Faces of Nepal
There is a mysterious country in the heart of Asia, where the 3,000-meter-high mountains are called hillsides, where instead of buses, regular power outages have a timetable, and it is also quite natural that the Hindu goddess is chosen among Buddhist girls. Welcome to Nepal.
The mix of Hindu and Buddhist culture created an incredibly diverse society, that has been isolated from the rest of the world for centuries. Being part of a journalistic field trip for young European reporters, Nepal is one of the most breathtaking countries I’ve ever been to.
When I boarded for a flight to Nepal, I was aware that I was going to land in one of the poorest countries in the world. In the spring of 2015, Nepal was shaken by a 7.8-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale. With more than 8,000 deaths, this severe earthquake hit the capital, Kathmandu and the north-eastern region of the country.
Being a landlocked country, Nepal's most famous resort area is the lakeshore around Pokhara.
A sadhus is a religious, ascetic monk in Hinduism who has renounced the worldly life. To this day, these wandering holy men are usually seen around Hindu temples in India and Nepal.
Before the 2015 earthquake, many of the temples in the Kathmandu Valley were 700-800 years old. After the earthquake, Kathmandu’s famous Durbar Square was partly ruined, giving a bizarre mood to the former World Heritage Site.
Buddhist stupas are a common thing in Nepal. Although the overwhelming majority of the Nepalese population - almost 80 percent - follow the Hindu religion, there is a significant number of Buddhist minorities in the country.
If only for a few days, but as a European traveler, I've got an insight into the everyday lives of rural Nepalese families.
The "heart of the jungle", Chitwan National Park is a preserved area near the Indian border. It is a natural habitat to wild elephants, Bengal tigers, and rhinoceros on the edge of extinction. There are countless online agencies offering tours to Chitwan, but I recommend that you wait with your booking until you actually arrive to Kathmandu. Local prices for the same packages are 40-50% lower than what you find on the internet.
The steep stairways of Swayambhunath's Buddhist temples. After climbing the 365 stairs with the free running monkeys, you’ll have the most amazing panorama over the Kathmandu Valley.
Regardless of the destruction of the natural disaster, these damaged, ancient churches are still of great sacral significance for the Nepalese people.
Extreme poverty and absurd living conditions, just a few hours drive from Kathmandu.
Nepalese women somewhere in the Dolakha district, at the very edge of civilization.
I don’t want to lie about it: the streets of Kathmandu are crowded, airless, and dirty. Due to poor quality, dusty roads, unprocessed garbage transportation, and the high valley-valley landscape, the capital of Nepal is one of the most polluted cities in the world besides Beijing and Delhi. But rooftop views are still incredibly beautiful.
Nepalese handicraft history can be traced back to the stone age. As of today, the most famous souvenirs from Nepal are Pashmina (better known as cashmere) scarfs, cotton goods and metal crafts.
Typical transportation style. Luggages, backyard animals, or even adventurous passengers often travel on the top of the bus.
Due to the British colonial influence, even in the most remote and poor villages, children go to school in a uniform and are required to learn English.