Is it time to find your Shangri-La?
By Iris Coates, responsibletravel.com
August 2006
Perched on the southern slopes of the Himalayas, the landlocked Kingdom of Nepal is as ethnically diverse as it is naturally. With its rich biodiversity, cultural heritage and the highest mountain peaks in the world, Nepal has long exerted a pull on travellers’ imaginations. Recent unrest caused by Maoists has slowed tourism to the country down. However, with the political situation now calming down due to the king allowing the parliament to reconvene after 3 months of protest, Nepal is very much coming back in vogue as a responsible tourism destination. The best time to visit Nepal is from October to April, making now the perfect time to book your holiday to this majestic kingdom.
Situated between India and Tibet, Nepal's terrain ranges from subtropical jungle, broad valleys and fertile plains to the icy Himalaya, and contains or shares eight of the world's ten highest mountains. Nepal also has great cultural diversity with descendants of migrations from India, Tibet, and central Asia. Several ethnic groups, speaking as many as fifty languages and dialects, coexist in this diverse land, while two of the world's great religions, Hinduism (about 80%) and Buddhism (11%), overlap and mingle with minorities of Christian and Muslim beliefs and older tribal traditions. Religion is very important in Nepal, leaving the country festooned with scenic shrines.
Of course Nepal is famously home to Mount Everest, but there is so much more to Nepal than Everest. From trekking the icy pinnacles of the Himalayas to jungle safaris, from historical celebrations to watching rhinos, Nepal has a spectacular mix of natural, as well as cultural attractions that will leave even the most well-healed traveller thrilled and inspired. Nepal is not only for the brave-hearted though - its colourful festivals and friendly people have drawn families, soul-searchers and adventurers alike to the country.
However, the fragile security situation, particularly after the Maoists ended their cease-fire on 2 January 2006, has had a detrimental effect on tourism to the country. In 1951 the century old system of hereditary premiers was ended by the monarch and a cabinet system of government was instated. However, the current monarch has assumed executive powers over the country twice (in 2002 and 2005). In February 2005 the king dissolved the government because of his dissatisfaction with the lack of progress against the Maoist insurgency and corruption. The Maoist rebels have been waging a campaign since 1996 to try and bring down the regime and set up a communist republic. Over 12,000 people have been killed. The monarch remained in power until - after nearly three months of mass protests organised by the opposition and the Maoists - he allowed the government to reconvene on 28 April 2006.
How safe is it to travel to Nepal? Chances of being caught in cross-fire, hassle when travelling past ‘check-points’ and the extorting of fees by Maoists on some popular tourist routes meant that tourism in certain areas was considered as unsafe by travel advisories. This advice was given in spite of the fact that very few tourists had actually been caught up in the conflict.
This is what a traveller who recently went to Nepal wrote: “In Nepal we found absolutely no problems with safety and security issues and were completely at ease middling with the local people.” ( read more here)
Raj Gyawali from socialtours, a local Nepalese tour operator says: “From a Nepali standpoint, it was still safe in most areas even in the heydays of the conflict. However, the ceasefire has stopped any fighting and safety has since much improved.” He adds: “This is the time to come to see how a country is reborn after a conflict .”
And it is important for the people and economy of Nepal that tourists start returning to the country. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, a situation worsened by the Maoist rebellion - 30% of Nepal’s population lives below the poverty line. Agriculture is the country’s main industry providing ¾ of its people with livelihoods. This has however contributed to extensive deforestation in the country.
Nepal has the potential to develop alternative industries, tourism being the primary one due to the country’s outstanding features and attractions. Nepal’s people desperately want, and need tourists to visit their country and will warmly welcome anyone visiting. However, it is important that tourism is developed in a sustainable and ethical way. There are many accounts of exploitation, for example of porters in the Himalayas whose working conditions are often barbaric. Frostbite, heavy loads and altitude sickness are common and you need to ensure when going on a trek that porters and their working conditions do not get left out in the cold. Find out what your operator's porter policy is, and make sure that standards are not exceeded. Read more about campaigning for porters' rights here .
Tourism has two sides to the coin, but it could be a great contributor to the sustainable development of Nepal and help ensure the long term protection of its natural and cultural heritage. It is however important that tourism in Nepal is developed sustainably and if you are travelling to Nepal, try to help by ensuring that the positive aspects of your holiday are maximal and any negative impact is minimised. This can be done, among other ways, by utilising local businesses, booking through a responsible operator, minimising your environmental impact and supporting local initiatives.
Photos kindly supplied by Sara Hellberg, read her review here
Should you decide to travel to Nepal, here are some of our holiday suggestions: