Nepal Starter Tour (4 days / 3 nights)

DAY 01 : Kathmandu
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport and get transferred to a hotel.

DAY 02 : Kathmandu – Nagarkot
After breakfast proceed for city tour of Kathmandu visiting Pashupatinath and Boudhanath. Pashupatinath Temple is situated 5 km east of Kathmandu, the temple of Lord Shiva, Pathupatinath with two tierd golden roof and silver doors is considered one of the holiest shrines of Hindus. The stupa of Boudhanath lies 8kms east of Kathmandu. This ancient colossal stupa is one of the biggest in the world and the center of Buddhism in the world. It was listed in the UNESCO Heritage Monument in 1979. After lunch we drive to Nagarkot. Nagarkot is situated at 32 km east of Kathmandu and at an altitude of 2175 m above sea level, Nagarkot is a popular destination for the view of sunrise and sunset and panoramic view of Himalayas including Mount Everest.

DAY 03 : Nagarkot – Kathmandu
Wake up call early in the morning to enjoy the beautiful sunrise view from your room or from the terrace. After breakfast, we have some free time to enjoy panoramic view of Himalayas and short trek. We have lunch and then drive back to visit the ancient city of Patan Durbar Square, Tibetan Refugee Camp and Handicraft Industrial Estate. Patan City is an enchanting melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyard and former palace complex. One remarkable monument here is a 16th century temple dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Krishna, built entirely of stone.

DAY 04 : Kathmandu
After breakfast proceed for city tour of Kathmandu visiting Durbar Square, complex of palaces, courtyard and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, use to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. In the afternoon visit the Swoyambunath Stupa and Patan City. Swoyambhunath Stupa, atop the hillock is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal enlisted in the World Heritage Site. Free time at Kathmandu until transfer to the airport for departure.
Discover Best of Nepal (5 days / 4 nights)

DAY 1- Kathmandu
Arrive Kathmandu. Meet and Transfer to Hotel Afternoon Sightseeing Tour of Swayambunth & Kathmandu Durbar Square. Swayambunath is one of the world’s most glorious Buddhist Chaitya. It is said to be 2000 years old. Painted on the foursides of the spdire bases are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It is three kilometeres west of Kathmandu city and is situated on a hillock about 77 m. above the level of the Kathmandu Valley. Kahmandu Durbar Square is the historic seat of ty. The Durbar Square, with its old temples and places, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. It is here that Kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations solemnized. Interesting things to seek here are; Taleju Temple built by King Mahendra Malla in 1549 A.D., Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction, Nautalle Durbar, Coronation Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the statue of King Pratap Malla, the Big Bell, Drum and the Jagannath Temple.

DAY 02 : Kathmandu, Patan & Nagarkot
After breakfast Tour of Chovar Gorge & Patan Durbar Square. Chovar is situated nine kilometers South-west Kathmandu. This place is famous for its gorge. All the water of the valley drain through it. There is a small but picturesque temple of Adinath on the top of a hill. From this top one can have a panoramic view of snow capped mountain peaks. In Patan Durbar Square, most prominent place to see is Krishna Mandir which was built in the seventeenth century. This temple holds a commanding position in the palace complex of Patan. It is supposed to be the first specimen of Shikara style architecture in Nepal. It is the only temple in Nepal having 21 spires and is completely made of stone. Golden Temple and Durbar Square are some important places to see. Transfer to Nagakot for Sunset view over Himalayas. Nagarkot is situated at 32 km east of Kathmandu and at an altitude of 2175 m above sea level, Nagarkot is a popular destination for the view of sunrise and sunset and panoramic view of Himalayas including Mount Everest.
DAY 03 : Nagarkot / Pokhara
Wake up early morning to catch the sunrise over the Himalayan range. Breakfast at Hotel & drive to Pokhara (lunch en route) On the way visit to visit Manakamana Temple by cable Car. Manokamana is believed to be a temple of goddess who fulfill the wishes.
DAY 04 : Pokhara / Kathmandu
Wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Annupurna range. After breakfast at hotel boatride on Phewa lake and city tour. The Pokhara Valley one of the most picturesque spot of Nepal, is enchanted by its lovely lakes Phewa, Begnas and Rupa. Situated 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu, Pokhara is connected by air as well or by road from Kathmandu. Situated at an altitude of 827 meter from the sea-level, Pokhara offers the magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhre, five peaks of Annapurna and others. Pokhara’s numerous lake, known as ‘Tal’ in Nepali offer fishing, boating and swimming. Lunch at hotel. Transfer to Pokhara airport to fly back to Kathmandu.

DAY 05 : Kathmandu and fly back
Morning tour of Pashupatinath and Boudhanath. Pashupatinathi is situated five kilometers east of Kathmandu and it is the temple of lord Shiva-Pashupatinath with two tiered golden roof and silver doors which is famous for its superb architecture. Boudhanath lies about 6 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the Valley. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. Bouddhanath, a World Heritage Site, is also known as Khast. There are more than 45 Buddhist monasteries in the area. Transfer to Tribhuvan International airport for flight.

Kathmandu – Chitwan – Pokhara (7 days / 8 nights)

DAY 01 : Kathmandu
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport and get transferred to a hotel.

DAY 02 : Kathmandu
After breakfast proceed for city tour of Kathmandu visiting Durbar Square, complex of palaces, courtyard and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries use to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. In the afternoon visit the Swoyambunath Stupa and Patan City. Swoyambhunath Stupa, atop the hillock is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal enlisted in the World Heritage Site. Patan City is an enchanting melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyard and former palace complex. One remarkable monument here is a 16th century temple dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Krishna, built entirely of stone.

DAY 03 : Kathmandu – Chitwan
After breakfast drive to Chitwan and check in upon arrival. Lunch will be served at the resort/lodge. In the afternoon proceed for a tour to Tharu Village and witness the Tharu Cultural Performance.

DAY 04 : Chitwan
After breakfast, your adventure holiday starts off with canoeing in the Rapti River where you can see Gharial and then, a visit to the Elephant breeding centre. After Lunch proceed to the jungle for a guided safari on Elephant where you are free to see animals such as rhino, antelope and other wildlife as you move through the jungle.

DAY 05 : Chitwan – Pokhara
After breakfast take a quick tour of Birdwatching after which we drive to Pokhara. Pokhara is a place of remarkable natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the Fishtail Peak rising behind it create an ambiance of peace and tranquility. Pokhara is a perfect place to see the panoramic view of Himalayan region including Annapurna and Dhaulagiri.

DAY 06 : Pokhara
After breakfast, proceed for a half-day sightseeing tour of Pokhara City and 1 hour boating at Lake Phewa. Free at leisure for the remainder of the day. (BLD)

DAY 07 : Pokhara – Kathmandu
Free time at Kathmandu after arriving from Pokhara

DAY 08 : Kathmandu
Free for adequate personal activities till departure transfer from hotel to the International Airport.
Kathmandu – Chitwan – Nagarkot

DAY 01 : Kathmandu
Arrive at Kathmandu International Airport and get transferred to a hotel.

DAY 02 : Kathmandu
After breakfast proceed for city tour of Kathmandu visiting Durbar Square, complex of palaces, courtyard and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, use to be the seat of the ancient Malla kings of Kathmandu. In the afternoon visit the Swoyambunath Stupa and Patan City. Swoyambhunath Stupa, atop the hillock is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal enlisted in the World Heritage Site. Patan City is an enchanting melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyard and former palace complex. One remarkable monument here is a 16th century temple dedicated to the Hindu God Lord Krishna, built entirely of stone.

DAY 03: Kathmandu – Chitwan
After breakfast drive to Chitwan and check in upon arrival. Lunch will be served at the resort/lodge. In the afternoon proceed for a tour to Tharu Village and witness the Tharu Cultural Performance.

DAY 04 : Chitwan
After breakfast, your adventure holiday starts off with canoeing in the Rapti River where you can see Gharial and then, a visit to the Elephant breeding centre. After Lunch proceed to the jungle for a guided safari on Elephant where you are free to see animals such as rhino, antelope and other wildlife as you move through the jungle.

DAY 05 : Chitwan – Nagarkot
After breakfast take a quick tour of Birdwatching after which we drive to Nagarkot. Nagarkot is situated at 32 km east of Kathmandu and at an altitude of 2175 m above sea level, Nagarkot is a popular destination for the view of sunrise and sunset and panoramic view of Himalayas including Mount Everest.

DAY 06 : Nagarkot – Kathmandu
Wake up call early in the morning to enjoy the beautiful sunrise view from your room or from the terrace. After breakfast, we have some free time to enjoy panoramic view of Himalayas and short trek. We have lunch and then drive back to visit the ancient city of Patan Durbar square, Tibetan Refugee Camp and Handicraft Industrial Estate.

DAY 07 : Kathmandu
Free time at Kathmandu until transfer to the airport for departure.

For many their journey to Nepal would not be complete without a glimpse of the highest mountain on Earth.   For some it will be enough to view Everest from the Kathmandu valley rim on a clear day, it is also possible to sit in the comfort of a plane seat for the experience. Others however settle only for a more intimate meeting with the last earthly rung on the stairway to the heavens. Everest area is the most popular trekking region in Nepal.

The Everest Region is within Sagamartha National Park established in 1976 it lies some 120 kms North East of Kathmandu and covers an area of 1,148 sq. kms of the Himalayan ecological zone U.N.E.S.C.O. listed the Park as a World Heritage Site in 1979. The park includes the upper catchments areas of the Dudh Kosi and Bhote Kosi Rivers. The park is largely composed of rugged terrain and deep gorges within an elevation of 2845m at Monju to the top of the world, Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) at 8,848m above sea level. Other peaks above 6,000m are Lhotse, Cho-Oyu, Thamserku, Nuptse, Amadablam, and Pumori.

The vegetation at lower levels is dominated by silver fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper trees, at around 4500m the forest gives way to Juniper and rhododendron scrub. The park contains a variety of mammals, Himalayan thar, musk deer, the Himalayan red panda and the Himalayan black bear are all native to the park.

The famed Sherpa people, whose lives are interwoven with the teachings of Buddhism, live in the region. The renowned Tengboche and other monasteries are common gathering places to celebrate religious festivals such as Dumje and Mane Rumdu. In addition to Tengboche, Thame, Khumjung and Pangboche are some other famous monasteries.

The trek from Namche to Kala Pathar is very popular. The Gokyo Lake and Chukung valleys also provide spectacular views. The Thame Valley is popular for Sherpa culture while Phortse is famous for wildlife viewing. There are some high passes worth crossing over. However, the trekkers must have a guide and proper equipment for the trek.

Your Itinerary At a Glance

Day 01:  Transfer to airport for Kathmandu / Lukla flight. Arrive Lukla and start trek to Phakding. (From Kathmandu 45 minute to fly for Lukla (2886m), trek to Phakding (2640m) approx 3 hrs walk.

Day 02:  Trek Phakding / Namche Bazaar (3440 m.) approx 5 hrs walk.

Day 03:  Rest at Namche Bazaar or walk before breakfast to army camp to enjoy view of Mt. Everest from distance. Back to Namche for breakfast. Afternoon, it is good to go Syangboche or walk down to Khumjung Village for lunch. After having nice lunch back to Namche for rest. This best way to enjoy with your rest day.

Day 04:  Trek Namche Bazaar / Tyangboche (3867 m.) approx. 4 hrs walk

Day 05: Trek Tyangboche / Pheriche (4243m) approx. 5 hrs walk

Day 06:  Trek Pheriche / Lobuche (4930 m.) approx 5 hrs walk

Day 07: Trek Lobuche / Everest Base Camp / Gorak Shep approx 8 hrs walk

Day 08: Trek Gorak Shep / Kalapather (5545 m.) / Lobuche (4930 m.) approx 6 hrs walk.

Day 09: Trek Lobuche / Dingboche (4260 m.) approx 4 hrs walk.

Day 10: Trek Dingboche / Phortse approx 6 hrs walk.

Day 11: Trek Phortse / Namche approx 6 hrs walk.

Day 12: Trek Namche / Phakding approx 4 hrs walk

Day 13: Trek Phakding / Lukla. approx 4 hrs walk.

Day 14: Fly back to Kathmandu. Arrive Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel

This is sample itinerary and can changed to meet the changes in the field conditions.

Contact for best and reasonable price for this trek.

Nepal and specially the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the eastern tarai is a bird watcher’s paradise. Nepal boasts of more than 850 species of birds, and a surprisingly large number of these birds can be spotted in the Kathmandu valley alone. The hills around the valley especially Nagarjun, Godavari and Phulchowki are popular birding areas and the Tauda lake on the way to Dakshinkali is fabulous for watching migratory water fowl during the winter months. In the higher Himalayan regions are found the raptors and birds of prey of which there are numerous species. The various national parks like Chitwan and Bardia harbor a wide variety of birds. But Koshi Tappu has better sightings of an incredible variety of both resident and migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia. Nepal’s national bird is the Daphe or the Impeyen Pheasant which is found in the Himalayan region. Bird watching trips are organized by most resorts and are accompanied by experienced naturalists.

Butterfly watching

Butterflies are beautiful colorful creatures and they have been studied in Nepal for over 150 years. In the early days of the Raj, the British residents and their subordinates took considerable interest in butterflies and managed to collect quite a number of species which they meticulously studied and catalogued.  After 1950, it was the Japanese who took particular interest in collecting butterfly species through scientific expeditions. This later resulted in the establishment by Tribhuvan University of the Natural History Museum at Swoyambhu in 1974. According to official records, Nepal has 651 species of butterflies which is 3.72% of the world’s butterflies.

Favored by Kathmandu valley’s mild day time temperatures which hovers around 18ºC in mid-winter, there are butterflies all year round. The best seasons for butterfly watching are late March/April, mid May/mid June and late August/September. The forested areas in the valley are still remarkable places for butterflies, and they include open country near Chobar gorge and there is very little activity except for the very common Oriental Species. With the distribution of butterflies in Nepal being quite specific, about 10% of the butterflies are Palaearctic species found at above 3,000 m, and about 90% Oriental species are found around Swoyambhu, the base of the hills and forest streams at Godavari, Nagarjun, Budanilkantha and Sundarijal. The forested hilltops of Phulchowki, Jamachowk and Shivapuri, and the open scrubby bush areas of Nagarkot, Suryavinayak and Chandragiri are good areas for butterfly watching.

Thamel is a popular tourist destination in Kathmandu, Nepal. Thamel has been the center of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over two decades, growing up between two of the original hotels, the Kathmandu Guesthouse and Hotel Utse. Even though Thamel has been referred to as the “ghetto” by some, most low-budget travelers consider it a tourist haven.

Its concentration of narrow streets are lined with small shops selling everything from food and provisions to clothes, walking gear, cakes, pastries, music, DVDs (mostly pirated), handicrafts, travel agents and budget hotels.

The area has some very good restaurants. Although prices tend to be significantly higher than non-tourist areas, food hygiene is generally a lot better too.

Ason Bazaar, Durbar Square, Samakushi and Swayambhunath are a mere 10 to 30 minutes walk from Thamel. Thamel has a vibrant ethnic culture practised by its core population of the Newar people.

Hashish sellers openly approach people in the streets, whispering invitations to buy as they pass you. In recent years, a number of adult shows/bars have appeared, which has made Thamel more seedy.

Thamel also acts as the pre-base camp for mountaineers. It boasts a wide range of mountaineering gear shops, foreign money exchange booths, pubs, clubs and nightlife along with the numerous travel lodges and guest houses. Gang crimes and teenage violence-crazed incidents take place quite often in some regions of greater Thamel. All in all, Thamel is home to a wide range of audience of the nepalese population for entertainment and employment purposes.

Pashmina

Shawls and scarfs made of pashmina, the Nepali equivalent of cashmere, are the cheapest at Indrachowk. Topi, the caps that Nepali men wear in much the same way Westerners wear ties, are sold around Ason Tol. You will find sari material around Indrachowk.

• Thangka and other fine art
• Books
• Music

And more much Gift shopping around thamel and outside thamel.

Contact: aniroula@hotmail.com

Trekking Guide Forum

Trekking in Everest Region

The best time to visit Nepal

Climate
Nepal’s climate varies with its topography and altitude. It ranges from the tropical to the arctic. The low-land Terai region with its maximum altitude to approximately 305m, which lies in the tropical southern part of the country, for instance, has a hot and humid climate that can rise above 45 Degree Celsius (113 Degree Fahrenheit) during summer. The mid-land regions are pleasant almost all the year round, although winter nights are cool. The northern mountain region, around an altitude above 3,300m has an alpine climate with considerably lower temperature in winter as can be expected.

seasons
Nepal has four climatic seasons.

Spring (between March – May): The temperature is mildly warm in low lands while moderate in higher altitudes with plenty of opportunities to have tryst with the mountain views. It is also the time for flowers to blossom and the national flower of Nepal – rhododendron sweeps the ascending altitudes with its magnanimous color and beauty.

Summer (between June – August): This is also the monsoon season in Nepal. The weather is hot and wet at times. It rains almost everyday with occasional thunderstorms in the evening. The rain spreads the pleasantness around with lush green vegetation.

Autumn (between September – November): This is the best tourist season in Nepal with the summer gone by and the winter to set in. The weather is highly pleasant so are the mountain views. This is the peak season for trekking as mountain views are guaranteed so better book your flight in advance. This is also the season of festivities as Nepal celebrates the biggest Hindu festivals Dashain followed by Tihar.

Winter (between December – February): The weather is cool and the sky is clear with occasional snowfalls at higher elevations. This season is good for trekking in lower elevations. The morning and night is cold and the days are warm when sunny.

Temperature & rainfall
Nepal is the country of extremes. The low-land plains of the Terai can have tropical temperatures and also the mosquitoes. The Himalayas can get to sub-zero temperatures, but the sun blaze can bring some warmth during the day, even in the mountains. The temperature of Kathmandu goes below 1 Degree Celsius (34 Degree Fahrenheit) in winter and rises to an average of 25 Degree Celsius (77 Degree Fahrenheit) in summer.

