Buddha and Buddhasim

The biggest statue of  Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama was born and educated as a Hindu, and was deeply saddened as he saw the suffering of those who were confused and embattled in conflicting beliefs over their many gods. Those with little understanding were fighting over foolish matters such as whether or not Rama was greater than Krishna or Shiva.

Indeed, Siddhartha was deeply saddened by the pain and suffering that he saw in the world, and set out to discover a path whereby one could rise above the differences and distinctions of mankind in order to enjoy a life beyond suffering.

He saw that on-going arguments over whether or not "my god is better than your god" were not bringing insight to mankind, but were actually resulting in painful division, misunderstanding, hatred and violence. He saw that instead of the people's belief in Brahman bringing them together in peace, their religion often led to petty bickering over which gods, goddesses and attributes were superior. Siddhartha also noted that many unenlightened teachers were leading the people astray and using either the love of God or the wrath of God as the reason for every action. But that approach was leading only to more pain and suffering.

Over time, Siddhartha was shown that there was another path, a path that would rise far above and beyond such arguments, divisiveness and hatred.

Shakyamuni Buddha taught that if a person had been shot with an arrow, there was really no point in a group of people standing around arguing over who made the arrow, or what type of wood it was made of, or what type of feathers were used. The first, and most important matter, is simply to remove the arrow.

Shakyamuni had awakened to the truth that only when one has discovered true peace is he truly ready and able to discover the glorious depths and wonders of Life. So, rather than starting off with the divisive and contentious issue of God and His attributes, the teachings of Shakyamuni simply began with learning how to be a good human being, learning how to live with loving-kindness, respect and harmony for all of creation.

While there are many possible paths leading to a life of love, harmony and beauty, we generally see that any one teacher will tend to use certain specific concepts and ideals in his teaching; and so it was that Shakyamuni began to teach the people about the causes of their suffering.

Shakyamuni taught that there is no need to even mention the ideal called God or Allah or Krishna or the All-Mighty Ever-Seeing One in order to learn the truth of suffering. So, the great innovation in his teaching was that he did not use either the love of God or the wrath of God as a reason to live in harmony with one another, he completely side-stepped such contentious issues, and began to teach about crucial issues for living a peaceful and mindful life, such as the Four Heavenly Abodes: loving-kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), sympathetic joy (mudita) and equanimity (upekkha).

This path was of course very successful because people were, and still are, eager to put an end to their suffering. However, as is the case with every path toward understanding, the followers of the teaching did not always comprehend where this path would lead. For many, the teaching of Buddha was merely a refuge from suffering, and thus many believe that there is no God in Buddhism. And, for them, that is therefore true. But that is not the fault of the teachings of Shakyamuni. Every person has their own unique definition of 'God'. Indeed, each person has their own special understanding of God; for some, there is a personal God; for others there is an unknowable God. Thus, many of the arguments about God stem from the simple fact that God is beyond definition.

I once saw the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso talking about his early days of learning science and how he began to see the wonder and magnificence of the intelligence that was in some manner behind the existence of all the stars and planets.... How delightful! In the peace and mindfulness offered by Buddhism, he had indeed seen beyond the beyond, and had acknowledged that Mystery beyond the mysteries that many would call God. In general, the Buddhist path recognizes that there is an essential radiance (also called luminosity or purity) that forms the basis of our awareness and which permeates and supports our existence. Again, some would simply call that radiance God, or and aspect of God, but it is not the name that matters. What really matters is that we allow this glorious purity, regardless of what we call it, to manifest in our lives as compassion and loving-kindness. That is our true nature, and that is our highest calling.

There are many paths to perfection, and each person is offered their own personal path out of their own particular darkness and pain. Each person has their own unique path, and we must willingly allow each of our brothers and sisters to walk their own unique path... not only allow them to walk their own path, but we should happily celebrate their path and encourage them along their way no matter how different their path may seem to be.

There is only One Light shining through every window... call it Buddha-nature, call it Divine Essence, call it God, the name doesn't really matter; it is only the direct personal experience and manifestation of that essence that really matters. So, go for it! Every person has this glorious essence, the essence of enlightenment, already within them, let it out, let it shine!!

The God of Hindu: SHIVA

The biggest image of  God Shiva

Shiva is the god of the yogis, self-controlled and celibate, while at the same time a lover of his spouse (shakti). Lord Shiva is the destroyer of the world, following Brahma the creator and Vishnu the preserver, after which Brahma again creates the world and so on. Shiva is responsible for change both in the form of death and destruction and in the positive sense of destroying the ego, the false identification with the form. This also includes the shedding of old habits and attachments.

