Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Nepal Tour Guide

Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north has eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Sagarmatha, known in English as Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. It contains over 240 peaks more than 20,000 ft (6,096 metres) above sea level.

By some measures, Hinduism is practised by a larger majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation. Buddhism, though a minority faith in the country, is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, who as the Buddha Gautama gave birth to the Buddhist tradition.
A monarchy throughout most of its history, Nepal was ruled by the Shah dynasty of kings from 1768, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified its many small kingdoms. However, a decade-long People's Revolution by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) along with several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties of Nepal in 2006, culminated in a peace accord and the ensuing elections for the constituent assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the abdication of the last Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal democratic republic in May 28, 2008. The first President of Nepal, Ram Baran Yadav, was sworn in on 23 July 2008.

 

Trekking in Nepal

 Nepal is a unique destination for trekking in Nepal, hiking in Nepal because of its unbeatablee combination of natural beauty and cultural riches. And the most appropriate way to experience. It is walk through them. Nepal is a special and rewarding mountain holiday and tough or easy walking trip following well developed trails. With a trek around Nepal, you will directly experience our culture and way of life of different ethnic people, religion and festivals.



 

Rafting in Nepal/ Kayaking in Nepal

White water rafting is negotiating river rapids and obstacles in an inflatable rubber boat with a team of up to eight people and a river guide. Rivers are graded from easy to near-impossible according to their size, the intensity of their rapids and the difficulties that may affect rescue attempts.


 

Jungle Safari in Nepal

Nepal is a unique destination for trekking because of its unbeatable combination of natural beauty and cultural riches. And the most appropriate way to experience it is walk through them. Nepal is a special and rewarding mountain holiday and tough or easy walking trip following well developed trails. With a trek around Nepal, you will directly experience our culture and way of life of different ethnic people, religion and festivals.

Hotel Management Education in Nepal

GATE Nepal - Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education


Nepal is fast making a name in hospitality...and Hotel Management Education! GATE is the latest hospitality academy to make its debut in this beautiful country and plans to offer professional hotel education in combination with Swiss Hotel School - SSTH (Passugg / Chur). GATE has also announced a strong drive towards international ISO certification and strong ties with global Coffee trademark Illy Cafe and will introduce a branch as well as Barrista courses in the future. The school also announced scholarships for students from India, something very new to the region. Looking forward to seeing what impact the school has with it's new trend setting approaches to long-term and craft-level hotel / hospitality courses. 
GATE (The Global Academy of Tourism & Hospitality Education) opens in Nepal: bringing the best of the West to the East! 
 Switzerland has a long history in benchmarking excellence in hotel management education in the world. With Surprisingly similar geography: Nepal also a small landlocked country situated between two economic giants of Asia, (China and India) Is following Switzerland tradition of excellence in Hotel Management. GATE - Global Academy for Tourism and Hospitality Education has started its first session with 50 students and will soon admit international students. It is located on a lovely plot of land over-looking Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, the capital valley of Nepal!

Nepal GATE Hotel Management School Students in class

Nepal, a small spectacular country draped along the spine of the Himalaya is also renowned as home to the Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain and equally as a birthplace of Buddha in the world. Nepal is also renowned for its enthralling sublime scenery, amazing cultural diversity, and world-famous heritage and time-worn monuments, with some of the best hiking trails on earth. As it is cited in famous travel guide “Lonely Planet” - It's the kind of country that lingers in your dreams long after you leave it, this is why so many travelers are drawn back to Nepal, armed the second time round with a greater appreciation of its natural and cultural complexity, a stout pair of walking boots and a desire for sculpted calf muscles. “

At GATE, the hospitality management program is completely hands on – with some time in the classroom but most time cooking, serving, managing and making the on campus restaurant operate like a real restaurant. The Academic course is designed with the direct support of world famous Swiss School SSTH – Swiss School of Tourism & Hospitality which has over 40 years of proved track record of excellence in hospitality education. The co-signed higher diploma will be awarded to successful students upon completion of six academic semesters which are delivered in Kathmandu campus and or final year in SSTH Switzerland.

