बैदेशिक कारोबार

 एका बिहानै चिया चुस्किसगैँ एक हुल जमात गफ मा ब्यस्त थियो । लाग्थ्यो ठूलो करोबार हुँदै थियो । पत्रीक लाई हात मा निमोठेर केहि नजिक पुगे र अस्पस्टता को घेरा नाघे । युवाहरु बिदेशिएको कती बर्श पछी कती पैसा उठ्छ भन्ने हिसाब मा अलि पक्का र अलि कच्चा सँग लागेको पाए । एका बिहानै मन मा चिसो पस्यो । के यो कारोबार फाइदाकै निमित्त हो य जुवा म लगाएको पैसा हो , के बिदेश गए पछी सबै सम्पनता को बाटो मै हिड्छ र मन देखी नै खुशी हुन्छन ? यस्ता बिभिन्न प्रश्न सँग त्यो बातावरण बाट म अलग्गिए । 

   कार्यलय जान को लागी खाना खादै गर्दा फोन को घन्टी बज्यो  ,लोकल नम्बर '''''उठाए '''आवज आयो'''भाइ पास्पोर्ट बनाउनु पर्ने सिफरिश ल्यनु पर्छ ? ओहो बिदेश कै चक्कर । । ।खै ल्यानु पर्ला नि दाई पैसा खुवाने कारोबार नगरे । अनि कहाँ जान लगेको त ? दुबाइ । । 

       कार्यालय पुगे सोही दाई सँग कुरा भयो कुरै कुरा मा मेरो अर्को सहकर्मी मित्र तात्तिए ल ल म पनि जान्छु २  बर्ष मा  २-३ लाख बच्छ भने किन नजाने ? जने जने अहो यहाँ पनि कारोबर जान त जाने के तिमीलाई त्यहाँ   गएर काम गर्न सकुला जस्तो लाग्छ ? ए यार त्यो त भैहाल्छ नि यहाँ र त्यहाँ को सिस्टम नै फरक काम गरेअनुशार को पैश आउछ यार । म एकछिन बिचार मा लिन भए के नेपाल को  सिस्टम नै नराम्रो हो भएको हो ? के नेपालमा काम र श्रम को सम्मान नभएकै हो त ?पक्कै होला नत्र भने यत्रो जमात दिनहु नेपाली भुमी छाड्दैनाथए होला । समय सँगइ काम र दिन हरु बित्दै गए त्यही १०-५ डुय्टी र ४-५ हजार पारिस्रमिक । ३-४ महिना को अन्तर महिना पछी मेरो सहकर्मी दाई र मित्र को टिकट पक्का भाई उड्ने फिक्स भयो ।१५ महिना को अन्तर मा एउटा पल्सर बाईक मलाई हानुला जस्तो गरी आयो ,मत डरले झन्डै आफै ढलेको हास्दै हेल्मेट उठए पछी चिनेजस्तो अनुहारले आखा मा प्रबेश पायो ,ओहो मित्र! सहकर्मी मित्र ! कहिले फर्केको ?किन चाडै फर्केको ? काम कस्तो थियो ? कती पैसा ल्याइयो त ? यि र एस्ता प्रश्न हरु थुपरिदिए छु पत्तै पाइएन सायद खुशी ले होला ।

   मेरो मित्रको मुखार्बृन्द बाट १,२ ओटा को बाहेक अरु प्रश्न को उत्तर पाइएन ।ल हिड आज पार्टी गर्नु पर्छधेरै पछी भेटियो मैले कार्य ब्यस्तता देखाउदा पनिसाठीकओ अनुरोध नकार्न सकिन र गएँ एक रेस्टउरेन्ट भित्र । खानपिन गरेउ केटो ले त मोबाईल पनि हरिप बोकेको रहेछ एस्तै ८०-९० हजार जाने,बाईक कै पर्‍यो होला साढे दुइ लाख भनेपछी ३ लाख जती कमाएर आईच्छा अड्कल काटेँ ।के गर्ने कारोबार त गर्नै पर्‍यो ! खान्पान सिदाएर हामी छुट्टिएउ । म शधै को कार्यालय गएर काम गर्थे र मेरो मित्र दिनहु पार्टी र ट्र्ट मा ब्यस्त ।समय सँगइ मैले सानो लगानी मा आफ्नै कार्यलय खोले ।

