Unforgettable Adventures: The Best Holiday Trip I’ve Ever Had in Nepal
22 Oct 2024 Chandra Gurung
If you ask me if there is heaven on Earth, I feel like I’m qualified to answer that. I have visited many countries and trust me all of them are beautiful in their way but nothing, I repeat, nothing comes close to Nepal.
I have only visited this tiny country once and thank God I did as it showed me such a place even exists. Before visiting Nepal, I had a notion that I would be surrounded by mountains only because that is what most of the internet shows you.
While that was not false, Nepal is so much more. Along with the mountains, I ended up falling in love with the culture, people, food, and history, and I never wanted to leave. And I have promised myself a couple more trips to this amazing nation because the first time was not enough.
My journey to Kathmandu and Pokhara was deeply cultural and adventurous. Meanwhile, the Manaslu Trek felt like a dream, all thanks to my travel agency, Manaslu Guide who made sure my trek was safe and fun.
Bear with me because I will tell you about the best holiday trip I’ve ever had while in Nepal. If you are planning a trip to Nepal, it might help as I am going to put out an honest experience.
Places that I visited in Nepal
The trip was initially planned by my two friends and I came later. But they cancelled due to some reasons and I was the only one left with the plan. But I decided to give it a try anyway and I’m glad I did. I had to make the most of this trip since I only had 12 days. But I am glad I utilized them in a great way.
1. Kathmandu
I had heard a lot about Kathmandu from people who had traveled here before. But experiencing this city’s liveliness and culture in person was something else. The first thing that I loved instantly about this place was the weather.
I had once visited India in June and the heat was unbearable. Being a neighbouring country, I was expecting the summers in Nepal to be the same but I was shocked. Even the summers were mild and the weather was perfect with clear blue skies.
I took a taxi to get to my hotel. The driver was fluent in English and very kind. We had a little fun chat till I got to my hotel. He even suggested what food I should try and what places I must visit in the city.
I had heard a lot about momo, a staple food in Nepal so I decided to give it a try. The dumpling with meat fillings inside tasted wonderful and I loved the tangy dip as well. The first place I visited was the Kathmandu Durbar Square which I was told used to be a royal palace.
The intricate details of the buildings, structures, and temples, around Durbar Square show how intelligent and creative Nepali ancestors were. I did not have a guide but a local nearby was kind enough to give me a little history of the place.
As I was confused about how to spend the evening, the hotel staff told me that the Swayambhunath temple would be nice. I wasn’t aware of the stairs but I had fun. I had to be careful of the monkeys though. One even tried to snatch my phone while I was filming them.
I enjoyed the whole view of the city from the top and the lights made the whole city twinkle like fireflies. And I called it a night with an authentic Nepali dish, dal-bhat.
The morning, I visited the Pashupatinath temple and was amazed by the carvings of the temples which are god knows how many centuries old. The atmosphere felt so spiritual with the smell of the burning incense and the sound of the temple bells. A priest informed me that people perform cremation ceremonies on the banks of the river Bagmati.
There were many sages (sadhus) with their entire body covered in ashes, smoking cannabis. Their matted hair was something else. One even put a red tika on my forehead.
I tried Nepali breakfast sel and tea with chickpea curry and took a flight to Pokhara right after that.
2. Pokhara
After such a great time in the capital, I was wondering what Pokhara would offer. And I was not disappointed. The flight was merely half an hour but the whole aerial scene from above was such a treat to the eyes.
Pokhara was nothing like Kathmandu in many ways. The city was more naturally stunning with the view of the stunning Annapurna Himalayan range adding beauty to this city. Also, this city is cleaner and less crowded than Kathmandu.
Because Pokhara is the starting point of the Annapurna treks, I saw many tourists here. I visited World Peace Pagoda which gave a beautiful view of the entire city, the mountains, and the lake. Also, the Mahendra Cave, Gupteshwor Cave, and Davis Falls were equally exciting.
