Friday, October 28, 2011

Museums

After you have had your fill of watching the mountains, touring the monuments and ransacking the shopping centers, there's nothing like browsing around the museums for some quiet indoor relaxation. One of Nepal's delights is the variety of museums found in the country

Museums in Kathmandu Valley:

National Museum
Newly renovated and filled with treasures, including a charming dancing Ganesh, breathtaking bronzes, and a rich collection of paubha scroll paintings. The National Museum at Chhauni near Swayambhu also has an extraordinary collection of ancient firearms, leather cannons and relics of the Great Earthquake of 1934. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays, from 10 am to 4 pm.
The National Numismatic Museum
The National Numismatic Museum, housed in the Mahendra Memorial Building of the National Museum at Chhauni, contains an exceptional Nepalese coin collection spanning the Lichhavi and Malla dynasties (2nd to 18th century AD) as well as the Shah dynasty. The museum also holds unique pieces dating back to the second century BC. Open daily, except Tuesdays, from 10 am to 4 pm. Your ticket to the National Museum entitles you to visit the coin museum also.
The Tribhuvan Museum
Inside the Hanuman Dhoka Palace in Kathmandu Durbar Square highlights the life of King Tribhuvan (1906-1955) who helped liberate the country from the Rana regime in 1951. The galleries also have rare photographs, paintings, and portraits of other Shah rulers and members of the Royal family. Cameras are not allowed. Open daily, except Tuesdays and holidays from 10.30 am to 3 pm; Friday 10.30 am to 2 pm.
The Mahendra Museum
The Birendra Museum
The Museum of Natural History
National Library
Kaiser Library
Patan Museum
The National Art Gallery
The Bronze and Brass Museum

Outside Kathmandu

Lumbini International Research Institute (LIRI)
Kapilvastu Museum
The Dhankuta Museum

Bith place of Gautam Buddha(Lumbini)

Lumbini

Birth-Place of Buddha Lumbini Nepal 2007

Lumbini is the hallowed birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya prince, the eventual Shakyamuni and the ultimate Buddha - the Enlightened One. This nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka's commemorative pillar erected over 2200 years ago and rediscovered in 1896, is the quintessential Buddhist heritage site, currently renaissanced by the internationally-supported Lumbini Development Project
The main attraction at Lumbini is the Sacred Garden that is spread over 8 sq km and possesses all the treasures of the historic area. The Mayadevi temple, is the main attraction for pilgrims and archeologists alike. This is where we find a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, giving birth to him as two Hindu gods, Brahma and Indra, shower him with lotus petals and holy water. There is also a sacred stone marked with a "foot imprint" of Emperor Ashoka which had been placed here to mark the exact birthplace. Nearby, to the west of the Mayadevi temple, stands the Ashoka Pillar - the oldest monument so far found in

Nepal

. The pillar was erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the sacred site. The inscription on it in Brahmi script authenticates Lumbini as the place where the Buddha has born in 623 BC. To the south of the Pillar we find the sacred pond - Puskarni - where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to the Buddha.
The treasury of cultural and archeological riches scattered around Lumbini evokes the time and aura of the Buddha. Moreover, a host of stupas, monasteries, meditation centers and bahals (courtyards) being constructed in the International Monastery Zone by various countries such as Japan, China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Shri Lanka, France and Germany embodying their respective architecture reflects and the world brotherhood envisaged by the Apostle of Peach some 2500 years ago.

Quick Getaways

Tilaurakot

An important archeological site lying 27 km to the west of Lumbini, Tilaurakot evokes the ancient palace of King Suddhodhan, Siddhartha Gautam's father, where the Buddha spent his formative years as a Shakya prince. Scattered foundations of the ancient palace, stupas and monasteries made of kiln-backed bricks and clay mortar are abundant here. The most sacred spot here for Buddhists is the palace's eastern gate through which the Buddha had departed on his search for enlightenment. A must for archeology and history buffs.