  सधै झै एकदिन बिहान चिया पसल मा पुगे । त्यहाँ पनि हिसाब किताब चल्दै थियो मैले सोधे हैन हो के को कुरा चल्दै छ ? ? उत्तर आयो तेही तिम्र पहिलेका सहकर्मी मित्र ! ३-४ लाख कमएर ल्याथ्यो ! बाईक साइक चाडएथ्यो !अहिले त फेरी बिदेश गए छ ।ओहो ! यो कस्तो तरिका ! म अचम्मा मा परे !तर एकछिन  पछी आफ्नो मन लाई सम्झाए हुन पनि आजको नेपाल मा यस्ता तरिका अप्नाउने युवा हरु धेरै छन , यो   तरिककोजिम्मेवारी कस्ले लिने ? ?मन मा एउटा नयाँ प्रश्नले जन्म लियो ! मन बुझाएर घर तिर लागे । । ।

Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath (Devnagari: स्वयम्भूनाथ स्तुप; sometimes romanized Swoyambhunath) is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west. The Tibetan name for the site means 'Sublime Trees' (Wylie:Phags.pa Shing.kun), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However, Shing.kun may be a corruption of the local Newari name for the complex, Singgu, meaning 'self-sprung'.^[1] For the Buddhist Newars in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice, Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it second only to Boudhanath.

The Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eyebrows painted on. Between them, there is something painted which looks like the nose - but is the Nepali symbol of 'unity', in the main Nepali language dialect^{[citation needed]}. There are also shops, restaurants and hostels. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east; and a car road around the hill from the south leading to the southwest entrance. The first sight on reaching the top of the stairway is the Vajra. Tsultrim Allione describes the experience:

We were breathless and sweating as we stumbled up the last steep steps and practically fell upon the biggest vajra (thunder-bolt scepter) that I have ever seen. Behind this vajra was the vast, round, white dome of the stupa, like a full solid skirt, at the top of which were two giant Buddha eyes wisely looking out over the peaceful valley which was just beginning to come alive.^[2]

Much of Swayambhunath's iconography comes from the Vajrayana tradition of Newar Buddhism. However, the complex is also an important site forBuddhists of many schools, and is also revered by Hindus.

Contents   [hide]  1 Mythology 2 History 3 Architecture 4 Symbolism 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 Footnotes 8 Additional References 9 Further reading 10 External links

[edit]Mythology

According to Swayambhu Purana, the entire valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning "Self-Created." The name comes from an eternal self-existent flame (svyaṃbhu) over which a sūpa was later built.^[3]

Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice had transformed into these monkeys.

The Bodhisatva Manjushri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. Seeing that the valley can be good settlement and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, Manjushri cut a gorge at Chovar. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower become the Swayambhunath stupa.

[edit]History

Swayambhunath, is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. According to the Gopālarājavaṃśāvalī Swayambhunath was founded by the great-grandfather of King Mānadeva (464-505 CE), King Vṛsadeva, about the beginning of the 5th century CE. This seems to be confirmed by a damaged stone inscription found at the site, which indicates that King Mānadeva ordered work done in 640 CE.^[3]

However, Emperor Ashoka is said to have visited the site in the third century BCE and built a temple on the hill which was later destroyed.

Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous king Hindu followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.^[4]

The stupa was completely renovated in May 2010, its first major renovation in 90 years^[5] and its 15th in the nearly 1,500 years since it was built. The dome was re-gilded using 20 kg of gold. The renovation was funded by the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center of California, and began in June 2008.^[6]

Swayambhunath at night

[edit]Architecture

The stupa consists of a dome at the base, above which is a cubical structure painted with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions with the word "unity" in the main Nepali dialect between them^{[citation needed]}. There are pentagonal Toran present above each of the four sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the torana there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers there is a small space above which the Gajur is present.

[edit]Symbolism

The dome at the base represents the entire world. When a person awakes (represented by eyes of wisdom and compassion) from the bonds of the world, the person reaches the state of enlightenment. The thirteen pinnacles on the top symbolize that sentient beings have to go through the thirteen stages of spiritual realizations to reach enlightenment or Buddhahood.

