Fast fact regarding Jomsom treks

Duration : 13 days
Trek days : 8 days
Trek grade :Easy / moderate
Max altitude : 3800 m
Trekking style : Lodge to lodge
Best season: Oct - Dec, March - June
Jomsom trek covers the ancient Nepal Tibet trade route and is one of the most famous and classic trek. Great mountain scenes, exotic ancient villages, and the Tibet like terrain of Mustang have made this trek ever popular. The mountain scenes from some points on the trek are breathtaking and you also can visit a hot spring along the way.


The trek begins after passing the suspension bridge on the Modi Khola river. Exploring the the peeking summits of Machhapuchare and Annapurna south we reach Ghorepani on the 2nd day. Another morning we climb the nearby Poon hill for first great view of the Himalayan Panorama. We also explore the hotspring at Tatopani and further ascend through beautiful hill villages of Marpha and Tukche.Walking along the Kaligandaki gorge, the deepest in the world, we reach the mountain town of Jomsom which has good facilities and a airstrip and offers spectacular mountain view. The village of Kagbeni and Jharkot are two famous places we pass through before reaching Muktinath. Kagbeni is an ancient trading village with amazing buildings. Jharkot is an old ruined fort. Our final destination Muktinath is a pilgrimmage site for both Hindus and the Buddhists on the high Himalaya. Not only the pilgrims and the temple, but also the views from Muktinatinath are great. Next day we return to Jomsom where we will catch our flight for Pokhara. Back in Kathmandu we will celebrate your memorable trek with Nepali dinner and ethnic cultural show.
Itinerary
Day 01 Arrival at Kathmandu and transfer to hotel
Day 02 Guided sightseein tour in Kathmandu
Day o3 Fly to Pokhara , sightseeing in Pokhara
Day 04 Drive to Nayapul and trek to Tikhedhunga
Day 05 Tikhedhunga to Ghorepani (2775 m)
Day 06 Climb to pun hill and trek to Tato pani (1180m)
Day 07 Trek to kalopani (2560 m)
Day 08 Kalopani to Marpha (2665 m)
Day 09 Marpha to Kagbeni (2810 m)
Day 10 Kagbeni to Muktinath (3800 m)
Day 11 Trek back to Jomsom ( 2713 m)
Day 12 Fly Jomsom to Pokhara early morning and fly to Kathmandu.
Day 13 Fly home

Price: All our trips are tailor made trips with personalized services. In order for us to quote you the price, please write us with the number of persons in your group, your choice of hotels and ammendments in our itinerary, if any. Our prices are very reasonnable for the services we provide.
Included in the price
• All surface transfers as per itinerary
• Round trip domestic airfare Kathmandu to Pokhara and to Jomsom, airport tax (four flights)
• Two star hotel in Kathmandu and Pokhara in twin sharing bed and breakfast basis
• Fooding, lodging and other expenses of trekking crew
• Fooding (3 meals a day ) and lodging for the clients in trek days
• Necessary permit and national park fees
• Guided sightseeing tour in Kathmandu
Not included in the price
• single suppliment charges (if required.)
• Lunch and dinner in Kathmandu and Pokhara
• Departure tax from Kathmandu ($24 approx)
• Personal equipments and clothing
• International airfare and your insurances
• Cold drinks and beverages
• Personal expenses and tips to the crew

The Heavenly plateau:Mustang

Mustang is from Tibetan Mun Tan (Wylie smon-thang) which denotes fertile plain. Mustang, or the Kingdom of Lo, is part of Nepal and one of its district, in the north-east of that country, bordering China (Tibet) on the Central Asian plateau between the Nepalese provinces of Dolpo and Manang. It is nearly 80 km long (north-south) and 45 km at its widest, and is at an elevation of over 2500 m. Mustang is also renowed as a "Tibet outside the Tibetan Border" for it survived the Chinese invasion of 1951 and hence it fosters the original Tibetan Culture, although now politically in Nepal. Life in Mustang meant animal husbandry and trade. The region being the saftiest corridor through the mighty Himalaya joining the Tibetan Plateau and Central Asia with the tropical Indian plains, it enjoyed a trans-Himalayan trade. In spite of its strategic importance it went through many wars, and hence various social,cultural and religious practices thrived in parallel in Mustang.

