This spring, the place I chose to travel to is the country that many people describe as a country that can purify the soul and where a hundred flowers bloom. A new team leader, an enthusiastic aunt, and me who wanted to escape from reality formed a Nepal travel team for 8 days and 7 nights, almost an experience that I have never had in these years…
Kathmandu, another spring city
The flight from Kunming arrived in Kathmandu at noon. The weather was clear and the snow-capped mountains were clearly visible outside the window. The weather in Kathmandu is slightly cold in January, and the waiting area at the airport is blown by the draft, which makes you feel a bit bit biting for a while… But Kathmandu should be another spring city.
Like every prosperous city, the centripetal force of the city makes Kathmandu not only attract travelers from all over the world, but also attract the gathering of Nepalese. Today, among Kathmandu’s 1 million or so permanent residents, a large group of outsiders has replaced the aborigines and assumed the role of driving the city’s development.
We chose Swayambhunath Temple and Pashupati Temple as our first stop. These two ancient temples are located in the west corner of the city and have an excellent view of the city. Nepal used to use Hinduism as the state religion, and Buddhism also left a profound influence here. Accompanying the two ancient temples are hundreds of monkeys. Compared with other scenic spots, the monkeys here are gentle and peaceful, like practitioners who left the world.
Surrounded by the ancient palace and many temples, Durbar Square is the core area of Kathmandu, where locals sell tourist souvenirs, monks practice in the downtown area, and tourists often start the first page of their Nepal journey here.
In Kathmandu, we have to pay attention to the “living goddess” Kumari. Although the parade with the participation of Goddess Kumari will only start in September, we still have the opportunity to see her true face in the courtyard where the goddess lives on weekdays. Photography is not allowed here. If the camera is not put down, the goddess will not show up. Travelers who want to take pictures by chance don’t have to worry too much.
In search of the heart of the jungle
As one of the most important national parks and world natural heritage sites in Nepal, Chitwan is a special existence for many people. In this alpine country I came from the subtropical region, Chitwan brought me back to my hometown ten years ago. The monotonous countryside, rolling fields, and uneven roads are not special, but they can make me forget the appearance of the city and return to nature.
I like to think of Chitwan as the earth’s crust taking a break from its ascent in the Himalayas, leaving behind this plain in central Nepal, just 150 meters above sea level. The dense saros forests and vast grasslands are a paradise for all kinds of wild birds and mammals, which are almost extinct in South Asia. In 1962, this place was designated as a protected area, and it officially became a world heritage site in 1984. A lot of attention has brought here The steady stream of visitors also allows more protection resources to be used well. The aboriginal Tharu people have guarded this land for generations. From them, I have seen the harmony between man and nature. I toured the reserve quietly, avoiding disturbing the peaceful life here.
After checking into the hotel by the field, the tour guide proposed to take us to visit the traditional Tharu village on foot, then take a walk on the Laputi River and wait for the sunset. “Chitwan” means “the heart of the dense forest” in Nepali. Most people think that the Proti River is the dividing point of the jungle. In fact, the 2-hour elephant ride during the day is just around the periphery of the jungle. a circle. but if
Jet lag is the most subtle magician. At the same time, people in different places can encounter completely different scenery. In the city where I live, people have broken through the siege of the evening peak and sunk into the gentle night. Meanwhile, I was walking through the ancient villages of the Tharu people, watching the sunset on the Prati River. The golden color was shattered and sprinkled all the way along the long river, focusing on this scene, which happened to be a frozen picture in the camera for those of us passing by.
The God-given Pokhara Road Pokhara
surrounded by snow-capped mountains, is one of the holy places for trekking enthusiasts. If you want to climb Mount Everest, then your footprints. However, Pokhara is not as ice and snow as we imagined. Although it is in the Himalayan valley Nestled in the snow-covered Annapurna peak all the year round, but only 800 meters above sea level, the climate is similar to that of Guangdong, Yunnan and other regions in my country, which makes people think that they have come to Xishuangbanna. Of course, Xishuangbanna will not be surrounded by snow-capped mountains, and there is no way to take off with a very high drop to overlook the beautiful Fewa Lake from the air.
Fishtail Peak in the Annapurna Mountains is the iconic scenic spot here. Although its altitude ranks fourth among the Annapurna Mountains, it is the most frontal among the peaks facing Pokhara, so The majestic and magnificent words of praise are bestowed upon it. The sunrise at Fishtail Peak is enough to make up for its lack of altitude.
We fell asleep early on the first day we arrived in Pokhara, and set off at four o’clock the next day to go to the sarankot viewing platform. Since the vehicle can only send us to the middle of the mountain, we need to walk in the dim light of the flashlight for the rest of the journey. I suggest that friends who come later give up the idea of watching dramas, playing cards, and staying up all night waiting for departure, because even a height of 800 meters from the bottom of the valley is enough to consume all your physical energy.
Complete the physical fitness test, and the rest depends on luck. Not everyone can see Fishtail Peak, and not everyone’s mobile phone camera can capture the moment of sunrise. The luck of our trip was not so good. We encountered heavy clouds and fog, but it was not the worst. The brilliant fish tail in the golden light greatly soothed our tired body. On the way down, there were already locals who opened early in the morning, selling hot coffee at the corner with a kettle and paper cups. In this state, the flavor of the coffee became less important, and the warmth brought by the heat was better than everything.
The leisure places in Pokhara are concentrated in the Fewa Lake area in the center of the city. Hang out at the crafts stalls in the lakeside area and enjoy them in restaurants.
In the descriptions of many novels, Pokhara has blue sky, lakes, and snow-capped mountains. It is a paradise for hippies, but travelers who do not plan to live here for a long time will often get some disappointment. The local vendors in the business district hold scarves and say “Business cannot be done with righteousness”, and a word will bring you back to reality.
Not everyone has the plan and time to climb Mount Everest, but choosing the right season can give you more opportunities to get close to Mount Everest. If the budget is not enough, you can also consider choosing to experience a 30-minute paragliding flight from Sarangkot Mountain to Fewa Lake accompanied by a coach.
In the first 5 minutes after the paraglider took off, I took the “three major paragliding resorts in the world” out of the crossed-out wish list in my heart. After all, Pokhara is so smooth, and Acapulco and Mont Blanc will not be too much. Disaster. After more than 20 minutes, I regretted it and decided not to fly the paraglider anymore. The 360-degree spin made me dizzy, and it took a long time after the end to relax a little.
More than one Durbar Square
During our trip in Nepal, we visited three different Durbar Squares.
The first one arrived in Kathmandu on the first day; the second one was in Badgang; the third one was in Patan. These three Durbar Squares are located in the center of the site, representing the different pasts of the three cities. Durbar, in Nepali, means “royal palace”. Before the Shah Dynasty unified Nepal,
In this sense, I even want to thank Kathmandu for taking the position of the capital, which is why Badgang left the peace and harmony from the Middle Ages.
We have plenty of time, so we strolled slowly in the National Art Gallery, admiring the 55 carved window lattices, and overlooking the street view of the entire Durbar Square in the Nyatapola Temple. Before the great earthquake in 1934, there were more temples here than today. Although it has been undergoing difficult restoration after the earthquake, it is difficult to restore the former glory. When listening to the guide’s narration, most of the people in the same company expressed great regret. However, I never thought about this trip to Nepal at that time, and many of the scenery I saw became the last. One day after we left a few months, an earthquake opened a new wound in this city.
After every walk-and-go trip, I have to be thankful that my job is still there. Because, even if I am infinitely close to the snow-capped mountains, I still live in the world.
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