There is a large pair of eyes onn each of the four sides of the main stupa which represent Wisdom and Compassion. Above each pair of eyes is another eye, the third eye. It is said that when Buddha preaches, cosmic rays emanate from the third eye which act as messages to heavenly beings, so that those interested can come down to earth to listen to the Buddha. The hellish beings and beings below the human realm cannot come to earth to listen to the Buddha's teaching, however, the cosmic rays relieve their suffering when Buddha preaches.

There are carvings of the Panch Buddhas (five Buddhas) on each of the four sides of stupa. There are also statues of the Buddhas at the base of the stupas. Panch Buddhas are Buddha in metaphorical sense in Tantrayana. They are Vairochana (occupies the center and is the master of the temple), Akshobhya (faces the east and represents the cosmic element of consciousness), Ratna Sambhava (faces the south and represents the cosmic element of sensation), Amitabha (He represents cosmic element of Sanjna (name) and always faces the West) and Amoghsiddhi (He represents the cosmic element of conformation and faces the north).

Each morning before dawn hundreds of Buddhist (Vajrayana) and Hindu pilgrims ascend the 365 steps from eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa.

पशुपतिनाथको मन्दिर

पशुपतिनाथको मन्दिर काठमाडौंं जिल्लामा रहेको ऐतिहासिक धार्मिक एवं पर्यटकीय दृष्टिले महत्वपूर्ण स्थल हो। यो मन्दिर काठमाडौं जिल्लाको कामपा वडा नम्बर ८मा बागमती नदीको किनारमा रहेको छ। हिन्दू धर्माबलम्बीहरूको महत्पूर्ण धार्मिक स्थलमा मार्ग कृष्ण चतुदर्शीका दिन एक वर्ष भित्र अवसान भएका आफन्तहरूको सुखद स्वर्गवासको कामना गर्दै सात प्रकारको सतबीज छारिने परम्परा छ। साथै शिवरात्रीको दिन आरध्यदेव पशुपति अर्थात शिवजीको आरधना गर्दै नेपाल तथा छिमेकीमुलुक भारतका हिन्दू धर्मावलम्बीहरूको ठूलो संख्याले पशुपतिको दर्शन गर्ने गर्दछन्। शिवरात्रि एक अत्यन्त महत्त्व पूर्ण आध्यात्मिक वृत्तान्तको स्मरणोत्सव हो। सृष्टिका समस्त मनुष्यात्माका पारलौकिक परमपिता परमात्मा शिवको दिव्य जन्म वा अवतरणको महान दिन हो शिवरात्री। शिवरात्री नेपाल भरि धुमधामसँग मनाइने राष्ट्रिय पर्व हो। फागुन कृष्णचतुर्दसी घोर अन्धकारको रातमा शिवको जन्म भएको मान्यताअनुसार शिवका पीठहरूमा श्रद्धा, भक्ति र निष्ठासाथ मनाइने गरिन्छ। श्रद्धालु भक्तजन पशुपतिनाथको दर्शन अन्य सबै पर्वहरू मनुष्य वा देवताको जन्मदिनको स्मरणको रूपमा मनाइन्छ भने शिवरात्रि मनुष्यबाट देवता बनाउने देवका पनि देव महादेव, र्सवका सद्गति दाता परमप्रिय परमात्माको आफ्नै दिव्य र शुभजन्मको स्मरणोत्सव हो। शिवरात्रि तेत्तीस कोटी देवी-देवता लगायत ब्रह्मा, विष्णु, शंकरका समेत रचयिता, सबै धर्म मान्ने वा नमान्ने सम्पूर्ण आत्माका आफ्नै आत्मिक पारलौकिक परमपिताको जन्मदिन हो।