All that has a beginning by necessity must have an end. In destruction, truly nothing is destroyed but the illusion of individuality. Thus the power of destruction associated with Lord Shiva has great purifying power, both on a more personal level when problems make us see reality more clearly, as on a more universal level. Destruction opens the path for a new creation of the universe, a new opportunity for the beauty and drama of universal illusion to unfold. As Satyam, Shivam, Sundaram or Truth, Goodness and Beauty, Shiva represents the most essential goodness.

While of course many hindu deities are associated with different paths of yoga and meditation, in Shiva the art of meditation takes its most absolute form. In meditation, not only mind is stopped, everything is dropped. In deep meditation or samadhi, even the object of the meditation (like a mantra) is transformed into its formless essence, which is the essence of everything and everyone. Thus Shiva stands for letting go of everything in the world of forms. The path of Lord Shiva is the path of the ascetic yogi.

Forms of Shiva

Shiva has many forms, which are visible in his Panchavaktra form with 5 heads, a combination of all Shiva energies : Aghora (resides in the creamation grounds), Ishana (most often appears as the shivalingam), Tat Purusha (meditating), Varna Deva (the eternal Shiva) and Saddyojat or Braddha Rudra (the old wrathful form). The last also forms the connection to the Rudraksha mala - a rosary made of the dried fruits of the Rudraksha tree.

Another form is the Nataraj. Shiva Nataraj's dance represents both the destruction and the creation of the universe and reveals the cycles of death, birth and rebirth. His Dance of Bliss is for the welfare of the world. In the pose of Nataraj, the King of Dance is giving darshan to his beloved devotees within the "Hall of Consciousness", which is the heart of man. Under his feet, Shiva crushes the demon of ignorance called Apasmara Purusha, caused by forgetfulness. One hand is stretched across his chest and points towards the uplifted foot, indicating the release from earthly bondage of the devotee. The fire represents the final destruction of creation, but the dance of the Nataraj is also an act of creation, which arouses dormant energies and scatters the ashes of the universe in a pattern that will be the design of the ensuing creation.

Yet another manifestation of Lord Shiva is said to be Hanuman, the ultimate karma yogi, in never-ending selfless service to Ram. The fact that this is not really clear can be perfectly explained by the understanding that a true karma yogi will never take the credit for his acts, as they would otherwise not be entirely selfless. The ego would still get the credit. So, in order to respect Shiva as a true karma yogi, let us not pay too much attention to this manifestation.

The Mahamrityunyaya form of Shiva is the great conqueror of death. The Mahamrityunjaya mantra is one of the two main mantras of the Vedas, next to the Gayatri mantra. It is chanted to remove death and disease. This form of Shiva also is the being of pure joy, referring to the unconditioned enjoyment of the perfectly peaceful mind. That is the true nature of the divine elixir that this Shiva offers his devotees in no less than four hands.

Another main form of Shiva is Ardhnarishwara, half Shiva, half Shakti. Also related to Shiva is Indra.

Attributes of Lord Shiva

Shiva's main attributes are :

• the trident that represents the three gunas
• the snakes that show he is beyond the power of death and poison and also stand for the Kundalini energy.
• the sound of Shiva's two-sided drum maintains the rhythm of the heartbeat and creates the sound AUM in the overtones.
• the vehicle of Shiva is the white bull called Nandi (the joyful).
• Shiva is often seated on a tiger skin or wears a tiger skin, with the tiger representing the mind.
• Shiva lives on Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas.

Relationships

The power or energy of Shiva is Shakti, his spouse, of which Parvati is probably the most popular form. Shiva's first wife was Sati and his second wife was Parvati. They are also known by many other names, such as Uma, Gauri, Durga, Kali, Annapurna and Shakti. His sons are Ganesha and Kartikeya.

Shiva and Parvati are often shown as sitting in happy, intimate embrace. They also like to discuss philosophy. Shiva taught Parvati on Vedanta (transcendent knowledge), while Parvati tought him Sankhya (cosmological knowledge). Both were perfected yogis.

After their marriage, they left for mount Kailash and immersed themselves completely in a sexual intercourse so strong that the deity of desire Kama was reborn when their sweat mingles with his ashes. Their love was so intense that it shook the cosmos and frightened even the gods.

Tandava dance, Parvati is said to complement him with a slow, creative step of her own, calming him with her soft glances. While Shiva shows a wilder nature that is both ascetic and erotic, Parvati stands for the middle path of the householder. As Shiva exulted in his romantic dalliance with her, the true mother in her longed for a child. Shiva resisted the life of a householder, but Parvati's desire for it was greater than his resistance. Hence first Ganesha was born, later also Kartikay.