The average temperature in Kathmandu during the four seasons:

* Spring season ranges between 16-23 Degree Celsius (61-73 Degree Fahrenheit)
* Summer season ranges between 23-25 Degree Celsius (73-77 Degree Fahrenheit)
* Autumn season ranges between 15-24 Degree Celsius (59-75 Degree Fahrenheit)
* Winter season ranges between 4-12 Degree Celsius (48-54 Degree Fahrenheit)

During the rainy monsoon season between June to August, it rains to an average between 200-375 millimeters in Kathmandu. There is occasional rainfall during the other seasons too. In an average, 1300 millimeters of rain falls in Kathmandu every year.

Travel Tips: Monsoon in Nepal is not the typical monsoon of Asia. Rains usually occur during the night-time leaving the sky clean and clear by the morning making the Himalayan view even more dramatic. Some parts of the Himalayas in Manang, Mustang and Dolpo are in rain-shadow areas; the mountains are high enough to block the clouds. Tibet’s high travel season also corresponds to Nepal’s monsoon.

Trekking in Nepal Contact

Child from Nepal

Brahmans

The Brahmans (or Bahuns in Nepali) are the traditional Hindu priest caste and speak Nepali as their first language. They are distributed throughout the country in both the Terai and Middle Hills and traditionally plaster their houses with red earth. Many Brahmans are influential business-people, landowners, moneylenders and government workers. They are extremely conscious of the concept of ritual pollution or ‘Jutho’, of their home and food. They do not let others to enter into their kitchen. Brahmans traditionally do not drink alcohol.

Chhetris

The other major Hindu group is the Chhetri caste. In villages Chhetris are farmars, but they are the warrior caste. They are known for being outstanding soldiers, and a large part of the Nepal

Army is made up of chhetries. Thakuris are group of Chhetris descended from the Rajputs in India and have the highestsocial, political and ritual status among Hindus. The Chhetri caste includes the Ranas; the herediary kings of Nepal, the Shahs and Thakuris.

Magars

The Magars originate in the Western and Central areas of Nepal, though are found in scattered communities throughout the county. Traditionally hill farmers inhabiting the lower slopes, they are also known for their fighting abilities and many have been recruited into Gurkha regiment of the British and Indian armies. It is thought to be a strong cultural bond between Magars and Gurungs. They may be either Hindu or Buddhist faith. Hindu Magars practice the same religion as the Brahmans and Chhetris and employ Brahmans as priests. Magars women often wear necklaces of Indian silver coins. Magars constitute the largest ethnic group in the country and one will encounter them on most treks in Nepal. They are often integrated into villages dominated by other groups.

Gurungs

The Gurungs also originates from the Central and Western parts of Nepal though have tended to inhabit higher areas adopting a lifestyle of sedentary agriculture and nomadic pastoralism. Like the Magars, Gurungs have also been well represented in Gurkha regiments. They are predominantly Buddhist, though small Hindu and Shamanist communities exist. In recent years, many Gurungs have become involved in the hotel business, especially in the Pokhara region. Many Gurung men still wear the traditional short blouse tied across the front and the short skirt of white cotton material, or often a towel, wrapped around their waist and held by a wide belt. In the trek to Ghandruk area near the Annapurna sanctuary, Gurungs men fashion a backpack out of piece of coarse cotton looped across the shoulders.

Tamangs

Ta-Mang literally means ‘Horse Soldier’. Tamang legend says they migrated to Nepal at the time of Genghis Khan as cavalry troops. Although they are primarly hill people, many Tamangs have moved to Kathmandu, where they are employed as weavers of Tibetan rugs and as painters of high-quality ‘Thankas’.

The Tamangs are found around the Kathmandu valley and in Central and Eastern Nepal. Mainly Buddhist, they form a significant proportion of the porters in these regions, but many are also engaged in agriculture as small holders and day labour. The Tamang language originates from the Tibeto-Burmese family. Tamangs speak a Tibeto-Burman language among them and believe they originally come from Tibet. Tamang women wear gold decorations in their noses and the men traditionally wear a ‘Bokkhu’ (sleeveless wollen jacket). The rough black and white blankets, called ‘Rari’ that can be seen in homes in the hills and in shops in Kathmandu is a Tamang speciality.

Thakalis

The Thakalis originate from the Kali Gandaki Gorge and like many Nepali groups, have been subject to both Hindu and Buddhist influences. Adept entrepreneurs, they have cashed in on the trekking boom and have established little hotels all along the Annapurna Circuit and have also extended their influence to other parts of the country. Before Nepal was opened up to tourism, their economy was dominated by subsistence farming and, in the Kali Gandaki area, by salt trading. Despite their history of trade with Tibet, the Thakalis are not of Tibetan ancestry. Theyare related to Tamangs, Gurungs and Magars.