It is largely dry and arid (annual precipitation is in the range of 250-400 mm) due to its position in the rain shadow of the Annapurna massif towards the south.
The main feature of Mustang is the Gandaki river, its valley and tributaries. The river runs north-east to south-west towards Nepal Terai, bisecting the territory. It once served as the major trade route between Tibet and India, especially for salt. Part of the river valley, the Thak Khola, forms the deepest gorge in the world.
Even though foreign visitors have been allowed to the kingdom since 1991, tourism to Upper Mustang is regulated. Foreigners need to obtain a special permit to enter, which costs US$500 per 10 days per person.
In 2007, a shepherd in Mustang discovered a collection of 55 cave paintings depicting the life of lord Buddha.

nepal travel video

HOLIDAYS TO NEPAL

Nepal adventure holidays from the experts at Exodus
In common Himalaya. This magical mountainous country sits high on the spine of the World’s most famous mountain range. Nerve tingling scenery, a complex culture and some of the best walking trails in the world all contrive to make Nepal a real Shangri-La for the intrepid adventure traveller. Nepal is the adventure travel centre of Southern Asia. Trek to the top of the world, raft down raging rapids, bathe with elephants or just contemplate the meaning of life, the universe and everything in this most spiritual of nations.

Nepalese Culture

For the majority of the locals, life in Nepal adds new meaning to living on the edge. Life is a delicate balance of high altitude, hard work and social festivities, all steeped heavily in ancient tradition. Although Nepal is poor country, but it is culturally very rich. The intermingling of traditions and faiths has created an intricate tapestry where religious tolerance and harmony are the norm. hundreds of ethnic groups co-exist here, all with their own distinct social identities and cultural patterns. Extend your warmth and respect and in return you will receive a genuine insight into this fascinating world.

Activity Holiday Essentials: Nepal


1. Trek the Everest trails
Most activities here revolve around the mountains,with Mount Everest taking the spotlight.The Everest trail takes you through the Sherpa heartland with awe-inspiring views. Thyangboche monastery offers one of the finest mountain viewpoints in the world. Trekkers up for the ultimate challenge aim for Everest Base Camp located on the rugged Kumbhu Glacier, and at the foot of the world’s tallest peak.


2. Cycle from Lhasa to Kathmanduu
Cycling from Lhasa, in Tibet, to the Nepalese capital is an epic journey that takes adventure cycling to new levels. This overland route takes in high altitude desert, awesome mountain passes and the north face of Everest before an incredible 40km descent into Nepal.


3. The Annapurna Circuit
What Everest has in size, the Annapurna range more than makes up in sheer diversity. It takes in virtually every range of scenery Nepal has to offer, ranging from the sub-tropical to alpine forests, from semi-desert to mountain passes. It is also home to many tribal villages, both Buddhist and Hindu. On a walking holiday you’ll get to meet the hospitable people of these remote villages.

4. The best of the rest…
Nepal isn’t just about mountaineering. Lush valleys give way to incredible gorges and rivers, a stunning backdrop to its amazing flora and fauna. Wildlife holidays don’t come much better; elusive snow leopards inhabit the mountains and Chitwan National Park is home to elephants and rhino. Walking, cycling, river rafting and elephant bath time are perfect activities for an unforgettable adventure holiday.

Indra Jatra

This festival falls on the fourteenth day of the bright moon fortnight of Bhadra (sept),but it starts on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight then all together it lasts for eight day. The main day of the festival is believed to be the fourteenth day of the fortnight. On the twelfth day of the Bhadra bright fortnight a thirty-two feet’s long pole is erected at the Hanumandhoka palace in Basantapur.

This pole has been brought always traditionally from the forest of Bhaktapur. After adjusting the long pole Lord Indra’s idol is worshipped. The lord’s idol keeps tying round by the threads. There’s an interesting anecdote regarding to this Tying Indra.
Once Lord Indra’s mother was on her religious worshipping program and she was in need of flower called parijat. His mother then sent him to search the flower; then lord Indra went to search of that flower; and finally he saw that flower there in the garden of Hanumandhoka. He then thought of stealing the flower; and went to steal the flower. Suddenly a soothsayer Baidhya saw him and captivated him there and he was released only after eight day when his mother came there to request the soothsayer. So this festival lasts for eight days. The lord’s idol is kept at certain Guthiyar’s house and it’s brought only once in a year when the festival starts.