Niglihawa

Located to the north-east of Tilaurakot, Niglihawa contains some of the most important archelogoical treasures dating back to the third century BC. This historic place encompasses a quadrangular tank surrounded by bushes and on its western bank are two broken pieces of another Ashoka Pillar. There is a Pali language inscription on the pillar in Brahmi script which records Ashoka's visit to the holy site in the 14th year of his rule in

India

Sagarhawa

To the north-west of Niglihawa is a forest called Sagarhawa. It is the site where ruins of ancient water tanks were excavated in 1895 and this site has been identified by archeologist as the "Palace of massacre of the Shakyas".

Aroarakot

Lying to the north-east of Niglihawa, Aroarakot used to be a walled fortress in ancient times. Rectangular in shape, this citadel was the Buddha's natal town. Remains of ancient moat and brick foundations, which can still be clearly located, point to a glorious past. A very interesting trip, takes you to the time of the Buddha.

Gotihawa

To the south-west of Tilaurakot is Gothihawa, where w find another Ashoka Pillar. The upper part of the pillar is missing. Next to it is a huge stupa with successive rings of wedge-shaped Mauryan bricks. This sacred site is believed to be associated with Kanakmuni Buddha and Krakuchhanda Buddha who came before Gautam Buddha.

Getting There

Reaching Lumbini is easy. A 35-minute flight from Kathmandu will wing visitors to Bhairawa, an industrial town situated 284 km south-west of the capital. From here, regular taxis and buses leave for Lumbini, 22 km away. There are daily flights to Bhairawa. Daily Bus services are also available from Kathmandu to Bhairawa. Lumbini can be combined with a jungle safari in Chitwan.

Lumbini

Lumbini: The garden where Prince Siddhartha was born

Prince Siddhartha was born in a lovely garden called Lumbini, who later became Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, which was destined to be the prevalent religion in Asia.

<< Mark of the spot where the Buddha was born

For centuries, Buddhists all over the world, knew that Lumbini where the Lord was born is somewhere around. The descriptions of famous Chinese pilgrims (of ancient times) Huian Tsang and Faeihan indicated to this area-saying 'Lumbini-where the lord was born is a piece of heaven on earth and one could see the snowy mountains amidst a splendid garden-embedded with stupas and monasteries!

However, the exact location remained uncertain and obscure till December the 1st 1886 when a wandering German archaeologist Dr. Alois A. Fuhrer came across a stone pillar and ascertained beyond doubt it is indeed the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

Location

Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha, is situated about 22 km. from Bhairahawa (Siddharthanagar), below the Churia range, 24 km south from the foothills of the Himalayas, on the western bank of Telar river in Rupandehi district of Lumbini zone in Nepal. It is about 300 km. west of capital city Kathmandu. Surrounding this town are Kapilvastu, Rupandehi and the Nawalparasi Terai districts of Lumbini Zone, which are fertile and densely populated.

It is about 34 km from Naugarh Railway Station on the North-Eastern Railway of India.

What to see

The Asokan Pillar

This nativity site, identified by the Ashokan Pillar, erected by Magadhan emperor Ashoka, to commemorate the birth place of Buddha, the Lumbini grove. The pillar was erected over 2200 years ago, making lumbini the quintessential Buddhist heritage site. The Asokan pillar has an inscription mentioning that "here the Buddha was born"

Nearby ruins that are presently undergoing restoration and the modern temples. Among the prime attractions are the sacred garden with an area of 8 sq. km, the Mayadevi Temple with a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother and a sacred stone marked with a "foot imprint" of Ashoka. The Ashokan Pillar, the oldest monument so far found in Nepal lies to the west of the Mayadevi Temple.

Today only the lower shaft of the pillar stands, the upper past having been split into two. There is no trace of the horse capital. To the south of the pillar is Puskarni, the sacred pond, wherein, Mayadevi is said to have had taken a bath just before giving birth to the Buddha - the Enlightened one.

For those interested in the treasury of cultural and archaeological riches, Lumbini is the perfect place to be there with a number of stupa, monasteries, meditation centers and bahals (courtyard). No other place evokes the time and aura of the Buddha like Lumbini, the Hallowed birthplace of the Apostle of Peace.

