With over 10% of its people practicing it, Buddhism is the second most practiced religion in Nepal. Buddhism was founded around 6 century B.C.. by Prince Siddhartha , who after years of wandering and meditation became the Buddha – also known as the Enlightened One, in northern India, which borders Nepal.

Buddhism has four Noble Truths:
1. There is suffering in life
2. There are causes of suffering
3. There is a way to end this suffering
4. There is a condition of existence without suffering, known as Nirvana.

The Buddha believes there is an eight fold path to achieving Nirvana. This path consist of eight practices: right perception, right conceptualization, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right religious effort, right mindfulness and right concentration (or contemplation). The religion has numerous gods, but they are not viewed as supreme beings, rather they are seen as bodiless state in a heavenly existence. The religion is also guided by ten precepts, which are similar to commandments, but are practiced as ethical recommendations to guide those on the path.

These precepts are to abstain from:

Buddhism provides a fascinating insight into Nepal’s architecture, people, and culture. For a basic primer on the Buddhism, we recommend these two websites:

An interview with Dr. Su onasekera, which is an excellent primer on Buddhism
http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=60,6016,0,0,1,0

The Big View website has an easy to follow and detailed summary of Buddhism
http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/precepts.html

“Hope for the best, prepare for the worst” is a well-known, yet rarely followed axiom.  Many international travelers invest in travel insurance for protection from unforeseen problems like sickness, injury, lost or stolen luggage, sudden illness, or other risks. On the front end, you can protect yourself from some medical calamities by making sure your vaccinations are up-to-date and carrying all medications, insurance information, doctor’s prescriptions, and correction lenses in your carry-on luggage. While most travel insurance policies cost about 5%-7% of your trip it is far cheaper than the cost of being transported out of Nepal for a medical emergency, which,without insurance, may cost Read more

I wrote about paragliding in Pokhara Nepal last October.  At the time I didn’t have a video camera with me, or even a camera while we were in the air.  I’ve made many trips to Nepal in the last year, but the operations side and a trip to Mustang  had kept me so busy that I hadn’t had another chance to paraglide.  When I was in Nepal last month I was determined to get back into the air, and this time I made sure to get some video and stills.  Here’s the result.  Hope you enjoy

I wouldn’t suggest shorting yourself for time on a Chitwan National Park safari.  That said I was amazed at what I was able to do and see in two short days.  Lions and tigers and bears?  Not exactly, but there are tigers, about 108, and plenty of other very large creatures which are mostly herbivores.

If you choose to fly, as I did, you’ll only be in the air about 30 minutes traveling in a southwesterly direction to Read more

1. Tij:- This colorful women’s festival has groups of red sari-clad ladies singing in high spirits in the streets on their way to ritually bathe in the Bagmati river at Pashupatinath. | Picture |

2. IndraJatra:- Probably the most spectacular of all valley festival. Torch-lit processions & dancing to honor Indra, the gods of rain, are held in this eight-day celebration which centers on the Kathmandu, Durbar Square. On the third day of the Kumari, or living Goddess (goddess in Human form) is paraded in a special chariot & worshipped by the king himself. Masks of Bhairav decorate the city & local beer pours ferts from the mouths of these masks to refresh the local revellers.                                          | Picture |

9) Ashwin (September/October)

Dashain or Durga Puja:- This 10-days festival is celebrated all over Nepal, honoring bountiful fertility & the conquest of evil. Normal life comes to a standstill as everyone attends to his religious & family duties. On Phulpati, the day of flowers, there is a procession to Hanuman Dhoka attended by the king, on the eighth & ninth days there are massive numbers of ritual animal sacrifices, for every tool that is used during the year must be blessed. Shrines all over the country literally run with blood. On the final day the palace is opened for all who wish to line up to receive a Tika from the hands of the king or queen.