Nepal Cultural Tour

Trip Information

Nepal Culture Tour

Nepal Culture & Religion

Culture is embedded in the high peaks of Nepal, tradition flows with its rivers, art traverses through its valleys and religion lies in the heart of its people. The culture of Nepal is an assemblage of music, architecture, religion and literature.The land is rich with unique cultural groups like Tharu,Yadav, Ahir, Newars and others. The culture on Nepal is a unique combination of tradition and novelty. The culture has been called the way of life for an entire society.The culture of Nepal includes the hospitality (means host and guest), dress, behavior, rituals and system of belief. Local Nepalese are generally rural people who welcome the tourist to their homes for tea or coffee.

Art of Nepal

The art and architecture of Nepal is deeply influenced by the religion. Unique craftsmanship can be found in temples, architecture, shrines, and the design of religious substance. Art and religion is so deeply interlocked that it is impossible to separate the one from the other. All art forms express both Hindu and Buddhist iconography.

Buddhism in Nepal

Buddhism, the fourth largest religion all over the world, has strong roots in Nepal. Buddhism in Nepal dates from the birth of Siddhartha Gautama himself, therefore Buddhist influences are evident on the culture of Nepal. Nepal is the meeting point for Indian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

Food of Nepal

Nepalese are great foodies and their food varieties are hot, spicy and nutritious. Newari and Thakali cuisines are the original taste of Nepal. Otherwise, Nepalese style of cooking has been influenced by Indian and Tibetan cooking. Dal Bhat tarkari is the staple food of Nepal. Meat curries and monos are the hot favorites among the tourists.

Music of Nepal

The rhythm, beats, bounce of Nepali traditional folk and classical music is spiritual enough to sooth you and entertaining enough to cheer you. Music is associated with every event in Nepal, then be it birth, marriage, festivals or national events.

People of Nepal

The people of Indo-Aryan community are the original inhabitants of Nepal. No wonder their descendents form the majority even now. Other major groups in Nepal are Gurungs and Magars who live mainly in the western region; Rais, Limbus and Sunwars who live in the eastern mid hills; Sherpas, Manangpas and Lopas who live near the mountains of Everest, Annapurna and Mustang respectively.

Religion of Nepal

Religion in Nepal is not only a system of social coherence based on certain rituals and beliefs, rather it is the binding force that ties the mountain kingdom together. Though Nepal is famous, as the worlds only Hindu Kingdom, equal respect is given to other religions as well. Buddhism is the second largest religion followed in Nepal, others being Tantrism, Islam and Christianity.

A Cluster of Temples and Palaces

Listed as one of the eight Cultural World Heritage site by UNESCO, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a cluster of ancient temples, palaces, courtyards and streets that date back to the 12th and 18th centuries. The square is known to be the social, religious and urban focal point of the Capital City.

The Palace Complex was the royal Nepalese residence until the 19th century and is the site of important ceremonies, such as the coronation of the Nepalese monarch. The palace is decorated with elaborately-carved wooden windows and panels an. It houses the King Tribhuwan Memorial Museum and the Mahendra Museum.

Nepal’s culture is rich with traditions of various ethnic groups. A culture tour to Nepal will familiarize the visitor to the opulent cultural heritage that Kathmandu is blessed with.

Best Time to Visit: Round the year

Duration:13 days / 12 nights

Destinations Covered: Kathmandu Valley – Nagarkot – Daman – Chitwan – Lumbini – Tansen – Pokhara – Gorkha – Kurintar – Kathmandu

Gorkha:

A 25 kilometer road off the main highway connecting Pokhara and Kathmandu brings you to an ancient Gorkha – the untouched and attractive town of Nepal! Some 300 years ago, Nepal was divided into 22/23^rd of small states, and Gorkha was one of them. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of `Shah Dynasty’ which runs Nepal today, combined Nepal into one kingdom. His Gorkha palace resides on top of a hill at an altitude of 3281 feet (about 1000 meter) The King would watch-over his people as far as his eyes could see from the tallest palace in the very center of Nepal! Gorkha is also the home of Gurkhas – the legendary brave warriors who fought with knives against guns.Climb the palace steps from the bottom of the hill, all the way to the top, climbing about one thousand seven hundred steps (1700), in about two hours. On a clear sky day, you can view Himalayan range including spectacular view of Manaslu and Himalchuli Mountains, and panoramic views of the valleys.

