Thursday, August 16, 2012

Travel to Nepal


Nepal is named for the Kathmandu Valley, where the nation's founder established a capital in the late eighteenth century. Nepali culture represents a fusion of Indo-Aryan and Tibet-Mongolian influences, the result of a long history of migration, conquest, and trade. Nepal is a roughly rectangular country with an area of 381,200 square kilometers. Nepal is home to the Himalayan Mountains, including Mount Everest. From the summit of Everest, the topography plunges to just above sea level at the Gangetic Plain on the southern border. This drop divides the country into three horizontal zones: the high mountains, the lush central hills, and the flat, arid Terai region in the south. Fast-moving, snow-fed rivers cut through the hills and mountains from north to south, carving deep valleys and steep ridges.

Nepal attributing an angelic beauty is situated between two large countries called china in north and India in three sides. The population density of Nepal is 154 people in per sq.km but the valley and the plains are densely populated. Nepal is a agro based country. Eighty percent of the people of Nepal are depend upon the agriculture .Although the people of various social group, various religions, they really practice "unity in diversity". The follower of one religion respects the follower of another religion. Most of the people of the Nepal follow the Hindu religion and rest of the people follow the religion like Muslim, Christian, and Buddha etc.

Nepal is popular for the angelic beauties, unique wonders and gifts in the world, although it is a land locked country. It is famous for river lakes and mountain. Tourist comes here for relaxation in their holiday. The highest mountain peak Mount Everest in the world, fascinates many foreign tourist every day. Nepal is rich in water resources it is the second richest country in water in the world. Many rivers flow from the mountain and it passes through the terai. Many brooks and stream serves the people in many ways. They are advantageous for irrigation, transportation, rafting and so on.

Nepal seems to be beautiful because of the green forest, National parks and wild-life reserves preserve many wild animals .Many tourist come here to watch them. Nepal is a developing country .About 50%of the Nepalese people are literate .Many school and colleges have been running all over the country .Due to high percent of poverty Nepal many children do not go to school. Nepali people respect each other. They are co-operative. The culture has many symbols from Hindu and Buddhist sources. Auspicious signs, including the ancient Hindu swastika and Shiva's trident, decorate buses, trucks, and walls. Other significant symbols are the emblems (tree, plow, and sun) used to designate political parties.

A typical Nepalese meal is dal-bhat-tarkari. Dal is a spicy lentil soup, served over bhat (boiled rice), served with tarkari (curried vegetables) together with achar (pickles) or chutni (spicy condiment made from fresh ingredients).. The Newar community, however, has its own unique cuisine. It consists of non-vegetarian as well as vegetarian items served with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Mustard oil is the cooking medium and a host of spices, such as cumin, coriander, black peppers, sesame seeds, turmeric, garlic, ginger, methi (fenugreek), bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon, pepper, chilies, mustard seeds, etc., are used in the cooking.

Most houses in rural lowland of Nepal are made up of a tight bamboo framework and walls of a mud and cow-dung mix. These dwellings remain cool in summer and retain warmth in winter. Houses in the hills are usually made of unbaked bricks with thatch or tile roofing. At high elevations construction changes to stone masonry and slate may be used on roofs. Nepal's flag is the only national flag in the world that is non-quadrilateral in shape, and one of only two non-rectangular flags in use . According to its official description, the red in the flag stands for victory in war or courage, and is also color of the rhododendron, the national flower of Nepal. Red also stands for aggression. The flag's blue border signifies peace. The curved moon on the flag is a symbol of the peaceful and calm nature of Nepalese, while the sun represents the aggressiveness of Nepalese warriors.

The Newar dances can be broadly classified into masked dances and non-masked dances. The most representative of Newari dances is Lakhey dance. Almost all the settlements of Newaris organise Lakhey dance at least once a year, mostly in the Goonlaa month. So, they are called Goonlaa Lakhey. However, the most famous Lakhey dance is the Majipa Lakhey dance; it is performed by the Ranjitkars of Kathmandu and the celeberation continues for the entire week that contains the full moon of Yenlaa month. The Lakhey are considered to be the saviors of children.

