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SPECIAL
INTEREST ACTIVITIES...
Mountain Biking
Nepal/s extraordinary contours and numerous tracks and trails make it an ideal place for Mountain biking. You not only climb up and down challenging moountain roads but also have wonderful opportunity to admire the magnificent scenery around. A classic off-road adventure is the 70-km Scar Road that starts from Balaju to the west of Kathmandu city, traverses the hill resort of Kakani, Trisuli bazaar and Shivapuri, and then descends back to Kathmandu. Another route is the two-day circular tour to Dhulikhel to the east of Kathmandu. You can combine this ride with a visit to the ancient townships of Bhaktapur, Namobuddha and Panauti which lie en route. Yet another possibility is the 75-km ride on the adventurous, hair-raising Tribhuvan
Highway to the hill resort of/ Daman southeast of Kathmandu that
offer even tougher challenges. Pokhara and its environs provide
equally great venues for this sport. And if/ you have not brought
your own mountain bike- you can easily rent one.
Mountain Flight
Mountain flights in Nepal offer a panoramic views of the
Himalaya, in just an hour. From the flight one can see and be
close-up with more than 22 famous Himalayan peaks including Mt.
Everest, the highest peak in the world.
Bird Watching
Bird Watching in Nepal is a rapidly growing form of recreation. With the opening of Koshi Tappu Reserve, this activity has rapidly gained momentum. Other parks and reserves are also attracting more birdwatchers. Nepal is home to various species of rare and migratory birds. Koshi Tappu alone has recorded over 250 species of birds. Rare birds include Impeyean pheasant, the national bird, snow cock, snow pigeon, giant horn-bill, saras crane, babblers and others, etc. Every year millions of birds migrate from Tibet, Siberia and the northern mountains to the lowlands and the Terai. The Koshi Barrage is also one of the most important migratory habitats. Other lakes and ponds in the Terai
and the midlands also form important migratory routes. Bird
watching is a very pleasant experience during late autumn and
early spring when the migration occurs.
Boating
Boating is a common form of transport in the lowlands and the Terai in Nepal. Leisure boating can be done in various locations. Pokhara has many lakes. Therefore, Pokhara is also known as the lake District of Nepal. These turquoise lakes, reflecting the Annapurna Range on their waters, are ideal for boating. The most famous and pleasurable ones are the lakes of Phewa, Begnas and Rupa. Traditional canoe-style boating can be done in Chitwan and on some other rivers, including the Koshi. Windsurfing is also available in Pokhara from time to time.
Fishing
Fishing has formed a basic livelihood for numerous communities in the hilly and the Terai regions of Nepal. With its numerous rivers and lakes, Nepal is an ideal location for pleasure fishing and angling. Some of the popular rivers for fishing and angling are Betrawati, Indrawati, Karnali and Koshi. While fishing, one should look out for other aquatic species too, especially the fresh water dolphins in the Koshi, Rapti and Narayani river systems.
Flower
Tour
Due to diversity in climate and topography, many different varieties of flowers are found in Nepal. They range from tropical flowers found in the Terai to flowers such as rhododendron that are found only above the snowline. Out of the many varieties of flowers found in Nepal, many species of orchids and varieties of rhododendron are the rarest and most of them are found nowhere on earth. The Lali-Guras Festival, the festival of rhododendron flowers, is held annually at Helambu. Lali-Guras is the Nepalese name for the red rhododendron, and is the national flower of Nepal With all this richness in flowers, Nepal is a flower lover`s paradise. Spring and autumn are the best seasons to be in Nepal for floricultural indulgence. Due to its richness in flowers, Nepal is also known as the 'only flower that blooms in winter'.
Special
Interest Tours
Special
interest tours are conducted throughout the year to match all the
tastes. Lepidepterology is one, since eleven of the fourteen
families of butterflies are found in Nepal. These exotic species
are specially visible in the summer and the monsoon seasons.
Similarly fossil hunting, archaeological, zoological, geological,
mythological, meteorological, historical tours, game hunting,
village tours and other special interest tours take place
throughout the seasons.
Pony treks
Ponies have been a cheap and convenient form of transport for man and materials in the Himalaya since ages, and are still an easy way to explore the remote areas. Nowadays, ponies are being utilized extensively for trekking. Pony treks follow nearly the same routes as the ones for trekking. The pony treks are offered mostly in the western region, normally around Pokhara and also to the hinterlands of Dolpo and Lo Manthang (Mustang).
Nature walk
Hiking in Nepal can be a very pleasant experience. It is also the best way to know about the lifestyles and culture of the people and the scenic beauty of the places. A day`s hike can be done from Pokhara, Kathmandu, Tansen or from any of the hill resorts such as Dhulikhel, Kakani and Nagarkot. Hiking routes are normally along foot-tracks that have been in use for centuries. The pleasant seasons of spring and autumn are the best times to hike when the sky is clear and the mountains present their full glory. Be sure to take along drinking water, maps and picnic lunch to make the hike a memorable experience. Interacting with the local people can be a very informative and illuminating experience in Nepal because the country probably has the most hospitable and friendliest people on earth. Also check out the local culture and monuments on the way.
Photography
Photographic expeditions are gaining grounds in Nepal in recent years. There are destinations and areas in Nepal, which are
photographers' delights.
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