Newars

The Newars are of Mongolian origin and are the dominant ethnic group of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding central areas of Nepal. Despite their geographical origins, the majority are now Shaivite Hindus following received Hindu customs, although communities of Newari Buddhist do remain. They represent perhaps the gretest synchronism of the Tibetan and Indian traditions of any of Nepal’s ethnic groups and also incorporate aspects of animism. The newari language has been influenced by both Tebito- Burmese and Indo-European families. Tradionnaly Nepal’s leading traders, Newars once organized trains of baskets carrying porters over the trans-Himalayan passes to Tibet. They are also remarkable crafts-men and developed the unique building style that successfully blends influences from India, China and Tibet, with craved wood beams and pagoda-like temple roofs.

Kirantis

The Kirantis are comprised of Rais and Limbus and are the oldest known peoples of Nepal. They live in the eastern hills of Nepal, the Rais being concentrated in the Solu Khumbu, Dudh Kosi and Arun Valley regions, while the Limbus are east of Arun Valley, in the Kanchenjunga region and also extend into northen parts of West Bengal in India. Both groups have supplied recruits to Gurkha regiments and reference is made to their fighting spirit in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Of Mongoloid features, both have Tibeto-Burmese languages. The religion of the Limbus incorporates elements of Buddhism and Shamanism, while that of the RAis is more influenced by Hinduism.

Sunuwars and Jirals

Sunuwars is one of the dominant groups in the region east of Kathmandu, particularly in the villages of Ramechap, Charikot and Okaldhunga. The Sunuwars women wear gold ornaments in their nose and ears and the men often join the Nepal Army. They live in whitewashed stone houses with black window frames. They worship their own gods, but often employ Brahmans as priests. Of the trek from Jiri to Everest the Sunwars can be seen.

Jirels are small in number and are found in the area around and to the east of Jiri, the place that gives the Jirels their name. Their religion is significantly influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, but has distinct practices and deities.

Bhotia

The Bhotia live in the northern parts of Bhutan, Sikkim, Nepal and along the Indo-Tibetan border in Garhwal, Kumaon and Himachal Pradesh. They are Mongoloid people who gradually moved off the Tibetan Plateau. Tibetan Buddism plays an important part in shaping Bhotia society. The monastery is at the centre of the social environment, and the prayer flags, prayers wheels and chortens are a vital part of daily life.

Other Bhotia groups combine the same activity as the sherpas: subsistence agriculture, animal husbandry and trade, the last two complementing the firest because the altitude at which they live only permits one cropping season per year. The crops grown are wheat, barley, buckwheat and potatoes. The livestock includes sheep, goats and yaks (Bos Grummans).

Yaks provide many essentials of daily life, the cows producing one litre of rich milk daily. Reflecting how little most ethnic groups moved from their native soil, the suffix pa, as in Lopa, means ‘people of’.

Ethnic Tibetans

Several thousands Tibetans fled their homeland as a result of the Chinese take-over. Most are now resident in and around the Kathmandu and Pokhara Valleys. But some have remained in Bhotia country where they have highly successful in integrating with local populations, especially through intermirrage.

Limipas

The Limipas are small group living in the Limi valley in the Northwest of Nepal.

Dolpopas

With a population of no more than a couple of thousand, Dolpopas live in remote areas North of Jomsom and Muktinath. A hard working people, they are nomadic pastoralists, traders and weavers.

Lopas

The people of Lo live in the fabled and once forbidden region of Lo Manthang, the capital of the high and arid region of Mustang, once an independent estate. Of Tibetan ethnicity, they follow Tibetan Buddhism and number about six thousand. They compete with the Thakalis for trade in salt and wool, and keep yaks, donkeys, mules and herds of sheep. They have close ties with Tibet and travel extensively on horseback. The region was once ruled by the Lo Gyelbu, or Raja of Mustang, but since 1952 his position has been honorary. He was the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Nepal Army.

Baragaunle

The name Baragaunle means ’12 village people’. The Baragaunle are also ethnically Tibetan and live in the Muktinath at the upper Kali-Gandaki valley and follow a form of Lamaistic Buddhism that also incorporates elements of animism.

Manangis

Known also as Manangapa or Nyeshang, this group live in the Manang region and along the northern stretches of the Marshyangdi River. They are perhaps the wealthiest of any Bhotia Groups thanks to a still extant 18th century decree by Rana Bahadur Shah, the third king of Shah Dynasty, which gave them trading privileges with Tibet and which has today been adapted to the trade of luxury items, some of which find their way to Kathmandu.

