For me, Nepal is a beautiful country where one adventure follows the other. If you are looking for an adrenaline rush, let me recommend you the 3 most exciting tourist attractions in Nepal that I summed up in my previous blog. Except for adventure, there are plenty opportunities for sightseeing to get in touch with local culture and history. Here is my list of top 7 worth-seeing places to visit in Nepal.

Upon arrival to Nepal, we headed to Nagarkot and stayed overnight in a mountain lodge in the woods. It promised the best view on famous Mt. Everest. Tranquillity, fresh air, chill of summer morning and sunrise over Himalayas was no cliché. It was something I could enjoy every morning and recommend to everyone to see at least once in a lifetime.

On the half-way to Kathmandu, we stopped in Bhaktapur. In this city, each monument was unique, and introduced us to various aspects of life in Nepal. Known for its well-preserved historic architecture and beautiful temples, it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Spacious Durbar Square opens the way to the city center and the golden gate leading directly to Taleju temple. Furthermore, you can find there Taumadhi square with Nyatapola temple, a five-storey high pagoda. In one of the narrow streets, the famous window, with a carving of a wooden peacock in its middle, is hidden.

Boudhanath, a Buddhist stupa, is another UNESCO heritage site located on the outskirts of Kathmandu. It belongs to the holiest Buddhist sites of the capital. Tibetan prayer wheels line the lower kora (sacred circle). Colorful mantra flags cover the whole square. Most of all, tourists appreciate the restaurants around the square with roof top seating for a better view and cafes offering delicious cakes and excellent coffee. On the contrary, dense air traffic from the local airport may be little disruptive. However, I, an enthusiastic traveler, enjoyed it to the fullest 🙂

Boudhanath stupa is certainly one of the top places to visit in Nepal. In 2015 it was destroyed by earthquake. Fortunately it is reopen after restoration and awaiting your visit 🙂

The sacred Bagmati river was our last cultural stop on the way to Kathmandu. Hindus cremate their relatives on its banks; the river absorbs the ashes of the dead. Its banks present the typical image of the Nepali life. Except for Buddhist and Hindu temples, we stumbled upon piles of garbage, wild monkeys, couples holding hands and street vendors selling water and sweets. As the saying goes – a little bit of everything.

As we noticed right after crossing the borders, Nepal is different. Different than Europe, Slovakia, or even China. It is green, adventurous, various, simple and dirty. Kathmandu, its capital, resembled the picture of typical India. Half-ruined houses, narrow streets crowded with people, dirt and noise. At the hotel, we “met” cockroaches (in the size of a small mouse) for the first time. Nevertheless, the city was pulsing with incredible energy, it was charming. In the town district of Tamel, restaurants offered a wide selection of delicious Indian food and coffee houses were in European style. We finally met tourists from all around the world (even Slovaks) and locals mastered English.

Walking through other parts of the city was slightly more challenging. However, if you cease to perceive too many people in a small space, smells and honking, and manage to avoid all the cars, bikes and rickshaws successfully, you can notice many nice corners, religious altars, and historic buildings. They decorate the Durbar Square where the house of the only living goddess Kumari is located. She is just a little girl who can’t leave her house, can walk only on the red carpet and treats Nepali children. The mighty Swayambhunath, also called Monkey Temple, rises above the town. Except for monkeys, dogs dominate this area too. There are two reasons why it pays off to climb dozens of stairs up a steep hill and pay the entrance fee. It is the Buddha stupa and a beautiful view on Kathmandu.

Chitwan offers brand new experiences and countless activities to tourists. You can visit the local Elephant camp, see rhinos by the river or swim next to crocodiles. This national park is beautiful, it is green and alive, humidity is like nowhere else. If you travel to this part of the country, make sure to take antimalarial drugs with you and discuss their use with your doctor before the travel. I have to admit I personally didn’t take them as side effects might become a nuisance, and I’ve survived.

If you are thinking about staying in Chitwan, read my next blog on Best accommodation and what to do in Chitwan National Park.

Love & happy travels,
RLT

P.S.: If you have any questions that popped up in your head during reading, different experience or suggestion, please share it in a comment below 😉