A crash of continents formed Nepal’s vertical landscape, including eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks.

A crash of ideologies created Nepal’s vibrant and bustling culture. Hinduism reaching up from the plains of India met Buddhism climbing down from the heights of Tibet and decided to hold hands.

For millennia both cultures and religions have seamlessly mingled, living side by side, unified by the mountains, which naturally lead the mind to a higher realm. Lord Buddha and the Hindu Goddess Sita are both believed to have been born in Nepal.

It’s commonly known as the ‘Land of Everlasting Peace’, reflected in the lazy gaze of Nepal’s infamous eyes painted on the side of stupas and embroidered on every saleable article possible in Kathmandu where mysticism is hot commercial property. However, the Maoists have recently shattered this peace – a communist group who are using guerrilla tactics to scare both the government and people into submission.

Random bomb blasts have added a staccato beat to the hum and buzz of already chaotic Kathmandu, causing a profound sadness in the hearts of both Hindus and Buddhists alike who abhor violence on principle. Both faiths teach that all life is sacred.

Most people who visit Nepal are there for one reason – to trek or climb. The thrusting Himalaya, Sanskrit for ‘Abode of Snow’, are a playground for the fit and agile. The world’s greatest lure for adventure men and women is in Nepal. Mount Everest (8850mts) straddles the border with China and stands like an ice-wrapped candy waiting to be consumed by ambitious mountain climbers. Or if slugging it up to the ‘death zone’ doesn’t spin your wheels, maybe a mere trek up to base camp at 5364 metres will satiate your curiosity – what will my body do at high altitude?

However what gives Nepal its true beauty is its people who live scattered throughout the mighty mountains. The higher you climb, the more pronounced the villagers’ apple cheekbones, hinting at Tibetan ancestry. Life continues in the mountains much as it has for the past millennium. People live in simple stone farmhouses, tend to crops and animals and pray to their Gods. Tourists provide a welcome income and most of the villages now have electricity thanks to solar power and micro-hydro, but you get the feeling if everyone stopped coming to Nepal, life would continue peacefully, easefully and spiritually.

Nepal is shaped like a long, narrow rectangle, 800km long by 200km wide. The Himalaya march down one side, while lush flatlands dense with humid jungles and fertile farmland run down the other. The small kingdom is squeezed between two big and powerful neighbours. To the north, beyond the mountainous wall, China broods in what was once Tibet, and to the south, east and west, India steams and rolls away.

In the south, there’s an abundance of wildlife including rare Royal Bengal Tigers, one-horned Asiatic rhinos, Gangetic dolphins and other exotic animals in the dense and sub-tropical jungles on the Indo-Gangetic plains bordering India.

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Tools found in the Kathmandu valley date back over 9000 years, however the past 2500 years have seen a long succession of kings and countries fighting for the right to rule Nepal. The most recent uprising has been from the Maoists who formed a guerrilla army to overthrow both the monarchy and parliament and form a communist state. At present there is a ceasefire until things can be sorted out, but the end of the monarchy, which has ruled Nepal with absolute authority for the past two millennium, looks to be inevitable. 

The two best times to visit Nepal are during spring and autumn. Summer brings the monsoon, drenching the country in heavy rainfall. Winter in the mountains is cold and many of the high passes are closed by snowfall. In spring (March, April, May), the rhododendron forests flanking the mountainsides burst into colour. In autumn (October, November), days are crystal clear and cooling down. 

Expect to make a couple of trips to the doctor before going to Nepal. Diphtheria, Hep A, Tetanus and Typhoid vaccinations are mandatory and Hep B and Rabies are recommended. Malaria is a risk in low-lying areas, including Chitwan National Park, between June and September. Altitude sickness is a risk over 2500 metres. When trekking or climbing above this altitude, if you experience persistent headaches, nausea or dizziness, descend immediately and take time to adjust before climbing higher. Only eat well-cooked meat and fish, avoid salads as they are washed in untreated water, and also avoid dairy products. Drink only bottled or boiled water. 

Nepal is a poor country. According to the International Monetary Fund, an average Nepali earns just under US$2,000 per year. The currency is rupee and you get roughly 62 rupees for one US dollar. Haggling is a way of life, especially in Thamel, the main tourist area in Kathmandu.  Halve all prices and go from there.

The language is Nepali, similar to Hindi, but English is spoken in most tourist areas.

In Kathmandu most behaviour is tolerated, however when you travel to the rural areas be aware of local customs. Never offer or accept anything, or eat with your left hand. Ask permission before taking photos. Women should dress modestly and public displays of affection are frowned on.