 If you are looking for Shangri-La, look no further than Nepal, a land of superlatives and jaw-dropping scenery. This Himalayan kingdom straddles the world’s highest mountain range and offers incredible outdoor recreation and colourful culture in equally large doses.
The timeworn hiking trails which wind up from the balmy valleys of the Ganges Plain and travel deep into the alpine Himalayan moonscape are arguably the best and most extensive on the planet. Myriad Tibetan Buddhist villages dot the barren slopes along the way offering modest but comfortable accommodation for the trekkers that spend weeks walking in parks like the Annapurna Sanctuary and Langtang National Park.
There’s much more to Nepal than its natural highlights, however. Historic cities like mysterious Kathmandu are teeming with fascinating people and dozens of famous sites such as the hypnotic eyes of Swayambhunath stupa and the daily drama of Durbar square. Within minutes of arriving in Nepal, visitors will quickly see why this kingdom has captured the imagination of Westerners for centuries.
The distinct Hindu and Buddhist cultures coexist with an ideological passion rarely seen elsewhere in the modern world. Heady incense fills the air of dimly lit Hindu temples just down the street from Tibetan-style stupas.
Most visitors come to Nepal primarily for the hiking, extreme sports or wildlife safaris. However, not everyone comes here to climb Everest. The steamy tropical jungles of the lowlands bordering India are equally alluring for the amazing wildlife found in Royal Chitwan National Park. Travel hubs like Pokhara and Dharan Bazaar provide all the lodging, food and supplies you’ll need to keep on going, and Kathmandu’s Thamel district is a tourist city in itself.
 Nepal may be a poor nation, but it is rich beyond belief in scenery and culture. No longer just a backpacker’s hideaway, Nepal is increasingly gaining popularity as a midrange travel destination as hotels move upscale and amenities increase in quality.
History
 Nepal’s colourful history began with the Kiratis, a Hindu group who first arrived in the 7th century BC from lands to the east. Around the same time, Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in neighbouring Lumbini, and the coexistence of these two great religions in Nepal emerged. When the Licchavis of northern India overthrew the Kirati king around 200 AD, they imposed Hinduism and the caste system on the region. However, they also ushered in Nepal’s golden age of architecture and art.
The Licchavi reign came to end in 879 AD and was replaced by the Thakuri dynasty, which sparked a long period of instability and strife referred to as the Dark Ages. It was another Thakuri king, Arideva, which brought this grim era to an end several centuries later. Arideva founded the Malla dynasty and started Nepal’s second renaissance of Nepali culture. By the 15th century, the city-states of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan were all at their peak of prosperity and stability.
 Nepal’s modern state began when the brave and unstoppable Gurkhas conspired with the Shah dynasty of India to take over Kathmandu Valley. They proved too strong to resist, and the Shahs ruled the country until the bloody Kot Massacre of 1846, when they were replaced by Rana. This despotic ruler lived in splendor while the nation sank into poverty. He closed the borders to all foreigners, which were reopened with the help of the British after WWII however political harmony remained elusive.
The royal family continued to rule Nepal until the democratic handover in 1991. Fed up with an inept government, the Maoists left parliament in 1996, declaring a ‘people’s war’ on the establishment. The 2001 massacre of the royal family by Crown Prince Dipendra did little to promote confidence in the monarchy. King Gyanendra has since been at the centre of the political storm which continues to engulf the nation today. Peace talks with the Maoists continue, but foreigners needn’t be concerned with being on the receiving end of any of the malcontent.
Weather
 Due to Nepal’s wide range of topography, the country’s climate varies wildly from one region to the next. As you rise in elevation the temperatures drop and the precipitation increases. The Tibetan Plateau rarely breaks the freezing mark, but the tropical lowlands enjoy balmy weather most of the year.
Throughout Nepal, however, there are four distinct seasons. The prime windows for reliably good weather are spring and autumn. March to April, and October to November bring sunny days, warm temperatures and little rain. This is the peak season for trekking in the Himalayas.
 From November through March, the mercury often drops to freezing at night. Mountain passes are snowed in, though Kathmandu and Pokhara rarely get any snowfall. May and June are the hottest and most humid months of the year, and the monsoon rains from May to September make conditions muddy and unpleasant throughout most of Nepal.
Depending on the month, visitors should be sure to bring appropriate clothing. Lightweight clothes work fine from June to August, but between October and March you’ll need a sweater for the cool evenings. The mountains naturally require a separate range of outdoor gear.
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