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Nepal
Courts Nervous Tourists
An Overview
for Travel Agents
by Kelly Monaghan
Nepal tourism has suffered
several body blows in the past year or so. First was the massacre of the
royal family in June 2001 and September’s terrorist attacks on America.
Then Nepal's perennial Maoist insurgency spilled out of remote mountain
valleys with attacks on major population centers. Tourism officials have
been at pains ever since to reassure jittery travelers.
"Nepal is one of the safest and most peaceful destinations, with
the most hospitable local people," insists Pradeep Raj Pandey, CEO
of the Nepal Tourism Board. "Since Nepal was opened to tourism in
1962, there has not been a single incident in which tourists were the
target."
Target Clientel: Nepal has long appealed to the young international
backpacker set, for whom a sojourn in its dirt-cheap guesthouses is a
cherished rite of passage. Thanks to its well-developed tourism infrastructure,
however, Nepal has much to offer the upscale traveler seeking to blend
outdoor adventure, eco-travel, and third world exoticism with the comforts
of a fine hotel. Anyone considering a tour of India is a candidate for
an extension in Nepal.
Attractions: Nepal boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage Cultural
Sites, seven of which are in or near the capital, Kathmandu, making the
region something of an extended open-air art museum. The three palace
squares, or durbar margs, of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur date to the
twelfth to fifteenth centuries, when these three near-neighbors were homes
to rival kingdoms, and represent Nepali art and architecture at its height.
Red brick palaces with intricately carved wooden windows that seem to
shimmer in the sunlight are typical of Newari architecture. They are offset
by pagodas, a style that originated in Nepal, and stone Shikhara temples
that reflect a heavy Indian influence. Of the three, the square at Bhaktapur
is the best preserved. A standout is the Nyatapola Temple, a towering
pagoda set on a high, multi-level plinth. Bhaktapur is also home to some
of the country’s finest carved wooden windows and most renowned craftspeople.
The Hindu temple of Pashupatinath sits astride Kathmandu’s Bagmati
River; here devotees come to cremate their dead as colorful sadhus, mendicant
Indian holy men with painted foreheads and eccentric garb, perform their
devotions and pose for pictures in exchange for alms. Just west of Kathmandu
is Swayambhunath, an enormous white stupa that bespeaks the ancient Buddhist
and Tibetan influences that spice predominantly Hindu Nepal.
Outside Kathmandu, cultural tourism gives way to the splendors of Nepal’s
natural beauty. The Himalayas, which on clear days form a backdrop for
the capital, are high on every visitor’s list. Treks to the Everest
National Park can be arranged for the hardy, but most tourists opt for
the comfort and convenience of a "mountain flight" ($110). These
50-minute excursions fly as close as three miles to the world’s highest
peak and offer an unparalleled view of the justly famous Himalayan range.
Of the several airlines that offer these flights, Buddha Air (977-1-437025)
and Mountain Air (977-1-489062), which fly 16-seater Beechcrafts, are
considered the best choices.
To the south, in Nepal’s lowlands along the Indian border, lies Royal
Chitwan National Park, where visitors can sleep in thatch-roofed huts
and climb aboard elephants for jungle safaris that regularly spot grazing
rhinos and occasionally an elusive tiger.
The lakeside resort town of Pokhara is the jumping off point for treks
into the Annapurna region. These range from easy day hikes to grueling
weeks-long expeditions. The less adventuresome can opt for a pre-dawn
excursion to nearby Sarangkot to watch the sun rise on the sacred peak
of Machhapuchhare.
Trekking is only the start of Nepal’s adventure travel options. Whitewater
rafting is booming as the government opens more rivers to rafting, including
some of the world’s wildest. An outfitter with an excellent reputation
for safety is Ultimate Descents in Kathmandu (977-1- 419295; www.udnepal.com).
Other activities include hot air ballooning, bungy jumping, and the extreme
sport of canyoning.
Accommodations: Kathmandu’s most storied hotel is the centrally-located
270-room Yak and Yeti, with doubles starting from $185 (977-1-248999;
www.yakandyeti.com). The 290-room Soaltee Crowne Plaza offers gracious
service and fine dining, with doubles from $190 (800-465-4329; www.soaltee.com).
A choice near the airport is the new 290-room Hyatt Regency, where doubles
start at $220 (888-591-1234; www.hyatt.com)
In Pokhara, the best choice is the Shangri-la Village near the airport
with its stunning mountain views and garden setting; doubles start at
$150 (977-61-22122; www.nepalshangrila.com). Those who opt out of trekking
might want to await their companions’ return at the lavish and secluded
165-room Fulbari Resort, with its 9-hole golf course and elaborate spa
facilities; doubles start at $170 (977-61-23451; www.fulbari.com).
In Royal Chitwan National Park, The Temple Tiger Jungle Lodge (977-1-221637;
www.catmando.com/temple-tiger/) offers thatched-hut accommodations, elephant-back
safaris under the supervision of trained naturalists, and other activities
for an all-inclusive rate of $250 per person.
Dining: For most travelers hotel dining is the safest recommendation,
with major hotels offering Nepalese cultural programs with dinner. A more
authentic experience is available in Kathmandu at Bhojan Griha, a restaurant
in a restored palace, where a Nepalese banquet is accompanied by traditional
music and dances from the country’s many ethnic groups. It has quickly
become a favorite spot for a celebratory end-of-tour dinner (977-1-416423).
Getting There/Around: Singapore Airlines (800-742-3333) offers
direct service to Kathmandu from the east and west coasts, while Thai
Airways (800-426-5204) services only the west. Connections using Royal
Nepal Airlines (800-266-3725) are available via Delhi, Hong Kong and other
Asian cities. Within Nepal, air travel is recommended whenever possible.
Major domestic carriers include Royal Nepal Airlines and Necon (977-1-47169).
Tour operators with a strong presence in Nepal include Anik Travel (503-244-1674)
and Absolute Asia (800-736-8187). For adventure travel and some special
requests you may have to rely on a receptive tour operator such as Shakti
Travel in Kathmandu (977-1-488552; shaktinepal@usa.net).
Strongest Selling Points: The opportunity to gawk at the Himalayas
in comfort, from a hotel pool or an aircraft, is perhaps the country’s
biggest draw, with the elephant safaris of its jungle parks a close second.
Undersold and often overlooked, at least by adult travelers, are the soft
and hard adventures offered by Nepal’s mountains, canyons, rivers,
and extensive system of trekking routes.
For more information:
Nepal Tourism Board
Bhrikuti Mandap
Kathmandu, Nepal
977-1-256909
info@ntb.wlink.com.np
www.welcomenepal.com
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