The fair starts only when lord Indra is worshipped there highly in a traditional manner. Many people crowd there to look the starting day of the festival. Since that day the Hanumandhoka palace looks very unusual; until the ending of the fete different kinds of mask dances from different parts of the valley are demonstrated.

On the fourteenth day of the bright fornight of the festival which is called the main day of the festival; Kumari the Living Goddess’s chariot is rounded around the main through fares of the city. Also two bachelor small boys from shakya Newari cast are kept each on the separate chariot as a fenture of God Bhairab and Ganesh; then they are also rounded along with the kumari’s chariot. The chariot procession starts only when President of Nepal worships there by offering some monetary donation (Dakchhina) and takes the Prasad (oblation) from there .The chariots are rounded altogether two days and ends on the second day. Many kinds of traditional mask dances are shown along with the kumari Jatra Viz. Halchowk’s Aakahs Bhirab dance; Bhaktapur’s Mahakali dances; Kilagal’s Pulukishi dances are the famous ones. The Royal Sword (Khadga) also is shown along with the jatra and the army Band also parades together along with the chariot; the typical Nepali traditional band “The panchai Baja” also walks in the chariot voyage playing the music. The main through fares of the voyage are Lagantole, Bhimsenthan, Marutole, chikamangol, Jaishideval, Jyabahal, Bramantole, Kilagal, Bhotahiti, Asan, Indrachowk and etc palaces.

On the second day night, the Dangi procession is carried out which is believed to be the mother of lord Indra. Along with the Dangi the devotees scatter Sadbij (miscellanous items of a few cereals) in the name of their deceased souls; this is also called to go to see the dead soul’s path traveling towards the heaven.

On the eight day, the last day of the fete the three chariot compulsorily should travel via kilagal because a long time back when there were many kings in the valley; a king’s queen wished to see the Nanichaya’s Jatra means the kumari’s fair; so it’s believed that since that time, the voyage uses to travel via there compulsorily because the queen used to stay in kilagal. On this day too head of the nation comes to take the Tika from these living deities in Hanum

pokhara valley:discovering Nepal

Pokhara is a city of close to 210,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25 N, 83.99 E,, 198 km west of Kathmandu. It is the Headquarter of Kaski District, Gandaki Zone and the Western Development Region. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. It is also called the Switzerland of Nepal.


Pokhara is situated in the northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley, which is a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley The Seti River and its tributaries have dug impressive canyons into the valley floor, which are only visible from higher viewpoints or from the air. To the east of Pokhara is the municipality of Lekhnath, another town in the valley.


In no other place do mountains rise so quickly. In this area, within 30 km, the elevation rises from 1000 m to over 7500 m. The Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu ranges, each with peaks over 8000 m, can be seen from Pokhara and there is a lake named Phewa Lake, three caves (Mahendra, Bat and Gupteswor) and an impressive falls(Patale Chhango or David's Fall) where the water from the Phewa Lake thunders into a hole and disappears. Due to this sharp rise in altitude the area of Pokhara has one of the highest precipitation rates of the country (over 4000 mm/year). Even within the city there is a noticeable difference in the amount of rain between the south of the city by the lake and the north at the foot of the mountains.
The climate is sub-tropical but due to the elevation the temperatures are moderate: the summer temperatures average between 25 - 35°C, in winter around 5 - 15°C.
In the south the city borders on Phewa Tal (a lake of 4.4 km² at an elevation of about 800 m above sea level), in the north at an elevation of around 1000 m the outskirts of the city touch the base of the Annapurna mountain range. From the southern fringes of the city 3 eight-thousanders (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu) and, in the middle of the Annapurna range, the Machapuchare (Nepali: Machhapucchare: 'Fishtail') with close to 7000 m can be seen. This mountain dominates the northern horizon of the city and its name derives from its twin peaks, not visible from the south.