पशुपतिनाथको मन्दिर

पशुपतिनाथको मन्दिरको पूर्वी प्रवेशद्वार

श्लेमान्तक वन, पशुपति का. म. पा. ८ तीनथाना गा. वि. स. वडा नं. १मा रहेको विष्णु देवी क्षेत्र यस गाविसको मात्र महत्वपूर्ण स्थल नभै यस भेगकै ऐतिहासिक थलो हो। धार्मिक हिसाबले सातौ पिठको रूपमा गनिने विष्णु देवी, सरस्वती तथा ईच्छावृषेश्वर महादेव (गोलोकेश्वर) १७ औ शताब्दितिर स्थापना भएको मानिन्छ। ०३८/३९ सालतिर महादेवस्थानको दक्षिणतिर रहेको दुवै हात र स्तनसमेत काटिएको सरस्वतीको पूर्णकदको मूर्ति चोरी हुँदा मूर्ति मूर्ति पछाडि रहेको शिलालेखमा उक्त मिति उल्लेख गरिएको भन्ने भनाई छ। चोरी भएको सरस्वतीको मूर्तिको दुई पाऊ अद्यावधि नै छ, जहाँ २०४१ सालमा पूर्ण बहादुर महर्जनले अर्को सरस्वतीको मूर्ति बनाई स्तआपना गरेको पाइन्छ। विष्णु देवीको द्वारपालको रूपमा रहेका सिंह सिंहिनीको स्थापना रिजाल भन्ने थरका ब्यक्तिले वि.सं. १९०९ सालमा स्थापना गरेको शिलालेखमा पाइन्छ। सोही मन्दिरको पश्चिमतिर रहेको ढुंगाको खम्वामाथी प्राथना गरिरहेको मूर्ति सहितको खम्वा संवत १९१०मा स्थापना गरेको देखिन्छ। पाप धर्मको परीक्षण गर्ने वागद्वार पनि महादेवस्थानको उत्तरतर्फ रहेको छ। यस विष्णु देवी क्षेत्र पुरातात्विक महत्वको क्षेत्रभित्र समेत पर्ने भएको हुनाले यसको ञथार्थ खोजविन हुन आवश्यक देखिन्छ

Nepal Village Tour with Nepal Environmental

Nepal Environmental Trekking has been operating village tourism since the beginning of its establishment. We cherish the belief that village tourism offers a unique opportunity for comfortable cultural immersion. During your village tour, you will travel to places where the way of life has not changed for centuries and where everything is still built by hand, made by hand and created by hand. Here, you will visit people untouched by western ideals, computers or modern "necessities". Our company contracts with a whole village to accommodate and entertain guests. Rooms are provided in local houses which are fitted with bathrooms and a few tourist-style comforts and host families are trained to prepare meals hygienically. A guide will also accompany the guests mainly to provide interpretation skills and to educate about the surroundings. Participating villages tend to be located a couple of hours' walk from the nearest road. Close enough to be easily accessible for less-than-fit visitors, yet far enough to be culturally intact and shielded from outside influences. We take our guests to unspoiled villages where they spend a few days living with the local people and are treated as honored family guests. Each village is connected through a variety of crucial horizontal linkages with other villages and with urban areas both near and far. Most villages are characterized by a multiplicity of economic, caste, kinship, occupational, and even religious groups linked vertically within each settlement. While staying in the villages, guests enjoy comfortable accommodations, delicious local food and drink and a welcome that will remain a happy memory for a lifetime. While with us, our guests can rest assured that they are always in a secure and safe environment. Local attractions, both scenic and cultural, are shown to our guests by our well trained ethnic guides who always do their utmost to make the guest’s stay a memorable experience. Many of our villages are close to unspoiled natural areas where wildlife may be seen undisturbed. This can be a feature of our packages for special interest groups. The traditional culture of the different ethnic groups is a highlight of all of our village visits. These warm and friendly people are always ready to perform their music and dance and to give an insight into their religion. Examples of local handicrafts will be on display, and for sale, to guests. The aim of operating this kind of tourism is to help the participating villages to greatly improve their communities. 10 % of our net profit goes directly into their tourism venture. Our company mainly focuses on these areas as models of village tourism

