Nepal's people are one of the country's greatest travel experiences – genuinely warm, curious and open in their engagement with visitors in a way that is increasingly rare in heavily touristed parts of Asia. Nepal's ethnic diversity (over 125 recognised ethnic groups speaking more than 120 languages) means that "meeting the locals" encompasses extraordinary variety: the Buddhist Sherpa communities of the Khumbu with their mountaineering culture, the Gurung and Magar villages of the Annapurna foothills with their Gurkha military heritage, the Newari urban culture of the Kathmandu Valley with its ancient craft traditions, and the Tharu indigenous communities of the Chitwan lowlands.
Our community encounter programmes create genuine rather than staged cultural exchanges. Homestay accommodation in Gurung villages in the Annapurna foothills, Tamang village stays along the Tamang Heritage Trail, cooking classes with Newari families in the Kathmandu Valley and Tharu cultural evenings in Chitwan all provide authentic encounters with Nepal's extraordinary human diversity. These experiences complement rather than replace the standard heritage and wildlife attractions, adding a human dimension that many visitors find the most memorable aspect of their trip.
Press your hands together and say Namaste to watch the people of Nepal return your gesture with some of the largest most welcoming smiles in the world. It may seem cliche but Nepal's people are some of the most friendly you will ever encounter. Namaste is a common form of greeting each other in the Nepali society which is a Sanskrit word that equates to "the divine in me bows to the divine in you".
Records states, there are 101 ethnic groups and 92, individual, languages spoken every day in this blissful country situated between China in the north, and India in the south. In such delighted country, one may expect to meet many friendly inhabitants at every turn and corner. Nepali people are famous for their friendly nature, genuine hospitality, resilience, and their smile faces.
And, people of Nepal, interestingly, ask "Have you had your tea?" or "Have you had your lunch?" instead of asking "How are you?". However, the primary intention is to know about your health. So, if you honestly answer that you haven't, then there is a high probability that you'll get invited to their place in the very next conversation.
Though there are numerous ethnicity living under the same roof, people of Nepal have always admired each other's culture and tradition, which contributes to the religious and cultural harmony in the country since centuries.
Perhaps, this is the major reason, why a tourist cannot remain tourist for a longer period. Once a tourist begins to know the place and its people, he is no longer a stranger - he is a valued guest, and guests are considered Gods here.
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If you want to find out more about things to do, major places to visit in Nepal or need our assistance for planning your Nepal holiday, simply send us an email and we will get back to you right away.
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