Nepal - Mystic Mountains
Nepal is one of the most spectacular travel destinations in the world and the dream destination of every motorcycle adventurer.
Even though Nepal is comparatively small (with an area of around 147,000 km², not even half the size of Germany), the country is home to many cultural and scenic highlights. Numerous Buddhist and Hindu temples and shrines allow a deep insight into the culture and religious life. The approximately 30 million inhabitants are an ethnic mix of people with predominantly Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burmese descent. Religion plays a central role in the lives of Nepalis. Around 80% profess the Hindu faith, 9% are Buddhists, 4% Muslims and almost 2% Christians. Add to this the followers of smaller religious groups, and everyone lives side by side peacefully and harmoniously.
Nepal was a Hindu kingdom for 240 years. A ten-year civil war and subsequent elections to a constituent assembly in 2008 put an end to this. Today Nepal is a democracy. The official name is: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. The official national language is Nepali. But English is also widespread as a second official language and, with the exception of small villages, is understood and spoken almost everywhere.
Nepal can be divided into three main regions: the Terai (up to 150 meters above sea level), the low mountain range (up to 3,000 m) and the high mountain range (over 5,000 m). The Terai is the most densely populated part of Nepal and the agricultural center of the country. Almost 50% of the population lives here. Another 45% live in low mountain ranges. The rugged mountains in these regions make building roads almost impossible, so you have to expect gravel roads here. Hardly any people live in the high mountains anymore.
With the motorcycle and especially with the Royal Enfield Himalayan, which we use on this trip, the whole country can be easily explored. The breathtaking beauty of the Himalayan mountains can only be truly experienced from the saddle of a motorcycle. Wherever we want, we stop and let our gaze wander over the highest mountain peaks in the world. This experience will be burned into your soul forever.
Nepalese cuisine is influenced by India, China and Thailand. It is considered particularly tasty. Dal Bhat is the national dish of Nepal, a combination of lentils, rice and a vegetable curry. In the predominantly Hindu south, meat is hardly eaten. Vegetables are available in sufficient quantities. The majority of people living in the mountains are Buddhists, and because there are hardly any opportunities to grow vegetables and fruit, animal products are more likely to be consumed. Yogurt, cheese and meat from yak cows are famous. Even when it comes to bread, the mountain dwellers have to forego travel and wheat because these plants cannot be cultivated here. Buckwheat is used instead.
Routing
1. Day: Departure for Nepal
Today you are setting off on a new motorcycle adventure with Wheel of India. We look forward to visiting this wonderful country with you. The journey is long, but you will see that the effort is worth it.
2. Day: Arrival in Kathmandu
Depending on the airline you choose, you will arrive sooner or later during the day. Since you are probably exhausted from the long journey, there is no program planned for today. If you want, you can take a first walk through the city. In any case, we'll take a look at the bikes because we'll be setting off tomorrow morning after breakfast.
3. Day: Drive to Mugling / ca. 120 km
Traffic in Kathmandu is heavy. For this reason we leave early to avoid the worst. Nevertheless, it will take some time before we leave the city behind us.
The journey goes through the mountains along the Trisuli River. Viewpoints always invite you to stop and take photos. The adventurous suspension bridges are particularly impressive. After checking in at the hotel, we can go to the Manakamana Temple or just relax by the pool.
4. Day: Drive to Bandipur / ca. 85 km
On the way to Bandipur is the old royal city of Gorkha, where we can see the Gorkha Durbar royal palace. We continue on smaller and larger roads to Bandipur. Bandipur is a beautifully restored village in the mountains. One of its special features is that it is completely car-free, which also means for us that we have to park our motorcycles outside.
5. Day: Drive to Pokhara / ca. 85 km
The Prithvi Highway is the main connection between Kathmandu and Pokhara. It winds through the southern foothills of the Himalayas, is sometimes heavily trafficked, not always in good condition and very dusty, but a scenic gem.
Pokhara is a popular tourist destination. The city is picturesquely located on the shores of Lake Bengas, surrounded by some giants of the Himalayas.
6. Day: Trip to Pumdikot Shiva Temple / ca. 30 km
Pokhara is known as the starting point for the multi-day Annapurna Circuit, a popular trekking tour in the Himalayas that appeals to both beginners and advanced hikers. But we don't have time for that on our trip. We will visit the Pumdikot Shiva Temple and then stroll through the city or take a boat trip on the lake.