Tilaurakot

Lying about 27 km west of Lumbini and evoking the ancient palace of King Suddhodhan (The chief of the Shakya tribe and father of Buddha), is Tilaurakot, where Buddha spent his early years. The place of tremendous archaeological significance. Other than quite a few scattered fountains of ancient palaces, stupas and monasteries, archaeologists have discovered thirteen successive layers of human presence (habitation), the oldest dating back to the eight century B.C. one should always remember the eastern gate of the palace, here, through which Buddha is said to have departed on his search for enlightenment. A never miss for Buddhist as well as historians and scholars.

Niglihawa

Some of the very valuable archaeological finds (Dating 3rd century B.C) have been unearthed at Niglihawa. Situated to the north-east of Tilaurakot, this place encompasses a quadrangular tank, two broken pieces of another Ashokan Pillar. The pillar inscription commemorates Ashoka's visit to the place.

Tengpoche Monastery, Nepal

Sagarhawa: Identified by Archaeologists as the "Palace of Massacre of the Shakyas", the ruins of an ancient water tank were excavated n the forest of Sagarhawa. It lies to the north-west of Niglihawa.

Gotihawa: Located to the south-west of Tilaurkot, the place is known for an Ashokan Pillar (Whose upper part, capital is missing) and a huge stupa. According to the legends, the place is also associated with Kanakmuni Buddha and Krakuchhanda Buddha. They arrived before Gautam Buddha.

Aroarakot: This place once had a walled rectangular fortress. The citadel was Buddha's natal town. Lying to the north-east of Niglihawa, here you can find remains of ancient moat and brick fortifications reminding you of its glorious past.

Getting there

Lumbini is just a few kilometres inside

Nepal

but getting there requires all the formalities of crossing an international border.

There are plenty of hotels in Bhairawa which you have to pass through to get to Lumbini but it is better to stay in some of the temples near Lumbini. If you intend to enter Nepal and return Map to

India

you will need to apply for a Multiple Entry Visa when you get your Indian visa.

You can apply for a Nepalese visa at the border itself. A 15 day visa costs US $15 and a 30 day visa costs US $25 payable only in either

$ or Nepalese rupees. Crossing the border can be a slow tedious business unless 'baksheesh' is offered to officials.

White Water Rafting

Discover - Nepal recommends you Adventure Sports: White Water Rafting Guide Book.

White water rafting means cruising down a rushing river in an inflatable rubber raft or white water kayak over crashing waves and swirling rapids for the excitement of a lifetime. Nepal has earned a reputation as one of the best destinations in the world for white water rafting.
Rivers are graded on a scale of one to six. Here are some of the popular rafting trips:
The Trishuli River (grade 3+) is one of the most popular, if not the favorite, of Nepal's raftable rivers. Many choose to incorporate a ride down the Trisuli with either a trip to Pokhra or to the Royal Chitwan National Park.
The Kali Gandaki (4-6+) winds through remote canyons and deep gorges for five days of intense rapid among gorgeous wilderness and mountain views.
The Bhote Koshi (4-5) Twenty-six km of continuous white water batters rafters as they shoot through a veritable maze of canyons and boulders.
The raging Marshyangdi (4-5) run is four days of uninterrupted white water.
The Karnali River (4-5). The first 90 km are spent flying through spectacular landscapes and narrow gorges and down some of the most challenging rapids in the world. For the remaining 90 km, the scenery and wildlife is the main attraction.
The Sun Koshi (4-5) run is 270 km and requires 8-10 days to complete with road access only the beginning and end.

National Park and Wild life Reserve

Discover - Nepal recommands you to buy Guide to the Birds of Nepal !! Provides information on the 836 bird species found in Nepal. Breeding, habitat, behaviour and range are all covered in detail with special emphasis being given to the Himalayas. The book also contains data on those species whose breeding behaviour is little known.Contents: Topography, climate and vegetation; protected areas; bird distribution; changes in the Avifauna; migration; history of ornithology in Nepal; birdwatching areas; identification section; species accounts.

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Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve

Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve was until recently a royal hunting domain. It is dominated by sal trees associated with asna, semal, karma, khair and sissoo sub-species and phanta grasslands. A prime habitat for the swamp deer, it is also home for the wild elephant, tiger, hispid hare, blue bull, leopard, chittal, hog deer and wild boar, along with 200 recorded species of birds. Reptiles include the marsh mugger, Indian python, monitor lizard, cobra, krait and rat snake.