History

Pokhara lies on an important old trading route between Tibet and India. In the 17th. century it was part of the influential Kingdom of Kaski which again was one of the Chaubise Rajaya (24 Kingdoms of Nepal) ruled by a branch of the Shah Dynasty. Many of the mountains around Pokhara still have medieval ruins from this time. In 1752 the King of Kaski invited Newars from Bhaktapur to Pokhara to promote trade. Their heritage can still be seen in the architecture along the streets in Bagar (Old Pokhara). Hindus, again, brought their culture and customs from Kathmandu and settled in the whole Pokhara valley. In 1786 Prithvi Narayan Shah added Pokhara into his kingdom. It had by then become an important trading place on the routes from Kathmandu to Jumla and from India to Tibet.
From 1959 to 1962 some 300,000 refugees came to Nepal from neighbouring Tibet, which had been annexed by China. Four refugee camps were established in the Pokhara valley: Tashipalkhel, Tashiling, Paljorling and Jambling. These camps have evolved into settlements. Because of their different architecture, prayer flags, gompas and chorten, these can easily be distinguished from the other settlements.
Until the end of the 1960s the town could only be reached by foot and it was considered even more a mystical place than Kathmandu. The first road was finished in 1968 after which tourism set in and the city grew rapidly. The area along the Phewa Lake developed into one of the major tourism hubs of Nepal.
Pokhara spans 8 km from north to south and 6 km from east to west but, unlike Kathmandu, it is quite loosely built up and still has much green space. The Seti Gandaki flowing through the city from north to south divides the city roughly in two halves with the down-town area of Chipledunga in the middle, the old town centre of Bagar in the north and the tourist district of Lakeside (Baidam) in the south all lying on the western side of the river. The gorge through which the river flows is crossed at five points, the major ones are (from north to south): K.I. Singh Pul, Mahendra Pul and Prithvi Highway Pul. The eastern side of town is mainly residential.
About half of all tourists visiting Pokhara are there for the start or end of a trek to the Annapurna Base Camp and Mustang For Nepalese, Pokhara has become the most favorite place to live in the country


The Annapurna range from the World Peace Pagoda above Phewa lake
Phewa Lake was slightly enlarged by damming. It is in danger of silting up because of the inflow during the monsoon. The outflowing water is partially used for hydro power. The dam collapsed in the late 1970s and it was rebuilt by the Chinese. The power plant is located about 100 m below at the bottom of the Phusre Khola gorge. Water is also diverted for irrigation into the southern Pokhara valley.
The eastern Pokhara Valley receives irrigation water through a canal running from a reservoir by the Seti in the north of the city. Phewa Lake is also used for commercial fishing. The tourist area is along the north shore of the lake (Lake Side and Dam Side). It is mainly made up of little shops, little hotels, restaurants and bars. The larger hotels can be found on the southern and south-eastern fringes of the city, from where the view of the mountains, mainly Mt. Fishtail is seen best. To the east of the valley are few smaller and few bigger lakes, the largest being Begnas Tal and Rupakot Tal. Begnas Tal is also known for its fishery projects. There are no beaches in the valley, but one can rent boats Phewa and Begnas Tal.

dashain festival

Dashain Festivals in Nepal is celebrated during the month of asoj- Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country.
The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood.

Dashain memorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur.
The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess.
In preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the mother goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. All types of organisations are closed for ten to fifteen days. Labourers are almost impossible to find; from the poor to the rich, all enjoy the festive mood. Anywhere you go the aroma of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.

The first nine days of Dashain are called Nawa Ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as devis, each with different aspects and powers. In most mother goddess temples the deity is represented simply as a sacred Kalash, carved water jug or multiple handed goddess holding murderous weapons. During these nine days people pay their homage to the goddess. If she is properly worshiped and pleased good fortunes are on the way and if angered through neglect then misfortunes are around the corner.
Mother goddess is the source of life and everything.
The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.

The room where the kalash is established is called 'Dashain Ghar'. Generally women are not allowed to enter the room where Dashain puja is being carried out. A priest or a household man worships the kalash everyday once in the morning and then in the evening. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called 'Jamara'. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as a token of Goddess Durga as well as the elders blessing.

As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called 'Fulpati'.
In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. With this the Dashain feasting starts.

The eighth day is called the Maha Asthami: The fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed at the mother goddess temples. The sacrifice continues till dawn. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount of meat are consumed.

The ninth day is called Nawami: Temples of mother goddess are filled with people from dawn till dusk. Animals mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. Military bands play war tunes, guns boom and officers with beautifully decorated medals in full uniform stand there. When the function ends the courtyard is filled ankle deep with blood. On this very day the god Vishwa Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped.
We also give sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is colourful.


The tenth day is the Dashami: On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the family. This function continues for four days. After four days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone.
After Dashain everyone settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal.

