Skydiving (Parachuting)

Skydiver After Separation

Skydiver After Separation

Nepal may be a cultural jewel of the world with its mountains, temples, architecture and people, but it is not without its fun and adventure. Nepal's varied topography and Himalayan peaks give birth to some of the worlds most exotic, beautiful skydiving locations in the world.

Among other adventure sports, skydiving is fast becoming a popular Nepal travel activity.

Previously unattainable and costly to the average person due to restrictions and special permissions requirements, skydiving in Nepal is now becoming more and more popular thanks to companies such as Avia Club Nepal who will take up skydivers.

Skydiving At Sunset

Skydiving At Sunset

Previously, skydiving in Nepal has been an event that almost demanded sponsorship as the prices for a jump have ranged in the 1000s of dollars. One group jump in 2008 in the Everest region cost $25,000 per person!

It is now possible to book affordable skydiving flights for professional skydivers for a fraction of the price, through air sports companies such as Avia Tours & Travels in close cooperation with sister company Avia Club Nepal, for nothing more than a regular ultralight flight! ie. around 110 Euro for 10,000 feet!

It's surprising, that given Nepal's unique terrain, that air sports such as Skydiving, Paragliding, etc. didn't come to Nepal sooner, but the economic and volatile political situation has slowed the progress of adventure sports in Nepal. With the current situation in Nepal stabilized, air sports such and skydiving are expanding exponentially.

Today, various forms of skydiving are practiced from skysurfing to wingsuiting. All of which are becoming becoming popular in Nepal.Parachuting, was later adopted by the military as a way of delivering soldiers to the battlefield and as early as the 1930s, the first true skydiving/parachuting competitions were held.

Skydiver After Landing Pokhara, Nepal

Skydiver after landing, Pokhara Nepal

Currently, to skydive in Nepal with Avia Club Nepal, you must be a professional, possess a skydiving/parachuting license and have proof of your own insurance, but future regulations, should allow the operations of skydiving schools and tandem skydiving flights for amateurs.

Skydiving in Nepal may not be on the top of your Nepal travel activities, but for the many that feel the need to feel the rush of freefall in exotic places around the world, Nepal is the place to go.

It's best to book in advance, as the flights are busy during the tourist season from October - March and for those not ready to take the leap, the company also provides fun, scenic and mountain flights from ultralights.

once is not enough

city tour

FOTO

Changu Narayan

The main temple, rebuilt around 1700, stands in a quiet quadrangle of rest houses and pilgrims' shelters.
 

The oldest temple in the valley is the Changu Narayan Temple, located 22 km from Kathmandu and a 25-minute drive from Bhaktapur city. The original temple was built in the 4th century during the time of the Lichhavi rulers and is perched on a hill overlooking the nearby city. Much of it was rebuilt in the 18th century.
This temple is known for its beauty, location and age. It is a Vishnu temple. One of the oldest Lichhavi period stone inscriptions is also found here.  A Vishnu image with ten heads and ten arms is another fine example of stone carving from the 5th century. The struts of the two-tiered temple depict the ten incarnations in which Narayan destroyed evildoers. A 6th century stone statue shows the cosmic form of Vishnu, while another recalls the dwarf incarnation in which he crushed the evil King Bali. Garuda, the steed of Vishnu, kneels before the temple. The statue of Vishnu astride his steed is a popular favorite.

Tamang villages between Telkot and Changu Narayan

The hike to the Changu Narayan temple complex and then on to Bhaktapur is a very enjoyable day hike. The route passes through small villages and farmlands that are almost always bustling with activity as the farmers work their fields.

To begin the hike, get on a bus from Bhaktapur towards Nagarkot. Get off the bus at Telkot half-way to Nagarkot. From Telkot it is one and a half hours' pleasant walk to Changu Narayan. The walk follows the saddle of a ridge with great views of the valley on one side and the Himalayas on the other. From the temple it is another 1 ½ hours down to Bhaktapur.

                  

Changu Narayan has the finest collection of ancient statues outside the National Museum
 

	Probably dating from the sixth century, Changu Narayan's celebrated statue of Garud kneels before the temple, looking human but for a pair of wings and a cobra scarf.
	At the northwest corner of the compound, the twelfth- or thirteenth-century Vishnu Vaikunthanata - reproduced on the Nepalese ten-rupee note - shows a purposeful Vishnu riding Garud
	The eighth-century Vishnu Trivikranta Murti, Vishnu of the Three Strides, illustrates a much-loved story in which the god reclaimed the universe from the demon king Bali. Disguised as a dwarf (another of his ten incarnations), Vishnu petitioned Bali for a patch of ground where he could meditate, which need only be as far as the dwarf could cover in three strides; when Bali agreed, Vishnu grew to his full divine height and bounded over the earth, sky and heavens.

Wooden struts and decorations of the main temple
 

Kathmandu Valley		Turmeric/ Gurkemeje

Bhaktapur's Pride

Golden Gate is considered to be the most beautiful and rich specimen of its kind not only in Nepal but the entire world. Door of the great monument is bedecked with mysterious monsters and other mythical creatures. The door is of immense archaeological, historical and religious importance, and the architecture is indeed of great value.

The Golden Gate was built by Monarch Ranjit Malla. It is the entrance to the main courtyard of the palace of fifty-five windows, in Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Also recognised by many as Sun Dhoka, the Golden Gate is the pride of Nepal. A figure of the Goddess Kali and Garuda (mythical bird) is at the top of the door. It is also assisted by two heavenly nymphs.

Overview

Location	Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Significance	UNESCO World Heritage Site (Bhaktapur)
Built In	1753
Built By	King Ranjeet Malla

Quote-Unqoute
In the words of Percy Brown, an eminent English art critic and historian, "The Golden Gate is the most lovely piece of art in the whole Kingdom: it is placed like a jewel, flashing innumerable facets in the handsome setting of its surroundings."

Major Attractions

• The gate is praised for some of the most beautiful gilded copper-work in the Kathmandu Valley.
• On either side of the door frame a doorkeeper, a vase symbolising good fortune, and figures of deities like Bhagawati, Ganesh, Bhairava, Kumari and Kali.can be seen.
• Ten-armed Godesses Taleju attended by Shri and Lakshmi seated on a crocodile and a tortoise appear above the door.

Tit-Bits

• Sun Dhoka or the Golden Gate connects the two blocks of the palace of 55 windows.
• It is an entrance providing access to Kumari Chowk and the Taleju Mandir.
• Jaya Ranajit Malla erected the Golden Gate in 1753 after successful conquest campaign against Dudhkosi and Tolkha.