Bungee Jumping in Nepal

Bungee jumping is an activity in which a person jumps off from a high place (generally several hundred feet/meters) with one end of an elastic cord attached to his/her body or ankles and the other end tied to the jumping-off point. When the person jumps, the cord will stretch to take up the energy of the fall, then the jumper will fly upwards as the cord snaps back. The jumper oscillates up and down until the initial energy of the jump is dissipated. Ultimate Bungee offers a 500-foot jump over a tropical gorge in the Himalayas of Nepal along the Tibetan border. The Bhote Koshi, one of Nepal's wildest rivers, rages below the steel suspension bridge that was specially designed for bungee jumping. The Swiss design can hold up to 4.5 tons of weight and is 545 feet wide, so there's no need to worry about your safety (at least not before jumping...) The dense jungle and pristine forest surrounding the cliff top gorge offer a spectacular view, which many consider to be one of the most beautiful in the world. BUNGEE JUMPING: If you thought bungee jumping was restricted to some places in Europe, New Zealand and America, it's time you got an update. The sport has finally found a natural home in the highest mountain range in the world. The ultimate thrill of a bungee jump can now be experienced in Nepal at perhaps the best site in the world. Your jump can be arranged on arrival in Kathmandu. The jump, at 160m, was designed by one of New Zealand's leading bungee consultants, and is operated by some of the most experienced jump masters in the business. It is considered mishap-proof. The agency takes safety "very, very seriously". Location  Less than 3 hours outside Kathmandu by Ultimate Bungee Shuttle. You will travel the Arniko (Kathmandu/Lhasa) Highway to within 12km of the Tibet Border and the famous Friendship Bridge. The Gorge  Ultimate Bungee Nepal takes place on a 166m wide steel suspension bridge over the Bhoti Kosi River. The Bridge  Swiss designed, especially for bungee jumping with a 4x safety factor. The bridge has a loading factor of 250kg per running meter. This means that the bridge will hold 250 x 166 = 41,500kg or 4.5 tons. And those are Swiss measurements! Over 6000 meters of steel wire was used to build this bridge, which is the longest suspension bridge in Nepal and joins two sides of a great valley. Before its construction, locals walked five hours to cross this river gorge. Anyone who wants to take a taste of bungee jumping should not have any of the health problems mentioned below: Heart disease Epilepsy High blood pressure Pregnancy Addiction to alcohol or drugs Orthopedic problems Psychological problems Neurological problems

Mountain Biking in Nepal

Mountain biking in Nepal has been gaining much popularity among the adventure enthusiasts from around the world over the past few years. Fascinating mountain villages, nomadic lands, high passes, rugged and tough mountain terrain, winding rivers, rice fields, temples and monasteries as a backdrop of majestic snowy Himalayan peaks make mountain biking trail in Nepal an exceptionally inspiring play ground for riders with any level of experience and fitness. Biking Around Kathmandu Valley  This is a 5-day biking trip on the ridge-top trails which encircle the Valley's rim. You travel along little-used dirt roads away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Only a short bike ride away lies a delightful world of wo oded slopes, small villages, hidden temples and the views which include all of the principal peaks of the Nepal Himalaya - from Makalu to the Annapurnas providing some excellent, easy to semi - technical single track riding along old jeep roads. During these five days you will experience all of the sights, sounds, tastes and smells that make up life in Nepal’s 'Middle Hills'. You will visit the historic cities of Patan and Bhaktpur, hill resort of Nagarkot with its sunrise view of the entire Nepal Himalaya and the temples, monasteries and picturesque villages tucked away in the forests along the way. You are so close to the bustle of Kathmandu, but so far off the beaten tourist trail. With the mornings spent cycling above a sea of clouds, it would not be an exaggeration to call this a heaven for mountain bikers! Throughout the trip, support vehicles carrying all your gear will either follow behind you or be with you at the end of the day. Whether you ride for fun, or take it more seriously, challenges lie around every corner.

