Arts and Architecture

Speckled with numerous exemplary works of art and architecture, Kathmandu Valley stands a testimony to ancient Nepal's inclination toward the aesthetics. Several monuments in the Valley have been listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites. Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, is the only World Heritage Site outside the Valley in South Nepal.

Like architecture, most artwork of Nepal is based on religion. Artworks range from the famous Buddhist Thanka and Newari Paubha paintings to the traditional crafts of woodwork and metal. Other art include literature, theater, music and dance, mirroring the different stages of Nepali society.

Nepali art has been deeply influenced by religion since very early times. Early art of Nepal can be seen as stone sculpture and temple architecture. Other art include Newari Paubha and Tibetan Thanka paintings, wood and metal crafts, ceramics and clay pots, textiles, paper, Tibetan carpet, music and literature. Contemporary Nepali art represents two distinct segments, traditional idealistic paintings and the contemporary western style works. The contemporary painting is specially noted for either nature based compositions or compositions based on Tantric elements or social themes. Nepali painters have also earned international reputation for abstract works based on these themes.

Kathmandu Valley houses a number of museums and art galleries displaying art work of the past and present. Some are: The National Museum at Chhauni, Museums at Kathmandu Durbar Square, Museum of Natural History at Swayambhu, National Library at Puchowk, Kaiser Library at Thamel, National Birendra Art Gallery at Naxal, Asa Archives at Tangal, National Art Gallery at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, National Woodworking Museum at Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bronze and Brass Museum at Bhaktapur, Nepal National Ehnographic Museum at Bhrikuti Mandap. Museums outside the Kathmandu Valley are such: Dhakuta Museum, Hattisar Museum in Bhimphedi, Mustang Eco Museum in Jomsom, Tharu Cultural Museum in Thakurdwara and International Mountain Museum in Pokhara.

Museums and Galleries

Nepal’s museums are of great historical value as they showcase artifacts covering many centuries and various dynasties that ruled the country. Libraries that started as private collections are the most interesting among libraries and there is no dearth of art galleries.

Nepal Association of Fine Arts (NAFA)
Nepal National Library
Patan Museum
National Museum
Asha Archives
Ethnographic Museum
Hanuman Dhoka Museum
International Mountain Museum
Kaiser Library
Lumbini Museum
National Art Gallery
National History Museum

Honey Hunting

Ever since Eric Valli published a book and made a film on Honey Hunting, it has received immense publicity. This is an ancient tradition handed down through generations. Requiring remarkable skills, it is undertaken by experienced villagers who hang from cliffs as tall as 300m with the help of home-made hemp ropes and ladders. The wild bees choose difficult perches high on steep rock faces for their hives. The honey is harvested twice a year, once in April-May and again in October-November. The honey collected in spring has a higher flavor and is favored. This wild honey has medicinal value and fetches a great deal of money in the international market

Music and Dance

Nepali classical music has its origins in the Rig Veda. Later, the metrical chanting of its hymns found its expression in the songs of Sama Veda. Since then classical music has been a part of the Nepali music sphere. The tradition of playing classical music has been handed down from generation to generation.

The classical structure of a melody is known as Raga, and there are hundreds of Ragas either played on musical instruments or sung according to seasons and time. The 24 hour period is divided into 8 segments of 3 hours each and each Raga is restricted to a particular time frame in order to produce the desired effect. At times, some branches of these ragas composed of songs are incorporated in dances.

Small groups of itinerant minstrels namely Damais and Gaines have become an integral part of the Nepali folk culture. Traditionally, Gaines go from door to door singing folk songs accompanying themselves on the Sarangi (a local violin-like instrument) as this is their profession. They travel from place to place telling tales often related to past events. The Damais play various instruments including the Sahanai (a kind of trumpet). Traditionally, they have been playing in ensembles where many instruments are played and were mostly engaged to play for weddings. For such events, the Damais play Panchai Baja (Sahanai, Narsinga (trumpet-like instrument), Damaha (drum), Dholaki and Tyamko (a small drum)). But music is only a part time job for them as they earn a living from tailoring. Folk music in Nepal thrives throughout the country and they are as diverse as the ethnic groups themselves.

The Newars of Kathmandu Valley are the main exponents of classical dancing. They have kept alive the traditions of performing masked dances during their many colorful festivals. Such dances are often of a Tantric nature with the dancers being possessed by various gods and goddesses. The Lakhe dance is of particular interest and in Bhaktapur the colorful Mahakali masked dancers perform during the Indra Jatra festival each year.

Masked dances are also performed by monks in the numerous monasteries around Nepal. In fact some treks are timed to coincide with festivals where masked dances are the highlight. Each year many tourists arrive in Thyangboche and other places to observe the popular Mani Rimdu festival. Mani Rimdu is unique to the Himalayan regions but other masked dances do take place around Katmandu as well especially during the Tibetan New Year.

The Tharu people of the tarai have their own stick dances that can mesmerize spectators while the Gurungs have a unique drama-like dance called the Ghantu where young girls go into a trance. The dance speaks of their heritage and depicts past events that are of historical significance. These are also sometimes performed especially for tourists.
Musical instruments

There is evidence in the form of ancient stone statues indicating that Nepali music was alive even before the time of the Kiranti and Licchavi dynasties. 7th century inscriptions show the existence of a well-organized musical team (ensemble) even during that era. There are many musical instruments mostly made from local resources. Nekoo, made of the horn of a water buffalo, is believed to scare away evil spirits when played.

