Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

Located on the southern slopes of Mount Dhaulagiri in the Baglung District of the Mid-Western Region of Nepal, the small village of Dhorpatan is best known for being the headquarters of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve - a sanctuary for animals where a limited amount of hunting is permitted. A landing strip for light aircraft is available to visitors who choose this method to reach the village, however many visitors enjoy trekking through this very scenic region of Nepal and it is around a four day walk from the town of Balewa in the Baglung District to Dhorpatan.

The residents of Dhorpatan make their living primarily through the manufacture of traditional handicrafts and farming with animals. The terrain around Dhorpatan consists of more than 50 percent of pasturelands, as well as alpine and sub-alpine vegetation. Nature lovers will appreciate the abundance of fir, pine and oak trees, as well as the different species of rhododendron growing wild in the area and providing shelter for a variety of animals and birds. During the summer months, herds of up to 80,000 livestock are brought from other areas in the Mid-Western Region of Nepal to graze on the lush pastures around Dhorpatan.

Tea Garden of Ilam

Situated between the alleviation ranging from 140m to 3,636m above the sea level, Illam is one of the untouched destinations for tourists. Famous for tea production, Illam is a small hill town with pristine landscapes of sloped tea gardens, mountain streams, dense natural forests, holy sites and a unique culture. It offers a brisk walk in the tea garden, tranquil picnic and sightseeing stops, short treks along gentle slops, or a trudge into the nearby woods. The best time to visit time Illam is between October - December or from April - February. However, the subtropical climate of Illam ensures good weather throughout the year. Illam district is bordered by Jhapa in the south, West Bengal of Indial in the east, Panchthar in the north and Morang and Dhankutta districts in the west. The district lies to the south of Mahabharat range and west of the Shangrila range. The district is ragarded as one of the richest districts in Nepal in terms of its cultural diversity, natural landscape, and flourishing cash crops sector. Besides, it is also popularly known as the place of botanical and anthropological research. Brahmins and Chhetris are the dominant ethnic groups living in the area. One can find a Lepcha museum at Antu. No doubt, Illam reflects rich cultural and social heritages of people living in harmony.

Shree Antu (2,328m) offers spectacular views of the sunrise and sunset over the estern himalayas. Situated at a distance of 3 hr. drive from Illam Bazaar, Shree Antu aslo offers home-stay facilities. Similarly, Maipokhari is another attraction of this trek. Popularly recognized as a religious and historical spot, Maipokhari (2,121m), a pristine lake surrounded by dense forest of fir, juniper, birch, pine and a variety of flora and fauna is considered as the sacred abode of Goddess Bhagawati.In the same way, Kanyam and Fikkal hold good recognision for making Illam famous for tea production across the country. Likewise, Siddhi Thumka (1,800m) has also gained its fame for offering excellent views of sunrise and sunset from its height. It is about 3 hrs. trek from Illam Bazaar. Chhintapu (3,353m) is another attraction of Illam. It is the second highest peak in Illam district. It is also rich in terms of floral and faunal diversity. It is the home of 11 varieties of rhododendron, rare berbs, endangered species of animals like the musk deer and red panda. Mt. Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world can also be clearly viewed from Chhintapu. The temples and pilgrimage sites such as Gajur Mukhi, Sanu Pathibhara and Mai beni have also added additional decoration to Illam. Similarly, Mangmaling and Sandakpur are also the names to be pronounced when we talk of Illam tourism.

This small but beautiful destination can be reached directly from Kathmandu by bus. We can also use aeroplane up to Bhadrapur from Kathmandu and take bus or car from there. Besides, Illam can also be reached via. Pashupatinagar, the Nepal- India boarder of Illam district.

Panoramic place Nagarkot

Nagarkot is the place where once Manjushree Bodhisatto stood and watched the lake in the Kathmandu Valley. Nagarkot is at the eastern periphery of the Kathmandu Valley. The hilltop called Nagarkot at more than 2,000 meters above the sea level is the second highest peak in the Kathmandu Valley. After an hour long exciting and winding drive you will be above to feel the cool breeze of air blowing endlessly into your face, and see the widest range of Himalayas including Mount Everest with our bare eyes from here. It is also one of the best spots to visit for unmatched sunrise and sunset views.And if awesome view is your first preference to visit Nagarkot,then, Peaceful cottage and cafe dumont ,nagarkot ought to be your first port of residence.

