“There is something about the Himalayas not possessed by the Alps, something unseen and unknown, a charm that pervades every hour spent among them, a mystery intriguing and disturbing. Confronted by them, a man loses his grasp of ordinary things, perceiving himself as immortal, an entity capable of outdistancing all changes, all decay, all life, all death.”- Frank Symthe
Calm. Beautiful. Pristine. Pure and Simply Untouched….. That’s how you can define the beauty of “The Great Himalayas” in probably the least amount of words! Tall snow covered mountains, beautiful lakes and scenery, cold and powerful breeze that can make you shiver and diverse cultural and ethnic societies that can touch your heart in the most soft, but impactful ways!
If you are an avid traveler or a person who likes to “explore” different parts of the world or simply a nature lover! Then Nepal, popularly known as “The Country of Himalayas”, is the right place for you! When visiting the Himalayas, you will not only experience the grandiosity and magnificent aura of the Himalayan terrain, but, also get a flavor of vibrant Nepalese culture!
Before we dive deeper into the World of Himalayas and Nepal, let’s know some breathtaking facts about them!
The very first question that arises is that why these mountains have been named Himalayas? Why not something else? The answer to this question is related to the Hindu Mythology. “Himalaya” is a Sanskrit word which means “house of snow” and according to Hindu mythology, it is believed that God Shiva resides in the Himalayan Mountains. Many people believe that God Shiva holds a purifying power on a universal level and he is also known to help people shed their old habits and attachments.
There is no mountain range mightier than the Himalayas, an awe-inspiring crest of snow blanketed peaks that lifts the plains of the Indian subcontinent to the Roof of the World, the Tibetan Plateau. In the process, it notches up nine of the world’s ten highest mountains, including the greatest of them all, Mount Everest. Needless to say, the region has made Nepal a magnet for seasoned mountaineers looking to test their chops in the world’s most demanding terrain. From the challenging aspects of various trails to residing in base camps and sharing a cup of tea with your new companions, whilst exploring some of the most beautiful and diverse terrains in the world, words can’t really express that moment of adventure and serenity, you’ll experience once you immerse yourself in the Himalayas. Some people believe that you’ll get spiritual enlightenment as you take in the sights and sounds of the roaring mountain ranges.
There will be many moments in your journey that will simply take your breath away! You may have visited hundreds of places in your life, but we assure that Himalayas will be the most epic place that you can visit on this whole planet!
So are you ready for a voyage to the heart of hills?
Let’s start from the World’s Tallest Mountain, Mount Everest!
Everest holds a pretty special place in our hearts, as our very own Sir Ed Hillary from New Zealand, along with Tenzing Norgay from Nepal, who conquered Mount Everest on 29 May, 1953. The Nepalese call the Everest Mountain as Sagarmatha, which means “goddess of sky”, while the Tibetans call it Chomolungma, that is, “mother goddess of the universe”. Hey, nowadays you can even tweet from the Mountain!
On the Everest Base Camp, you can trek with some of the awesome guides and fully enjoy one of the most rewarding hiking expeditions you will get to experience in your lifetime. With an impressive climb culminating at 5,364 meters, you’ll be absolutely thrilled and in awe once you set your foot on the Everest Base Camp and from there, you will kick start your journey to creating a lifetime achievement for yourself that is, climbing the Mount Everest!
Then comes the Annapurna Base Camp! Trekking the Annapurna Sanctuary will definitely give you that surreal breath-taking moment, where, you can absorb and assimilate the wonderful views of the extraordinary rich countryside as you hike to the Sanctuary. A high glacial basin lying 40km directly north of Pokhara, this natural ecosystem is made up of three Annapurna Mountains: South, South 1, and South 2. A unique combination of its height, along with receiving 7 hours of sunlight per day, the Annapurna Sanctuary has a wide variety of ecosystems. The first few days of your trek will follow glistening streams of beautiful valleys, passing through dense Rhododendron forests and the mesmerizing
Gurung villages of Ulleri, Gorepani and Chhomrong. As you climb to 4,130 meters, you will fell an intense achievement and a sense of true accomplishment! These will be definitely some moments of your life that you can treasure forever!
The Nepalese word for “Tea House” is Bhatti. These are the places where you can reside at the end of the day. The Tea House is a well-mixed combination of a guest house, restaurant and social hangout. The Tea House is also the family home therefore this welcoming dwelling is seen as a “home away from home”. Here, it’s not just about the quality of tea, but also the quality of the people running them, so be sure to say “Namaste”
when greeting your hosts. Place the palms of your hands together in prayer position and just give a slight bow to the head and say “Namaste”. This is how Nepalese greet each other with a respectful bow of head. Tea houses give you a great opportunity to meet new people.
Himalayas have the most unique history and geography among all the terrains of the world. This is the reason why they attract thousands of people from around the world towards their serene and mesmerizing ecosystems! So what are YOU waiting for? Pack your travel bags and start your Voyage to the Heart of the Hills!
Author: Sanjhana