The Shiva Lingam

Lord Shiva is conceived in his unborn, invisible form as the Shiva Lingam. The Lingam represents the male creative energy of Shiva. This main symbol of Shiva is worshipped in virtually every Hindu temple and home. The phallus is not worshipped as such, but through it Shiva is worshipped as the supreme consciousness. Embracing the base of the linga is the yoni, the female organ, as the universal energy, as Shakti, Shiva's spouse. Through profound understanding of this symbol, the mystery of creation can be understood as an act of love.

When Ganga incarnated on Earth, Lord Shiva captured her in his hair to avoid that she would flood all of Earth (See the Life of Ganga).

Shiva worshippers (Shaivites) are among India's most ascetic yogis, their body smeared with ashes, dressed in saffron colors and wearing a Rudraksha mala. The path of Shiva can thus be seen as the inward-going path, the great journey to find the self. This path is complementary to the path of Vishnu, which is the outgoing path, bringing out the self from within and letting it manifest in the universe and our lives.

Feel the different motion in AIR

I took a deep breath, stretched out my arms, and jumped. For a brief second I was flying! In half that brief second, I was plummeting to what I was sure would be certain death. The air whooshed past me as I dropped 100 metres into the impressive gorge of the Bhote Khosi River.

At 160 metres Nepal’s bungy is the tallest of its kind in Asia and the second highest commercial jump in the world. Costing 85 Euros, including lunch and return transport from Kathmandu, it is also the best value bungy available. Indeed, it is far cheaper than its shorter and less impressive Antipodean rivals.

The jump is found at the disconcertingly named The Last Resort, 12km from the Tibetan border. Yet don’t let the name put you off. It is a beautifully situated resort complete with safari-style luxury tents and exotic gardens bordering the jungle. Perched atop a high cliff, it can only be reached by the suspension bridge that the more fool-hardy among us choose to throw ourselves off. Accommodation consists of 4-person or 2-person tents with electric lighting, comfy beds, towels, clothes racks and decorative orchids. You won’t find a sleeping bag here! There is a bathroom block with hot showers ensured everyday by solar panels. The inclusive buffet is delicious with choices ranging from the traditional Nepali dal bhat to burgers and salads, while the bar serves alcohol, soft drinks and tasty smoothies.

Alongside the bungy, The Last Resort team run their infamous Canyon Swing. This offers the same thrills but without the rather daunting prospect of diving off head first. Harnessed around the middle, the ‘swinger’ jumps off the platform and after an impressive 6 second freefall is flung backwards and forwards at speeds reaching an exhilarating 150km/h.

Other adventure sports are on offer if you prefer keeping your feet on firmer ground. Canyoning is an exciting combination of climbing, abseiling and sliding down waterfalls. Not only will you glide down 60 metre abseils and bathe in private mountain streams, but it is also worth just marvelling at your guides, whose antics, including running head first down a slippery waterfall, wouldn’t look out of place on the set of a James Bond film.

Additionally, you can exploit perfect rafting conditions offered by the wild Himalayan-fed river next to the resort, along with opportunities for mountain biking and hiking.

Despite its reputation for high-octane adventure, the resort also seeks to promote itself as a peaceful retreat; perfect for tired hikers back from treks or those wishing to escape the hubbub of Kathmandu. I thoroughly recommend treating yourself to a massage or facial offered by the resident Himalayan Healers Project. The project is not only known for its quality beauty treatments, but also for training members of Nepal’s lowest caste, the Untouchables, and providing them with credible work opportunities.

The Last Resort offers excellent outdoor adventure sports for an exceptionally reasonable price compared to elsewhere in the world. For an overnight stay, including the bungee or swing and a day’s canyoning, the resort charges 115 Euros. What’s more, it is a fine example of responsible travel, since a set amount of the fee is spent on supporting the local community and re-investing in the third poorest country in the world.

