Hiren Pandit: There was a long desire to travel to the Himalayas’ daughter Nepal, but it was impossible for many causes. Nepalese natural beauty will impress you at a lower cost and with less time travel. How to travel from Dhaka to Nepal at a low price. You might be thinking of traveling to Nepal, but how? How much will it cost? How long will it take to go and return? Where to travel where? Where to stay in Nepal? Do you travel to Nepal alone or in a group? How best to travel to Nepal? How much will it cost per person? The cost is not too high. Many people can also go by bus through Siliguri. A large number of Nepalese children study at our country’s universities. They often come and go in this direction.
I went to Nepal for office work. A Bangladesh Biman flight started from Dhaka and took about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach Kathmandu Tribhuvan International Airport in Nepal. After getting off the plane, filling out the requirements for the on-arrival visa, and auto-scanning the passport, I got the visa quickly and left immigration at the airport. An official visit has the advantage that everything is ready in advance. Be it the Sri Lanka tour, Tamil Nadu and Delhi tour in India, or even the Nepal tour, that facility was available—no hassle of finding a taxi. The hotel driver came with a small banner of the name beforehand. I saw someone standing from a distance with my name written on it. It was not difficult to understand, and he left the luggage behind the car and invited me to get in. However, an arrival visa requires a passport, photocopy of the passport, color passport size photograph, return ticket and hotel booking information, dollar endorsement, NOC in case of an employee, and ID card in case of a student.
You can take the visa again from Dhaka. AC and non-AC buses leave Dhaka Gabtoli or Shyamoli to Burimari Port. All these Buses depart from Gabtoli or Shyamoli in Dhaka between 8 pm and 9 pm and reach Burimari land port between 6 am and 7 am the next day—departure from Changrabandha border of India to Raniganj border of India. You can go from Changrabandha to Raniganj in two ways. It will take about 3 hours.
The second route is from the Changrabandha border to the Cooch Behar highway and then goes to Siliguri by bus. Taking another bus from here to the Siliguri water tank would be best. Then, you can reach India’s Raniganj border or immigration office on foot. It will take 3 to 4 hours from the Changrabandha border to the Raniganj border of India.
If you want, you can also go to Kathmandu by air. In that case, the cost will be a little more. Bangladesh Biman flights operate daily from Dhaka to Kathmandu. Going to Kathmandu by air from Dhaka takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. Sitting next to the side window while taking your boarding pass, you can glimpse Himalayan Kanya during the plane landing at Kathmandu Airport.
If you go to Kathmandu Tribhuban Airport in Nepal by Bangladesh Biman, you will get a free on-arrival visa from Tribhuban International Airport. A passport and passport-size photograph must be submitted during the visa application. If, for some reason, you forget to take a picture, you can take one from here. Again, passport scanning is available at the airport.
You can exchange dollars at Tribhuban International Airport. The name of the Kathmandu tourist area is Thamel. It is located in the old city area of Kathmandu. Every street is lined with hotels, restaurants, and shopping malls. Most travelers stop here. You can check the status of hotels according to your budget in Bangladesh. It is best to reach Thamel directly, check some hotels on foot, and make a booking. At the time of check-in, check whether the hotel has hot water, Wi-Fi, etc. Are these necessary things?
In Bangladeshi Dhaka, these hotels cost Rs. 1,500 to 2,500 daily. Food hotels are available near your hotel. If you stay for a while, you can buy a mobile SIM card with internet access from Kathmandu. The cost of phone calls in Nepal is very high, so if you have internet, you can communicate for free through various apps. There are historical sights to see in and around Kathmandu.
You can watch the sunrise at Nagarkot. Usually, you can get service from the hotel where you are staying for the next day’s sightseeing. You will get the same here as in Darjeeling. Every hotel has its car or known agencies engaged in this work. You can rent a car for the whole day. The cost will be approximately 5 thousand to 7 thousand Bangladeshi Taka. If you want to see the sunrise in Nagarkot, you must leave at midnight, much like Tiger Hill in Darjeeling.