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 Bangal tiger, gharial crocodile, gaur, wild elephant, four horned antelope, striped hyena, pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, monitor lizard and pythons.

Langtang National Park

Langtang National Park (1710 sq km) abounds in numerous vegetation types. Oaks, maple, various rhododendrons, chir pine, fir, blue pine, hemlock and spruce are found here. The latitudinal/topograhical variations show such diverse animals as the wild dog, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan tahr, ghoral, serow, rhesus monkey and common langur. This region is also an important route for migrating birds.

Rara National Park

Rara National Park (106 sq km) has its gem in Rara, Nepal's biggest lake (10.8 sq km) at 2990 m! The park ascends from 1800 to 4048m and abounds in coniferous forests of blue pine, black juniper, West Himalayan spruce, oak and Himalayan cypress as well as Indian horse-chestnut, walnut and Himalayan popular. It is an ideal habitat for the musk deer, Himalayan black beer, leopard, ghoral, Himalayan tahr and wild boar. Snow trout is the only fish found in Rara Lake.

Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park

Sagarmatha (Everest) National Park (1148 sq km), which includes the tallest mountain in the world, is listed as a World Heritage Site. Geologically young and broken into deep gorges and glacial valleys, the Park has vegetation graduating from pine, hemlock, fir, juniper, birch, rhododendrons, scrube, alpine, plants and then to bare rock and snow. This is home to the Himalayan tahr, ghoral, serow and musk deer. The Himalayan black bear and snow leopard are now rarely sighted.

Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve

The vegetation here is mainly of grassland, scrub and deciduous forests. the reserve is unique for its wild arna buffaloes. Other mammals are the hog deer, wild boar, spotted dear and blue bull. The species of birds total 280 here, including 20 of ducks, two of ibises, many stroks, egrets, herons and the endangered swamp partridges and Bengal floricans. The reserve is a resting place for migrating birds not seen anywhere in Nepal. The endangered gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin are also recorded in the Koshi River.

Royal Bardiya National Park

Royal Bardiya National Park (968 sq km) is the largest and most undisturbed wilderness area in the Terai. It is thickly forested by sal trees and is carpeted with grass, savannah and riverine forest. It is a regenerated habitat for endangered species like the rhinoceros, wild elephants, tiger, swamp deer, black buck, gharial crocodile and Gangetic dolphin. Endangered bird include the Bengal florican, lesser florican, silver-eared mesia and Sarus crane.

Shey-Phoksundo National Park

Shey-Phoksundo National Park (3555 sq km) is the biggest park in Nepal. Luxuriant forests of blue pine, spruce, cypress, poplar, deodar, fir and birch are found here. It is a primal habitat for the snow leopard and the blue sheep; so also for ghoral, Himalayan balck bear, Himalayan weasel, Himalayan mouse hare, yellow-throated marten, langur and rhesus monkeys. The park is equally rich in many kinds of birds.

About Chitwan national Park.

Chitwan

Area: 400 sq miles
Tiger Population: 60
STD Code: 056
Best Season: March-May

The beautiful Royal Chitwan National Park is located 166km southwest of Kathmandu and nearly 204km southeast of Pokhara. The park sprawls across lushly wooded hills and is home to a variety of flora and fauna. Chitwan offers great tiger and rhino spotting opportunities.

TREEKING IN HIMALAYAS

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Discover-Nepal recommends you to buy Lonely Planet's Guide :
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The best way to experience Nepal's unbeatable combination of natural beauty and cultural riches is to walk through them. The immense contrast in altitudes and climates found here support an equally spectacular mix of lifestyles, vegetation type and wildlife. You will see Chhetri farmers working in their fields and Tamang herders grazing their animals on the steep slopes. You will meet Gurkha soldiers home on leave and come across Sherpa yak drivers transporting goods over the high mountain passes. And always in the background, the icy pinnacles of the Himalaya loom over the scenery.

