retains a medieval charm and visitors to this ancient town, are treated to myriad wonders of cultural and artistic achievements. The past glory of the Malla rulers continues to be reflected at the Durbar Square . Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. Bhaktapur is famous for woodcarving, the Bhadgaolen top (cap) and curd. O/N at Hotel. 

Day 08: Kathmandu 
Mountain flight to Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha) 
This is the easiest and quickest way to get a close up view of Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha 8,848the "must-see" landmark of Nepal and the highest mountain of the world. Other breathtaking mountains that can be viewed at close range are Shisha Pangma, Dorje Lakpa, Gauri-Shanker, Melungtse, Numbur, Cho-Oyu, Pumori, Nuptse, Lhotse, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Thamserkhu, Kanchenjunga and even glimpses of the Tibetan Plateau. Every passenger is guaranteed a window seat on our mountain flight! 

Day 09: Kathmandu 
World Heritage Tour of Patan Durbar Square and Swayabhunath 


Patan - The ancient city of Patan , lying 5km southeast of Kathmandu , is known as the city of fine arts. The city is full of Hindus temples and Buddhist monuments. The diversity of the medieval culture that allowed both Hinduism and Buddhism to flourish has left a rich legacy of impressive sightseeing in this city for today's visitors. 


Swyambhunath - visible from afar on a hilltop to the west of Kathmandu takes pride in being one of the world's most glorious Buddhist stupas and its existence is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu valley out of a primordial lake. This hill is a mosaic of small chaityas and pagodas. Swayambhunath is perhaps, the best places to observe religious harmony in Nepal . It proves excellent views of Kathmandu valley. PM free. O/N at Hotel. 

Day 10: Transfer to Airport for onward flight/destination

Nepal Tourism
Nepal:Surrounded by the lofty heights of the Himalayas, Nepal is a land of eternal beauty and attraction. It's a land of colorful cultures, ancient history and people, picturesque scenery and some of the best walking on earth. It is popularly known for the highest mountain peak of the world, Mount Everest which stands tall at 8848 metres. Nepal tourism informs about places to visit in Nepal, famous for the birthplace of Gautam Buddha who laid the foundation of Buddhism in the country. Come and explore Nepal having rich traditions of art, culture and heritage. Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal is a treasure house of ancient art and culture.

swoyambhunath  

A golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill, Swayambhunath Stupa is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu valley. Its lofty white dome and glittering golden spire are visible for many miles and from all sides of the valley. Historical records found on a stone inscription give evidence that the stupa was already an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination by the 5th century AD. Its origins however, date to a much earlier time, long before the arrival of Buddhism into the valley. A collection of legends about the site, the 15th century Swayambhu Purana, tells of a miraculous lotus, planted by a past Buddha, which blossomed from the lake that once covered Kathmandu valley.

T he lotus mysteriously radiated a brilliant light, and the name of the place came to be Swayambhu, meaning 'Self-Created or Self-Existent'. Saints, sages and divinities traveled to the lake to venerate this miraculous light for its power in granting enlightenment. During this time, the Bodhisatva Manjushri was meditating at the sacred mountain of Wu Tai Shan and had a vision of the dazzling Swayambhu light. Manjushri flew across the mountains of China and Tibet upon his blue lion to worship the lotus. Deeply impressed by the power of the radiant light, Manjushri felt that if the water were drained out of the lake Swayambhu would become more easily accessible to human pilgrims. With a great sword Manjushri cut a gorge in the mountains surrounding the lake. The water, draining away, left the valley of present day Kathmandu. The lotus was then transformed into a hill and the light became the Swayabhunath Stupa.

