People travel for many different reasons. Vacationing is probably the most common. Yet we also travel because of work, scientific research, to visit family, to get away from it all and to relocate. Vacations are the most fun. You go for the pleasure of seeing new places, eating different foods and seeing sights that are not available locally. When on "holiday," tastes vary. I know a friend who likes to visit Paris, London, Rome and other modern cities for the shopping. Another person I know likes to be "one with nature" and looks for pristine, unadulterated bucolic settings where he can hike, climb rocks or go bird-watching. I prefer nature, history, marvels of engineering (the pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the temples of Nepal, the Coliseum in Rome and places like the Parthenon) and food. After searching far and wide, I have come to the conclusion that Nepal can boast of all these and more.
As far as nature is concerned, Nepal is a nonpareil. It is second to none in its grandeur and beauty with its majestic, world-famous Himalayan range and other idyllic spots which are still virgin and untouched. All you have to do is stand anywhere in Kathmandu, the capital city, and see the grandiose sight of the world's tallest peaks glistening in white reaching up to the sky. Or you can go on a hike to the non-distant hills (in Nepal, anything below 17,00 feet is a hill) and peer out into the distance and see more hills, mountains and valleys. The mist-covered pinnacles make for picturesque post-cards. And breathing the crisp mountain air is a luxury that is free yet priceless. You can never have enough time to vacation in a Shangri-La like this.
Nepal's place in history is secure as one of the two countries the British could not conquer. After gaining control of India, the Brits tried their best to subdue the Nepali people. Not only did they meet resistance from the natives but also had to contain with the rugged terrain which was not overly friendly to the Redcoats. The soldiers could not march up in columns or single-file because they had to climb sheer cliffs and the preponderance of rocks and nettles all over the hills. They did give up finally after these futile attempts and instead offered an olive branch of friendship.
Nepal also happens to be the only official Hindu country in the world. Though most people in the world equate Hinduism with India, it is practiced with more fervor in Nepal. After all, India has the second largest Muslim population in the world as well as a large contingent of Christians. Nepal teems with temples. You cannot go far in any city without encountering a pagoda temple or place of worship which are always occupied. Many of these temples are more than a few hundred years old with some over 1500 years old. And the architecture is magnificent - all the carvings, drawings and eroticism displayed on the pillars are unmatched. Tourists are sometimes shocked to see eroticism and sexual acts displayed on temple beams. You have to remember that the Kama Sutra is a basic part of our culture. As for the longevity of these structures, people don't realize that unlike the pyramids which are mostly rock and sand, temples are mainly wood. For wood to survive in all types of weather for so long must give pause to those who make pressure-treated lumber which still needs maintaining every few years. S0 is the technology of today (bridges, skyscrapers) really better than the old days? The temples with their majestic roofs, pillars and doorways have survived so long without giving way to age and weight. Could it be that God does indeed live there?
When you consider that in Nepal you can experience peace and tranquility, the grandeur of nature and history with architectural splendor, what more could you want? Nepal is still relatively cheap and is a place where you do get your money's worth. And don't forget Nepali cuisine. Though neighboring India and China, its cuisine is dissimilar. Yes, there are influences of Indian cooking and some Chinese flavors but what is consumed by the Nepali is quite unique. Maseura, titaura, gundruk, sinki and jaulo are a few dishes you cannot get elsewhere. There is a special fruit which I have not been able to find elsewhere in the world - not even in India. It's a sour fruit which grows on trees that tower over fifty feet and is good for making achaar. Maybe some botanists (plat biologists they are called these days, I think) can go to Nepal and identify this fruit. So go, go to Nepal and enjoy. Just don't go there for shopping unless it is for handmade goods, carpets or religious artifacts.