GATE Nepal Hotel Management Students in the Kitchen

The college founder and CEO Mr. Khem Raj Lakai is a former Swiss School graduates and has over 15 years of experiences in the hospitality and hotel industry. Khem is also a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) and has worked in Asia, Europe and North America before he started his free-lance consultation in Bahrain. Khem says that GATE is already fortuned to have visiting faculties from abroad such as Deborah Koehler, world-renowned management coach (USA), Dr. Marc Clark (USA) as an Academic advisor and Florent Labbe (France), a certified French professor to support the GATE.

The GATE students will gain experience in the operational elements of the hospitality industry with practice-based and computer-based simulations designed to submerge them in the aesthetics, society and customer focus of hospitality. The indention of these practices and simulations is to develop the leadership ability and confidence through daily practice with feedback and accumulated confidence that come from reputation and exposure to real situations. The students of GATE are exposed to daily operation procedure and real service experience at campus owned restaurant called La Mezzaluna. It is able to cater up to 200 persons in each shift. Also the world famous coffee chain Illy has already approved it as an outlet for training in northern Kathmandu valley.

GATE aims to provide students with the right knowledge, skills and attitude requested by valued global Resorts and Hotels.

The students have the opportunity to interact with guest lectures from high standard Nepal hotels and visiting international industry leaders. Also GATE will take advantages of visits from celebrity chefs and legendary figures. Learning from them what it takes to become a successful leader and at the same time, they will help them develop an eye for detail and from their experiences of what they consider to be effective decision-making capabilities of the future manager.

The GATE Nepal and Illy Cafe tie

In addition to learning about operations , information technology and financial management, , The students are involved in the creativity, decision making, thinking skills and cross culture behavior and human resources management that are required for them to work at global standards in environments outside of Nepal. All courses are designed to nurture a leadership and utilize each students full potential.

Swiss Merit Higher Diploma in Hotel & Restaurant Management is offered in 3 years of period either in Nepal or combined with the final semester in SSTH – Switzerland to award Swiss higher diploma.

The Craft Level courses include:
• Certificate in Culinary Arts
• Certificate in F&B Service
• Certificate in Housekeeping operation
• Diploma in Culinary Arts
• Bartending & Mixology Science
• All types of Barista coffee course (to be launched)

Hotel Management in Nepal

Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management



Nepal Academy of Tourism & Hotel Management (NATHM) formerly known as HMTTC was established in 1972 by Government of Nepal with the technical assistance of UNDP/ILO to produce skilled manpower required by the Hospitality and tourism industry. Eversince it's birth the Academy has played a crucial role in developing the human resources for this industry with the aim of enhancing the level of quality in services. It has been providing craft and supervisory level skill oriented training to cater to the demands from this particular sector. This premier Academy is renowned for generating qualified workforce for the ever-increasing demands of the Hospitality and tourism sectors.

As the industry has grown rapidly over the past decades, the need for professionally trained higher-level manpower is evident. The Academy, in consultation with the industry, has launched the three years Bachelor in Hotel Management (BHM)Course from 1999 and three years Bachelor in Travel and Tourism Management (BTTM) Course from september 2003 in affiliation with Tribhuvan University to fulfill the needs of supervisory-level manpower in the Hospitality and tourism industry.





BHM (Bachelor Of hotel Management)


The BHM programme has been designed to prepare the students to enter the hospitality industry at the supervisory level in areas of hotel and catering operations. Upon graduation the students will be able to:

1. occupy supervisory positions in the hotels and catering industry with adequate background of management functions;
2. acquire basic technical and social skills required for professional of hotel and catering operations;
3. apply cost control measures for greater economy and success of business operations;
4. set standards for quality assurance of the services offered to customers;
5. develop positive attitudes towards the trade with greater imitative and self confidence in handling the operations ; and
6. become a successful entrepreneur in a small/ medium size enterprise.