Swayambhunath's worshippers include Hindus, Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, and the Newari Buddhists of central and southern Nepal. Each morning before dawn, hundreds of pilgrims will ascend the 365 steps that lead up the hill, file past the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa (Newari Buddhists circle in the opposite, counterclockwise direction). On each of the four sides of the main stupa there are a pair of big eyes. These eyes are symbolic of God's all-seeing perspective. There is no nose between the eyes but rather a representation of the number one in the Nepali alphabet, signifying that the single way to enlightenment is through the Buddhist path. Above each pair of eyes is another eye, the third eye, signifying the wisdom of looking within. No ears are shown because it is said the Buddha is not interested in hearing prayers in praise of him.

The area surrounding the stupa is filled with chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects. There are many small shrines with statues of Tantric and shamanistic deities, prayer wheels for the Tibetan Buddhists, Shiva lingams (now disguised as Buddhist chaityas and decorated with the faces of the the Dhyani Buddhas), and a popular Hindu temple dedicated to Harati, the Goddess of smallpox and other epidemics.The presence of the Harati Devi temple signifies the intermingling of the pantheons of Hinduism and Buddhism in the development of the religious trends of Nepal. As Buddhists had no deity in their own pantheon to protect against the dreaded smallpox, they adopted the Hindu deity for assistance.

Atop Swayambhunath hill is another fascinating, though smaller and less visited temple. This is Shantipur, the 'Place of Peace', inside of which, in a secret, always locked, underground chamber lives the 8th century Tantric master Shantikar Acharya. Practising meditation techniques which have preserved his life for uncounted centuries, he is a great esoteric magician who has complete power over the weather. When the valley of Kathmandu is threatened by drought, the King of Nepal must enter the underground chamber to get a secret mandala from Shantikar. Soon after the mandala is brought outside and shown to the sky, rain begins to fall. Frescoes painted on the inside temple walls depict when last this occurred in 1658. The small temple has a powerful atmosphere; it is mysterious, stern and slightly ominous.
The complex of temples atop Swayambhunath hill is one of my most favorite sacred places in the world. It was here, in 1967, when I was thirteen years old that I first became enchanted with visiting and photographing ancient pilgrimage shrines. Swayambhunath stupa is also called the ‘Monkey Temple’ because of the many hundreds of monkeys who scamper about the temple at night after the pilgrims and priests have departed. These monkeys and a hashish inspired yogi first introduced me to the magic of sacred places. Nearby the Swayambhunath hill are other important temples such as the Shiva Jyotir Linga temple of Pashupatinath, Boudhanath stupa, Changu Narayan, Dakshinkali, and Budhanilkantha. Readers interested in studying the sacred sites of the Kathmandu valley in detail are referred to the works of Bubriski, Majupuria and Moran listed in the bibliography.


NEPAL....
                                                         BALAJU 22 DHARA

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is a national organization established by an act of Parliament in the form of partnership between His Majesty`s Government and the private sector tourism industry of Nepal. NTB is responsible for the marketing activities aimed at promoting Nepal as a premier destination. Although the initial phase of the functioning of the Board was focused on marketing and promotion, the ultimate aim of the NTB is to take over regulatory and product development activities as well. The functioning of NTB has the commitment and the support of the government as well as the dynamism of the private sector. The Board is an autonomous institution consisting of 11 board members (the Secretary at the MOCTCA as Chairman and 4 ex-officio members from government ministries and 6 from among the private sector representatives including the Chief Executive Officer). The Board has been created to provide a vision drawn leadership, continuity of promotional efforts, good management and guidance to Nepal`s tourism industry. The funds for NTB is collected from the entire tourism related businesses in the form of tourist service fee, thereby keeping it financially independent. The Board is working toward repositioning the image of the country so as to market and promote Nepal aggressively and extensively both domestically and internationally. This is crucial as Nepal, though small in size, has immense cultural and natural diversity and is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. The friendliness and hospitality of the people of Nepal, where guests are treated as Gods and the variety of exciting adventure activities combined with culture that epitomizes peace and harmony, make a visit to Nepal a memorable experience. We feel proud and honored to welcome you to Nepal. 

Source:nishan singh thakuri