Holidays within 500 dollars – A visit to Nepal

An aerial view of the Kathmandu Valley
Avril-Ann Braganza

A landlocked neighbour of India, Nepal ought to be one of the countries on the list of budget travelers. With US$ 500 (excluding air fare) in your pocket, you can have a comfortable eight-night stay in some of the major tourist destinations including Kathmandu, Nagarkhot, Pokhara and Chitwan.

With a culture and life style similar to India, you will feel right at home with Hindi speaking locals, Indian and Tibetan influences of cooking (dal, rice, curried vegetables and momos) and acceptance of the Indian currency.

Visas for Nepal are available on arrival for citizens of most countries at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu.

Although Indian citizens do not require a visa, you need to carry your passport.
Boudhanath Stupa is one of the biggest and most sacred of Buddhist stupas
Accommodation (including bed and breakfast) is relatively cheap at US$20 to US $80 per night. Some hotels offer discounted rates for Indians and groups. Entry fee at tourist attractions is either free or costs approximately US$ 2-3 for Indian citizens.

Kathmandu:

Nepal's political and cultural capital is a lot like Mumbai dirty, crowded, traffic infested and polluted. But the grandiose past, which still reigns in its ancient stupas, temples, palaces, courtyards, and world heritage monuments, a city surrounded by hills and snow capped mountains, gives it a charm of its own.

The mountain flights gets your up close and personal with Mount Everest among several other peaks
Visit

Two nights at Kathmandu will give you ample time to visit some important tourist attractions including Pashupatinath, the holiest and oldest Hindu temple (entry to the main temple area is restricted to Nepali and Indian Hindus only); Boudhanath Stupa, one of the biggest and most sacred of Buddhist stupas; Swoyambhunath Stupa, the oldest stupa overlooking Kathmandu valley and the Eastern Himalayan ranges; Patan Durbar Square, which includes the famous Krishna Temple.

An evening stroll through the Thamel Street, where everything from pashmina shawls, Nepali clothing, bags, artifacts and jewellery can be found, is a haven for shopaholics.

It is worth shelling out an additional US$ 100 for the hour long ’flight to mountain' to see the Himalayan peaks including Mount Everest.

Budget hotels: Hotel Ganesh Himal; Tings Lounge Hotel (Bed and Breakfast), Hotel Mustang Holiday Inn.

Of the several temples and idols, the Krishna temple is the most important at the Patan Durbar Square
Eat at : Yak Café, Thamel, Old Tashi Delek Restaurant, Thamel; Kumari Restaurant.

Pokhara

October-November is an ideal time to see theAnnapurna Mountain range from anywhere in Pokhara (andto visit Nepal in general). Clouds andfog characterise the monsoon and make sighting the range rarebetween May- September.

Visit Two days is enough to visitDevi's falls;a boat ride on the Fewa lake; the Barahi temple in the middle of the Fewa lake; Seti gorge and the Bindhyabasini Temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga.

From Pokhara, head to Sarangkhotfor a closer viewofthe sunrise over the mountain ranges .

An evening walk along Fewa lake in Pokhara will prove to be worthwhile with a view of the beautiful sunset over the lake
Budget hotels: Hotel Silver Oaks Inn; Green Peace Resort.

Eat at: Several reasonably priced restaurants by the lake serve a variety of cuisines including Indian, Nepali, French, Italian, Mediterranean and Malaysian .Chilly Bar and Restaurant, Laughing Buddha and Moondance are a few popular options. There are several street stalls where you can get a plate of momos or samosas and other yummy stuff for around US$ 2 or less.

Shopping: Plenty of shops by the lake in Pokhara sellNepali outfits, pashmina shawls, bags, wallets and other little curios. If you find something you like, pick it up. But not without a bargain. You may not find the same design at Thamel , although everyone says shopping is cheaper there .

Chitwan

A welcome change from the commercial Pokhara or Kathmandu, Chitwan National Park is a must for nature and animal lovers. Most jungle lodges and resorts provide rates inclusive of all meals, due to dearth of restaurants in Chitwan.

The elephant safari at the Chitwan National Park gives you plenty of opportunities to spot monkeys, the one horn rhino, deer and a variety of birds.
A two night stay is sufficient to walk through the Tharu Village, experience a canoe ride in a crocodile-infested river, elephant-back safari and a visit to the elephant breeding farm, normally arranged by the jungle lodges.

An elephant bath is worth a try if you don't mind being teased about elephant nose- goo being part of the shower.

Budget hotels: Hote Parkside; River Bank Inn.

Nagarkhot: At this hill station, a two hours drive from Kathmandu, there is nothing to see and do, but relax . It is worth sacrificing sleep to witness the beautiful sunrise over the Himalayan range from here.

Talk in hushed tones, keep your hands inside the canoe at all times and stay alert. You might spot a few crocodiles hiding in line with the surface of the water
Budget hotels: Chautari Paradise Inn; Hotel At The End Of The Universe.

Must Know Nepal is known to have regular power cuts. While most of the hotels have generators, ACs may not work .

Though local transport is available, it would be convenient to hire a car for the duration of your stay especially if you are travelling in a group and to the different regions within Nepal.

Taxis in Kathmandu accommodate only three passengers, but make sure you negotiate a price before hiring one.

(All images by Avril- Ann Braganza)