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| Bhaktapur, Nepal |
Nepal Travelogue:
After a
little break, here come details of our latest travel. This time we traveled to Nepal
which is a Himalayan country famous for its high peaks, wildlife, and
distinctive fusion of Buddhist and Hindu cultures:
- Trip Duration: 2 Weeks - May 13 to May 27, 2013
- The Troupe: Mikeal – 1 year, Misha – 3 years, Urooba, and self
- The Loop: Karachi → Kathmandu → Chitwan National Park → Manakamana → Kathmandu → Bhaktapur → Nagarkot → Kathmandu → Karachi
Keeping Everyone Happy
Wifey wanted to revive her yoga which she used to practice before marriage and Nepal could have been the best place for that. Luckily, there was an international yoga event going around Kathmandu, at Budhanilkantha's Chandra Ban Eco Resort, which forced me to take on 4/5 full
days of baby sitting in addition to couple of hours of daily trekking right
after landing into Nepal! Good for me!
Last year, when we visited Ziarat, a cool hill station near Karachi, Misha, our 3 years daughter, never hesitated asking why we were visiting the place: "Ziarat men kuch nahee hai"! So there needed to be something for her and her younger accomplice Mikael, who turned 1 this March and was embarking on his first foreign travel. So to avoid "Nepal men kuch nahee hai" we headed to Chitwan National Park - which is famous for one-horned rhinos and elephant back Jungle Safari. We spent 4-5 days there as well and it was completely worth it.
Although, both the expeditions I was targeting -- trek to the Everest Base Camp and the one-in-the-lifetime road trip to Tibet -- were unfeasible due to reasons beyond control, there was still something for me. Exploring around Kathmandu's historical places, attending Buddha Jayanti - the festival of Buddha, visiting Buddhist and Hindu sites, and sipping hot Nepali Masala Tea at Nagarkot hill station was kind of a solace for me in the concluding 4/5 days of our 2 weeks trip.
Last year, when we visited Ziarat, a cool hill station near Karachi, Misha, our 3 years daughter, never hesitated asking why we were visiting the place: "Ziarat men kuch nahee hai"! So there needed to be something for her and her younger accomplice Mikael, who turned 1 this March and was embarking on his first foreign travel. So to avoid "Nepal men kuch nahee hai" we headed to Chitwan National Park - which is famous for one-horned rhinos and elephant back Jungle Safari. We spent 4-5 days there as well and it was completely worth it.
Although, both the expeditions I was targeting -- trek to the Everest Base Camp and the one-in-the-lifetime road trip to Tibet -- were unfeasible due to reasons beyond control, there was still something for me. Exploring around Kathmandu's historical places, attending Buddha Jayanti - the festival of Buddha, visiting Buddhist and Hindu sites, and sipping hot Nepali Masala Tea at Nagarkot hill station was kind of a solace for me in the concluding 4/5 days of our 2 weeks trip.
Pleasant Surprises
When we
landed at Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport we found out that most
Nepali people can understand Urdu, our mother tongue and the national language of
Pakistan. That was a pleasant surprise indeed and a bit helpful too especially
when we neither had advanced booking nor a firm plan for this trip.
The second and the bigger surprise came in when we noticed our hometown favorites Gol Gappa, Halwa Poori, and Samosa selling around Budhanilkantha - a green hilly suburb of Kathmandu which was our first improvised stopover for the next four days.
Even before the travel, I was astonished to know that there is a free visa on arrival facility for Pakistani citizens and that too with comparatively little paper work!
Had there been more surprises of this sort we might have felt 'not traveled' but luckily there was ample contrast for us to explore, amuse, and enjoy!
The second and the bigger surprise came in when we noticed our hometown favorites Gol Gappa, Halwa Poori, and Samosa selling around Budhanilkantha - a green hilly suburb of Kathmandu which was our first improvised stopover for the next four days.
Even before the travel, I was astonished to know that there is a free visa on arrival facility for Pakistani citizens and that too with comparatively little paper work!
Had there been more surprises of this sort we might have felt 'not traveled' but luckily there was ample contrast for us to explore, amuse, and enjoy!
Bill, Please!
Low cost of
living in Nepal, our policy to avoid touts completely, Pakistani citizenship
(SAARC), and most importantly support from friends (especially Couchsurfing's
Kathrine, etc) helped us in managing things within our limits:
~Rs. 110,000 for Karachi - Kathmandu Return Air Ticket* for 2 Adults, 1 child, 1 infant
~Rs. 60,000 = 4,000 per day x 15 days
Total ~Rs. 170,000 or USD 1,700 for the whole trip including air tickets
Think this is cheap? Don't hesitate contacting me for some pocket friendly secrets either through the comment section below, or email me at muzamil79@gmail.com, or keep a check on my travel blog for budget traveling tips.
* through Pakistan International Airlines
Travelogue - In the Making:
In the coming days, I intend to post day wise travelogue of our trip focusing on tips and tricks to save money while traveling. So stay tuned :-)
~Rs. 110,000 for Karachi - Kathmandu Return Air Ticket* for 2 Adults, 1 child, 1 infant
~Rs. 60,000 = 4,000 per day x 15 days
Total ~Rs. 170,000 or USD 1,700 for the whole trip including air tickets
Think this is cheap? Don't hesitate contacting me for some pocket friendly secrets either through the comment section below, or email me at muzamil79@gmail.com, or keep a check on my travel blog for budget traveling tips.
* through Pakistan International Airlines
Travelogue - In the Making:
In the coming days, I intend to post day wise travelogue of our trip focusing on tips and tricks to save money while traveling. So stay tuned :-)
Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteMuzzamill travels are always exciting, and there is lot to learn from his stories.
Thanks Marina. You might have already noticed that travelogues of Day 1 and Day 2 have been posted:
DeleteDay 1: http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/2013/08/karachi-to-kathmandu-and-infamous-pk-268.html
Day 2: http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/2013/08/yoga-and-cultural-shock-in-nepal.html
Hope some detail would come later. I have seen Nepal from one end to another. Chitwon park was highlight of my tour and so a place called Fishtail. It was safe and friendly country. Even on Holli, a bus was ready to take us to Kathmandu. The driver sustained some injury from stone and color thrown on him in anger for working on such a festival.
ReplyDeleteThanks Hafeez Sb. Details of Day 1 and Day 2 are just posted:
DeleteDay 1: http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/2013/08/karachi-to-kathmandu-and-infamous-pk-268.html
Day 2: http://mozumbus.blogspot.com/2013/08/yoga-and-cultural-shock-in-nepal.html