Exploring Nepal
BY Radha Dutta25 Aug 2014 2:03 AM IST
Radha Dutta25 Aug 2014 2:03 AM IST
It would be really hard for anyone to not like what Nepal has to offer as a nation and as a cultural hub. It feels like home away from home. People of Nepal are by far the most polite people I’ve ever come across, and I’ve done my bit of socializing with a lot of ‘international’ people too. Before you read further, you should know that you’re going to be dealing with a 19-year-old’s thoughts, who was a year younger when she visited the place. So please let’s all be nice to the little one and let her have her share of fun!
It was a family outing with my grandfather, who’s almost a carbon copy of a funny Prem Chopra – the great ‘villain’ of Indian cinema; my grandmother — our perpetual Meena Kumari; mother — the prettiest ATM and my sister, our model, whose only passion is to make me click her pictures. They’ll all be known by their pseudo-names hereafter but mother shall stay the same. So, here we are, taking on Nepal by storm and enjoying a family vacation in the Himalayas’ footsteps.
On our first day out, we went to the delightful Pashupatinath temple. Now, being a photography student, I very diligently showed zero interest in the religious aspect of the place and copped a squat next to all the sadhus and sadhvis who were readily posing in front of the camera... but for a price. In the meanwhile, Prem Chopra (my grandfather) and Meena Kumari (grandmother), along with my mother and my sister left for a tour of the temple.
The first day ended with us having a six-course meal of which the first course had momos to offer. It’s very clear how momos are the national dish of this country. Craving for something to quench our thirst and eagerly waiting for a wi-fi connection to save our social circles from getting extinct, we entered a cafe. While sipping coke, we asked the owner: ‘Bhaiya, do you have a wi-fi connection?’ ‘Yes’, he said. It was like music to our ears. The next part is what we dreaded asking. ‘What’s the password’, and pat came the reply: ‘ilovemomo. No caps. No space’.
We shared a glance but the trip was already proving to be a success. This is Nepal’s true spirit: East or west, momos are the best!
Boudh Monastery was our next stop. The whole surrounding was submerged in the resounding prayers offered by lamas, pilgrims and tourists. Colourful flags on top of a white tomb-like structure proved to be a sheer delight for the eyes. It was a busy day scene. The eye could only concentrate on the trail of colours and smoke rising from the incense sticks. One of the elderly lamas was an absolute sport. The calm and peace in his eyes along with a constant smile and twinkling eyes provoked me to take a whole lot of his pictures; the little lamas too excited to be a part of all this.
The next place we went to was Bhaktapur. And guess what? A shooting was in process. Bhaktpur is a beautiful town with ancient buildings spread across every nook and corner. It resembles Sanchi to quite an extent. Bhaktapur is also an ideal location for a shoot. The actors were circling around the tiny temple minarets and we clicked some amazing pictures with them.
Bhaktapur was filled with new experiences...from doing pottery to eating something I was told was Chinese. I still have my doubts about that though.
After Bhaktapur, we were headed towards the Himalayan foothills where watching the sunset is a must. Natives had painted such an enthralling image of the sunsets that we made it a point to go and visit it ourselves. It was a 100km drive, cloudy, and no sunset. We had only soft drinks and masala papad to our rescue. And how could I forget, a Bollywood remix CD we picked up on our way, gave us company. The same songs are being played in the background as I write this. To top it all, my grandmom made it a point to point out every spelling mistake she could find in the posters, signboards etc, not realising that it was Nepalese and not Hindi. I guess, once a teacher, always a teacher!
What makes Nepal special is also its rich history and culture. It is the only country in the world that has never been invaded and hence everything, including temples in every nook and corner of this country are still restored in their pristine glory. I think spirituality also has a huge part to play in how easy going the people are.
To top it all, our hotel was one of a kind. It made our vacation all the more enjoyable. A beautiful hotel with great hospitality, what else does one need from a home away from home?
