Nepal

Draped along the spine of the Himalaya, Nepal is a land of sublime scenery, time-worn temples, and some of the best hiking trails on earth. It's a poor country, but it is rich in scenic splendour and cultural treasures. The kingdom has long exerted a pull on the Western imagination.

It's the kind of country that lingers in your dreams long after you leave it. This is why so many travellers are drawn back to Nepal, armed the second time round with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire for sculpted calf muscles.

Events Overview
Nepal's festive calendar is hectic. Dasain, celebrated nationwide in October, is the most important of all Nepali celebrations and features the biggest animal sacrifice of the year. Running a close second is Tihar (November), when crows, dogs and cows are venerated and everyone offers tika marks and food to friends and relations. Other important Hindu festivals include colourful Holi (March), lively Indra Jatra (September) and Chaitra Dasain (April), which is yet another bad day for animals. Some of the local festivals in the Kathmandu Valley are epic affairs - the Red Machchhendranath Rath Jatra (May-June) in Patan features incredible chariot parades to honour Lord Krishna. Followers of Shiva celebrate Haribodhini Ekadashi (November) and Maha Shivaratri (March) with great pomp at Pashupatinath. As Buddhism is a philosophy rather than a religion, Buddhist festivals are thinner on the ground. However, Losar (Tibetan New Year, held in February) is celebrated with masked chaam dances at Swayambhunath, Bodhnath and Tibetan monasteries across the country. Other important Buddhist feast days include Mani Rimdu (November) in Solu Khumbu and Buddha Jayanti (Buddha's birthday - held in May) in Kathmandu and Lumbini.