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Festivals Kathmandu
8 Reviews What a great time I had in Kathmandu with the Holi Festival. It is a public holiday and people are just enjoying themselves with water and coloured powders! You will be a mess if you join them on the...
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It is important while in Nepal to be very discrete with money and personal possessions. It is a common belief amongst the Nepalese that all tourists have money coming out of their ears. Remember to always be discrete and do not act showy. Not only is acting showy just arrogant, but it is quite offensive to your hosts.
Many Indians have moved into Kathmandu over the years and this has lead to a bit of hard feelings between the Nuwars and the Indian immigrants. The reason being is that the Indians moving in fall into two categories: entrepreneurs and beggars. The entrepreneurs are mostly Indian Muslims from Kashmir and they own many of the shops in the city, especially around Thamel. Indian beggars can be seen all over the city; for the most part they enter through the southern Indian border and just don't leave. They are what one Nuwari put it "begging competition". Many of them are very cruel beggars also, especially the women whom walk around with babies begging with bowls. Indians, for the most part, are naturally darker than the Nepalese, and I have seen many Nepali beggars point out that fact (darker skin in general represents a lower caste in Hindu theology). Due to all the competition that the...
There are many Tibetan Refugees throughout Nepal, as well as Sherpa and various other Tibetan Buddhist groups. It is important to always and only walk clockwise around stupas, large prayer wheels, mani stones (stones with Tibetan writing on them - Om Mani Padme Hum "hail to the jewel in the lotus" the essential 6-sylable mantra), and when spinning prayer wheels always spin them clockwise and walk around them clockwise. Thus following the Tibetan "flow of life".
For both Hindus and Buddhists the head is regarded as the most holy part of the body and is sacred (as opposed to the feet, which are considered to be the least sacred). Do not touch children on the head, and do not touch anyone on the head for that matter.
Although the caste system is illegal in theory it is still widely practiced throughout just about all of Hindu Nepal. The caste system, or better coined as the 'local caste system', is a traditional Hindu system of social class structure without any social mobility. That means that upon birth one is placed in a social class, or caste, and cannot ever move up or down socially from that caste. There are many different castes and variations of castes throughout Hindu Nepal, but four main caste groups are clearly present in Brahmin: This caste is the highest caste. It is composed of priests. They were looked upon as the holiest class.Kshatriyas: This caste is made up of the nobility and the solders. The rulers of India/Nepal were born into these castes.Vaishya: This caste is made up of the commoners. The majority of the people belong to this caste. (the caste that I lived with)Shudras: This...
Nepali society for the most part is predominantly dominated by agriculture. Agriculture allows Nepali culture to remain original and beautiful, and this can be easily seen by examining the growing filth (pollution and corruption) in Kathmandu. Agriculture lies at the root of survival in rural Nepal and allows family values and traditional culture and society to flourish. In many ways agriculture and culture are intertwined and form a nice balance within the lines drawn by society. Roles of men women and children are both shared as a family unit, and divided by more traditional gender roles. Farm animals also play an important role in agriculture and society. Caste values are often determined by how much land and animals a family has. Cows, or 'gai', are never eaten, as they are sacred, but their milk (dhud) provides an essential part of the Nepali diet. Water buffalo, or 'bhaishi', are...
Photography is a very sensitive issue in most of the world, and Nepal is no exception. Always ask people before you take a photo of them and always make sure that you look around for signs restricting photography. As a photographer, it may seem tempting to get that perfect prize winning photo by not asking, but is it really worth possibly offending your host? NO! Nepali words/phrases pertaining to photography:Can I take a photo (of you)? - (Tapaain) tasbir kichnuhunchha?Photograph - tasbir/poto
Nepali society is truly dominated with tradition, mostly pertaining to strong Hindu (90%) and or Buddhist (8%) beliefs. Therefore, dress and affection is society is more formal and conservative than in the "west". Therefore, kissing or any other types of public affection is strongly discouraged, even touching between men and women (although men touching men i.e. holding hands, and women touching women, is more acceptable). In fact, in rural Nepal, it is considered inappropriate for unmarried men and women to be walking with each other privately. Public "dress codes" are also conservative. Sleeveless shirts for both men and women are completely inappropriate, and women should avoid showing skin. Shorts are acceptable for men, but not so much for women. The Nepalese understand that you are foreign and that your customs are different, but remember that you are guests in their nation and you...
Walking by Kathmandu's Royal Palace does not seem like much of a cultural tip, and it was not until the 2001 massacre of the royal family. Now, ever since the horrid massacre committed by Crown Prince Dipendra, who was at odds with his family over his choice of bride, the Nepalese walk by the palace either covering their eyes or just looking away.
One if the most interesting cultural aspects of life in rural Nepal is the local attitude towards people with mental disabilities. By mental disabilities, I do not mean to connotation mental retardation, but rather 'baulaahaa' or 'craziness'. In Nepal a psychiatrist is unheard of, but of course mental 'craziness' does still exist. From what I've seen and understood, there is actually a strange moonshine liquor that in fact makes people go a bit crazy from drinking it, and can cause serious mental problems. From the examples in my village in the Nuwakot District, victims to this strong moonshine have some serious long-term mental problems, and fall victim to many culturally harming shunning: as in the case of Bilbo, a 19 year old man who appeared as if he was 12 and only ate tobacco leaves (yes this case is true, I witnessed it). Although this may seem a bit eccentric and poignant in many...
Dwarika's Hotel Kathmandu Kathmandu
5 Reviews and 218 Opinions Dwarika's is close to the airport, safe and very good, gives excellent service, has good food and a...
See all 109 Hotels in Kathmandu
Fishtail Lodge Pokhara
7 Reviews and 100 Opinions Fishtail Lodge is the most beautiful hotel we ever stayed. Even though it is small in size but its...
Club Himalaya Hotel Bhaktapur
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Reviews and photos of Nepal attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Nepal sightseeing.
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Q: A Senior couple intends to do Columbo,Sri Lanka to Goa over land in February then fly to Katmandu for a 5 days light Trek..should...
A: The later you leave it the better the weather will be. It can be real cold in February but you just interested in a very short trek, allow a day to get ur permit
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