Body, Mind, and Soul

Meditating rejuvenates ones energy level and zeal, so you can feel enlightened, far from the metaphysical world. A meditation course in Lumbini, Bhairahawa or in Bouddha, Kathmandu will help you explore in-depth and find a new human within you. There are specialized centers offering meditation course, accommodation, and food.

Yoga classes will contribute to the development of a healthy body, a healthy mind, and healthy thought. It also helps one achieve balanced, harmonious and integrated development of all the aspects of their personalities. Yoga is a pathway to true, happy, and healthy living. Yogic training eventually prepares one for spiritual awakening, the supreme aim of human life.

Ayurveda dates back to the Vedic period. Vedas are the oldest recorded documents of human civilization. Ayurveda, the life science, is also the oldest authentically recorded science in existence today. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word, when translated means “the science of life” or “a natural way of living”.

The objective of Ayurveda is to achieve the highest goal of life, the inner and outer dynamic harmony. The dimensions of health are defined as bodily, sensorial, mental, and spiritual health. Traditional and indigenous knowledge has been used for centuries by indigenous and local communities under local laws, customs and traditions. Fundamentally, they follow the Ayurvedic, ethno-botanical, ethno-traditional, tantrik, spiritual and Amchi knowledge. As described in Ayurveda, the Himalayan herbs and medicinal plants are used for healthy body and happy mind. These are used in different forms such as toiletries and cosmetics, incense and aromatic substances, health promoting agents, supplements and medicines, natural manures, pesticides, environmental cleaning and protection, food, food additives and drinks, etc.

More than 80 per cent of the total population of the country still rely on Ayurveda and Ayurveda based traditional medicine. Ayurveda and the traditional medical wisdom and practices are prevalent in the communities and are totally dependent on locally available medicinal herbs, knowledge, technology and their application. It has deep history in taxonomical, pharmacological, and clinical studies of drugs. It is still the primary form of treatment and is extensively used.

Nepali Cuisine

There are different types of Nepali food depending on the region the kind of food belongs to but most Nepali s have Dal (lentil soup), Bhat (steamed rice) and Tarkari (curried vegetables). It is often accompanied by aachar (pickles). Curried meat is popular, but since meat is expensive people save it for special occasions. Tibetan influences increase as you go north and perenial favorites like momo s (steamed or fried dumplings stuffed with meat), are widely available. As we move towars the south Indian influences are seen in the food. Most Nepalese do not use cutlery to eat but use their right hand.

Daal-Bhat: The taste of Daal and Bhat vary, depending on the cook. It always tastes wonderful with aachar. It is often available in restaurants.

Rotis: They are flat pancake-like breads made of wheat or rice flour. They are available in restaurants and can be eaten accompanied by Daal and curry.

Dhedo: The most average Nepali people have this as a meal. It is made of different kinds of flours, ranging from wheat to millet, which is boiled until thick.

Halaal Food: Halaal food is available in some of the restaurants and localities of Kathmandu catering to Muslims visitors.

The Five star and Four star hotels in Kathmandu provide halaal food on request. Moreover, in small restaurants and eateries in Jyatha, Thamel (Near Tibet Guest House) and in localities near Jame-Masjid and Lazimpat in Kathmandu, Halaal food is being served.

In Pokhara, Halaal food is provided on request by restaurants along the Phewa Lake and in Resorts and Star hotels .

Bird Watching

Nepal and specially the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve in the eastern tarai is a bird watcher’s paradise. Nepal boasts of more than 850 species of birds, and a surprisingly large number of these birds can be spotted in the Kathmandu valley alone. The hills around the valley especially Nagarjun, Godavari and Phulchowki are popular birding areas and the Tauda lake on the way to Dakshinkali is fabulous for watching migratory water fowl during the winter months. In the higher Himalayan regions are found the raptors and birds of prey of which there are numerous species. The various national parks like Chitwan and Bardia harbor a wide variety of birds. But Koshi Tappu has better sightings of an incredible variety of both resident and migratory birds that come from as far away as Siberia. Nepal’s national bird is the Daphe or the Impeyen Pheasant which is found in the Himalayan region. Bird watching trips are organized by most resorts and are accompanied by experienced naturalists.

Butterfly watching

Butterflies are beautiful, colorful creatures and they have been studied in Nepal for over 150 years. In the early days of the Raj, the British residents and their subordinates took considerable interest in butterflies and managed to collect quite a number of species which they meticulously studied and catalogued. After 1950, it was the Japanese who took particular interest in collecting butterfly species through scientific expeditions. This later resulted in the establishment by Tribhuvan University of the Natural History Museum at Swoyambhu in 1974. According to official records, Nepal has 651 species of butterflies which is 3.72% of the world's butterflies.

Favored by Kathmandu valley’s mild day time temperatures which hovers around 18ºC in mid-winter, there are butterflies all year round. The best seasons for butterfly watching are late March/April, mid May/mid June and late August/September. The forested areas in the valley are still remarkable places for butterflies, and they include open country near Chobar gorge and there is very little activity except for the very common Oriental Species. With the distribution of butterflies in Nepal being quite specific, about 10% of the butterflies are Palaearctic species found at above 3,000 m, and about 90% Oriental species are found around Swoyambhu, the base of the hills and forest streams at Godavari, Nagarjun, Budanilkantha and Sundarijal. The forested hilltops of Phulchowki, Jamachowk and Shivapuri, and the open scrubby bush areas of Nagarkot, Suryavinayak and Chandragiri are good areas for butterfly watching.