What is Nepal famous for?

In Nepal episode of the most extraordinary things across the globe series, we have invited our fellow blogger Zheng Yen Ang of “Wandering Journal.” What is Nepal famous for? This is his fantastic response!

Nepal is one of the most lesser-known destinations for backpackers and travelers. Despite having tourism as one of their main economies, many foreigners still see Nepal as a trekking paradise. In fact, Nepal is really traveler-friendly and has something for every type of traveler. And so, our topic for the day would be what is Nepal famous for. 

In short, I’d say that many things in Nepal gave me culture shocks and amazed me during my Nepal backpacking trip. It’s definitely more than just the culture and the people. Interested to know more? Continue to read on!

Famous things about Nepal

The Nepalese People Are Incredibly Nice

Yes, despite Nepal being one of the poorest countries in the world, I personally find that Nepalese people are surprisingly helpful and friendly. I once asked a stranger about the location of the nearest bus station, and he took us to the station and taught us how to take the public bus. 

During my two months traveling in Kathmandu, I spent a lot of time dining in local restaurants and buying snacks at roadside stalls. And I never had a single bad impression of the staff. They were so helpful even though some of them didn’t speak a lot of English. 

If you’re traveling in Nepal, don’t hesitate to ask random strangers if you have questions. Pretty sure they’re willing to help. 

I also find that most Nepalese do speak good English. I understand that it’s being taught in the schools, but it seems like they applied the knowledge quite well too! 

What is Nepal famous for?
Nepalese People In Kathmandu Durbar Square | photo from Wandering Journal

Buddha Was Born in Nepal

Yep, you read that correctly. 

You’re probably wondering, “Why was Buddha born in Nepal when Buddhism originated in India?”

It is true that Buddhism originated in India and has since then spread throughout the whole country and to other nations like China, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, etc. 

However, Buddha was born in Lumbini, which is located in the Terai Region of Nepal, near the border between India and Nepal. It all traced back to 563 BCE when Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama, who we know as Buddha. 

This small town is now one of the hot spots for tourism in Nepal, although it still receives fewer tourists than Kathmandu and Pokhara. 

The electricity in the small town is inconsistent, and the weather is extremely humid and hot all year-round. But if you’re looking for a place to meditate, this is the place you’d want to consider.

Famous things of Nepal
Buddhist Stupa Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal | photo from Wandering Journal

The Otherworldly Landscapes in Nepal

You probably know that the world’s tallest mountain, Mt Everest, is in Nepal’s Himalayas Mountains Ranges. But that’s not all, Nepal is home to numerous great mountain peaks and offers some of the best trekking trails in the world. 

The range of altitudes is also amazing in Nepal. In the Terai region, the altitude was less than 600m above sea level and therefore enjoyed a tropical climate. Kathmandu’s altitude is 1,400m above sea level, making the climate much colder and drier than the Terai region. Then there are the Himalayan mountain areas. 

Pokhara is located in the middle, around 800 meters above sea level. 

Well known things about Nepal
Annapurna Circuit Trek in Monsoon Season | photo from Wandering Journal

Let’s Talk about Mt Everest

Who doesn’t know about Mt Everest? The tallest mountain in the world, which only the strongest (and the richest, of course) dare dream of ascending. 

Also known as Sagarmatha in the local language, the mountain is seen as a holy mountain by the Nepalese and Tibetans in ancient times. 

The mountain peak remained a mystery until 1953 when Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary summited through the southeast ridge route. 

If you haven’t watched the movie yet, I highly recommend you watch Everest, a 2015 film based on the true story of the 1996 Mt Everest tragedy. 

And if the idea of summiting Mt Everest crossed your mind, note that the expenses are extremely expensive. Expensive enough to buy you a house in some countries. 

If you want to catch a glimpse of this legendary mountain, Nagarkot is a great place to be. You can make it a day trip from Kathmandu. 

The Unique National Flag of Nepal

Did you know that Nepal is the ONLY country in the world that does not have a rectangular national flag? 

The national flag of Nepal is made up of two triangular pennant flags. And the idea did not change despite the whole world having a rectangular flag shape. 

The crimson background color and the dark blue border of the flag are popular colors in Nepalese art and decorations. 

In the upper part of the flag, there is a white moon with eight rays lying on a crescent. And in the bottom part, you’ll see a white sun with twelve rays. 

The two symbols are associated with the dynasties of the sovereign kingdom and express the hope of the country to have the same longevity as the sun and moon. 

The History of Nepal

Although a large part of the centuries-long history in Nepal faded away unrecorded, many historical structures are still standing strong these days. The earthquake in 2015 destroyed some of them, but most are still there. 

If you’re visiting Kathmandu, then you must visit all three Durbar Squares – Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares. The downside is that the structures have no information boards for the backstory. To make up for this, I’d recommend buying yourself a guidebook so that you can read about the stories behind every structure. 

