Lumbini Re-Discovered

The History of Lumbini was re-established with the visit of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka,who made a pilgrimage in 249 B.C,.and erected a stone pillar bearing an inscription stating'ida Budhe Jate Shakyamuni",which means that Shakyamuni Buddha was born here.After his visit structural activities started to mark the birth place of .He worshipped the nativity tree,the bathing tank slao visited the other surrounding historical sites such as Kapilvastu,Ramgrama and Niglihawa.

Later on the three famous Chinese pilgrims -Tseng Tsai,Fa-Hsien(5th century A.D)and Hiuen Tsang(7th century A.D) visited Lumbini.Hiuen Tsang's travel account gives a detailed description of the area,including the Ashikan Pillar with a horse carved on the top of it,king Ripu Malla(1312 A.D) of Karnali,marked the his visit by an engraving on the Ashokan Pillar.After 14th century A.D the sites were forgotten,neglected and shrouded in bushes.The association of Lumbini gradually changed to Rummindei and to then Rupandehi,the present name of the district.
Rupandehi,the present name of district.

Rock Climbing in Nepal

Rock Climbing is a challenging sport fot outdoor lovers.Most of the areas for rock climbing are situated towards the north of Kathmandu in the Nagarjun forest and Shivapuri National Park areas.Trip to these places can be combined with hiking,bird watching,nature tours and other activities.Nagarjun,3 kilometers from KAthmandu city can be reached via Balaju near the New Bus Park.Shivapuri can be reached via Budhanilakantha which is 9 kilometers outside city area in Kathmandu.People involved in rock climbing should be with strong determination.

Mountain Flights

Mountain flights offer a luxurious option of Himalayan experience .The one-hour mountain flight takes one close to some of the highest peaks in the world including Mt.Everest.One can clearly see and identify the peaks ,and see the Himalayan landscape and glaciers during the flight.The peaks seen are Gosaithan,Dorje Lhakpa,Phurbu,Chyachu,Choba,Bhamare,Gaurishanker,Melungtse,Chugimago ,Number,Karylung,Cho-Oyu,Gyachungkang,Pumori,Nuptse and of course Mt.Everest.Mountain flights are offered by several airlines especially in the morning from the domestic airport in Kathmandu.Mainly mountain flights in Nepal are carried out from the places of northern regions like Lukla,Pokhara and Jomsom.

Indigenous Products

Pashmina are made from the inner fur of the Himalayan lambs and are popular for their softness of touch and natural color.Pashmina fabrics like shawls,mufflers,sweaters ,caps and winter wears are fashionable worldwideIt is more soft and warmer than the synthetic mixed and artificially colored fabrics.Among other places ,the best places to but Pashmina items are New Road,Indrachowk and Thamel in Kathmandu .Nepal exports large amount of Pashmina products in USA and United Kingdom.

Khaptad National Park

Khaptad National Park in west Nepal is the home of Lae Khaptad Swami,the renowned acholar and a hermit.The park with rolling hills of grasslands and forests of subtropical,temperature and sub alpine vegetation,is also a rich natural habitat .The park boasts of 224 speciec medicinal herbs and offers excellent bird watching opportunities ,with 270species of birds,he common ones being different varieties of impheyan pheasant,partridges,flycatcers ,bulbuls,cuckoos and eagles .Animals in the park are barking deer.wild boar,ghoral,Himalayan black bear,yellow throated marten,rhesus monkey and langur monkey.There are several historical temples surrounding this area and an annual celebration of Ganga Dashara in held every Jestha Purnima.Another religious site is Sahashra Lingaat 3200 m ,the highest point of the park.Other religious areas in the park includes Ganesh Temple ,Nagdhunga,and Kedardhunga .These areas are ideal places for meditation.Towards the northest of the park is Khaptad lake where a festivcal is held every August and September.

Activities:Trekking
Accommodation:Camping
Access :Fly to Dipayal from Nepalgunj and then three day walk .
Park Headquarter :Khaptad

Hunting

Licensed hunting is allowed in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve in western part of Nepal.Dhorpatan is the prime habitat of blue sheep,ghoral,serow,Himalayan tahr,black bear,pheasant and partridge.Endangered species here are chir pheasan and red panda.Hunting is allowed only after acquiring lisence from the Department of National Parks and wildlife conservation (DNPWC) in Kathmmandu and is restricted to a certain times in a year .Most huntin trips are planned in spring and onset of autumn from February through April and August through Qctober .Dhorpatan is 4 day trek from Baglung which is 72 km from Pokhara .Accommodation facilities are available in tented camps offered bu agencies or at one of the village houses.

World Heritage Sites

There are four UNESCO world heritage sites in Nepal .Two ae in cultural category and two are in natural category.World Heritage Sites of Nepal are Lumbini,the birth place of Lord Buddha,and seven monuments of Kathmandu valley within a radius of 20 km(together counted as one Heritage Site).The World Heritage Sited are Chitwan and Sagarmatha National Parks .Kathmandu valley World Heritage site comprises of three historical places-Kathmandu,Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares;two Buddhist stupas -Swyambhunath and Bauddhanath;and who Hindu temples-Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan.Nepal offers incomparable scope to connpisseurs of art and culture to see and study different aspects of fine artss in its paintings ,sculpture ,wood carving and architecture .