Travel in Nepal

Travel in Nepal

Nepal is a beautiful country of the world. Nepal is a land locked country that is located between two great country India and China. Nepal is a small country with an area of 147000 sq.km. There are 36,000 villages in Nepal with 75 district, 14 zones, and 5 development region. The capital city of Nepal is Kathmandu which is central part of Nepal. Nepal has been divided into 3 parts, then one Train, Hill and Mountain Region.
Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal is the first entry point. Kathmandu valley has the honors of possessing a full fledged ancient and medieval civilization. There are as many houses as many temples and there are as many men as many gods. Every day there seems people observing festivals and ritual activities. Kathmandu, one finds a unique culture having the blend of Hinduism and Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. the tourist visiting Nepal are a not only attracted by the snow peaks, lakes, gorges, glaciers, forest, animals, ancient cities, but also they are attacked by different ethnic groups.
Traveling in most impotent places
Kathamandu: It is the capital and th biggest city of the country. The parliament and head offices of all the offices are located here. Basntapur, Hanuman Dhoka, Kasthamandap, Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, are very imported places.
Patan: It is located in the Lalitpur district of Bagmati zone It is also famous for Nepalese art nad craft. Lod Krishana, Minnath, Machchhendranath and Buddha Stupa is attractive places.
Bhadgaon: Bhadgaon is the axcient name of modern bhaktapur. It is to the east of Kathmandu. It is one of the oldest and the trirt biggest town in the valley. It is famous for Nepalese art and architecture. Nyatapol, the temples of Bhairavnath and Dattatraya, Bhaktapur darbarsquare are some of its most attractive objects.
Nagarkot: Nagarkot is a very beautfull place in Nepal. It is located 32 km east of kathmandu. It is reanowned for its sunrise view of the Himalaya including Mount Everest as well as other snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. Nagekot also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley. Nagarkot is an international tourist destination with spectacular views of the whole Langtang range, sunrise on the mountains and sunset views. We can see the panoramic views of the captivating landscapes and hills with the Kathmandu valley. You can breathe the cool mountain breeze in the resort town of Nagarkot. There are resorts from top-end quality to decent lodges to accommodate you and serves different cuisines
Pokhara : Pokhara is situated in the Kaski district of Gandaki zone. There are several lakes in pokhara,Fewa lake, Rupa lake, Begnas lakewhich enrich the beauty of the place. At the Fewa lake itself there is a temple of Barahi. Another significant site is the temple of indyabasini. Pokhara is famous for its natural beauty. Machhapuchhre, Dhaulagiri, Annpurna Mountain are assn very clearly from pokharaMahendracave, chamero Gupha, David Falls, etc. are other attractive places of pokhara. The beautiful scenery of Seti river is another eye- catching object. For all these reasons, pokhara has vbecome the center for tourists of different countries.
Lumbini: Lumbini is situated in Rupandehi district of Lumbini zone.It is an important historical and religious place. Gautam Guddha, the founder of Buddhism and preacher of peace in the world wah born in Lumbini. The monument of Ashoka the Great and the temple of Mayadevi (Mother of Gautam Buddha) are aldo located here.
Janakpurdham: Janakpurdham is the Dhanusha distirct and Janakpur zone. It is also situated in the eastern terai. The famous temple of Ram-Janaki is located here. Every year on the fifth day of the full moon in the month of Magh, Ram Nawami, a big festival is held here.
Parks and Animals: In the 8 national parks Everest National park , Royal Chitwan National park, Royal bardia National park, Shey-phoksundo National park, Khaptad National park, Langtang National park, Rara national park Makalu-barun national park. The available endangered species of this country are Tiger, Rhin,Snow-leopard, clouded-0leopard, Red panda, Brown bear, Asamese macaque, Gangetic dolphin, Wild elephant, Giant horn bill, swamp deer, Wild yak, Tibetan antelope, Black buck, four horned antelope, This country also harbours one of the world's best bhvitats for onehorned rhino, Royal Bengal tiger, Snow-leopard, Clouded-leopard, Red panda. There wildlife includes wild elephant, buffaloes, bison, blue bull, brown bear, sloth bear, leopard, crocodiles and many varieties of cat,dog,deer and antelope families. This reveals that Nepal is an ecological dreamland.
Nepal in herbs: Nepal's biodiversity is a reflection of physiographic, climatologically and wide altitudinal variations. Nepal represents 118 ecosystems and 35 forest types. Its biological diversity ranging between Indo-Malayan and palaeoartic fauna and flora includes 3 critically endangered, 14 endangered and 42 vulnerary. Forest are an integral part of biodiversity. There are over 6500 species of vascular plants including over 252 species of endemic, 400 species of trees and 700 species of medicinal plants.
