Alcoholic drinks have long been incorporated into ceremonies and celebrations throughout Nepal. The best and strongest alcohols are often homemade, and Nepal has plenty to offer. In mountain regions, raksi warms cold nights while chhyang marks harvest seasons within Newari communities. With festival season approaching, alcohol will be poured freely.

There are many reasons people choose to visit the Everest region of Nepal. The Everest Three High Passes Trek is one of the classic treks there. Many trekkers make it their mission to cross the infamous ‘high passes’ in addition to reaching Everest Base Camp. Stunning and unparalleled mountain views, including the

The next time you walk around the alleys of the Kathmandu Valley in the early morning, keep an eye out for a ubiquitous item of clothing for Nepali womenfolk. Both the Nepali topi (cap) worn by men and the shawls typically worn by many Nepali women are made of a

General Gillespie was as seasoned an officer as could be found anywhere in the great British Army. Thus, when in 1814 General Gillespie set out to conquer Nepal, that small mountainous country neighboring Hindustan, it wasn’t such a big deal. Or at least that’s what must have gone through the

Despite being a naturally and culturally very beautiful country, Bhutan does not yet have any UNESCO World Heritage Sites. However, eight sites appear on the ‘Tentative List’, which means that a number of criteria need to be met before they can become fully fledged World Heritage Sites. Here’s a look

Along with trekking, rafting and the high-altitude lakes, visiting the monasteries of Ladakh is a highlight of any visit. There are monasteries perched upon every second craggy hill, it seems, but some of them are more visit-worthy than others. There are two main monastery circuits that visitors to Ladakh take—to

The western side of Nepal (Provinces 6 and 7 under the new administrative scheme) is still a land that has mostly been neglected by tourists. This is mainly due to the inaccessibility of the region and the lack of tourism infrastructure. However, for adventurous travelers (both domestic and foreigner), the

This Nepali year (2075 BS) has been declared “Karnali Rara Tourism Year” by the Government of Nepal. This is part of a larger effort to increase tourism in the western part of the country, an area that is still very much off the beaten path. One of the top travel

Historically, the Karnali region of western Nepal flourished on trade between Tibet and the lower hills and plains of Nepal and India. Traders from the Karnali used sheep and goat caravans to bring salt from Tibet down to the plains and trade it for grains and other food, which they

The first Western exploration of the Rolwaling Valley was undertaken by Eric Shipton and his team at the end of the 1951 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition. After extensive exploration of the Solukhumbu for potential routes to tackle an Everest summit attempt, the team decided on their return to cross over the Tashi Lapsek

Dardistan, meaning the land of the Dard people, was once inhabited by this tribe. It used to refer to parts of land between north-eastern Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and northern Kashmir, extending up to a small part of Western Tibet. Even today, in places such as the Gurez Valley in Indian-administered

With her rugged mountains and outstretched landscapes, Nepal lures travelers in search of adventure. But beyond trekking routes and warm cups of tea, the country is home to a fleet of luxury hotels, unique experiences, and hospitality of the kind you might encounter in more developed parts of the world.

I’m not a hiker and I’ve never been ultra keen on the outdoors. You can imagine that leaves me a bit at odds with the typical crowd you find hanging around Kathmandu or anywhere in Nepal. But when in Rome, right? When some friends invited me to walk (or climb!)

The Langtang Valley trek used to be one of the most popular trekking routes in Nepal, until the earthquake hit in 2015. Now, tourism is slowly coming back to the region. My Nepali friend encouraged me to go trekking in this area but I left it until my third visit

Tibet is home to three UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites, all in the capital city, Lhasa. These three places–the Potala Palace, the Norbulingka Palace, and the Jokhang Temple–are all fixtures on Tibet sightseeing itineraries, and are well-worth visiting. UNESCO states that “the beauty and originality of the architecture of these three

Pokhara is one of the most beautiful cities in Nepal – if not the most beautiful. The best part about Pokhara is that there are countless things to discover around it. It is so close to the Annapurnas that, on a clear day, you can distinguish the main peaks (except