Nepal
Nepal is landlocked country situated north of India in the Himalayas. The Kingdom of Nepal traces its history to the 7th century with the arrival of Kirati sheepherders, deriving its name from a Hindu sage named Ne, a muni or rishi, who was charged by Pashupati (Shiva) to protect the land. According to legend, Queen Mayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, in Lumbini around 500 BC.

This small multiethnic, multilingual and multi-religious country offers misty temples and monasteries in tranquil hilly as well as flat countryscape is home to over 35 ethnic groups, each having its unique language, belief, festival, and art. Thanks to its geographic and cultural diversity, Nepal is rich in food. While influenced by its neighbors, India and China, Nepali cuisine still possess its unique dishes. And her terrain offers us from valleys and forested plains to home to eight of the 14 highest peaks in the world including the highest mountain, Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), 8848m. About half of the population speaks the official language Nepali, the rest use one of the more than 120 other Tibeto-Burman languages. Hinduism is the main religion (81%) and Buddhism (9%) is the secondary religion.

Considered to be the Amazon of Asia, Nepal is a perfect destination for wildlife including Royal Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, crocodiles, leopards, sloth bears, wild elephants, deer, monkeys as well as up to 544 species of birds.

Nepal offers a multitude of pleasures -

The Himalayas is the ultimate goal for mountain lovers and trekkers. Himalayan views, golden temples, charming hill villages and jungle wildlife watching to offer one of the world's great travel destinations. Some of the Himalaya’s most iconic and accessible hiking is on offer here, with rugged trails to Everest, the Annapurnas and beyond.

For the adrenaline junky, Nepal is home to the world's highest mountain (Mt. Everest) as well as the world's deepest gorge (Kali Gandaki Gorge), most desirable trekking, mountain biking, rock-climbing, white water rafting, snow skiing, bungee jumping into a yawning Himalayan gorge, sky diving, hot air ballooning, paragliding, etc.

For the more tame, there is a plethora of medieval cities & sacred sites. Stroll the medieval city squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Joining Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims on a spiritual stroll around centuries-old stupas and monasteries. Nepal is the cultural powerhouse of the Himalaya; the Kathmandu Valley in particular offers an unrivalled collection of world-class palaces, hidden backstreet shrines and sublime temple art.

And if you are seeking peace, Nepal is a perfect place for people seeking serenity. A tour here is a journey to inner peace, providing charming, laidback ambience that makes up all the comforts of developed nations. Prepared to be mesmerized by the tranquility of the countryside. Even a leisure walk around the neighborhood of Thamel in Kathmandu gives you respite. Unwind at the lake city Pokhara get pristine air, gaze at the serene lake, or admire the captivating snow peaks. Historically and religiously powerful temples include Boudha Stupa (Boudhanath) in the outskirts of Kathmandu is one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. Maya Devi Temple in Lumbini is where Lord Buddha was born. Swayambhunath is the ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. Pashupatinath Temple is a sacred Hindu temple complex located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu Valley.

Three ecological zones make up Nepal:
The lowland or Terai is the flat river plain of the Ganges with a belt of marshy grasslands, savannas, and forests, occupies 17 percent of the country's total land area.

The midland, or Lower Himalayan region accounts for 64 percent of total land area, which is formed by the Mahabharat range that soars up to 4877 m and the lower Churia range (Sivalik Hills).

The highland or the Himalayan region includes 8 of the highest 14 peaks in the world that exceed heights of 8000 meters, including Mount Everest.

In Nepal you will come across
Prayer flags where each color symbolizes Air, Fire, Water and Earth.
Prayer wheels where turning the prayer wheel is physically "turning the wheel of Dharma."
Eyes of the Buddha which have a distinctive shape, painted on all four sides of the tower of a Nepalese stupa, representing the all-seeing wisdom of the Buddha.
Kumari, a Living Goddess, a centuries-old institution of a female child deity in Nepal.
Masks which come in all types from simple ones for children and tourists to serious ones used in traditional rituals and dances.

The biggest problem you might face in Nepal is just how to fit everything in, which is one reason why many people return here over and over again.