If you visit Nepal for the first time, you can consult the driver or guide about your travel plan. If you have previous experience before going to Nepal, check Google Maps and inform the driver or guide about your plan. The main attractions in and around Kathmandu are Kathmandu Durbar Square, Shayambhunath Temple, Buddhanath Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, and the ancient city of Bhaktapur. Beyond are many temples and squares.
In the evening, cafes and pubs fill the lake road of Pokhara. You can visit various shops for shopping. Pokhara has several Nepalese eateries. You can have dinner here. Return from Pokhara to Kathmandu or Thamel by bus. The afternoon and evening will be spent shopping.
The world is fascinated by the beauty of Himalayan Nepal. That is why tourists from far and comprehensive travel to Nepal. The country has Mount Everest, centuries-old temples, skyscrapers, waterfalls, diverse culture, and various festivals. Nepal is one of the countries where it is easy to travel alone. Nepal is a favorite place for mountaineers all over the world. They flock here throughout the year to conquer Annapurna or Everest. Although Nepal is a favorite mountaineer country, ordinary tourists also go here to see the sunrise or sunset from the side of the Himalayas. Some also flock there to see the white peak of Annapurna Mountain. Every year, thousands of tourists travel to the land of this mountain daughter.
One of the landlocked countries among SAARC members is Nepal, which has no sea and no sea access. Nepal is famous as the gateway to the beauty of the Himalayas, not only the Himalayas but also the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, which has a variety of places to visit. Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital and largest metropolis, home to around 5 million people. If you want to visit Nepal, it is better to visit Kathmandu. Many people do not want to prioritize a city like Kathmandu in their sightseeing list because they come to see the mountains. Still, Kathmandu shines in its glory with its traditions, trade, and various architectural monuments.
There is Pashupatinath Temple, which is the most famous among the sacred and famous Hindu temples in Nepal. Pashupatinath was built for the service of Shiva, and every year, thousands of people from India and Nepal flock here to worship Shiva. Saints of various natures can be seen here.
If you list the famous Buddhist temples of Nepal, Swayambhunath will be between 1 and 3. Atop the hill west of Kathmandu, you must climb 365 stone steps. Of course, before climbing the stairs, watch out for the monkey. Over a hundred monkeys have lived in and around the temple premises for many years. All these monkeys are considered holy angels by Nepalese. This temple is one of the oldest temples in Nepal. Its existence was discovered as early as the fifth century. Hopefully, the earthquake of 2015 did not cause any damage to this place. The temple is busy most of the time with a heavy tourist presence. So, 7 AM to 7:30 AM is the best time to visit Swayambhunath Temple. The parts of the temple include Buddha Amideva Park, West Pillar, and East Staircase. The temple can be visited for a fixed fee, and the local priest gives you a separate fee to take you inside the temple and participate in their religious rituals.
Many people also like to visit medieval cities like Kathmandu, Patan, or Bhakta. Although tourists visit throughout the year, October to December is the best time to visit. Because the sky is clear now, the Himalayas also show their magnificent beauty.
Nagarkot is 28 km from Kathmandu city. Nagarkot is one of Nepal’s best places to see the most beautiful sunrise and sunset. Out of the 13 mountain ranges of the Himalayas, eight are visible from Nagarkot. Pokhara is the third largest city in Nepal—200 km from Kathmandu. You will see David Falls, Gupteswar Cave, and White River in Pokhara. The watercolor of this river is white. You can take a boat trip to the famous Phewa Lake. And you have to go to Sarangkot early in the morning to see the sunrise.
As the local food of Nepal, they prefer rice plates. So, wherever one goes to Kathmandu, it is impossible not to eat rice. Rice, pulses, fish, chicken, salad, raita, vegetables, and leaves are on the plate. If you come by plane, take some time to get to the airport first. As usual, try to take a window seat on the left side, and you will see the Himalayas again. Those returning by bus on the Bye Road should return the same way as usual.
Hiren Pandit is an essayist and a researcher