7. Day: Drive to Tatopani / ca. 120 km
We are moving towards Mustang. The asphalt ends in Beni and we find ourselves on gravel again. Now the journey becomes a little more strenuous. Face the challenge, but don't worry, we'll approach the whole thing calmly and relaxed.
Tatopani is a rather inconspicuous little mountain village with some extraordinary features. Tatopani is located on the trekking route of the Annapurna Circuit and is therefore frequently visited by hikers. And Tatopani is the destination of the Yak Attack stage race for mountain bikers. And finally, the place is known for its thermal springs. The place owes its name to this. Tato means hot and Pani means water.
8. Day: Drive to Muktinath / ca. 75 km
It's one of those days that are unforgettable. The landscape is beyond imagination. In Muktinath we visit the village of Marpha, a hidden treasure known for its apple orchards and traditional stone houses. We will spend the night at an altitude of 3700 meters. This is the highest point of our journey
Muktinath is a pilgrimage site for Hindus and Buddhists. A spring with 108 gargoyles is sacred to Hindus, while a second spring features a natural gas flame and is a pilgrimage site for Buddhists. As everywhere in Nepal, the two religions coexist without any problems.
9. Day: Drive to Baglung / ca. 110 km
We have to leave Mustang again and experience another day of driving with stunning scenery. Baglung, our destination today, a small town in the mountains, is nicknamed the “District of Hanging Bridges” because of its numerous dizzying hanging bridges. Not for the faint of heart.
10. Day: Drive to Tansen / ca. 150 km
We continue south. We will try to avoid the highway and find our way to Tansen on small side roads. We pass through small villages and there are bright green rice fields to the right and left.
In the 16th century, Tansen was the capital of the Magar kingdom of Tanahun. In the 18th century, Tansen became a Newari trading town on the Pokhara-Butwal road, an important trade route between Mustang and India. Today we can admire the old town, nominated as a World Heritage Site, with pagoda-style temples.
11. Day: Drive to Lumbini / ca. 75 km
Lumbini is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the world. In the famous gardens of Lumbini, in 536 BC. Siddhartha Gautama, the later Lord Buddha, was born. One of the pilgrims was Emperor Ashoka, who introduced Buddhism as the state religion throughout India. He had one of his so-called Ashoka memorial pillars with an inscription around the year 245 BC. Built here.
12. Day: Drive to Chitwan / ca. 150 km
We have now arrived in the Terai (in English: wet land), in the south of Nepal. The 25-100 km wide lowland, a few hundred meters above sea level, stretches along the approximately 800 km long border with India. This is the agricultural center of the country. Most of the food consumed in Nepal comes from this region.
13. Day: Chitwan National Park
The Chitwan National Park is located in the very south of the country. The southern border of the park is also the national border between Nepal and India. In 1973, the national park was founded as the first nature reserve in Nepal under the name Royal Chitwan National Park.
Chitwan National Park provides habitat for more than 700 animal species and an as yet unknown number of insect species. Its most famous resident is probably the Bengal tiger. The chance of seeing a tiger on a jeep safari is relatively high, but of course you can't guarantee it.
Otherwise, the park offers numerous activities: elephant riding, jungle hikes, boat trips, etc.
14. Day: Drive to Bardibas / ca. 210 km
Now we're slowly heading back to higher altitudes. We stay in the Terai for a while, but then we head back to the mountains. We will spend the night in the small town of Bardibas.
15. Day: Drive to Kathmandu / ca. 210 km
A long, special day of driving awaits us, over endless serpentines, past terraced fields and lush greenery. The highway was completely rebuilt by the Japanese. It spirals dramatically to ever greater heights. Our last ride in Nepal offers us the complete biker menu, switchbacks, hairpin bends and endless riding pleasure. In Dhulikhel we reach Kathmandu, where we end our last journey of the tour.
16. Day: Free day in Kathmandu
Today we will dedicate the whole day to the sights of Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. There is so much to see and marvel at. If you want, you can also take the opportunity to grab a few souvenirs. Tomorrow we're going back home.
17. Day: Flight Home
Unfortunately the Nepal adventure is over again. I am sure that you are as excited about the country as I am. Although I have already spent a lot of time here, I always enjoy being here, and the kindness of the people, the overwhelming beauty of the landscape and the impressive evidence of Nepal's millennia-old culture always captivate me.
I wish you a safe flight home.