Himalayan region: Climatically, Nepal Himalayan region is characterized by the decreasing oxygen pressure, the high radiation values, the low temperatures and the absolute humidity of the air. Similarly, in the geological context of Himalayan region there can be seen the steep and irregular relief of the mountain, poorly developed soil, high susceptibility to geomorphologic hazards, leeward position to high mountains' ridge short period of vegetation, limited choice of crops and poorly developed infrastructure. The most important travels activities in Nepal are trekking and mountaineering. Nepal took on an open sky policy which led to significant increase in private sector airways and helicopter services and Domestic Airlines service are available in Kathmandu Trekking in Nepal is a unique mobile. This is the country where ons's every day trekking activity is always changed from one camp to another. Therefore, many tourists visit Nepal to have new experiences form trekking activities. The popular trekking routes are Mt.Everest area in the north east, Langtang, Helambu in the central region, Annapurna, Jomshom, upper Dolpa, Lomanthang mustang and Jumla- Rara are more difficult and expensive.
Rafting: After a trek, tourists are found to do whitewater rafting mostly in the Trisuli River. Rafting in the Sunkosi, Kaligandaki, Arun, Karnali, Bheri and Seti River are available. One the way down form rafting trip, the tourists generally go to the Jungle Resort Camps located in the Terai region. some touriste will go to Royal Shukla phanta, some will visit Bardia National park and some will visit Koshi Tappu and Chitwan National park for the purpose of observing animals available inside the park. Spotted deers, rhinos, crocodiles, and tigers have fascinated the tourist who visit these areas. It is estimated that approximiately sixty-thousand tourists visit Chitwan National Park.
To recapitulate, Nepal is a dreamland that wins and solaces the heart of visitors by the captivating sights and experience of the incredible mountain chain wild forests, climbing and trekking routes, ecology, mountain environment, culture, heritage, religion in term of products and their events and various other activities. Therefore, Nepal Tourism Board has branded "Naturally Nepal: Once is not enough". An adventure tourist can ascend to Sagarmatha and other youngest Himalayas for the rewarding and thrilling climbing sensation and descend to Sauraha (Located outside the Chitwan Natipnal Park) through snowy paths or rocky steps to breathe the satisfaction of such' wilderness'. While enjoying Elephant ride in Sauraha, he or she will have a pleasant nostalgia of the climbing when he sees the snow-clad mountains at his back and tiger at his front in the National Park of Chitwan. A trekker's journey from Lomanthang to Lumbini will still fascinate him to experience trans-Himalayan culture, tantric Buddhism of the north, mysterious gonpas (tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries) and pre-historic caves and hidden pilgrimages and his journey to Lumbini helps him to breathe t he air of peace and tranquility and renouncement at the birth place of Lord Buddha. Similarly, a visitor's journey from Kanchanjunga to Kanchanpur provides him the experience of mountain and study of diverse ethnic culture. Kanchanjunga dream fulfills also the desire of a high-hill walking through the tea gardens of the beautiful hill station of the eastern part of Nepal (Illam) adjoining Darjeeling. Hills of Nepal are the life and soul of diverse ethnic group. A new destination of trekking can be introduced to Labchi-Lumnang of Dolakha District under the theme of Adventure Pilgrimage Trek especially to the Buddhists of Europe and USA. Similarly, inner Solu valley trek can be developed for those who do not want to talk at high altitude. Shamanism tour will be other fascinating activities in different areas of NEpoal. The potential destinaion would be Dhading and Makwanpur, Gorkha, Nuwakot, Dolakha, Jajarkot and eastern Nepal. To visit Nepal is to see the life in the land without wheels.
Juxtaposition and synthesis of old and new, nature and culture, ecology and environment, flora and fauna, Buddhism and present ideas and behavior, rituals and other practices, living goddess- Kumari and reincarnated Lama- Rimpohe, masks and mantras, faith healers and sorcerers, shamanism and spiritism is a unique and rewarding feature of this country. Equally vibrant and fascinating are the four heritages popularly known as Natural Heritage (Nature gifts), History rooted Heritage (Historical places and monuments), Manufactured Heritage (Manmade artifacts) and Socio-ideological Heritage (Social institutions-family, marriage, kinships, customs, dresses and ornament food habits, festivals, dance, drama, folk songs, ethos, norms, values, morals and beliefs). These reveal that Nepal is anthropological pilgrimage.

