Get basic information for travelling to Nepal, on how to get to Nepal from Mumbai, where to go and what to see in Nepal. Why should Nepal be your first international trip?

If you are excited about your trip to Nepal, this article will help you create the perfect itinerary. We will tell you just the right things to do, explore, pack and lots more. My first international trip is a tale of extraordinary events and twisty turns. You will know why, in a few minutes. It is going to guide you with the perfect itinerary for travelling to Nepal.

Generally, I never make a trip without an itinerary and learning about the place. However, this time while travelling to Nepal, I came here with zero knowledge of the place, distances or price range and depended completely on my subscribers and followers. I took help of Praful, Yashwant, and Kusum and 100 others who helped me make this trip the most memorable one.

Getting from Mumbai To Kathmandu – Documents, Travel

I am writing to you from Kathmandu, but this is not where the story starts. Our story began at home in Mumbai. All my bags were packed, laces were tied, gears were set and I was ready to leave right on time. I was excited for travelling to Nepal and had a 5 PM flight to Kathmandu, Nepal. I took an Uber and left for Mumbai International Airport.

All great things happen when you take risks, and one such risk was booking an international ticket for travelling to Nepal without having a passport. We booked the tickets just 2 weeks ago, without having any clarity of what would be the necessary documents at Kathmandu airport. We had absolutely no idea what the immigration process in Nepal would be like.

Indians travelling to Nepal, please note, you can only enter Nepal either with your Voter ID or passport, but not on your PAN Card, Aadhar Card or driving license. So, I was relieved to know I didn’t have to cancel my plans, and I had my Voter ID to clear my way to Nepal.

Since my flight was delayed, I used my free time to edit and work on my videos. #vloggerlife Finally, it was time for my flight to take off and I reached Nepal.

Delhi To Kathmandu By Public Transport

My travel buddy, Satya reached Kathmandu after a road trip of over 28 hours by bus. If you are unable to get your flight tickets, or planning a budget trip to Nepal, please note you get buses to Nepal. But, the journey will be tiring and you will need one full day to rest and revive your energy.

Money Problems, No Problem

My first stop was at the currency exchange counter and getting a Nepalese SIM card. The SIM gets activated within an hour. After the demonetization movement in India, very few places in Nepal accept notes of over 200 rupees. Even though 100/- and 200/- rupee notes are in circulation, only bigger restaurants and hotels agreed to accept 500/- and 2000/- rupees notes. So, make sure to carry adequate cash in hand to avoid any uncomfortable situations.

Attention, Bikers!

Nepal has 7 of the world’s 10 tallest mountains, it’s like a heaven for hikers and trekkers. However, I was excited to explore this beauty on the bike. So, I went out exploring alone and looking for a ride. I thought bike rent prices would be reasonable here, but it wasn’t the case.

If you’re planning to visit Nepal, please note, bike ride are expensive here. Bike rent in Nepal are high because bikes are 3 times the price that we get in India. But thanks to Royal brothers we received a good deal on bikes and they were available on call. You can also use their Coupon Code: MSK (15%) to avail discounts.

Follow the link to watch my vlog and re-live Day 1 with me.

Capital of Nepal, Kathmandu

Kathmandu, the capital and largest city of Nepal, has extremely diverse cultures, insane history and it is a motion picture of the past and present. It is the hub of the most places of interest in Nepal because of its inherent cultural value. The weather is cold, crisp and unpredictable. You will need to carry jacket and warm clothes. It’s the most crowded city and you will find a lot of tourists strutting around the streets. You should stay in Kathmandu for a day if you are travelling to Nepal to get the vibe.

I reached my hotel in Kathmandu, at around 12 AM. All the restaurants were closed and roads were empty. After walking for 10 minutes I found a small joint for food, where I got some tasty momo.

Monkey Business at Swayambhunath Stupa

You can start your trip by visiting Swayambhunath Stupa or Monkey temple. It is the most common attraction of tourists to experience peace and prayers.

It was chaotic and crowded on a Saturday. You can visit when local devotees circumnavigate the stupa and spin the prayer wheels in the late afternoon to witness the rituals.

It takes a stair-trek of around 365 stairs to get there, but the view from the top is worth it. Even if you take the bike to the top, you still have to take a couple of stairs to reach the main stupa. We got to see the incredible view of Kathmandu surrounded by unbelievable mountain ranges and monkeys bustling about hunting for food.

