Nepal, lying along the southern slopes of the Himalayan Mountain ranges, is a landlocked country located between India to the east, south and west, and Tibet in the north. Its territory extends roughly 500 miles from east to west and 90 to 150 miles from north to south. Nepal’s capital is Kathmandu.
Nepal has some of the most rugged and difficult mountain terrain in the world. Roughly 75 per cent of the country is covered by mountains. From the south to the north, Nepal can be divided into four main physical belts, each of which extends east to west across the country. These are, first, the Tarai, a low, flat, fertile land adjacent to the border of India; second, the forested Churia foothills and the Inner Tarai zone, rising from the Tarai plain to the rugged Mahabharat Range; third, the mid mountain region between the Mahabharat Range and the Great Himalayas; and, fourth, the Great Himalaya Range, rising to more than 29,000 feet.
Festivals and Dances of Nepal
Reputed as a paradise for trekkers, Nepal is also a great land of festivals. If you visit Nepal, you are sure to encounter at least one of the country’s major festivals. Celebrations from vary epic masked dances to the Grand National tug-of-war. Watching these will be a splendid feast for your eyes.
There are two types of Nepalese traditional dances classical and – folk dances of which classical dances are based on the ancient classics, and have been performed since the ancient times. They are performed according to classical music. Nepalese folk dances are based on folk songs and music, and belong to a particular group or area in the country. They are performed to folk music.
Arts and Crafts
Nepalese art is heavily inspired by Hinduism and Buddhism. The two millennium-old Hindu and Buddhist heritage has survived various onslaughts and is still influencing Nepalese art and craft tradition. The following are the various art and craft forms of Nepal:
Architecture: While walking through the streets of Kathmandu one will be amazed at the abundance of religious architecture in the city. Temples and pagodas are strategically built around royal palaces as well as public places such as hilltops, riverbanks and community wells.
Private temples were built by the affluent class, and can be seen in almost every neighbourhood. Most of the stone carvings are from the 11th and 12th centuries and reflect the influence, of Indian art from the Gupta period that stretched between 5th and 6th century A.D. Wood carvings are predominantly from the 18th century and is used to decorate pillars, doors and window frames, etc.
Painting: The history of painting in Nepal stretches back as early as 11th century AD, when efforts were made through illustrations drawn on manuscripts made of palm leaf or rice paper. Thangkas, a more predominant form of painting, are popular among Buddhists in Nepal. An art form similar to it is also popular among Lama Buddhism in Tibet. Texts prove that it dates back to the late 14th century. These paintings are predominantly done on cotton and are rectangular in shape, though other forms have also been traced. They are framed with three stripes of Chinese brocade of blue, yellow and red, which represent the rainbow that separates sacred objects from the material world.
Bronze figures: Bronze figures, sometimes alloyed with copper, appeared in the Nepal valley around 8AD. Recent excavations have found statues that are even older. Typical of other art forms, these images usually represent religious deities or legendary figures. The most frequently-used production technique is that of Cire Perdue, a form of wax casting that was popular in Europe at the time of the Renaissance. Images often contain embedded semi-precious stones, usually coral or turquoise, or are gilded with gold.
Pottery: The pottery craft of Nepal is unique in itself. This tradition generally flourishes in Patan and Thimi, a locality near Bhaktapur. The most common form of pottery is the terracotta oil lamps used to light homes during Diwali. Apart from that you can also find flower pots decorated with pictures of peacocks and elephants.
Places of tourist interest
Nepal is a surprisingly diverse country that attracts visitors for many reasons. Some are lured by the call of the mountains and seeking to climb or trek in the Himalayas, others are intrigued by the culture and the ancient city of Kathmandu, and yet others come hoping to find some sort of spiritual awakening. Nepal can be an adrenaline adventure, a cultural eye opener, a life-changing experience, or all of the above.
Kathmandu: Kathmandu, the capital and largest city in Nepal, is like no other city in the world. The decaying buildings in the heart of the city are a stark contrast to the lively atmosphere that permeates the streets. The smell of incense wafts from stores while street-sellers push their goods, and people go about their daily lives, all against a backdrop of historic temples and carved statues.
Bhaktapur: Bhaktapur, the third of the Royal Cities, lies on the old trade route to Tibet, just outside of Kathmandu. For Bhaktapur, the trade route was both an arterial link and major source of wealth. Its relative remoteness at the time allowed the city to develop independently and in ways which distinguish it from the other two cities.
Boudhanath Stupa (Bodhnath): The Bodhanath Stupa, just outside Kathmandu, is one of the largest stupas of its kind in the world and dates back to around the 6th century, possibly even earlier. It lies on the old trade route to Tibet and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Pokhara: Set at the base of the foothills and surrounded by some of the highest mountains. in the world – Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, and Annapurna I- Pokhara is one of Nepal’s most scenic cities. For trekkers, Pokhara is the gateway to the Himalayas and the starting point for treks to Jomsom and the Annapurna region. It’s also a wonderful spot to relax for a bit, either before or after a hiking trip.
Annapurna Region: The Annapurna Region is one of the most popular trekking regions in Nepal. Three main routes in the Annapurna Region intersect and combine in places, and you can opt to do a portion or a variation on the routes.
Chitwan National Park: Chitwan National Park is the place to come to, to experience a different side of Nepal. A wonderful place for wildlife viewing, it has a safari-type atmosphere. At an altitude of only 100 metres in some areas, much lower than Kathmandu at 1,400 metres, Chitwan has a tropical monsoon climate, quite different from what you’d expect to find in Nepal
Langtang Region: The Langtang Region, home to Langtang National Park, is an incredible area for hiking with high passes, extensive, views, old monasteries and beautiful mountain scenery. Rhododendron forests bloom during the spring hiking season adding colour to the vistas.
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple): Set on a hilltop to the west of Kathmandu, Swayambhunath is the second-most important shrine in the Kathmandu Valley after Boudhanath. Due to the resident monkeys that inhabit parts of the temple, it is more affectionately known as the Monkey Temple.
Everest and the Trek to Base Camp: The summit of Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth, reaches 29,028 feet high. Trekking in the Mount Everest area became popular following the now legendary first ascent of the peak in 1953 by Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and Sherpa Tensing Norgay.
Lumbini: Lumbini is famous for being the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the historic Buddha, known as Buddha Shakyamuni. Situated off the main tourist track, almost 250 kilometres from Kathmandu, Lumbini is a worthwhile detour on the route from Pokhara to the Chitwan National Park.
Helambu Trek: The Helambu region is a popular trekking area, particularly with trekking companies offering guided hikes. This is largely because it is close to Kathmandu, and does not reach astoundingly high elevations, and offers beautiful mountain scenery.
White Water Rafting: With towering mountains and rushing rivers, Nepal is an excellent place for white water rafting. Several options are available depending on how much time you want to spend on the river.
Credit : C. Joseph (The Teenager Today)
Picture Credit : Google