Panauti:sightseeing in nepal

Panauti is a historical city in Nepal. It is 32km SE from the capital Kathmandu. It was a small state given by King Bhupitendra Malla as dowry to his sister.
PANAUTI , a typical Newari township situated 36 KM south-east of the Kathmandu is in the Kabhrepalanchwok district of the Bagmati Zone. Panauti, situated at the confluence of the two rivers Rosi and Punyamati, has been regarded as an important religious site since very early times. In Nepali society, such river scared places. A visit or just an ablution in such places enables man to be freed from many sins and anxieties. Moreover, it is also believed that at Panauti, in addition to aforesaid two rivers, a third river Lilawati also converges making it again a tri-junction called Triveni. However, the last one is said to be visible only to the sheers and the intellectuals. The presence of this at Panauti has added and remarkably enhanced its religious sanctity and popularity as well. On account of this, every festive occasion, a great number of devotees from all across the country pour here for a holy ablution and to pay haomage to the nearby Indreshwor Mahadev Temple and other holy sites located here. The site is also regarded as Prayagtirtha of Nepal.
Indreshwor temple
The triple-roofed Shiva Temple was originally built over a lingam in 1294, making it the oldest surviving temple in Nepal. Kathmandu's Kasthamandapa is actually older, but did not start out as a shrine. The mandir - modeled on the Pashupatinath Temple - took on its present appearance in the 15th c., though the third story is of later date. The roof struts embellishing the two lower stories are acknowledged masterpieces of Nepalese wood-carving. Shiva is represented in various forms, and there are some small erotic scenes. The slender, perfectly proportioned figures, portrayed as in a dance, are extraordinarily graceful. The upper section of the temple is hung with pots and pans, offerings from young married couples hoping for a happy family life. The 1988 earthquake caused considerable damage and the building is still awaiting restoration by foreign experts.

kavre:city in nepal banepa

Banepa is a small town located 26 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 12537 and had 1956 households in it.The main attraction of Banepa is the temple of Chandeshwori, located approximately 1 km northeast of the town along the Rudramati River. The Dhaneshwor Temple is 1 km south of the town. Also Banepa is well known for the Eight different temples of Lord Ganesh, Narayanthan, the temple of lord Narayan, Bhimshenthan, the temple of lord Bhimshen and Eight different ponds. A lot of festivals are celebrated in Banepa like: The Chandeshwori Jatra, the kanya-puja (worshipping of the young girls), Nawadurga Jatra (Fish-catching festival) Ganesh Jatra, Bhimshen Jatra etc.
Banepa has a hospital of Seventh-day Adventist called Scheer Memorial Hospital which was established in 1957. Now this hospital has been expanded as a medical college associated with Vanderbilt University of USA and Kathmandu University. Many students enroll in the MBBS and B.Sc. Nursing programs at this hospital. Banepa is also the location of the Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre for Disabled Children (HRDC). HRDC is a program of a non-governmental organization, the Friends of the Disabled. It is the only tertiary level hospital in the country and it provides the best reconstructive surgery and rehabilitation for children below 16 years of age. Its services are aimed at under privileged, physically challenged children in Nepal.
The Information Technology Park is being built in border of three municipalities of Kavre; Banepa, Dhulikhel and Panauti and there is debate about the the official emplacement. All three towns are still declared as the cyber cities.
Banepa is also a major trade route to Tibet as Araniko Highway, the only highway that connects Nepal and China(Tibet), runs through this town. Furthermore another newly constructed highway named B.P. Koirala Highway,(named after great leader of Nepal Bishweswor Prasad Koirala) also passes through this town. Though it is a small town, Banepa is the major economic center after moving east from Kathmandu.
Banepa is also the best place for education in Kavre district of Nepal. There are a number of High schools and colleges . The oldest school of the district Azad Secondary School, Chaitanya secondary school Siksha sadan secondary school Himalaya secondary school and some of the well known private boarding schools are Banepa Valley School, Siddhartha English Higher Secondary School, Bal NiketanEnglish Boarding School, Bidya Sagar English Boarding School, Bal Batika Vidhya Mandir, Kavre Secondary School and Bagmati English Boarding School, Pragati Pravat secondary school, Gyan sarovar boarding school.

