Maha Shiva Ratri Trek

Maha Shiva Ratri Festival of Nepal

Maha Shiva Ratri is one of the most colorful festivals of Nepal and certainly one not to be missed if you plan to be in Nepal during late February or early March. I had such a good time last year at Pashapatinath that I decided to see it from another angle this year. Pashapatinath was so crowded last year, but it was quite nice. Festival days like this are good days to visit the big temples because the first day of the major festivals are usually a free admission day. If you go to the big, crowded temples on festival days be sure to watch for pick pockets and other types of petty crime. As I mention in my book, “Nepal-On a Budget,” leave important things in your room and bring only a small amount of money. 

Political Unrest in Nepal

The people of Nepal have been through many difficulties and disappointments in the recent years, the most recent is having gone more than three years without a constitution. The final deadline came and went on May 28 without the promised constitution; the people are so disappointed. They are just coming from a civil war, which drove off tourism, so they have pledged to keep from violence and they also pledged ‘no more bandh.’

Family Day Out-On a Budget

If you happen to bring kids with you to Nepal you will enjoy a trip to this Children’s Park here in Kathmandu. I joined Naba and his family for a nice day out for under 1,000 rupees, which included lunch for the five of us. The rides are 30 rupees or less and are quite long, a bit too long for me, so it’s probably perfect for most people. The lines were not that long and I was surprised that it wasn’t dustier. I didn’t notice the dust that day at all. I mention it because I remember going to the fair as a child and it being very dusty. Maybe because it is set up as a permanent amusement park they are taking care of the issue. Or maybe I was having too much fun to notice a little dust. I even rode on the fast and high rides, which isn’t something I would ordinarily do, but the rides were running very quietly and smoothly. They seemed better kept than the county fair rides back in the US.