Preparations
You don't need to be a mountaineer with rippling muscles to enjoy trekking. If you are reasonably fit, have a spirit of adventure and are not afraid of waling, you qualify. There are excellent trekking agencies who will take care of all the details. All you have to do on the trail is concentrate on putting one foot before the other. On many popular trekking trails, you can also trek in what is known as 'tea house style' - eating and staying in the many lodges and tea houses on the way instead of camping in tents.

Equipment
Your trekking agency will provide equipment like sleeping bags, foam mattresses and tents. All you need to bring are your personal wear like walking boots and sandshoes, a water and wind proof jacket, woolen shirts, T-shirts, a thick pullover, shorts/skirts and trousers/track suit. Thermal underwear is necessary for high altitudes and cottons are best for lower and warmer altitudes. Also don't forget a water bottle, Swiss army knife, sewing kit, torch light with spare batteries, extra boot laces, sun glasses, sun cream and personal medical supplies.

Seasons
Trekking is possible at any time of the year depending on where you are going. The most popular seasons are spring (February-May) and autumn (September-November). Winter is very cold above 4,000m and high mountain passes may be snowbound but it is good for trekking at lower altitudes. During the monsoon season (June-August), you can trek in the rain-shadow areas north of the Himalaya like Mustang, Upper Manang and Dolpo. these places are out of reach of the rain clouds because of the high mountains and are unaffected by the monsoon.
Precautions
You trek to enjoy the scenery on the trail, not to get to a destination in a hurry. The main precaution to be taken while trekking is not to go up too high to fast. The body should be given plenty of time to acclimatize. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) refers to the effects of the thin air at high altitudes which can be very dangerous and may even result in death. If you get initial symptoms like nausea, dizziness, swelling in the face and breathlessness, descend to a lower elevation immediately and seek medical help. Comprehensive travel insurance is advised to over emergencies like helicopter rescue and medical treatment in case of accidents on the trail.

Where to Trek?
The entire length and breadth of the kingdom is a paradise for trekkers. There are easy walks lasting a few days and there are strenuous expeditions that take several weeks. All of them have great scenery. Here are few:

Annapurana: The most popular trekking route in Nepal takes you through some of the most stunning scenery on earth. You will be walking through rhododendron forests over the foothills of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges and through the Kali Gandaki Gorge, the deepest in the world. Treks to the Annapura region start from the lake-side resort town of Pokhra. (Maximum Elevation covered on the trek is 3939 m.)
Everest: The highest mountain in the world continues to lure adventures are ever. A hair-raising flight lands you at the airstrip of Lukal (2850 m) from where you begin walking to the famous Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar and on to Tengboche monastery with the mesmerizing peak of Ama Dablam hovering in the sky. Then it's over the glacier to the foot of Everest for the view of a lifetime. (Maximum elevation 5546 m.)
Langtang: The third most popular trekking region in the Kingdom lies directly to the north of Kathmandu. The gosaikund lakes situated here are a much-revered Hindu pilgrimage site. Langtang offers baffling extremes in topography and climate conditions. In just one day you can traverse five different vegetation zones trekking from the subtripics to timberline. (Maximum elevation 4480 m.)
Remote areas: For those who want to get off the beaten track, there is the trail to Mustang (Maximum elevation 5400 m.) north of the Annapurna range which offers mind-boggling landscapes and mystical cultures. Manaslu in west-central Nepal (Maximum elevation 523 m) offers a diverse range of pristine eco-systems. Makalu in the eastern part of the country (Maximum elevation 5350 m.) takes you through isolated valleys and high mountain passes to the base of the fifth highest peak on the earth. Dolpo in northwest Nepal (maximum elevation 4,500 m) captivates visitors with its Phoksundo Lake and unparalleled scenery.

Trekking Permits
All visitors require a trekking permit to visit Nepal's interior regions not connected by major roads. Trekking permits are available from the Department of Immigration in Kathmandu or Pokhra. Two photographs are required with the application. If your are trekking in more than one region, separate trekking permits are necessary for each region.

National Park Fees
You need to pay a park fee to enter a National Park or Wildlife Reserve. The fee is payable at the park entrance. Trekkers going to the Annapurna Region have to pay a fee of Rs. 1000 (Rs. 100 for SAARC nationals). The toll is utilized for environment conservation and maintenance of the area.