Mountain Biking Around Kathmandu Itinerary

Day 1 You begin with a classic 50 kilometers, mountain bike trail, at first on roads through Patan to Lubhu, climbing up the deteriorating track to the quiet Newari village of Sisneri. So near to Kathmandu, but away from the beaten tourist track, it is a photographer's paradise, with the contrast of richly colored villages against a backdrop of snow capped mountains. After a steep 500 meter climb, it is wild trail downhill to Panauti, home of the oldest temple in Nepal, the Indreshwar Hahadev. Reunited with your support vehicle, which could not follow you for the whole route, you camp beside the river at this idyllic settlement. Day 2 You have a choice of the road climb up to Dhulikhel, or a more adventurous track, which goes more steeply up through terraced fields to the Buddhist pilgrimage temple of Namo Buddha and then down to Dhulikhel. This involves a ride of about 35 kilometers. Your camp at Dhulikhel offers fantastic sunset views of the great chain of the Himalaya. Day 3 It is downhill on a little-used tarmac road towards the mediaeval town of Bhaktapur, where you will spend time exploring a wealth of his historic temples and courtyards. The afternoon is a steady series of switch-backs up onto the main ridge, where you find another spectacular campsite at the hill-station of Nagarkot. Day 4 Himalayan mountain biking does not get much better than today's ride. Early morning usually creates a sea of cloud in the valley beneath you, and you can look beyond this to a mountain panorama which stretches from Makalu to the Annapurnas. The riding terrain is also superb as you slowly make your way along an old jeep track, traversing the ridges of Kattike, Manichup and Chipu Dara. You must be very careful not to take a wrong turning on this part of the route, as the false descent will only mean a long carry back up to the ridge! After about 40 kilometers, you camp at Chisopani, just to the north of the main ridge. This is your last night camping, and you have magnificent views of the Annapurnas. Support vehicles cannot follow you along this part of the route and porters will carry your essentials to the campsite. Day 5 Fit and well-acclimatized after the exercise of the last few days, you take the opportunity on your final day of biking to climb the valley's second highest mountain Shivapuri 2732m, before plunging back to Kathmandu on one of the best downhill rides in the area, via the reclining Vishnu Temple at Budhanalikantha. Day 6 Fly out from Kathmandu or stay longer for other activities.

Single Track Mountain Biking Adventure  This is real Mountain bike exploration. For the first three days of this trip you have no backup vehicles, so when you can't ride you carry the bikes. You fly into Tumlingtar and spend the first day getting the bikes put together after the flight. The next day you explore Tumlingtar and the surrounding villages all on the bike, since there are a lot of really nice single tracks here.Then on the third day the real adventure begins you make your way along the Arun River down to Kewabesi where you meet your support staff and from here on you camp. The rest of the trip is on a series of hard up hill climbs, and trilling down hill rides, but you can now hitch a ride with our support vehicles when the going gets to tough. This tour provides everything that makes a Mountain bike adventure, a lot of single trails, a couple of strait forward but long climbs and last but not least two long thrilling downhill rides on tarmac.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 Fly from Kathmandu to Tumlingtar. You take the one-hour flight by twin otter from Kathmandu to Tumligtar. Tumligtar is situated on a plateau just above the Arun River in an elevation of 460 meters. Around Tumlingtar you find lush forests, banana groves and rice paddies. You are almost 1000 meters lower than Kathmandu and the climate is almost tropical, so be prepared to sweat! After you have put your bikes back together, you go exploring around Tumligtar if you have time before sunset. There are lots of nice small trails to explore on the Tumlingtar plateau. Day 2 Tumlingtar and Around. Today you will make an excursion to Khandbari [1040 m.] the regional capital, sited on the crest of a ridge two hours ride from Tumligtar towards Makalu Base Camp. If you are here on a Saturday you will experience the weekly market. Khandbari is a charming place, with a flag-stoned main street, whitewashed houses with gardens and manicured lawns. You return to Tumlingtar for the night. Day 3 Bike from Tumlingtar to Kewabesi. This is where the real adventure begins. Today you have to make your way some 25 kilometres down the Arun valley. From Tumlingtar the trail follows the plateau till it ends four kilometres south of the town from here it is down hill to the Shawa River, where you will get to ride across a suspension bridge. The rest of the day you follow the Arun River, sometimes a bit above it and at time right on the riverbank. You have time for a dip in the river at lunch, before you continue to your camp at Kewabesi. Kewabesi is a big delta next to the Arun River and just before the Leguwa River joins Arun. Day 4 Bike from Kewabesi to Pakhribas. This is the day that is going to teach you what it means to climb; Pakhribas is about 1400 meters higher in elevation than Kewabesi. You start out the day with another few kilometres of single trail to Leguwa, here you meet your support vehicles, which are going to be there for the rest of the tour if someone needs a lift up one of the hills. From Leguwa you have a few more kilometres on relatively flat dust road, before the real climb starts at Manmaya. Manmaya to Pakhribas is one long climb; you have plenty of time, so for the stubborn and the strong there is enough time to reach Pakhribas without taking a lift from the support vehicles. Day 5 Bike from Pakhribas to Mulghat. Today you are going to have a flying downhill ride, but first you have to ride another 10 kilometres on a level dust road to Hile. This is a pleasant roadside town situated high on a hill at 1850 meters; the elevation and cool breezes provide a welcoming relief from the heat of the Arun valley. Many of the people who inhabit this village are Tibetans who have settled here. From Hile the road descends a spur to Dhankuta, at 1220 metres. The road does not pass directly through Dhankuta, but you will find some small roads through the town, because it is well worth a visit. It is a Rai, Newar and Limbu town - large, attractive and clean, with whitewashed houses and winding streets paved with stone. When you have finished touring Dhankuta you make another fast descend to your camp at the Tamur River at Mulghat. Day 6 Bike from Pauwa Pass to Ilam. From the Pauwa Pass to Ilam is around 55 km, at first involving a descent before contouring around a ridge? This is followed by a blast down to the river and then a short climb. Finally, you cruise into town and set up camp amongst the sea of tea plantations. Another superb day's riding, full of contrasts and surprises. Ilam is Nepal's most famous tea centre where the tealeaf is cured before being transported to Kathmandu. Day 7 Ilam and around. Today is dedicated to tea and relaxation. For those who relax best sitting on the mountain bike this is a fantastic place to ride some single trails. The tea gardens are full of small tracks and trails you can ride. However if, for once you prefer just to walk around at your own pace, looking at life in this tranquil town, fell free to do so this is your "holiday". Day 8 Bike from Ilam to Biratnagar. This is another downhill, as far as the river, before another big uphill on your roller coaster route. You hitch a ride on the vehicles for the 40 kilometers climb to the top of the pass at Ficcal, though if there are any hard-core climbers who would like to take on this ascent, you are on tarmac for the first time during the trip. The fish curry at the top of the pass is worth the trip alone, but you are now on the very last crest of the Himalayan foothills, looking down across neatly cropped tea bushes onto the Indian plains. Your trip ends with an 1800m descent, on smooth tarmac for a change, but with enough pot holes to keep it interesting! It is switchbacks all the way to the town of Charali. From here you pack our bikes for a drive back along the Terai to a well-earned shower at your hotel in Biratnagar. Day 9 Fly from Biratnagar to Kathmandu. A leisurely morning is spent exploring Biratnagar before you take the return flight across the foothills of the Himalayas to the luxuries of a hot shower in your hotel in Kathmandu. Day 10 Fly out from Kathmandu or stay longer for other activities.