The trade network of the Manang people extends throughout South-East Asia and as far away as Korea. It is not uncommon to see large groups of Manangis jetting to Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong. Manangis call themselves Nye-shang, but many Manang people adopt the surname Gurung on passports and travel documents, even although they are more closely related to Tibetans than Gurungs.

Sherpas

Sherpas, the most famous ethnic groups in Nepal, live in the Solu Khumbu region of glacial valleys at the Southern approaches to Everest. Their name tells of their origin (Sha – east, Pa – people) and has come to be almost synonymous with the great peak that dominates the country. They migrated from Tibet around 6 hundreds ago.

Earlier they were traders and porters, carrying butter, meat, rice, sugar, paper and dye from India, and salt, wool, jewellery, Chinese silk and porcelain from Tibet and beyond. The closure of the border following the 1962 border war between India and China undermined their economy. Fortunately, with the arrival of mountaineering expeditions and trekkers, the Sherpas found their load carrying skills, both on normal treks and in high altitudes, in great demand.

Sherpas now are well recognized trek guide and most of them are engaged to the travel and trekking field.

The Khumbu region has provided a valuable contingent of able bodied, hardy and seemingly fearless Sherpa porters and Guides. Over 80 years they have built up a mountaineering reputation as the elite of Himalayan porters.

Early expeditions took Sherpas from Darjeeling to climb in far-flung places in the Himalaya. They were often reffered to as ‘Tigers’, but they were rearly accorded the recognition of their full worth. Sherpa Tenzing, the well-known Sherpa guide for his involvement with the first western expedition to reach the summit of Everest, received an award for bravery.

Rais

Like Tamangs and Sherpas, Rais speak a Tibeto-Burman language of their own and have a very unusual culture. They practice an indigenous animistic religion that is neither Buddhist nor Hindu, although a fair amount of Hindu influence is evident. Rais have characteristic of Mongoloid features.

Some Rai villages are extremely large and boost 200-300 households. Typically, villages are spread out over the hillside with trails leading in every direction. Finding the right route in these villages is always a challenge. Rais are skilled in using bamboo for a number of purposes, including the construction of houses, baskets, fances and water pipes.

Rai people are very independent and individualistic. More than Two Hundred Thousands or so Rais in the Eastern hills of Nepal speak at least 15 different languages, which, although seemingly closely related and are mutually unintelligible. When Rais of different areas meet they must converse in Nepali.

Rais (along with Limbus, Magars and Gurungs) are one of the ethnic groups that supply a large proportion of the recruits for the Gurkha regiments of the British and Indian armies.

An unusual sight, to western eyes, in regions of Rai influence is the ‘Dhami’-a shaman who is a diviner, spirit medium and medicine man. Occasionally one will see Dhamis in the villages, but more often one will encounter them in the remote trails, dressed in elegant regalia and headdresses of the pheasant feathers. The rhythemic sound of the drums that a Dhami continually beats while walking, echoes throughout the hills.

Most Rais live between the Dudh Koshi and Arun rivers. One will meet them on treks to Everest, Makulu and between Solu Khumbu and Hile.

Limbus

The Rais and Limbus are known collectively as Kirati- the earliest known population of Nepal’s Eastern hills where they have lived for at least 2000 years. Early Hindu Epics such as the ‘Mahabharat’ refer to the waelike Kirantis of the eastern Himalaya. From the 7th century CE (the common Era or AD), the Arun valley was the site of fierce fighting between Tibetan and Assamese war lords.

Many Limbus have adopted Subba as their surname and many men serve either in Gurkha regiments or in the Nepal Army. Limbus are the inventors of ‘Tongba’, a tasty, but very potent, millet beer that is sipped through a bamboo straw. Their religion is a mixture of Buddhism and Shamanism and they have their own ‘Dhamis’. Most Limbu people live in the region east of the Arun River. One will be in Limbu country during a trek to Kanchanjunga.

Musalman (Muslims)

Nepal’s Muslim population is known as Musalman. They live in the Kathmandu Valley, the Eastern Terai and throughout the the western hills. They migrated to Nepal from India, predominantly from Kashmir and Ladakh. Musalman are tradionally traders and dominate Kathmandu’s trade in handicrafts, souvenirs, shoes, bengals and other cosmetics related business.

Tharus

The largest and probably the oldest group in the Terai is the Tharu. Now mostly peasant farmers, the Tharus once lived in small settlements of single-storey thatched long houses within the jungles, which gained them a reputation for being immune to malaria. They have their own tribal religion based on Hinduism. Tharu women have a special dignity and play an important role in Tharu society. Though Tharus live in most of the terai region, one will meet them mainly in Biratnagar, Nepalgunj and around Chitwan National Park.

