A Short Stay in Kathmandu
Many people, especially expats with families living in Hong Kong, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Bangkok to name a few find themselves with a short period of holiday time and no idea where to spend it. The thriving Himalayan city of Kathmandu is a short flight form most of these cities and is an affordable, exciting and culturally rich holiday awaiting you in Kathmandu.
Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and the central tourist hub that acts as the gateway to the mighty Himalaya. If you don’t know what to do and where to go you could easily waste your precious time in the tourist traps, being hassled by touts and wasting money on expensive non-local arranged sightseeing tours. Kathmandu has a charm hidden underneath all the “tourist tinsel” and the best way to find it is by going local. Though doing it rough and ready is not ideal for most people travelling with young families, a little bit of preplanning and a good balance of organised and do it yourself touring can give you an amazing holiday in Kathmandu. And getting around is much easier than you think.
Hook up with a local tour operator and book yourself on a three day jungle safari in Chitwan. It’s a good chance to get out of the city, see the country/jungle side and best of all the kids will absolutely love bathing the elephants, riding them and playing with baby elephants at the breeding centre. Interaction with these gentle giants will be a highlight talked about by them for years to come. Best of all at the standard price of US$80 per person for three days all inclusive of meals, accommodation, transport and jungle activities, it’s a bargain….don’t forget to ask for a discount for younger kids!
Return to Kathmandu and get yourself to Nagarkot, one of the premier hill stations, here you will find a hotel for any budget and taste, there is plenty to offer and getting there is a synch, book a taxi or take the daily tourist bus which departs from Thamel at 7 am everyday in tourist season and on demand out of season. The big attraction to Nagarkot is what everyone comes to Nepal to see, the Mountains. From this hilltop town, views can be seen right from Annapurna in the west all the way down to Kanchengjunga in the east. If you are lucky a guide or one of the hotel staff will be able to point out the distant peak of Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world. Everest is seen most clearly at sunrise. The best time of year to see impressive views of the mountains is from September through to February. If you are heading up on a Saturday, pre booking a hotel is advised as the locals love this place too.
After an overnight stay in Nagarkot you can return by vehicle to Kathmandu, or if you have an active family, take the time to trek down through the hillside Tamang Villages to Changunayaran, the oldest and one of the loveliest temples in the whole of Kathmandu Valley. With an entry fee of just 70 rupees per person, it is certainly worth a visit. From here, it is easy to arrange a taxi down to Bhaktapur, the ancient walled city. I recommend staying a night here, make the most of the US$10 entry fee and spend a good amount of time exploring the cobbled lane ways of Bhaktapur, which at one time was a kingdom in its own rights! Tucked away behind the main square, you can find Potters Square which is where the locals still make by hand all forms of pottery for everyday and temple usage. Bhaktapur offers several quaint guesthouses to spend the night and have a hot meal. If you feel the need to explore the city at a great depth, local guides can be hired from any guest house or at the main gate.
Back in Kathmandu, be original and instead of joining up for the stock standard day tour of the big three, Pashupati, Durbar Square and Boulda, hail a local rickshaw or two and pile your family in for some fun exploring the back lanes, hidden temples and thriving local markets of old Kathmandu, ending your ride in Basantapur making sure you take some time to explore Durbar Square and the old royal palace. Get your driver to show you the best place to taste Chai, Nepal’s famous sweet spiced milk tea. You should expect to pay your driver about 100 rupees per hour and if you are lucky to have a chatty one you will learn more about life and time in Kathmandu than you would from your average tour guide who just resites facts and figures learned from Lonely Planet!
So there you have it, you may have overlooked Nepal as a holiday destination for a short trip, thinking that you had to spend weeks on end travelling and trekking, it’s not true, there is plenty on offer in and just around the Kathmandu Valley to make an affordable, rewarding and culturally rich holiday for your family in the kingdom of the Himalayas!
Have fun planning your holiday and enjoy what’s right on your doorstep.
For more information about holidays in Nepal and getting around Kathmandu, check out D’Tours Original, a local tour operator more than happy to cater to your needs.
http://www.dtoursoriginal.com
Generally I love life, love travelling and love sharing my experiences with people form all over the world. Adventure and Local culture are my passions. Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/a-short-stay-in-kathmandu-1754630.html
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