Marie's Trip to Nepal
By Marie Troy
I travelled with my colleagues to Kathmandu and Lukla in Nepal and spent 17 days in total in this beautiful and incredible country. We flew with Qatar Airways from Dublin to Doha and from Doha to Kathmandu, and then we took an internal flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. From Kathmandu International Airport we took a taxi to the city centre, which took about 11 minutes.
Location
Kathmandu is an amazingly energetic and cheerful city. It is also a spirirtual place, home to many religions, but especially the Hindus and the Pashupatinath. If you love trekking and adventuring through mountains and nature, Lukla is a small village you should definitely visit! Lukla has made the Everest region accessible to many people and gives an amazing view of Mount Everest. A trip here makes for a truly unforgettable and unique experience. While in Kathmandu, we stayed in the 4 star Norbulinka Boutique Hotel, which is located in the Thamel district. This hotel offers a continental or buffet breakfast. Bike hire and a car rental service are available. The rooms are decorated in a modern and Nepalese style, and they are comfortable, with flat-screen TV with satellite channels and free WIFI. In Lukla we stayed at the 3 star Himalaya Lodge accommodation. It has a restaurant which served daily breakfast and the rooms were comfortable with a simple style.
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What I Loved
We loved the incredible view of Mount Everest in Lukla and its base camp. In Kathmandu, the Garden of Dreams was a really nice day out, as it had a relaxing atmosphere. The Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), which is full of little monkeys and has a beautifully colourful interior and incense burning throughout was also a great experience.
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Activities & Places to See
- Walk through Thamel street in Kathmandu and see all the traditional shops and Nepalese food.
- Be fascinated by and relax in the Garden of Dreams with its quiet atmosphere and colorful plants and flowers.
- Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Patan with its beautiful Durbar Squares. It is just 30 minutes from the Thamel district.
- Visit and find peace in the beautiful temple of Swayambhunath, also called the Monkey Temple. This Buddhist site is the home of the little gold monkeys and has an amazing panoramic view of the city.
- Take a day trip to Shivapuri National Park, which has an incredible forest and waterfall and stunning sceneries.
- In Lukla, immerse yourself in the nature of the small rustic village. The Phakding Everest base trek tour is an incredible once in a lifetime experience!
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Shopping
Shopping in Kathmandu is great! Thamel is one of the most popular streets; you can find authentic Nepali food places, shops and colourful souvenirs here. It is also common to find cashmere products and silver or Nepali/Tibetan traditional jewellery. The Ason and Mangal Bazaars are also well worth a visit, as they have eclectic shops, street food, spices and souvenirs for sale. In Lukla, the main base where climbers start their Everest adventure offers traditional shops, restaurants, tea houses and a few bars.
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Food & Bars
We had dinner in Yangling, an amazing and tasty Nepali/Tibetan foodplace which served traditional dishes including Momo, a steamed dumpling with various fillings. We also enjoyed some delicious traditional food in Silauta Restaurant, the OR2K restaurant and the Rickshaw Café and Bar which had great western food and an amazing terrace.
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