Lalitpur

Lalitpur

Lalitpur, Darbar square

 

Lalitpur is a perfect paradise for the visitors situated nearby Kathmandu city. Lalitpur is a beautiful place. Because of its beauty it has become a frequent destination for the visitors both from home and abroad countries. This town is full of modern amenities and local charms, therefore, it attracts the visitors. Once someone visits this place he/she never forgets it.

There are beautiful guest houses and bed and breakfast places that are less expensive. Visitors can enjoy both Nepali and continental foods. To fulfill the cultural interest, visitors can go to exhibition centers that stay open 24 hours. For religious people there are so many temples, monasteries,churches and mosques. On visiting these places one can have spiritual experiences. Similarly, for the sports person this town has so many games to offer. Throughout the year, people can enjoy different games in different clubs. In the same way, for the children it has a zoo, fun parks and children play grounds, to offer once children goes to visit these places they get full fun and entertainment.

In fact, this is really a beautiful place in Nepal which cannot be described in words. In order to enjoy the beauty of this place one should come and see it.

Pokhara

Nepalese pride Pokhara

Phewa and fishtail

 

Pokhara is one of the beautiful place of the earth. It is in the lap of the mountain. It is also known as a town of lake. It is 200 kms far from the capital city (Kathmandu). Pokhara is situated at an altitude of 827 meters from sea level. It is linked by Air and by road from Kathmandu and the Indian border Sunauli. Pokhara can be reached in 6 hours bus ride and just 30 minutes by Airplane from Kathmandu. From pokhara we can see the several mountains such as Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchher(Fishtail), Manaslu, Annapurna and others. Fishtail is just 30 kms far from pokhara and we can see the shadow in the phewa lack.in this way there is beautiful views of hills also they are Sarankot, Kaskikot, Kalikasthan, Bharat Pokhari and the Pumdi Bhumdi Hills.

Pokhara has suitable climate for visit. People can visit every time in the year. At the time of winter the average temperature is 6degree Celsius and at summer 30-32 celsius.

There are severall lakes and rivers in pokhara. Fewa, Bernas Rupa are the famous lakes of the pokhara. In the same way the seti river flows through the heart of the pokhara. In pokhara there are many caves. They are Mehendra cave, Gupteshwot mahadev, chamera cave and others. In pokhara near Gupteshwot mahadev there is davis fall.

There are several temples of Hindu’s people and Buddhist’s people. One is Baharai temple which is almost center of the Fewa Lake and surrounded by the water. Other temples are Bindabashini,Buddhist monastery and so on.

One interesting thingis that in pokhara the seti river goes completely underground in certain places.

 

 

Kathmandu Durbar Square

The heart of Kathmandu this ancient square crowded with palaces and temples, including the current incarnation of the Kasthamandap or "Wooden house" that gives the city its name. The square has been in active use since the construction of a palace around 1000 AD. This site is the most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nepal.

Magical in the very early morning and evening, Dunbar Square can be an exhausting experience due to the overwhelming number of young men offering to be "guides." Be firm with saying "no" if you are not interested, but realize that looking at a map, or even standing still for a moment will be an invitation to a dozen other would-be "helpers". Ask at the Tourist Information Office at the entrance if you do want a guide. A place not to be missed is a visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square Museum.

There are more than a dozen buildings and statues of note in this small area. They include:

* Taleju Temple One of the oldest temples in the square, this three-roofed temple with its pyramid shaped bases, is an example of the typical Newari architectural style.
* Ashok Binayak
* Shiva Temple
* Maju Deval
* Narayan Temple
* Shiva-Parvati Temple
* Kumari Palace- home of "the Kumari", or living goddess, a young girl. South side of Durbar square,
* Bhagwati Temple
* Saraswati Temple The Goddess of Knowledge and Learning
* Krishna Temple
* Sweta Bhairab Statue shown only during the Indra Jatra festival.
* Kal Bhairab
* Indrapur Temple
* Vishnu temple
* Mahendreswar Temple

Culture and Tradition in Nepal

Nepal Culture

Nepal is blessed with one of the richest cultures in the world. Culture has been called 'the way of life for an entire society'. The statement holds particularly true in case of Nepal where every aspect of life, food, clothing and even occupations are culturally guided. The culture of Nepal includes the codes of manners, dress, language, rituals, norms of behavior and systems of belief.

Nice to Know
» The culture of Nepal is a unique combination of tradition and novelty. The traditions are followed as they were and new customs are created to keep pace with the changing times.
» Culture in Nepal is an assemblage of music, architecture, religion and literature.
» The mountain kingdom of Nepal is multi-ethic and multi-lingual. The land is rich with unique cultural groups like Tharu,Yadav, Ahir, Newars and others.



Nepal Hospitality
Nepalese are among the most hospitable hosts. This is the reason for which tourists from far and wide enjoy coming to Nepal time and again. Local Nepalese are generally rural people who welcome the tourists to their homes for tea, coffee or supper. Nepalese are culturally warm, hospitable and affectionate hosts who place their heart above their head.