Monday, July 02, 2012

Travel to Bhutan from India


Bhutan (The Land of Thunder Dragon) is no ordinary place. Bhutan is one of the world’s most unusual countries. It is the only country which has been independent throughout its history, never conquered, occupied, or governed by an outside power. The kingdom of Bhutan lies to the north east of India and is situated between west Bengal on the south, Tibet on north, Sikkim on the west and Arunachal Pradesh on the east. It has very high mountains, fertile valleys and thick forest forests. This is a country where buying cigarettes is illegal.
Indians do not require a visa to enter Bhutan. A permit is required to enter Bhutan and can be obtained from the border of Bhutan. They require you to present either an Election voter ID card, Driving license or passport. Indians carry at least eight passport photos and eight photocopies of ID card. And after receiving your permit you can go through public transport bus for the very rough and bumpy something around 148 km road to pheuntsholing. On the way you will pass the Jaldapara wildlife sanctuary and various tea and bamboo plantations. And after crossing a huge wooden arch which separates the border and after entering in to Bhutan you will fill Bhutan like as a magical fantasy land.
In Bhutan the walls of the hotels cheerfully paints with various signs and symbols related Buddhism and Bhutan including the auspicious and friendly Bhutanese dragons. Bhutanese affiliation for color is event in the multi-colored walls and roofs of building and monasteries. In Bhutan the women wear ‘Kira’ a long overlapping, tight cloak up to the ankle, with a wide sash fastened at the shoulder by a silver broach. The languages spoken are Dzonkha, Hindi and some speaks very good English. Education and medication are free and hospitals are well maintained and it is advisable to carry your personal medication. The ancient capital of Bhutan is the Punakha and located at a height of 5,000 ft. There are many attractive places to visit like as a Bumthang, Jakar, Paro, Punakha, and Thimphu etc. Paro is colder than Thimphu and it is a very beautiful place with the hotel consisting of small cottages located at Satsum Chortled, overlooking famous Tiger Top Monastery. The beautiful flowers and birds the winding Paro River, the green rice fields and the entire area surrounded by fog-covered mountains makes it a paradise on the earth. The Drukgyel Dzong which is situated in Paro and it is a monastery to commemorate the victory of the Bhutanese over the Tibetans. From the Dzong you can see mount Chomolhari’s peak, the highest in Bhutan (24,000 ft.) and a gateway to Tibet. Chillela pass is located 33km away at the height of 11,964 ft. The Chillela pass divides Paro village and Haa village, from where can go to Tibet on foot. There is a bus till Haa but a separate permit is required. The Paro Museum is open on all days. It contains several photos of the Bhutanese kings and their dynasties, a huge collection of Bhutanese stamps, majestic `thankas', hats, swords, dresses, silver and copper vessels. And many more happens and attractions to see in Bhutan. Here you can observe how the country is seeking to merge new practices within its rich traditions. Although knowledge of prehistoric Bhutan has yet to emerge through archaeological study, stone tools and weapons, remnants of large stone structures, and megaliths that may have been used for boundary markers

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Travel to Bhutan

Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon, is no ordinary place. It is without doubt one of the world`s most unusual countries. It is a land wrapped in myth and legend. The kingdom of Bhutan lies in the eastern Himalayas bordered north by China and on all other sides by India. It has very high mountains, fertile valleys and thick forest forests. The country is mostly made up of mountains covered in lush green forests, towering over valleys that are home to rice fields and rivers. Traditional Bhutanese houses are sparsely distributed throughout the country and there are a few small cities. Bhutan is a land of awesome mountains – some of the highest in the world – thick-forested valleys and imposing dzong, monastery fortifications often perched up on cliff sides. It is a place where landscapes are dotted with blue poppies, snow leopards and innumerable banners of bright flapping prayer flags.
Bhutan takes its Buddhism seriously. The religion pervades all levels of life, resulting in peaceful temples, red-robed monks scurrying along the streets, a mind-blowing number of deities and legends, and a widespread belief in practicing kindness and loving to all sentient beings – what could be better than that? Bhutan, for years closed off from the rest of the world, seems like a little slice of Himalayan heaven. Here, traffic lights do not exist, strict conservation laws mean trees still cover almost 75% of the country, and productivity is measured in Gross National Happiness.
This is a country where buying cigarettes is illegal, where the rice is red and where chilies are not just a seasoning but the entire dish. It is also a deeply Buddhist land, where men wear a tunic to work, where giant protective penises are painted on the walls of most houses. Tourism in Bhutan is also unique. Visitors famously have to pay a minimum of US$200 per day, making it one of the world’s most expensive countries to visit, but this fee is all-inclusive, you do not have to travel in a group and you can arrange your own itinerary. A short and relatively gentle tour, providing an overall impression of the land, the people and the history of the last independent Buddhist Kingdom, One of the most remarkable aspects of the country is in its overall degree of separation from the outer world. During this brief stay you will witness many of Bhutan’s defining characteristics and fascinating contrasts. It is both immensely refreshing and stimulating to find oneself in a situation so different from the familiar.
The trip covers the highlights of western Bhutan: Paro, Thimphu and Punakha. Paro is one of the holiest and most fertile places in the country. The lower valley of Punakha possesses an immense historical significance. As you hike through the surrounding countryside, visiting temples and passing through traditional village settlements, it is clear that both maintain the overall ambiance and tranquility of earlier times. Thimphu is Bhutan’s capital city and the hub of modern influence. Here you can observe how the country is seeking to merge new practices within its rich traditions.