http://www.nepal.com/blog/ en 2013-06-07T03:52:14-05:00 hourly 6 2013-06-07T03:52:14-05:00 http://www.nepal.com/blog/visit-the-top-attractions-of-bharatpur 2013-06-07T03:52:14-05:00 en Editor Travel Considered to be one of the fastest growing cities in Nepal, Bharatpur has a number of interesting attractions, many of which relate to the ancient history and multifaceted culture of this thriving center. Located on the banks of the Narayani River, Bharatpur also has a number of natural attractions, including the spectacular Chitwan National Park and Bish Hazari Lake, renowned worldwide as a prime birding destination. As one of the biggest and deepest rivers of Nepal, the Narayani River has a number of small islands which are popular as picnic spots. Religious landmarks of Bharatpur include the Ganeshthan Temple, Harihar Temple, Pashupatinath Temple and Rameshowr Temple. http://www.nepal.com/blog/circus-kathmandu-a-circus-with-a-difference 2013-05-24T04:44:34-05:00 en Editor Features Using the Nepali word for "dreams" or "aspirations" as its name, Sapana Social Circus Project offers marginalized children and youths the opportunity to develop performing skills in a safe and supportive environment. The need for such an organization came about when private organizations fighting against human trafficking rescued a number of Nepali children from circuses in India where they had been forced to perform after being kidnapped or sold into slavery. Although these children had been taught skills to entertain audiences, they lacked many basic rights, such as education, proper nutrition and a nurturing environment. Today, through the hard work and dedication of volunteers who care about them, these children are learning to use their skills to develop a positive and rewarding career. http://www.nepal.com/blog/watch-the-sunrise-from-the-top-of-poon-hill 2013-05-10T05:02:14-05:00 en Editor Travel Home to eight of the world’s ten tallest mountains, Nepal is well known internationally as the ultimate mountaineering destination. Moreover, its spectacular scenery and network of trekking trails makes Nepal a popular trekking destination, and no matter what your level of experience you are sure to find a trekking route to suit your needs. The Ghorepani/Poon Hill route is a good option for beginners as it is considered to be relatively easy, but still takes trekkers into some remote and incredibly scenic areas below the Annapurna Mountains, with the distinctive Fish Tail Peak (Machhapuchhare) on the skyline. The route travels through isolated Gurung and Magar villages and spectacular rhododendron forests alive with the sound of birds. http://www.nepal.com/blog/tattoo-art-in-kathmandu 2013-04-26T02:42:31-05:00 en Editor Features Kathmandu is once again the host city for the International Nepal Tattoo Convention – a gathering of more than seventy tattoo artists from around the world who will compete under a number of categories to be judged Best of the Day and Best of the Show. Taking place on 26-28 April 2013, this will be the third edition of the International Nepal Tattoo Convention, and based on the success of previous events, organizers are confident the event will be even better than before. http://www.nepal.com/blog/herbs-and-aromatic-plants-of-nepal 2013-04-12T02:08:30-05:00 en Editor Features The varied landscapes, altitudes and weather patterns in Nepal support a wide range of indigenous herbs and aromatic plants which have been used for their therapeutic properties for centuries among local people. With a growing interest worldwide in alternatives to conventional medicine, the demand for herbal remedies continues to grow, and this presents rural communities in Nepal with the opportunity to earn a living from growing herbs and aromatic plants. http://www.nepal.com/blog/migratory-birds-visit-nepal 2013-03-29T02:13:46-05:00 en Editor Features As Nepal heads into its summer months, birding enthusiasts will no doubt be on the lookout for migratory species that travel to the country to breed. Up to thirty-four species visit Nepal each year, with Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve being among the favored spots for birds to spend the summer, joining the more than 860 bird species that are permanent residents in the country. As a Ramsar site, Koshi Tappu offers wetland habitat for waterfowl, while Chitwan is renowned for its abundance of forest-loving birds. Some birds migrate to escape the cold conditions of their native habitats, while others visit Nepal in search of abundant food supplies and to escape competition for resources in their country of origin. http://www.nepal.com/blog/celebrating-the-festival-of-yeny-in-kathmandu 2013-03-15T02:31:59-05:00 en Editor Features Taking place in Kathmandu in September each year, with the dates determined by the lunar calendar, the religious festival of Yenyā is Kathmandu's largest religious street festival and incorporates colorful and vibrant celebrations, including the rituals of Indra Jātrā and Kumāri Jātrā. Taking place over a full week, Yenyā offers an opportunity for visitors to Kathmandu to experience ancient traditions and rituals first-hand. http://www.nepal.com/blog/record-setting-mount-everest-ascent 2013-03-01T01:39:04-06:00 en Editor News Ever since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa successfully summited Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, more than 3,100 climbers have also conquered the world's highest mountain, while an estimated 220 have died trying. Certainly it is a daunting task, only undertaken by the most intrepid adventurers, which makes the achievement of Chhurim Sherpa all the more remarkable. On May 12, 2012, the 29-year-old Nepali reached the 8,848-meter peak, returned to the base camp to rest, and then summited the formidable mountain a second time just a week later – becoming the first woman to conquer Mount Everest twice in one season. http://www.nepal.com/blog/everest-ultra-nepal-s-high-altitude-extreme-marathon 2013-02-15T01:24:05-06:00 en Editor Features Set to take place on March 30, 2013, the Everest Ultra is a non-stop marathon race between Gorak Shep and Lukla in Nepal. Put together by Jan Turner and Ramesh Bhattachan, the Everest Ultra first took place on April 10, 2010, with fifteen runners participating. The challenging 65 km course covers a range of terrain on trekking paths, including ice, rock and glacial moraines, trekking paths, crossing hanging bridges, river beds and rural farmland and winding its way through forests, starting at a height of around 18,000 feet at Gorak Shep, dropping down to 8,497 feet and climbing back to 9,380 feet before finishing at Lukla, in what many extreme marathon enthusiasts would agree is one of the most spectacular races on the planet. http://www.nepal.com/blog/apa-sherpa-foundation-raising-funds-for-education 2013-02-01T01:42:38-06:00 en Editor News Located on the ancient salt trading route between Tibet and Nepal, the village of Thame in Khumbu was the childhood home of Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, who made history with Sir Edmund Hillary when they reached the summit of Mount Everest on 29 May 1953, becoming the first climbers confirmed to have achieved this amazing feat. Thame is also the home of Apa Sherpa, who is the world record-holder for summiting Mount Everest, which he has done 21 times.