Nepal Dress
                 Daura-Suruwal, typically termed as 'Labeda-Suruwal' is the traditional
Nepali dress. The dress has several religious beliefs identifying its designs
 and has therefore remained the same from the years. The Daura has eight
strings that serves to tie itself up around the body. Eight is the lucky number
in Nepali mythology.

Also, the Daura has five pleats or Kallis, signifying Pancha Buddha or Pancha Ratna. And the closed neck of the Daura signifies the snake around the Lord Shiva's neck. The Nepali dress for women is a cotton sari (Guniu), that is gaining great popularity in the fashion world.



Rituals
                             The main rituals followed in Nepal are naming ceremony, rice-feeding
ceremony, tonsure ceremony, ceremony of giving Nepali Sari (Guniu),
marriage ceremony and funeral rite.The rituals are still prevailing in
society and are performed with zeal.. Different ritual experts have                different roles in these rituals.                                                              

Festivals in Nepal

Festivity is synonym to the Nepalese Culture. For the Nepalese, festivals are not merely the annual spectacles, but also are a living part of their rich cultural heritage. Festivals effectively bind together the Nepalese people of diverse cultural backgrounds and beliefs into one nation. Most Nepalese festivals are related to different Hindu and Buddhist deities. They are celebrated on days consecrated for them by religion and tradition.

Month	Festival
Jan-Feb	Sweta Manchhendra Snan Swasthani Puja Maghe Sankranti Basanta Panchmi & Saraswati Puja
Feb-March	Maha Shivaratri Losar Fagu Purnima or Holi
March-April	Chaitra Dasain Ghode Jatra
April-May	Biska Jatra New Year's Day Red Machhendranath Jatra Buddha Jayanti
July-August	Gunla Krishna Astami Janai Purnima
August-Sept	Gai Jatra Teej
Sept-Oct	Indra Jatra Dasain or Durga Puja
Oct-Nov	Mani Rimdu Tihar or Deepali
Nov-Dec	Balachaturdarsi Bibah Panchani Yomari Punhi

Prithvi Narayan Shah

Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Nepal (1723 - 1775 A.D.) was a Nepali nobleman. He was the ninth generation descendant of Dravya Shah(1559 - 1570 A.D.), the founder of the ruling house of Gorkha. Prithvi Narayan Shah succeeded his father King Nara Bhupal Shah to the throne of Gorkha in 1743 A.D.                                                       He was born from immature pregnancy by Kaushalyawati Shah however was raised by his senior mother Chandra Prabhavati. He started taking general concern with the affair of the state because his father spent most of his time in prayer room. He had a great desire to get victory over Nuwakot. He had the desire to get victory once even by fighting vigorously, though he was defeated. His senior mother was his perfection against his loyalty towards the unification of modern Nepal. Walking around Gorkha and talking to people about the general concern of the     palace was his likeness and this helped him to understand the needs of the citizens of Gorkha.

                                              

King's Palace on a hill in Gorkha

                  King Prithvi Narayan Shah's successful entry began with the union of Nuwakot, which lies between Kathmandu and Gorkha District, in 1744 A.D. After Nuwakot, he took possession of strategic points in the hills surrounding the Kathmandu Valley. The Valley's communications with the outside world were thus cut off. The occupation of the Kuti Pass in about 1756 A.D. stopped the valley's trade with Tibet. To stop the trade between the Newar people living in the Kathmandu Valley and the Muslim Mogul empire in India was a requirement King Prithvi Narayan Shah had to fulfill in order to receive advice and weapons from the British.
Finally, King Prithvi Narayan Shah entered the Valley, after conquering Kirtipur. Consequently Jaya Prakash Malla of Kathmandu managed to escape with his wife and took asylum in Patan. When the conquest was extended to Patan a few weeks later both Jaya Prakash Malla and the King of Patan, Tej Narsingh Malla, took refuge in Bhaktapur, which was also conquered after some time. Thus King Prithvi Narayan Shah conquered the Kathmandu Valley and made Kathmandu the capital of the Nepal in 1769 A.D. Once the foundation of the Kingdom of Nepal was thus laid, King Prithvi Narayan Shah turned his attention towards the east. The Sena Kingdom of Choudandi was conquered by 1773 A.D. and Vijaypur, another Sena Kingdom was annexed shortly after.
Nepal at that time extended from the Punjab to Sikkim and was almost twice as large in land area as it is today.
King Prithvi Narayan Shah had sealed his border and maintained peaceful but distant relations with the British, refusing to trade with them although he had accepted arms and advice from them during his conquering wars. He died before he could effectively organize the administration of his new country. He died in January, 1775 A.D. at the age of 52. Upon his death, Prithvi Narayan was succeeded by his son, Pratap Singh Shah.