Unfortunately, the temple endured great damages during the 2015 earthquake that hit Nepal. However, the main structures survived and the temple was renovated.

Hustle and Bustle at Boudhanath Stupa

Boudhanath stupa is another must-visit attraction in Nepal. It is known to be the largest in Nepal, and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. This place is mesmerizing I had added this place as a must-visit while making my plans for travelling to Nepal.

Built in the 14th-century, the main part of the stupa collapsed during the 2015 earthquake. However, the whole site was restored shortly after. Decorated with Buddhist prayer flags, the gigantic white dome and all-seeing eye of Buddha is extraordinary. The top of the stupa is decorated in pure gold.

Thousands of pilgrims walk around the central dome and spin prayer wheels. Monks chanting mantras and praying in the monasteries is a common sight.

You can visit Swayambhunath Stupa and Boudhanath Stupa on the same day. You will take roughly an hour to travel from one point to another.

Expect the unexpected

As per our plans, we thought we’ll play safe and decided to go Chitwan via Mugling. Kathmandu to Mugling is over 110 KMS away and another 100 KMS to Chitwan. Then like I said, twists waited for us. Satya’s bike broke down twice. Team Royal Brothers were quick to first repair the bike for us, and then when it broke down again, they replaced the bike. It was getting dark to go any further so we decided to halt at the closest hotel for the night.

We had only reached nearly 50 KMS from Kathmandu when we took the halt. We do not prefer riding during the nights when we do not know the road and traffic conditions. Had we been in India, we would have known the risk factors and riding at night would not have been a problem.

Riders! SAFETY is always first. Do not risk outside your territories. Change your itinerary if you have to. There is no shame in cutting your trip short, or not seeing one or two extra places. Follow your gut and always, always ride safe.

Riding from Kathmandu to Pokhara

Being a rider, comes with its own adventures and we always have to be prepared for it. Early next morning we left for Pokhara, which is just a little over 200 KMS from Kathmandu. After much adventure and unexpected circumstances, we finally reached Pokhara just short of 30 hours, which otherwise takes 7-8 hours.

When you’re choosing your bikes, pick something you are ABSOLUTELY comfortable with. Do not go with a Royal Enfield Himalayan or KTM if you are comfortable with a Honda Unicorn or a Hero Glamour. You’re a biker by heart, not by the bike you ride.

After riding for hours, we finally reached the second largest city in Nepal, Pokhara, in the evening. Remember to eat and sleep well when you have exerted so much.

Pokhara

Pokhara is the biggest adventure hub in Nepal; boating, paragliding, bungee jumping, suspension bridges and zipline, Pokhara has it all. Its natural beauty is a perfect combination of lakes, valleys and rivers.

You can easily spend 3-4 days in this vibrant city and gaze at the panoramic view of the Annapurna range.

Kahun Danda, Pokhara

Early next morning we left for Kahun Danda. Upon reaching the spot, we felt like we were at the top of the world, literally. We were surrounded by clouds and all you could see were mountains as far as the eyes could reach. There are not enough words to explain what we saw. Jump to my YouTube channel to see the mesmerizing view.

Even though we rode here, tourists also hike up to this point which is relatively less crowded. Kahun Danda is situated in northeast side of Pokhara valley with a magnificent view of snowcapped Annapurna range and sweeping view of Pokhara valley. Weather here is unpredictable, and unfortunately our view was interrupted by heavy clouds.

Do not miss out the gorgeous view from the Watchtower. You have to take a 30 rupees ticket to enter the watchtower.

Lakeside, Pokhara

Lakeside, Pokhara is a popular tourist destination by the massive Fewa Lake. It is surrounded by luscious mountains. A number of activities like boating, feeding the fish and wishing pot are famous here.

We rode up here, but you can easily find tourist buses that will drop you at the border between Lakeside and Dam-side. Swimming here is not allowed due to its powerful under currents.

We took a small boat ride to the Tal Barahi temple in Pokhara. It’s a small temple in the middle of the lake, surrounded by the lake and countless fishes.

Lumbini, Birthplace of Buddha

Even though we didn’t get a chance to visit this beauty because of time constraints, please do try to take a look at the birthplace of Buddhism as we know it. It is one of the world’s most important spiritual sites. The best time to visit is in winters.

