Shivaratri: The Night of Lord Shiva

Yesterday was a major holiday in Nepal and India. Shivaratri is a holiday in the name of Lord Shiva. This is a very sacred holiday, as Lord Shiva is a very highly reveered God, or Mahadev, in the Hindu religion.

Shiva is highly celebrated because it is said that he, upon request of the Gods, drank a poison which came from the ocean as the Goddess' and Demons were searching for the Nectar of Immortality. This poison could not be discarded, and someone had to drink it before it destroyed the entire universe. Thus, when called upon, Shiva came up calmly and drank the poison to ensure the safety or his family, the universe, and so they could continue to search for the Nectar of Immortality. When he drank it, the Goddess Paravati strangled his neck to keep the poison from going to his stomach, where the Universe was said to be. The terrible poison stayed in his throat and turned it blue, hence his name, Neelkanth-- or Blue Neck.

Shiva is a hero, a protector of the Universe, and the epitomy of a decent human being in the eyes of Hindus everywhere.

The day is usually celebrated by fasting until nighttime, and then keeping an all night vigil in his honor. The babas, or spiritual vagabonds, you may see throughout Nepal and India--often wearing orange and having long dreds, can be seen in the thousands in Pashupati

Nepal: The Land of Adventure Sports

 Sure, you know that Nepal is famous for being home to 8 of the world's highest peaks. Sure, you know Nepal is home to Everest and brings in thousands of climbing enthusiasts a year. Sure, you know many people come here to trek the downtrodden paths through the world's finest high mountain scenery. SURE, you know many others flock to Nepal for cultural, architectural, and artistic reasons..

But!

Did you know that Nepal is also home to a number of thrilling adventure sports? Most people don't, as they tend to only focus on the obvious.

Canyoning in Nepal

Nepal is home to a number of raging rapids for white water rafting, a fantastic gorge for bunging jumping, and rocky terrain for rock climbing and extreme cycling. If you're looking for adventure-- Look no further than Nepal. From the outside, it seems a quaint and simple place--but dig deeper and you'll find the true Nepal-- rugged and thrilling in every aspect.

Relax after a hard day at The Last Resort

We have worked with a company called Adventure X, based out of the UK. They are a very reputable company--offering fully supported white water rafting and kayaking trips, and adventurous mountain biking excursions. Check out their website at http://www.adventurex.co.uk/Nepal.asp .

Bungy Jumping in Nepal

Another company we continually support is The Last Resort. They are a foreign run company with top of the line safety standards--specializing in bungy jumping, canyon swings, canyoning, and high ropes courses. The Canyon Swing is the highest in the world at 160m, with a free fall of 100m. They say you'll travel at 150km/hr! If the drop doesn't stun you, the view of the massive gorge and river below will! For more information on The Last Resort, check out http://www.thelastresort.com.np

Spring Group Departures

Spring is upon us once again and that means trekking in the Himalayas will be prime once more. If you're traveling in a small group or alone, remember-- you can join any of our groups that are leaving. We try to keep our groups under 8 people to ensure a more personal experience. We will take a solo group or group of 2, but it is always fun to make new friends and enjoy the mountains together.

Our Spring Dates are;

1. Poon Hill

Date: 23rd Feb
No. of Pax: 1 pax

 

2. Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Lakes

Date: 8th March
No. of Pax: 2 pax

 

3. EBC

Date: 23rd March
No. of Pax: 4 pax

 

4. Poon Hill

Date: 8th April
No. of Pax: 1 pax

 

5. EBC & Gokyo

Date: 7th May
No. of Pax: 3 pax

 

6. ABC

Date: 20th May
No. of Pax: 2 pax

 

Please contact any of our staff at    sales@treknepal.com    to join these groups! Happy Trekking!