Kavre:dhulikhel

Kavre is located to the west of Ramechhap and Dolakha, to the east of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, to the south of Sindhupalchowk and to the north of Sindhupalchowk and Sindhuli and Makwanpur. The district has a total population of 383,056 with 192,467 (50.25%) males and 190,589 (49.75%) females. Population of this district is rising at an annual rate of 2.06 %. More than 86 % of the population lives in rural areas. Kavre is better placed in terms of all social and economic development. Currently, the birth rate is estimated at 35.4 per thousand and death rate at 11.5 per thousand. Fertility rate is estimated at 4.6 children per women, and is close to a national average. Kavre has the literacy rate of 39.6 %; males have the literacy rate of 56.2 % and females have 23.7 %. Kavre has the health facilities similar to the health facilities available in the Kathmandu valley. The district has three district hospitals (non-governmental), eight private hospitals called Nursing Homes, five Ayurvedic hospitals and 94 health centers and health posts. It indicates that all kinds of health facilities ranging from primary health care to secondary and tertiary health services are available in the district. Nonetheless, large numbers of the rural population are still deprived of the basic health care services. Education facilities available in the district are also not different from the education facilities available in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts. The district has two universities, three campuses, 11 secondary schools, 72 lower secondary schools, 336 primary schools, 85 private schools and 32 resources centers. Despite these facilities, about 60 % of the population are still illiterate. Gender discrimination exists in education. Women have literacy rate less than the half of the literacy rate men have.


Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel is a typical Newari town with nearby Tamang villages. It is situated 30 km. east of Kathmandu on the side of Arniko Highway on the way towards Tibet. Dhulikhel is popular for its natural beauty and ancient traditions. The Himalayan ranges from the twin crest of Mt. Langtang in the west to the Mt. Everest in the east can be clearly viewed in a clear day. Dhulikhel is ideal for snow-capped peaks, sunrise, sunset and it is different from any other place. One can say Dhulikhel is where the peaks speak.

Whether it’s a mountain sunrise you’re after, or 400 km of horizon from the Annapurnas in the west to Numbur in the east, the Himalayan skyline dominates Dhulikhel. And unlike that Thamel-on-the-Hill, Nagarkot, Dhulikhel has culture with its old Newari heritage. At 1,500 m it is also milder in winter than Nagarkot.
Dhulikhel was once known by the Buddhist name of Shrikhandapur and still has a few Buddhist stupas in memory of the old days. Namo Buddha is an interesting and pleasant three-hour hike from the town, and has a nice mix of Buddhist flavour and old Hindu temples. Dhulikhel also has several ancient temples dedicated to Sweta Bhairava, Hari Siddhi, Shiva, and Narayana, each with an interesting story related to how they came into being.

There are plenty of other short hikes to undertake from Dhulikhel, but one of the best is the pleasant half-hour uphill from Dhulikhel to the telecommunication tower. Walk through a lush forest echoing with the chattering of racquet tailed drongos and turtle doves to come to a temple dedicated to Kali. If you can manage to wake up early and get up there, it is a sunrise you will remember for years.
And there are more than a dozen hotels to stay for the night if you want to do this, from the upmarket Himalayan Shangrila, which stands at the highest point here and offers the best views to the 28-year-old Nawaranga Restaurant and Guest House, which with its gallery of local art is a backpacker’s dream come true.

Education in Nepal

Modern education in Nepal began with the establishment of the first school named Durbar High School in 1853. However, this school was only for the members of the ruling families and their courtiers. Schooling for the general people began only after 1951 when a popular movement ended the autocratic Rana family regime and initiated a democratic system. In the past fifty years, there has been a dramatic expansion of educational facilities in the country. As a result, adult literacy (15+) of the country was reported to be 48.2% (female: 34.6%, male: 62.2%) in the Population Census, 2001, up from about 5% in 1952/54. Beginning from about 300 schools and two colleges with about ten thousand students in 1951, there now are 26 thousand schools (including higher secondary), 415 colleges, five universities and two academies of higher studies. Altogether 5.5 million students are enrolled in those schools and colleges who are served by more than 150 thousand teachers.