World Peace Pagoda

When in Nepal, you just can’t get enough of the enormous pagodas. The World Peace Pagoda was built as a symbol of peace. It is a 1,100-meter-high Stupa. Situated on a hilltop in Pumdi Bhumdi, it offers a complete view of the whole Pokhara city, Annapurna range and Fewa Lake.

Constructed by Buddhist monks, the monument reflects four prominent stages of the Buddha’s life in four directions; birth, enlightenment, education and nirvana.

Being another tourist’s favourite spot, this place was also pretty crowded. The overwhelming smell of incense sticks and monks chanting is an experience by itself.

Devi’s Fall – Patale Chhango

Devi’s Fall or Davis Fall is also known as Patale Chhango. Patale Chhango means ‘underworld waterfall’ in Nepali. Though the waterfall flows all year round it is best viewed from June to September.

What’s interesting about this waterfall is that it runs down through some rocks into a tunnel leading to Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave, making it look like the water disappears as it falls.

Devis Falls is located along the Siddhartha Highway, across the road from Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave. It’s reachable from Dam-side in Pokhara. Many people trek to this place from Lakeside via World Peace Stupa.

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave

Located close to Devi’s Falls, the Gupteshwor Mahadev cave is Nepal’s most famous cave. It is also known to be the longest cave in Nepal. The main cave contains several shrines dedicated to Shiva and other Hindu deities like Mahadev and Parvati, Nageswor and Saraswati.

As you get deeper inside, it gets darker and you can hear the waterfall from here. This part is often closed during the monsoon season. You have to be careful as the staircase and ground is slippery with all the mud and water. Once you reach the end, and to the bottom of the cave, you reach the spot with a view of the waterfall. Seriously, travelling to Nepal is a joyful feeling altogether.

Hanging bridge of Pokhara

I was most excited to go to ride on one of the biggest suspension bridges of Nepal, the Hanging Bridge of Pokhara. It runs over the Fusre Khola river and connects the valley at a height of over 90 meters. It is not an easy walk if you have a fear of heights.

Damsadi Village, on the south west of Pokhara valley, is connected to Pokhara by this bridge. You have to pass this beautiful bridge to get to Damsadi village.

It is a relatively busy bridge, and people cross this bridge on a daily basis. You can take your bike on the bridge, but it gets inconvenient for the pedestrians and it’s not easy to ride on it either.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Ultra-Light Flight at Pokhara Airport

I was ready to tick off a few things off my bucket list, and this was one of it. An ultra-light flight is a small aircraft designed to carry no more than two people. Ultralight flight in Nepal is available only in Pokhara. It is a unique way to discover the majestic Himalayas. It is special because of how close it gets to the mountains.

If the weather permits this flight kicks off from Pokhara airport before soaring over the impressive snowcapped peaks of Nepal. If the weather is not suitable, you will be either offered a refund or you can postpone the fly.

The pilot was continuously pointing out the main peaks, and teaching all about the different ranges and its importance during the flight. The cherry on the cake is when you grasp the great mount Everest. It was incredible.

The horizon seems like an endless jagged row of high snowy peaks stretching to eternity. This 45-minute ride was way beyond one’s imagination and simply unbelievable. Absolutely worth it.

Bungee jumping at Hemja, Pokhara

We all have a bucket list, and one of the death-defying activities most of want to do once in our lifetime is bungee jump. As much as I was excited, I was also scared to face death so close.

Located just a couple of minutes away from Lakeside, Pokhara is Nepal’s first and only tower bungee in Hemja. Trust me, if you are an adrenaline junkie, this activity is the epitome of absolute craziness. Watch the video to see the fear in our eyes.

All safety gears were as per standards. The management was certified and experienced. They very particularly said ‘Don’t close your eyes. Face your death and you’ll see how beautiful life is. That’s why this is called half suicide.’ They also have cameras to take photos and videos of your jump.

The view of jump site of Hemja is stunning. You fall 75 meters into a boat waiting for you in the river below, amidst mountains. My experience of free fall was 3 seconds little too long. It all ends too soon and is almost unbelievable. The only proof is when your body keeps trembling even hours after the jump.

You might also want to experience sky diving, paragliding, para-motor flying, hang-gliding for more adventure while travelling to Nepal.