My Visit to Nepal - Cecile Verheij Willen

My Visit to Nepal - Cecile Verheij Willen

A few weeks ago, I was in Kathmandu. I worked many years as a travel agent, but I never had the opportunity before to visit Nepal. Now I was invited by Aarya Village Travel to see how they work in tourism industry. I wanted to give some of my experience to them. But I also got the possibility of seeing some things in Kathmandu.

I stayed in a hotel in Thamel. It is a nice neighbourhood of Kathmandu, full of hotels, restaurants and small shops. Here you meet the tourists from all over the world who stay a few days in Kathmandu before they start a tour or after they have ended a tour. I spoke to many people, coming from Germany, Italy, France, Japan, United Kingdom, USA and so on. 

Thamel, Kathmandu – “. It is a nice neighbourhood of Kathmandu, full of hotels, restaurants and small shops. Here you meet the tourists from all over the world who stay a few days in Kathmandu before they start a tour or after they have ended a tour.”

Striking was also that I saw people of all ages, from parents with small children to elder people, most traveling in groups. So Nepal is not only  country to be visited by backpackers and adventurers.

Local Art for visitors from all over – “I spoke to many people, coming from Germany, Italy, France, Japan, United Kingdom, USA and so on.”

A lot of people visit Nepal because of their wish to stay in nature and meet local people. You find this back in the program of Aarya Village Travel, luxury tours, leisure and cultural tours, soft adventure tours and most adventure tours.

Aarya Village Travel -  “Aarya Village Travel, luxury tours, leisure and cultural tours, soft adventure tours and most adventure tours.”

As there are a lot of festivals in Nepal they also offer packages for their guests to get in contact with the people of Nepal during these festival days.

During my stay I visited several place in and outside Kathmandu. Very impressive to me was Bhaktapur in Kathmandu Valley, I could stay here for at least two days, so many things to see. One of the kings lived here and you see a lot of interesting buildings. The streets are narrow, with a lot of temples and monuments.  It feels like you walk in a museum. There is still some damage visible from the earthquake in 2015. 

In comparison with Kathmandu you hardly see traffic in the streets of Bhaktapur, so it is very relaxing to walk here. On Durbar Square you see a lot of the old architecture for palaces and temples. Another nice square to visit is Potter’s square. Here you see man making pots, and on the big square they let them dry. There are buildings made of stone but also a lot of famous buildings are made out of wood, with woodcarving. If you want to see these in detail you need even more time.

Nyatapola Temple, Bhaktapur – “Very impressive to me was Bhaktapur in Kathmandu Valley, I could stay here for at least two days, so many things to see.”

In Kathmandu I also visited Patan and Swayambhunath (monkey temple), both also very impressive. 

My stay in Kathmandu leaves to me an indelible impression. The city seems very chaotic but I was surprised by the patient and kindness of the people on the roads. Walking through the streets is one of my favourite activities, to see how people live, how they do their shopping, the beautiful colours they wear. The food was delicious and the employees of Aarya Village Travel where so kind to me