Despite such examples of success, there are problems and challenges. Educational management, quality, relevance, access are some of the critical issues of education in Nepal. Societal disparities based on gender, ethnicity, location, economic class, etc. are yet to be eliminated. Resource crunch has always been a problem in education. These problems have made the goal of education for all a challenge for the country.
The Ministry of Education and Sports is the apex body responsible for initiating and managing educational activities in the country. The Minister of Education, assisted by the State/Assistant Minister, provides political leadership to the Ministry. The Ministry, as a part of the government bureaucracy, is headed by the Secretary of Education and consists of the central office, various functional offices and offices located at the regional and district levels. The Central Office or the Ministry is mainly responsible for policy development, planning and monitoring and evaluation regarding different aspects of education.
With a purpose of bringing education administration nearer to the people, the Ministry has established five Regional Directorates and 75 District Education Offices in five development regions and 75 districts respectively. These decentralized offices are responsible for overseeing nonformal and school level educational activities in their respective areas. Regional Directorates are mainly responsible for coordinating and monitoring and evaluation of education activities and the District Education Offices are the main implementing agencies. NCED is an Apex body for teacher training in Nepal. There are 34 Educational Training Centers under NCED to support the teachers in pedagogical areas. ETC Sunsari, ETC Dhulikhel and ETC Tanahun/ Educational Training Center Damauli, are the leading training center under NCED. NCED was established in B. S. 2050 but it could not take speed much until Arjun Bahadur Bhandari was appointed as an Executive Director. Now it is running in full fledged and implementing "Teacher Education Project" to train the pre-service and in-service teahcers throughout the country.

Government and politics

Nepal has seen rapid political changes during the last two decades. Until 1990, Nepal was an absolute monarchy running under the executive control of the king. Faced with a people's movement against the absolute monarchy, King Birendra, in 1990, agreed to large-scale political reforms by creating a parliamentary monarchy with the king as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of the government.
Nepal's legislature was bicameral, consisting of a House of Representatives called the Pratinidhi Sabha and a National Council called the Rastriya Sabha. The House of Representatives consisted of 205 members directly elected by the people. The National Council had sixty members: ten nominated by the king, thirty-five elected by the House of Representatives and the remaining fifteen elected by an electoral college made up of chairs of villages and towns. The legislature had a five-year term, but was dissolvable by the king before its term could end. All Nepali citizens 18 years and older became eligible to vote.
The executive comprised the King and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet). The leader of the coalition or party securing the maximum seats in an election was appointed as the Prime Minister. The Cabinet was appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Governments in Nepal tended to be highly unstable, falling either through internal collapse or parliamentary dissolution by the monarch, on the recommendation of prime minister, according to the constitution; no government has survived for more than two years since 1991.
The movement in April, 2006, brought about a change in the nation's governance: an interim constitution was promulgated, with the King giving up power, and an interim House of Representatives was formed with Maoist members after the new government held peace talks with the Maoist rebels. The number of parliamentary seats was also increased to 330. In April, 2007, the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) joined the interim government of Nepal.
On 28 December 2007, the interim parliament passed a bill that would make Nepal a federal republic, with the Prime Minister becoming head of state. The bill was passed by the Constituent Assembly on May 28, 2008.
On 10 April 2008, there was the first election in Nepal for the constitution assembly. The Maoist party led the poll results, but failed to gain a simple majority in the parliament.
On 28 May 2008, lawmakers in Nepal legally abolished the monarchy and declared the country a republic, ending 239 years of royal rule in the Himalayan nation. The newly elected assembly, led by the former communist rebels, adopted the resolution at its first meeting by an overwhelming majority. King Gyanendra was given 15 days to leave former Royal Palace in central Kathmandu by the Nepalese Constituent Assembly. He left former Royal Palace on June 11.
On 26 June 2008, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala tendered his resignation to the Nepalese Constituent Assembly, which is also functioning as Nepalese Parliament, however a new Prime Minister has yet to be elected by the Nepalese Constituent Assembly.
On 19 July 2008, the first round of voting for the election of the country's president and vice president took place in the Constituent Assembly. Parmanand Jha became the first vice president of Nepal. However, the two presidential frontrunners, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav of Nepali Congress and the Maoist-backed candidate Ram Raja Prasad Singh, both failed to gain the minimum 298 votes needed to be elected, with Yadav receiving 283 votes and Singh receiving 270. 578 out of 594 CA members registered in the voter list had cast their votes, of which 24 were invalid.
On 21 July 2008, the second round of voting was held. Yadav received 308 votes of the 590 votes casted, securing his election as president.
In August 2008, Maoist leader Prachanda (Pushpa Kamal Dahal) was elected Prime Minister of Nepal, the first since the country's transition from a monarchy to a republic.