Khokana

Khokana is a village development committee in Lalitpur District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 4258 living in 699 individual households.^[1]

Khokana, a traditional and tiny Newari village eight kilometers south of Kathmandu (on the outskirts of Patan), which has its own history and has retained its tradition and culture. It is a living museum and recalls medieval times. The farming community of Newars who live here are mostly dependent on agriculture and much of their daily activities take place outside of their dwellings.

There are women sitting outside spinning, men crushing seeds, and other daily activities. The village is famous for its unusual mustard-oilharvesting process in which a heavy wooden beam is used to crush the mustard seeds in order to extract the oil. It is believed that a share system was used in the past here. This oil can be consumed if desired, but it can also be used for therapeutic massage. This was also the first village, indeed the first habitation, to be electrified, before Kathmandu.^{[citation needed]}

In the center is a three-storey temple, Shree Rudrayani, with a particularly wide main street, especially for a village of such small size. Khokana has been nominated to be listed as a World Heritage Site, Khokana, representing a vernacular village and its mustard-oil seed industrial heritage.^{[citation needed]}

"Khokana is a unique village which can be taken as a model of a medieval settlement pattern with a system of drainage and chowks. It houses chaityas and a Mother Goddess temple. The mustard-oil seed industry has become the living heritage of the village." Unesco World Heritage.^{[citation needed]}

In January the Khokana festival is held to showcase the unique aspects of the village. Cultural Newari dances, such as the Thimi dance and Devi dance, Newari food, such as Newar Pancake (Who), a sweat steamed snack bursting with golden syrup and sesame (Yomari) and strong Nepali wine (Yela), crafts, music and the towns mustard production were all on display 

http://www.un.org.np/maps/district-maps/central/Lalitpur.pdf