Dhanwar, Majhi and Darai

These three related groups live along the river valleys of the Terai and are among the poorest and least educated of Nepal’s ethnic groups. The Majhi people traditionally live by fishing and operate dugout canoe ferries throughout the country.

Other Groups

The Satar, Dhangar, Koche, Rajbansi, and tajpuria are other Terai Groups. One is not likely to meet these people on a trekking trail.

1922: Seven Sherpa climbers died in an avalanche becoming the first reported deaths on Mt. Everest.

1953: First Summit on May 29, 1953 by Mr. Tenzing Norgay of Nepal & Sir Edmund Percival Hillary of New Zealand via the South-East Ridge Route. (Lhotse face is to the South-East Ridge).

1965: Mr. Nawang Gombu Sherpa on May 20, 1965 became the first person to summit Everest twice. Both of his summits were via the South East Ridge, his first as a member of Mr. Jim Whittaker’s American Expedition where he became the 11th person to summit Everest. Out of the first seventeen summits of Everest, Nawang had two of them.

1975: Ms. Junko Tabei of Japan on May 16, 1975 became the first woman to reach the summit via the South-East Ridge.

1978: First Ascent without bottled oxygen by Mr. Peter Habeler of Austria and Reinhold Messner of Italy on May 8, 1978 via the South-East Ridge

1980: First Winter ascent by Mr. Krzyszt Wielicki of Poland on February 17, 1980.

1988: First ascent by woman without oxygen Ms. Lydia Bradey of New Zealand on October 14, 1988.

1990: First married couple to summit together by Mr. Andrej & Mrs. Marija Stremfelj of Slovenia on October 7, 1990. Marija was also the first Slovenian women to summit Everest.

1990: First father and son to summit together by Mr. Jean Noel Roche and his son Roche Bertrand aka Zebulon. They flew together on a tandem paraglider from the south Col. They landed at base camp on the October 7, 1990. Roche Bertrand was 17 years old at that time and became the youngest person to ever climb Everest.

1992: First two brothers to reach the summit together: Mr. Alberto and Mr. Felix Inurrategui on September 25, 1992.

1993: The first Nepalese woman, Pasang Lhamu Sherpa, summits Everest but died descending from the Summit on April 23, 1993.

1998: Mr. Thomas Whittaker of U.S.A. is the first handicap (one leg artificial) to climb Mt. Sagarmatha.

1999: Mr. Babu Chiri Sherpa of Nepal became the first and only climber to sleep on the summit. Babu spent over 21 hours on the summit of Mt. Everest without oxyzen. He established the fastest record of 16 hrs 56 min. to reach the top on May 21, 2000. He has been successfull to summit Mt. Sagarmatha 10 times.

2000: Miss Lhakpa Sherpa of Nepal is the second Nepalese women to successfully summit Mt. Sagarmatha on May 18, 2000

2000: First Ski descent by Davo Karnicar.

2001: Mr. Temba Chiring Sherpa (16 yrs.) of Nepal, is the first youngest mountaineers to successfully climb Mt. Sagarmatha from north side on May 23, 2001.

2001: Mr. Erik Weihenmayer of USA became the first ever blind person to summit Mt. Everest on May 25, 2001.

2002: Miss Pemba Doma Sherpa is the third Nepalese woman to successfully climb Mt. Everest from both sides. She first climbed Mt. Everest from north side and bacame the first Nepali women to climb from North side on May 29, 2000 and from south side on May 16, 2002.

2003: Mr. Lakpa Gelu Sherpa of Nepal successfully holds the world record of fastest climbing on the top of world on May 26, 2003 for only 10 Hours 56 minutes and 46 seconds.

2003: Mr. Ang Chhiring Sherpa correspondent of Kantipur Daily from Nepal successfully climbed Mt. Sagarmatha on May 22, 2003. He is the first Nepalese journalist to climb the top of the World.

2003: Mr. Lakpa Gelu Sherpa, Mr. Da Nuru Sherpa and Mr. Jangbu Sherpa, three brothers scaled Mt. Everest on May 26, 2003 on same day.

2004: Mr. Pemba Dorjee Sherpa of Nepal successfully summit Mt. Sagarmatha by setting a new world record of fastest climbing. He completed the distance from Sagarmatha Base Camp to the summit in 8 hours and 10 minutes on May 21, 2004.

2005: Ms. Moni Mulepati, (24 Yrs) and Mr. Pem Dorjee (23 Yrs) of Nepal scaled Mt. Everest together and got married on top of the world.

2005: Mr. Appa Sherpa, (45 yrs) of Nepal successfully climbed Mt. Sagarmatha 16 times.