It was a busy day, indeed. A tranquil boat ride in the Phewa lake made my evening relaxed. And the dawn of the next morning showed me the most beautiful sunrise of my life at Sarangkot. The golden sunrise on the majestic white mountains is a sight I will never forget.
3. Serang Gompa in Manaslu
I desperately wanted to make it to the Manaslu Base Camp but due to limited time, I had to cut it short. The most I could visit was the beautiful Serang Gompa in the region.
1. Pokhara to Soti Khola
I took a bus from the city to Soti Khola which was almost 6 hours long. At first, I was reluctant to think about how I would spend these long hours on a bus. But it was not at all boring as the views of Annapurna and Manaslu mountain regions kept entertaining me throughout the way.
2. Sotikhola to Machha khola
I started my trek officially through the Budhi Gandaki River and the trail took me up the hills. It was a beautiful morning and I was fortunate to have gotten a clear view of Manaslu.
I came by a natural hot spring (Tatopani) and decided to chill there for some time and my feet felt all warm and nice. It took me a total of seven hours to reach Machha Khola, a tiny Gurung village. I stayed in a guest house and the local food was outstanding.
3. Machha Khola to Jagat
One thing I realized this morning was that the view got better as I moved forward. As I made my way from Machha Khola to Jagat, I remember meeting some incredibly kind people who offered me some apples and refused to take money.
I thanked them and moved west of the Budhi Gandaki River where Tibetan Buddhism was prevalent. Studying the Chortens and Mani walls, I passed through some small settlements and finally reached Jagat. The walk was almost 7 hours. But that depends on how fast you can walk.
4. Jagat to Deng
Early morning, I left for Deng by crossing a suspension bridge over the river. My legs were hurting but I was enjoying the view to the fullest. As I moved upward to the Philim village, the river got narrower until it met Siyar Khola from Tsum Valley.
In the early afternoon, I reached Deng and was surprised to see that there were so many teahouses with great facilities. The weather was fantastic and hot tea and pakoras (salty fried potato and battered fritters) tasted so good.
5. Deng to Gyap
I had to reach Gyap by the evening. From Deng, I moved towards Kwak village. I wanted to stop for some snacks but could not find any shop or teahouse.
Thankfully I had carried some with me. For a few hours, it was just me, the trails, and the jungles. The peace that I felt while being there with no person in sight felt so good. And then I reached Gyap while the sun was just about to set.
6. Gyap to Serang Gompa
This was the toughest and the last day of my trek. I ate a heavy breakfast and packed some fruits and snacks for later. I was told earlier that there were no settlements between Kwak and Serang Gompa. But I was thrilled.
The trails were bumpy walking was not easy at all. On the way, I saw many rock caves and retreat caves and even got scared thinking some bears could be living there. But that did not happen, thankfully.
A tough trek through but as a reward I got a view of Sringi Himal and finally reached the Gompa which is the Nepali word for monastery.
Soon after the dinner, I fell asleep but the morning was so better. I freshened up and visited the monastery where I meditated with the nuns and monks. I also interacted with them to learn more about the history of the Gompa.
I gave myself some time to roam around the village and had a great time chatting and playing with the students at the Serang school which is of course run by the monastery.
I wanted to go further and explore the most remote parts of the Manaslu region but time did not allow me to do so. That hurt.
What was my trip to Nepal like?
Kathmandu and Pokhara were lovely but Manaslu stole my heart. The only regret I have is that I could not trek further to explore more important sites of Manaslu (but I know I will one day). The amount of peace and happiness that I found in the mountains and valleys was so pure. I often dream about that place and feel like the mountains are calling me again.
FAQs
1. Do you need to hire a guide in Nepal?
Ans: Not necessarily but if you do that’s great. Hiring a guide will allow you to learn so many things about a place. You will feel like you have a friend on this journey, especially if you’re traveling solo. Plus they are not very expensive here so why not?
2. Is Nepal the most beautiful?
Ans: I have travelled to a dozen of countries but nothing comes close to Nepal. I naturally felt a deep connection to this place and it is beyond why. The experience was magic and the country offered me so much in terms of religious and spiritual experience. The food was great and the people were kind.
