Nepal: An Exotic Travel Destination

Nepal as a destination continues to attract tourists from all over the world. The 800-km stretch of the Nepal Himalaya with eight of the world’s highest peaks including Mt. Everest is the ultimate playground for mountaineers. Here's where dream and adventure meet, where determination reaps rich rewards. The beginning of the year 2001 saw many records being broken and set atop the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest. Erik Weihenmeyer from Colorado, the US, became the first blind climber to summit the world's highest mountain.

Similarly Sherman Bull, climber and physician from Connecticut, reached the summit becoming the oldest climber to step on the roof of the world. Not only did he become the oldest man but also set another record becoming the first father-son to climb Everest together. Lkapa Sherpa, the first Nepali woman to return alive from the Everest summit also scaled the mountain from the Tibetan side, becoming the first Nepali woman to summit it from both the sides. Temba Chhiri Sherpa of Nepal set the world record of the youngest climber to scale Mt. Everest at the age of 16 beating the world record held by Shambhu Tamang who had climbed Everest in 1973 at the tender age of 17.

This tiny Himalayan Kingdom offers an astonishing diversity of sightseeing attractions and adventure opportunities found nowhere else on earth. Tourism is a major foreign exchange earner for the country and engages a sizeable number of locals. Today, Nepal has emerged as a destination that prides itself on offering the discerning traveller and tourist the best of services, suiting a whole range of budget and offering multiple possibilities to explore this land.

From the tallest mountain peak in the world to the thickest jungle in South Asia, Nepal has never ceased to amaze all those who have seen or heard about it. This Himalayan Kingdom has been a cultural and religious crossroad for centuries where Hinduism and Buddhism not only flourished harmoniously, but also went on to create a unique hybrid culture. A sample of Nepal’s rich past and present can be savored in the Kathmandu Valley, which abounds in breathtaking architectural subtlety.

For Buddhists and students of Buddhism, Nepal has always been a cherished place. This was where, in 623 BC, Lord Gautam Buddha was born in Lumbini. It also finds a pride of place in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. On the nature and wildlife trail, there is perhaps no other country in Asia that can flaunt as much variety of flora and fauna - well housed as it is in nine national parks and three wildlife reserves.

Nepal is one of the safest destinations in the world where guests are revered as Gods.