Nepal travel Destination

About Travel Destination

Draped along the greatest heights of the Himalaya, Nepal is where the ice-cold of the mountains meets the steamy heat of the Indian plains. It's a land of yaks and yetis, stupas and Sherpas and some of the best trekking on earth. The Himalaya's most sophisticated urban cultures took shape here, in the three great mini kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley - Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur - home to a world-class artistic and architectural heritage

 Behind the Vishnu shrine of Ichangu Narayan, northwest of Swayambhunath in the Kathmandu Valley, rises the 'Abode of Snows' (Himalaya in Sanskrit), a magnet for trekkers and mountaineers the world over. Only in Nepal can you trek for weeks without the need even for a tent. No longer does your name have to be Tenzing or Hillary to set foot in Everest Base Camp. Out of the mountains, get your adrenaline kick from world-class white-water rafting, kayaking and mountain biking, or from the spine-tingling sight of your first tiger or rhino in Chitwan National Park.
Nepal is not just a bungee-jumping, apple-pie eating Shangri-la. It's also one of the poorest countries on earth. However, many visitors, drawn to Nepal by the promise of adventure, leave equally enchanted by the friendliness and openness of the Nepali people.
From the natural rhythm you ease into on a trek to the rhythm of a tabla drum at one of Kathmandu's palace restaurants, Nepal is an amazingly diverse country that offers something for everyone. One journey through this land is rarely enough. The first thing many people do after a visit is start planning the next one.






About Kathmandu



The city of Kathmandu was built by king Gun Kamdev in 723 A.D. It is said that Kathmandu was a lake in the past and was made habitable by Manjushree, who cut open the hill to south Chovar) as to allow the water of lake to flow out.
It is said that Kathmandu city was named after " Kastha-Mandap" meaning the temple made of wood in Sanskrit , an imposing pagoda near Hanuman Dhoka Palace. It was built in 1596 out of a single tree by King Laxmi Narashingha Malla.


Orientation:
Kathmandu is the capital of the kingdom, situated in a valley which is an open air museum of famous sites, ancient temples and shrines, golden pagodas and are inspiring deities, is a city of inexhaustible historic artistic and cultural interest. Several beautiful and interesting villages and towns surrounding the valley offer ideal destinations for mini treks. The dazzling Himalayan peaks are visible from several points on the mountains around the valley.
The capital is quite upto date in terms of comfort and convenience boasting luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and casinos. Transportation is convenient and inexpensive. Medical service is quite good. Shoppers may purchase unusual gifts and souvenirs from an interesting assortment of items such as handicrafts, carpets, wooden art works, bronze casting and metal work, thankas, Nepali paper prints and readymade garments.



Places to see



Kathmandu Durbar Square
A very old Hindu text has described Kathmandu as the land of gods surrounded by beautiful mountains around. Some two hundred years ago a western Visitor wrote that there were as many temples as there were houses and many idols as there were people. In fact Kathmandu boasts one of the largest congregations of magnificent historical monuments and shrines ever built. Duly recognized as a world Heritage Site by UNESCO- this particular area best known as Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the heart of this city. Locally also called as Hanuman Dhoka Palace Square-an ancient seat of the Nepalese Royalty.
Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex consists of a huge Royal Square imposing a tremendous variety of temples dedicated to different Hindu gods and goddess. Most of the buildings we see here date from 15th to 18th century.
The entire Palace Complex here is named after a monkey god called Hanuman. One can see a huge stone statue of Hanuman painted all red right next to the main entrance ( the golden gate) of the palace. Hanuman here is regarded as a powerful protector of the entire Durbar Square.



Some of the important monuments to be seen here are:
Taleju temple- tallest of all structures built by king Mahendra Malla in 1549 A.D.

Jagannath temple - built in the 16th century, known for fascinating erotic figures carving I the wooden struts eaves.