From meeting amazing artists to people of substance, Nepal is a like a complete package. The hospitality, the people, the scenic beauty, the art, the talent, the calm, the spiritual component and the momos make Nepal an amazing place. It is possible to get a grandstand view of the Himalayan peaks without putting on walking boots, especially in Nepal. Fun excursions for non-walkers include a flight to view Everest up close or a hot-air balloon ride over the Kathmandu valley. Gentle rafting trips on rivers in Nepal are a fabulous experience too. It is one country one would like to visit again and again.
It was a family outing with my grandfather, who’s almost a carbon copy of a funny Prem Chopra – the great ‘villain’ of Indian cinema; my grandmother — our perpetual Meena Kumari; mother — the prettiest ATM and my sister, our model, whose only passion is to make me click her pictures. They’ll all be known by their pseudo-names hereafter but mother shall stay the same. So, here we are, taking on Nepal by storm and enjoying a family vacation in the Himalayas’ footsteps.
On our first day out, we went to the delightful Pashupatinath temple. Now, being a photography student, I very diligently showed zero interest in the religious aspect of the place and copped a squat next to all the sadhus and sadhvis who were readily posing in front of the camera... but for a price. In the meanwhile, Prem Chopra (my grandfather) and Meena Kumari (grandmother), along with my mother and my sister left for a tour of the temple.
The first day ended with us having a six-course meal of which the first course had momos to offer. It’s very clear how momos are the national dish of this country. Craving for something to quench our thirst and eagerly waiting for a wi-fi connection to save our social circles from getting extinct, we entered a cafe. While sipping coke, we asked the owner: ‘Bhaiya, do you have a wi-fi connection?’ ‘Yes’, he said. It was like music to our ears. The next part is what we dreaded asking. ‘What’s the password’, and pat came the reply: ‘ilovemomo. No caps. No space’.
We shared a glance but the trip was already proving to be a success. This is Nepal’s true spirit: East or west, momos are the best!
Boudh Monastery was our next stop. The whole surrounding was submerged in the resounding prayers offered by lamas, pilgrims and tourists. Colourful flags on top of a white tomb-like structure proved to be a sheer delight for the eyes. It was a busy day scene. The eye could only concentrate on the trail of colours and smoke rising from the incense sticks. One of the elderly lamas was an absolute sport. The calm and peace in his eyes along with a constant smile and twinkling eyes provoked me to take a whole lot of his pictures; the little lamas too excited to be a part of all this.
The next place we went to was Bhaktapur. And guess what? A shooting was in process. Bhaktpur is a beautiful town with ancient buildings spread across every nook and corner. It resembles Sanchi to quite an extent. Bhaktapur is also an ideal location for a shoot. The actors were circling around the tiny temple minarets and we clicked some amazing pictures with them.
Bhaktapur was filled with new experiences...from doing pottery to eating something I was told was Chinese. I still have my doubts about that though.
After Bhaktapur, we were headed towards the Himalayan foothills where watching the sunset is a must. Natives had painted such an enthralling image of the sunsets that we made it a point to go and visit it ourselves. It was a 100km drive, cloudy, and no sunset. We had only soft drinks and masala papad to our rescue. And how could I forget, a Bollywood remix CD we picked up on our way, gave us company. The same songs are being played in the background as I write this. To top it all, my grandmom made it a point to point out every spelling mistake she could find in the posters, signboards etc, not realising that it was Nepalese and not Hindi. I guess, once a teacher, always a teacher!
What makes Nepal special is also its rich history and culture. It is the only country in the world that has never been invaded and hence everything, including temples in every nook and corner of this country are still restored in their pristine glory. I think spirituality also has a huge part to play in how easy going the people are.
To top it all, our hotel was one of a kind. It made our vacation all the more enjoyable. A beautiful hotel with great hospitality, what else does one need from a home away from home?
From meeting amazing artists to people of substance, Nepal is a like a complete package. The hospitality, the people, the scenic beauty, the art, the talent, the calm, the spiritual component and the momos make Nepal an amazing place. It is possible to get a grandstand view of the Himalayan peaks without putting on walking boots, especially in Nepal. Fun excursions for non-walkers include a flight to view Everest up close or a hot-air balloon ride over the Kathmandu valley. Gentle rafting trips on rivers in Nepal are a fabulous experience too. It is one country one would like to visit again and again.
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