The people of Nepal are very open, friendly, and welcoming to tourists; they always have a smile and are willing to help, despite the economic and political difficulties the country has faced. For this reason, this saying about Nepal is common.
Moreover, there are many incredible places to visit in this country. First of all, it must be said that this country is located between India and China; for this reason, its culture, cuisine, and way of dressing have similarities to Indian and Tibetan culture. For example, the sarangi is a typical string instrument of Nepal, although it originates from India.
The cuisine also has influences from its two big neighbors; the national dish is Dal Bhat, which consists of lentils with rice and vegetables. Apart from that, “momos” are also well known, which are dumplings filled with meat or vegetables.
The vast majority of the population are Hindus, approximately 80%, the second most adhered-to religion is Buddhism with 10%, Muslims represent 4%, and the rest profess other religions or are atheists. Therefore, apart from the fact that the vast majority practice Hinduism, almost all citizens are believers and profess some religion.
In Nepal, more than 120 languages are spoken, although the official language is Nepali, 47% of the population speaks this language as their mother tongue. We also find Maithili, which is the second most spoken language in the country, with approximately 12% of speakers.
The places in Nepal that will surprise you the most
In Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, you can visit the famous Swayambhunath stupa, this complex was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. A stupa is an architectural structure that contains relics. In this site, we find a stupa and several temples and sanctuaries; besides, there are also a large number of monkeys. You can spend time appreciating the uniqueness of this precinct and observe its architecture; on the other hand, you can also see how these animals play and jump into the water. At the entrance to this site, we find three giant figures of Buddha; this precinct is called the park of the three Buddhas.
On the other hand, if you are a lover of adventure sports, in Nepal, due to its terrain, there is a great offer of this type of activities, since in this country there are many high-altitude mountains and very flowing rivers. Some of these sports include paragliding, rafting, canyoning, mountaineering, or another activity is flying over the Himalayas by plane.
Sagarmatha National Park contains part of the Himalayas and Mount Everest; besides, there are also the Gokyo lakes, which are a group of six freshwater lakes. From the largest lake, Thonak, water is extracted and supplied to the villages in the region. It is a wonderful place, and it also has religious significance for Hindus and Buddhists.
The climate during your volunteer experience in Nepal
Nepal has five climatic zones due to the great difference in altitude in its territory; for this reason, we find tropical areas such as Chitwan National Park, which is located in Terai, where you will find abundant vegetation. Furthermore, there you can observe various species of animals, among them are marsh crocodiles, elongated turtles, Indian pythons, king cobras, deer, swallows, monkeys, and the Indian rhinoceros, which imposes due to its large size and its characteristic skin divided into plates. It is a perfect place to observe many types of animals and vegetation. At the other extreme is the arctic climate, since the mountainous region of Nepal contains the highest point on earth, Mount Everest.
The volunteer experience in Nepal
You can visit this beautiful country by being a volunteer in Asia; this way, you will get to know the people and their culture more closely, as you will live with natives and get to know their customs and traditions. Besides, you can discover the country during weekends, as you will have free time during these days. During your stay in Nepal, you can visit some of the mentioned sites during the free days you have during your volunteer experience.