Kal Bhairav - one of the largest stone idol in Kathmandu representing the terrifying aspects of Shiva.
Statue of King Pratap Malla in praying gesture to Digu Taleju the royal family deity right across.

Kumari Ghar - 17th century Kumari temple, an example of the highly developed Nepalese temple craft.

Kasthamandap - built from the timber of a single tree. The Kathmandu City derives its name from Kasthamandap.
Besides this other fascinating part of this palace complex is the towering Nautale Durbar overlooking the beautiful cityscape and the vast Basantapur square where Prithivi Narayan Shah built mansion to commemorate his victory in 1768 A.D. This building complex is known for the most intricately carved wooden doorways roof struts and massive lattice windows full of mythical figures.






Swyambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple)
Located in a lovely little hill rock Swoyambhu Nath Stupa is one of the most fascinating architectural jewels of the world. This great Stoup is said to have been built around 250 B.C.
Generally a holy memorial site Stoup represents a typical Buddhist architecture. Its main feature the white dome is identified with a spotless pure jewel of Nirvana and a thirteen tiered golden spire in conical shape surmounted on the dome. Underneath this towering structure are a pair of all seeing eyes of Buddha painted on all four sides of the Stupa.
The Stupa of Swoyambhunath stands on a typically stylized lotus mandala base-a long time ago believed to have originated from a legendary lake of Kathmandu Valley.
As the ancient legend goes Kathmandu Valley was a lake a long time ago. Right in the centre of this lake was a full blown lotus with the divine light a top. When Maha Manjushri a saint from China heard about this he came rushing all the way from China to the Valley. He cut through the southern wall hill of the valley with his divine sword. The cleft made by the sword immediately drained the entire lake water making the valley floor open for a close up view of the divine lotus light.
This holy site in fact is the massive stupa complex ever built in Nepal. Hundreds of votive shrines and other historical monuments built in and around this stupa speak a lot about the significance and antiquity of this famed stupa.
It lies about 3k.m. west of down town Kathmandu. There are two different ways to reach for this site. One is from the west side which is relatively a short cut and another is from the east side where it leads to the main entrance with 360 steps leading all the way to the top, where the most venerated Swayambhu Stupa stands-commanding a magnificent view of Kathmandu Valley and the breathtaking panorama of the north eastern Himalayan range.






Boudha Nath Stupa
One of the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monuments ever built in Nepal, Boudhanath is an imposing structure standing some 36 meters. The Stupa stands on the massive three level mandala style Platforms surrounded by colourful private family houses. The basic feature of this great stupa is very much like that of Swoyambhunath stupa except its finial displaying. It is much bigger than Swoyambhu stupa and lies on the valley floor whereas the former one stands on the hill top. This stupa is said to have been built in 5th century A. D. The site is considered very much like Mecca for the Tibetan Buddhists and every year tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the Himalayan region visit the stupa.
According to a very popular legend long time ago the kingdom of Kathmandu was under terrifying draught. King Dharma Deva was very worried. An astrologer advised him that only the sacrifice of an ideal man with 32 virtues in front of the dry royal water spout could make the rain fall in the country. And in the following night he commanded his son to go to the dry water spout inside the royal palace compound at mid night and behead the person shrouded in white robe without looking at him. The Prince obeyed his father but to his great horror only to find it was none other than his own father.






Pashupatinath Temple
Pasupatinath is considered one of the holiest shrines of all the Hindu temples. The temple has remained the presiding deity of ruling Nepalese Royalty. Located on the banks of the Bagmati river, this two tiered magnificent golden temple with four triple silver doorways is unique example of the Nepalese temple architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complex in South Asia with hundreds of Shiva lingams, shrines icons of various Hindu god and goddess insides.
This temple site occupies an area of 281 hectares in total. The main entrance of this temple is in the western side facing a small street of Deopatan market. As non Hindus are not allowed to enter this temple courtyard. They are advised to go on the other side of the river in the East to have a glimpse of the temple complex. In the middle of the spring (Feb.-March) every year there occurs a festival called Shivaratri. The world Shivaratri means the holy night of Lord Shiva. On this day many devotees visit the Pashupati Nath temple and make the ceremonial fire.
Most of the devotees spend the night offering prayers to Shiva. This festival attracts tens of thousand of pilgrims from India besides the locals. Historically pre-Christian era this temple seems to have its origin away back to the early Kirat period. Stone sculptures found in the vicinity support the antiquity of this place. This holy site is 6 km. east oil down town Kathmandu. Regular bus and taxi services are easily available from a city points.



