Eat, Pray & Love In Mystical Nepal

Nepal is one of the most mystical places on earth, being the site of the planet's highest mountain peak (Mt. Everest) and the birthplace of the first agnostic religion (Buddhism). As a tourist, there are three important things you can do while in Nepal: Eat their exotic meals, pray in your sacred space and love the travel experience this country brings.

Eat: Vegan meals

Nepal's culture is an off-shoot of its Indian neighbors, much like Pakistan and Sri Lanka. It is therefore not surprising that many of the local dishes resemble quasi-vegan cuisine. Although vegetables comprise a huge percentage of their recipe, they also occasionally add chicken, pork or goat's meat as auxiliary ingredients.

What makes Nepalese dishes special is that they are twice more nutritious considering that flavors are based on herbs and spices. Staple dishes seldom use oil and rarely use animal fat for flavoring. The cost for breakfast in Nepal does not exceed $2.59. The highest fare for lunch is $3.14 while the best dinner menu is limited to $4.16. The average cost of Local Nepalese food is cheap by international standards.

Pray: Buddhist Pilgrimage

Prince Siddhartha, also known as Lord Buddha, was born in the province of Lumbini. This part of Nepal has become a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site since 249 BC when the Indian emperor Ashoka conducted his own sabbatical as a devout Buddhist.

With much of Nepal's old monuments damaged during the April 2015 earthquake, a few shrines still remain intact, a testament to the sacredness of the place being spared from periodic tremors. Including among them is the Lumbini shrine, the Boudhanath temple and the Swayambhunath stupa (sacred tower). Any of these places are a perfect site for personal reflection and soul searching.

Love: Shopping, Hiking, and Enjoying Life!

The biggest test for any hiker is to undertake a steep and arduous climb to Mt. Everest. Such an endeavor is too sacrosanct to be taken lightly. But for anyone of a much light-hearted nature can simply shop at Thamel District for exotic souvenirs and local artworks to take home. Around January to February, everyone is invited to join the festivities hosted by Tibetan Buddhists.