Major Works and Events

    * Conquered several states and united them into a mighty Gorkha Kingdom and finally known as Nepal.

    * Established a sound administration with a stable economic base and laid the foundation of an              independent country.
    * Gained victory over British and Muslim forces.
    * The nine-storey Basantapur Durbar, the seven storey Durbar, the Ranga Mahal and Tilanga House of     Nuwakot were built.
    * Gave valuable advice, popularly known as "Divine Counsels" ( Dibya Upadesh), to his successors.

Education in Nepal

 The Ministry of Education (MoE) was established in 1951, was renamed as the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) in 2002. It was again renamed as Ministry of Education with the decision of Cabinet in 15 Bhadra 2065 BS. The MoE as the apex body of all educational organizations is responsible for overall development of education in the country. This Ministry is responsible for formulating educational policies and plans and managing and implementing them across the country through the institutions under it.

Education of Nepal

                                                                  Education in Nepal has only recently been developing and continues to improve. Several international organizations are involved in assisting Nepal with its education system and in educating children in rural areas of the country. Educational development in Nepal is vital to cut-down the poverty rate as well as promoting community development. With this in mind Nepal's government continues to undo the damage the previous governmental regime inflicted on Nepal's education system.

For many years, during the rule of Nepal by the Rana family, education was suppressed. The Rana regime feared a public that was educated. Prior to World War Two however English middle and high schools were established in several villages along with an all-girl's high school in Kathmandu. As Gurkha soldiers returned to the villages having learned to read and write, education became more important to local people. Soon high-caste families would send their children to university who in turn began the anti-Rana sentiment ending the oppressive regime in 1951. Despite the establishment of an education system in Nepal, poorer families could not afford to send their children to school and also wanted their children to work on the farms. Primary education was offered for free by the government as of 1975. Sadly, however, caste separation has denied many access to an education. Another factor holding some back from an education is that facilities are only in urban areas and it is expensive to send children to live in the towns. Illiteracy in Nepal sits at about 58%, 72% of which are women. However, that statistic is a great advancement for Nepal.

NePaL

Brief Details 

Prime Minister: Pushpa Kamal Dahal (2008)

President: Ram Baran Yadav (2008)

Prime Minister: Madhav Kumar Nepal (2009)

Land area: 52,819 sq mi (136,801 sq km); total area: 54,363 sq mi (140,800 sq km)

Population (2010 est.): 28,951,852 (growth rate: 1.4%); birth rate: 22.4/1000; infant mortality rate: 46.0/1000; life expectancy: 65.8;density per sq km: 206

 Monetary unit: Nepalese rupee

Map Of Nepal

Geography

A landlocked country the size of Arkansas, lying between India and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China, Nepal contains Mount Everest (29,035 ft; 8,850 m), the tallest mountain in the world. Along its southern border, Nepal has a strip of level land that is partly forested, partly cultivated. North of that is the slope of the main section of the Himalayan range, including Everest and many other peaks higher than 8,000 m. 

Government

In Nov. 1990, King Birendra promulgated a new constitution and introduced a multiparty parliamentary democracy in Nepal. Under pressure amid massive pro-democracy protests in April 2006, King Gyanendra gave up direct rule and reinstated Parliament, which then quickly moved to diminish the King's power. In Dec. 2007, Parliament voted to abolish the monarchy and become a federal democratic republic. The transition to a republic was completed in May 2008, when the Constituent Assemby voted to dissolve the monarchy.

History

The first civilizations in Nepal, which flourished around the 6th century B.C. , were confined to the fertile Kathmandu Valley where the present-day capital of the same name is located. It was in this region that Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born c. 563 B.C. Gautama achieved enlightenment as Buddha and spawned Buddhism.
Nepali rulers' early patronage of Buddhism largely gave way to Hinduism, reflecting the increased influence of India, around the 12th century. Though the successive dynasties of the Gopalas, the Kiratis, and the Licchavis expanded their rule, it was not until the reign of the Malla kings from 1200–1769 that Nepal assumed the approximate dimensions of the modern state.
The kingdom of Nepal was unified in 1768 by King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who had fled India following the Moghul conquests of the subcontinent. Under Shah and his successors, Nepal's borders expanded as far west as Kashmir and as far east as Sikkim (now part of India). A commercial treaty was signed with Britain in 1792 and again in 1816 after more than a year of hostilities with the British East India Company.