Great Biodiversity in Nepal

Due to the varying altitudes in Nepal, biodiversity is also thriving in this particular landlocked country. Nepal is ranked 25th for biodiversity richness in the world and 11th in Asia. The small country is home to 3.2% of the world’s flora and 1.1% of the world’s fauna. 

The Terai region has national parks like Chitwan National Park, home to countless safari animals. There are elephants, tigers, and many animals you would only expect to see in Africa. 

Whereas in the Himalayas mountains, there are snow leopards, yaks, Himalayan tahrs, and more. 

Facts about Nepal
Black Goat in Godavari Botanical Garden in Kathmandu, Nepal | photo from Wandering Journal

The Foods in Nepal

One of the many things that kept me craving to return to Nepal for traveling was the food. Dal bhat is the national staple of Nepal, and the average Nepalese have it twice a day. The same went for me when I was volunteering in Nepal. 

Nepal’s long-grain rice is much better than Malaysia’s (no offense!). 

Besides the rice, I particularly enjoy Thukpa, a Tibetan dish imported into Nepal centuries ago when the Tibetan monks migrated to Nepal. Every restaurant has a different recipe for their Thukpa, and I certainly enjoy visiting every restaurant to try out this dish of their own. 

And Momos! The adorable dumplings that you can find all around Nepal.

The best thing about the foods in Nepal is that they don’t really use artificial seasonings in their dishes, which is definitely healthier for consumers.

Best things about Nepal
Nepalese Food Dal Bhat National Staple dish | photo from Wandering-Journal

The UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Nepal

Nepal has one of the world’s highest concentrations of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There are 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu alone – the three Durbar squares I mentioned earlier, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambunath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, and Changu Narayan. 

Each of these is close to the other, and you can visit them all in one day. But I wouldn’t recommend so, because it’s much better to take your time to absorb the history and backstories of the sites. 

Some of the sites above offer guided tours, like Pashupatinath Temple, which I highly recommend so that you understand more than just what you see. 

Interesting things about Nepal
Kathmandu Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal | photo from Wandering-Journal

The Gurkha Warriors

Do you know that Nepal has never been colonized throughout history? This is largely due to the great Gurkha warriors which have been protecting Nepal for centuries. 

Gurkhas, also known as Gorkhas, are soldiers native to the Indian subcontinent of Nepalese nationalities and Nepalese of Indian nationalities. They are closely associated with the iconic khukuri knife, which is now a symbol of courage and bravery. 

Now, many travelers and tourists purchase khukuri knives as souvenirs. And there are a lot of shops selling them in Thamel, Kathmandu.

The Chaotic Traffic in Kathmandu

Now, this might not be as positive as you might anticipate, but I personally think that the traffic in Kathmandu is one of the aspects that made it unique. 

During my three months in Nepal, I noticed that one of the biggest differences between Pokhara and Kathmandu is the presence of traffic lights. Yep, there is not a single functioning traffic light in Kathmandu. 

Some traffic lights were on busier roads, but none were functioning and were covered in dust. This may cause intense traffic jams during peak hours in Kathmandu. 

And also, there is no single-direction road in Kathmandu. That’s crazy if you think about it since Kathmandu is one of the densest cities in South Asia. 

The Harmony of Religions in Nepal

In most places in this modern world, you see people fighting each other, waving their “religion flag.” But in Nepal, you find peace between the religions instead of arguments. 

Most Nepalese people believe in Hinduism and Buddhism. And some of them are Hindu and Buddhist, which means they celebrate the festivals of both religions and embrace their beliefs. 

And that’s why in Nepal, every festival is such a major celebration and an attraction not to be missed. 

Famous things about Nepal
Boudhanath Largest Buddhist Stupa Temple in Kathmandu Nepal

The Multi-Ethnicity in Nepal

With more than 120 ethnic groups of 28 million people, Nepal has one of the most diverse ethnicities in the world. And so, there are literally hundreds of dialects spoken by the people in this small country. 

The main communicating language is still Nepali, which is understood throughout the country. The linguistic heritage evolved from 3 major language groups: Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burman, and various indigenous language isolates. 

Differentiating the ethnicity in Nepal proved impossible for me, but seeing how peaceful and united the people of different ethnicities live there felt great. 

Wrapping It Up

Here you go for today’s topic on what Nepal is famous for. I hope you find this article interesting and intriguing and that it will somehow inspire you to travel to Nepal soon. Nepal is still one of my favorite countries to travel to because of the reasons mentioned above and how cheap and easy it is to roam around the country. If you’re planning a trip to Asia, trust me, you don’t want to miss Nepal from your itinerary!

Yen is a Malaysian travel enthusiast who prefers to travel solo, or with someone, he’s really close with. He opts to travel for an extended period in a particular destination to embrace and learn and share the cultural differences, along with the travel tips and guides in this travel blog, Wandering Journal.

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