Between October and March a trip to Nagarkot will nearly always be rewarded with a view, but you will be very lucky to catch more than a glimpse through the monsoon clouds between June and September. During the summer, sweaty valley residents escape the heat for the resort's cool mountain air; in winter they rush up if there's even a chance of being able to throw a tiny snowball. It can get very cold at Nagarkot in autumn and winter, so if you're staying overnight come prepared with warm clothing.

you could watch the sunrise without having to get up from your bed. Just pull the curtain off have a coffee and relax. Lot of accommodation around this area have bed & breakfast. And they do have outside eating ar

Rara Lake in Mugu District

Rara Lake is the largest lake of Nepal, situated in Mugu district in the far western region of Nepal, near district-headquarter Gam Ghadi and Talcha airport and about 3/4 days of walking from Jumla.

The length of the lake is 5 kilometers and it is 2 kilometers wide. The surface is around 8 square kilometer, the perimeter 9 kilometer, the altitude around 3060 meter and the depth is 167 meter.

Rara is an unique spot in Nepal. The lake is situated in the Rara National Park and because of its remote location and the violence/threat of the Maoists the lake has been visited by only few tourist in the last couple of years. Only in the second half of 2006 the situation improved and foreign visitors do not need to pay the high fee of around $100 per person to the Maoists anymore.

There are hardly any facilities for tourists. Accommodations consists of primitive beds (mostly in very basic dormitories) and basic meals. You won't find any showers/bathrooms and toilets are scares and very basic.

Manakamana Temple

Ever thought of having a die hard wish that you need to get fulfilled? Well if you do have faith in Hindu gods, there are many ways where you can pray and wish for your wishes to come true. One of the Devis (goddesses) is Manakamana, where “mana” came from the word “mann” which means heart and “kamana” means wish. So it is believed that if you wish it from your heart the goddess Manakamana fulfills those wishes. I have been there thrice in my lifetime but with my family, mom and dad, who had made their wishes. I don’t know what they wished for and if it did come or true but I believe it must have as we have been their thrice.
Since 17th century the Manakamana temple has been widely venerated, as of the obvious reason of believing that Manakamana Devi (goddess) fulfills all wishes. It is located just 102 kilometers from the capital, Kathmandu, en route to Pokhara and Chitwan and banks of Trishuli River which is famous for white water rafting.
Since the popularity of the wishing goddess became overwhelming that now we have better ways and faster ways to get to Manakamana. They made it easier with installing cable car to the hill. This is the first and only cable car service running in Nepal. So instead of the four-hour arduous trek, the shrine is now accessible in just 10 minutes in the cable car which is using the world-renowned Doppelmayr Technology of Austria. So with the abundant time in hand we can easily visit the shrine and make our wish. Yet the number of visitors are increasing day by day. There will be a long queue not only on the way to cable car but to the holy shrine as well, but it is worth it as now we can visit and return in a single day without having our time lost in the hard uphill hike. Yet there are lots of groups who still trek uphill as they love to hike and enjoy the beautiful scenes of the hills and mountains of our beautiful country Nepal.

Dakshinkali Temple

Dakshinkali Temple is one of the famous temples in Nepal. It is located in the southern part of Kathmandu valley which is 22 km far from this valley and 1 km from Pharping, one of the romantic place. It is famous for sacrificing many animals in the name of goddess Kali. Animal sacrifices, particularly of cockerels and uncastrated male goats, are the main way that the goddess is worshipped, and this is especially seen during the Dashain festival. People believe that goddess Kali is one of the divine power and she fulfills people's wishes who believe in god. They sacrifice many animals such as goats, cock etc. with the considering that their wishes became fulfill. Especially in Saturday enumerable people come from different parts of Kathmandu and other places to worship.

Teej Festival

Nepal is very rich for its culture, tradition and religious ceremony. Many religious people live in this country. Such as Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Christian people are the native inheritance. People know how to respect their religion as well as others. They never subdue others' belief attitudes and norms. We can see harmony and peaceful behavior among such religious people. Nepalese people follow many traditional festival as well as ceremony. Among such festival, Teej is one of the greatest festival for Nepalese Hindu women. All married or unmarried women celebrate this festival. Married women return their parents home in this festival. In this festival women take fasting by wishing their desires and wishes become fulfill. According to the Hindu mythology, goddess Pravati took fasting and worshiped to get god Mahadev. At last she could succeed to get Mahadev as a husband. So, Nepalese women believe that if they pray and take fasting for the name of god Mahadev, their wishes become fulfill and they can get Mahadev like husband who are not married. They pray with god that they can find a person as a husband like god Mahadev. Women celebrate this festival by very happily with enjoying and sharing their feelings, troubles and joyful experiences with their colleague and friends. Women meet their child friends to whom they used to spend their childhood day and life. Shopping is mostly prefered by women in this festival. They wear new cloths and gold ornaments. They dance in the parents home with their friends. They try to forget their misery and grief whatever they have bear in whole year. They just spend their life joyfully and meaningfully in this festival.