Economy of Nepal

An isolated, agrarian society until the mid-20th century, Nepal entered the modern era in 1951 without schools, hospitals, roads, telecommunications, electric power, industry, or civil service. The country has, however, made progress toward sustainable economic growth since the 1950s and is committed to a program of economic liberalization.
Nepal has used a series of five-year plans in an attempt to make progress in economic development. It completed its ninth economic development plan in 2002; its currency has been made convertible, and 17 state enterprises have been privatized. Foreign aid accounts for more than half of the development budget. Government priorities over the years have been the development of transportation and communication facilities, agriculture, and industry. Since 1975, improved government administration and rural development efforts have been emphasized.
Agriculture remains Nepal's principal economic activity, employing 80% of the population and providing 37% of GDP. Only about 20% of the total area is cultivable; another 33% is forested; most of the rest is mountainous. Rice and wheat are the main food crops. The lowland Terai region produces an agricultural surplus, part of which supplies the food-deficient hill areas.
Economic development in social services and infrastructure has made progress. A countrywide primary education system is under development, and Tribhuvan University has several campuses. Although eradication efforts continue, malaria had been controlled in the fertile but previously uninhabitable Terai region in the south. Katmandu is linked to India and nearby hill regions by road and an expanding highway network. The capital was almost out of fuel and transport of supplies caused by a crippling general strike in southern Nepal on February 17, 2008.

Mount Everest

Mount Everest, also called Sagarmatha (Nepali: सगरमाथा meaning: Head of the Sky), as measured by the height of its summit above sea level, which is 8,848 metres (29,029 ft). The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in High Asia, is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China.
In 1856, the Great Trigonometric Survey of India established the first published height of Everest at 29,002 ft (8,840 m), although at the time Everest was known as Peak XV. In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India at the time. Waugh was unable to propose an established local name due to Nepal and Tibet being closed to foreigners at the time, although Chomolungma had been in common use by Tibetans for centuries.

The highest mountain in the world attracts climbers of all levels, from well experienced mountaineers to novice climbers willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb. The mountain, while not posing substantial technical climbing difficulty on the standard route (other eight-thousanders such as K2 or Nanga Parbat are much more difficult), still has many inherent dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind. By the end of the 2007 climbing season, there had been 3,679 ascents to the summit by 2,436 individuals. This means climbers are a significant source of tourist revenue for Nepal, whose government also requires all prospective climbers to obtain an expensive permit, costing up to US$25,000 per person. Everest has claimed 210 lives, including eight who perished during a 1996 storm high on the mountain. Conditions are so difficult in the death zone that most corpses have been left where they fell, some of which are visible from standard climbing routes.

nepal at a glance

Nepal Known as the Land of Everest and being “The only Hindu country in the world”, Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, one of the world’s best and Archeologically very important temples, and some of the best walking trails on the Earth. Although, the GDP of “The Land of Buddha” is very low, but it is rich in scenic splendor and cultural treasures.


The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination and it's a difficult place to dislodge from your memory once you visit Nepal and return.
This is why so many travelers are forced to visit Nepal again and again with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire for improved leg-definition.

Mount everest:top ofthe world

mount everest expedition

Nepal Known as the Land of Everest and being “The only Hindu country in the world”, Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, one of the world’s best and Archeologically very important temples, and some of the best walking trails on the Earth. Although, the GDP of “The Land of Buddha” is very low, but it is rich in scenic splendor and cultural treasures.

The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination and it's a difficult place to dislodge from your memory once you visit Nepal and return.
This is why so many travelers are forced to visit Nepal again and again with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire for improved leg-definition.

Nepalese People 2008

Population:
28,901,790 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.3% (male 5,721,720/female 5,360,391)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 8,597,037/female 8,134,115)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 528,113/female 560,414) (2007 est.)
Median age:

total: 20.5 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 20.6 years (2007 est.)

Population:
28,901,790 (July 2007 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.3% (male 5,721,720/female 5,360,391)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 8,597,037/female 8,134,115)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 528,113/female 560,414) (2007 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.5 years
male: 20.3 years
female: 20.6 years (2007 est.)

Population growth rate:
2.132% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
30.46 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.067 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.057 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.942 male(s)/female
total population: 1.056 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 63.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.56 years
male: 60.78 years
female: 60.33 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.01 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
61,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
3,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese
Ethnic groups:
Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Religions:
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world
Languages:
Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6%
male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2001 census)