Nepal is a sovereign independent, diverse ancient kingdom located between the North by the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China and, the East-South and West by India.
If the country was divided by its 3 geographical regions you would experience the world's deepest gorge called Kali-Gandaki and the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest, diversity that can not be matched anywhere else in the world.
The valleys in Nepal are overlooked by snow-capped peaks, whilst at the other extreme the Terai jungle region offers a variety of birdlife and animals including the almost extinct single-horned Asiatic rhino. Situated at the foot of the Himalayas is Chitwan which is one of the few undisturbed areas of the Terai jungle and is also one of the last places where you will find the Bengal tiger. If you are interested you are able to take an elephant trek to see the rhinos.
The amazing mountain views are breathtaking and you can choose from the popular sacred (Fishtail) mountain in Pokhara to the stunning heights of Mount Everest. These stunning Mountains have crystal clear streams, a varied and colourful variety of flowers and birds.
In my humble opinion one of the best ways to experience the natural beauty and cultural riches of Nepal is to walk through them. New sights, sounds and smells are a magnificent treat for the senses in an experience of a lifetime, where you will traverse the beaten trails. Never will you experience as many rhododendrons as you will find in the beautiful forests of Nepal.
Kathmandu is an experience in itself and stands out in total contrast to its beautiful natural surroundings. This however does not make it less of an experience. There are some awesome carved temples of ancient times that are interspersed with modern towers. Part of the atmosphere of Kathmandu is the throng of beggars hoping to make a few pence from the many tourists and the monkeys who are equally looking for a way to survive. All of this and the choking diesel fumes have become what modern day Kathmandu is all about. If you are wondering about the best time to visit then I would advise the months of October and November as it is the beginning of the dry season.
If trekking is not enough of an experience for you then for the adrenalin junkies out there you could try white-water rafting in the beautiful surroundings or maybe experiencing the wildlife in its natural habitat, the jungle is more your line which you can do by elephant back or jeep.
You cannot go to Nepal without experiencing one of their Festivals which although are very spectacular, are a living part of the cultural heritage. Festivals bring together the Nepalese people whatever their backgrounds and beliefs into one nation. There are many festivals throughout the course of the year so perhaps when planning a trip you may wish to take this into consideration.