Budhanilkantha
Situated below Shivapuri hill at the northern end of the valley, Buddhanilkantha temple is 9 km from Kathmandu city. The temple consists of a pond in which lies a great stone figure of the Hindu god Vishnu reclining on the coils of a cosmic serpent. The huge statue of sleeping Vishnu is carved from the single block of black stone of a type not found in the valley. It is believed that ages before the two hardworking farmers (husband and wife) discovered the statue when they were ploughing their field.
Besides Budhanilkantha temple, there are other two sets of exactly similar, but smaller statues of 'sleeping Vishnu' in the Valley. One set is in the Balaju garden and the other is hidden in the old garden of Hanuman Dhoka Palace of Kathmandu city. A prophetic dream of King Pratap Malla generated the belief that the King of Nepal should never visit Buddhanilkantha temple on threat of death. He then built the similar statue in two places.


Balaju Water Garden:
It is situated below Nagarjun Hill about five-kilometer northwest of Kathmandu City. The garden is known for its bank of 22 stone waterspouts (hiti) carved in the shape of sea-dragons. It alsoconsists of religious shrines, fishponds and a replica of the statue of Budhanilkantha. There is also a swimming pool inside the park.

Top Hotels in Nepal and their service


 About Hotels


You’ll be spoilt for choice with Nepalese accommodation during your Nepal tours. We have hotels ranging from 1 star to 5 star, luxury resorts and several tourist standard hotels. You can expect friendly service and the best standards in whichever budget range you choose.

To guarantee excellence service as per your budget Mosaic Adventure advices you to use the facilities and services of government-registered hotels, resorts or lodges.

However, Nepal has seen the growing of several excellent hotels in the last few decades in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Better hotels or resorts work at near full capacity and are booked well in advance during spring and fall, therefore we suggest our valued customers to book their hotel in advance before arriving Nepal.

  • Hyatt Regency Kathmandu
  • Hotel Yak & Yeti
  • Soaltee Crown Plaza
  • Radisson Hotel Kathmandu
  • Hotel Shangri-La Kathmandu
  • The Malla Hotel
  • The Everest Hotel
  • Le Meridien Kathmandu






Top Hotel Singi


The Royal Singi Hotel, heralds the dawn of a new era in hotel accommodation in Kathmandu. A wonderful new dimension of hospitality, luxury and comfort. Royal singi Hotel perfectly combines the traditional elements of Nepal’s rich and vibrant culture which the latest in hotel accommodation facilities .Besides assembling the state-of-the art facilities, the hotel has put together a dedicated family of professionals who are committed to making the Royal singi name synonymous with quality and service.

Perfectly poised in the heart of the city (adjacent to Durbar Marg) , the hotel is a convenient short walk away from the business as well as the tourist centers.
Whether for business or pleasure, you will find our location , service and facilities thoughtfully deigned to satisfy your ever need Royal singi Hotel plays host to a wealth of thoughtful facilities, fine dining and efficient service










Features


The REGENCY HALL has the capacity to host meeting facilities for 75 people. The pursuit of excellence is never ending commitment at Royal singi. To further our services and facilities, the Hotel has an impressive line-up of future projects due to commence very soon.

A Discotheque to wile away your evenings.
Swimming pool & Beauty Parlor.
A state – of – the – art Business center.
Health club (Oriental Therapy)