Tansen:

Tansen is a town in the Palpa District of Nepal. Tansen is a small ancient hill town situated 4300 meters above sea level.  The former capital of the Magar Kingdom of Tanahun, Tansen is a romantic medieval hill town, perched high above the Kali Gandaki River on the road between Butwal and Pokhara. The narrow winding streets are full of Newari shop-Houses and temples and most of the center is too steep for cars, which all adds up to Tansen’s charm. Until the rise of the Shahs, Tanahun was one of the most powerful Kingdoms of Nepal. Troops from Palpa even came close to conquering Katmandu in the 16th century under the leadership of Mukunda sen. The powers of the magars waned in the 18th century and Tansen was reinvented as a Newari Trading post on the trade route between India and Tibet. Tansen is a maze of narrow alleys, the main road snakes around the western edge of town. The most important landmark is the octagonal Pavilion in the middle of Sitalpati, the main market square. The town developed as a market centre for the Newari traders and artisans famous for their metal and dhaka (cloth) industry.

Dhaka – the most popular hand woven cloth of Nepal comes from this region. The Nepali topi (national cap) is made of Dhaka and You can see the weavers at work on their looms or see a bazaar of Dhakas in Tanseen.

It is believed that the migrant from Kathmandu valley, especially the Newars played an important role in enriching the architecture and culture of Tansen, and this can be seen today in Tansen. The most attractive place in Tansen is Tansen Bazaat, palpa Ranighat, durbar place

Tansen Bazaar

See here Rana buildings, Newari houses, carved windows and pagoda style temples, also meet folks at shopping in one of the highest and busiest bazaars in Nepal!

Palpa Ranighat

Palpa Ranighat: Visit the ancient building (palace) set on a massive rock bed at the bank of the Kali Gandaki river for viewing palace garden, stone walls, and a small shrine. This palace was built in 1892 by Governor Khadka Shamser in memory of his wife Tej Kumari, and is often called the Taj Mahal of Nepal.

Tansen Durbar / Palace

In the center of the town lies a 64 room Palace, a representation of arts and crafts of the ancient Palpa. On the saddest morning of 31st of January 2006, Nepal’s Maoist Rebels launched attacks in Tansen with no apparent reasons. They fought with local authorities and bombarded many ancient buildings including the Palace which had housed government offices. Many historical buildings including the Tansen palace was destroyed.

Tansen Palace has a good reputation and popularity. In fact, it’s importance falls right after the Singha Durbar of Kathmandu (The place where, Nepal’s most top ministers stay and work inside this secure compound, and also where the Nepal’s Parliament office is located) The Tansen Palace is the heart of Palpa, attracting International as well as Domestic tourists to this beautiful hill. Many buildings which were destroyed by the Maoists are in the process of Historic re-construction, and without a doubt, Nepali Maoists will live forever with sorrows in their hearts for attempting to destroy a part of the beauty and history of Nepal.

Outline Itinerary 

Day 01: Arrive Kathmandu

Day 02: Sightseeing tours to Pashupatinath temple, Bodhnath stupa and Budhanilkantha.

Day 03: Kathmandu-Nagarkot.

Day 04: Nagarkot-Kathmandu

Day 05: Kathamandu

Day 06: Kathmandu-Daman

Day 07: Daman- Chitwan

Day 08: Chitwan-Lumbini

Day 09: Lumbini-Tansen

Day 10: Tansen-Pokhara

Day 11: Pokhara-Gorkha.

Day 12: Gorkha-Kurintar.

Day 13: Kurtinagar (Kurintar)-Kathmandu .