Category: Blog

Kumari- The Living Goddess

“KUMARI” is also known as the Living Goddess; Nepal is the tradition of adoring fledgling pre-pubescent girls as appearances of the heavenly female energy or Devi in Hindu spiritual traditions. The word Kumari is imitative from the Sanskrit Kaumarya which means “princess”.

Kumari is also the living virgin goddess; she used to be the tutelary goddess in the Malla Era. The Shah who dominated Malla too kept the tradition of Kumari. Kumari is the human form of Goddess Taleju, the characteristic of Shakti for supremacy and defense.

There was single one Malla kingdom in the Kathmandu valley lead from Bhaktapur in the early days. In the fifteen century, during the supremacy of the king Yaksha Malla, he divided his kingdom to his sons and within the span of hundred years they became totally separate kingdoms. Then, the temples of Talejus’ were built in Kathmandu and Patan as well.

The creation of the Taleju trendy in the three monarchies has presented the three living Kumari’s in the three cities of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu and Patan. The utmost prevalent and powerful Kumari is of Kathmandu the Royal Kumari.

Kumari is believed to be the living embodiment of the goddess Taleju also known as Durga. This endures till after menstruation when the goddess Taleju divests her body. Disease and loss of blood due to wound can also cruel the goddess verdures the girl’s body. The Newar Shakya and Bajracharya caste are Buddhists. The girl who is going to be carefully chosen as the Goddess Kumari is born in a Buddhist family and converts a Hindu divinity. So, Nepal is reflected to be the tender point of Buddhism and Hinduism.

“LOSHAR” is the New Year (change of the year) of the Tibetan’s and Sherpa’s of Nepal which drops in February. Loshar is People celebrate in three different ways on three distinct day’s .So; there are three types of Lhosar – Tamu Lhosar, Sonam Lhosar and Gyalpo Lhosar. The Buddhists monasteries in Kathmandu like Swambhunath and Boudhanatha are adorned with eye holding colorful devotions flag carting the mass.

In the course of this festive season people perform their traditional dance and welcome the New Year with feasts and family meetings. The dances are generally seen in Khumbu, Helambu and Boudhanath in Kathmandu. Government of Nepal has started giving public holiday in these days from 2057 since Nepal is multi ethnic, multi religious and multi-cultural country. Rendering to the Buddhist tradition Gyalpo Loshar, Tamu and Sonam Loshar are not celebrated as New Year but just festivals of farmers. Among these the main Lhosar is Gyalpo Lhosar produced by Manjushree. Lots of people are dressed in an extensive variation of stunning tradition costumes sometime varied with western dresses.

The celebration of Losar antedates Buddhism in Tibet and can be sketched back to the pre-Buddhist Bön age. In this initial Bön custom, every season a spiritual ceremony was detained, in which people offered large amounts of exasperate to placate the local spirits, divinities and guardians. This religious festival later changed into an annual Buddhist festival which is assumed to have invented during the reign of PudeGungyal, the ninth King of Tibet.

The festival is said to have initiated when an old woman named Belma announced the dimension of time based on the phases of the moon. The rituals which were introduced to celebrate these new proficiencies can be renowned as predecessors of the Loshar festival. Later when the essentials of astrology, built on the five elements, were introduced in Tibet, this farmer’s festival became what we now call the Loshar or New Year’s festival.

Interesting Facts About Nepal

Nepal is a country of breathtaking splendor and variety of cultures like no other place on earth. Truthfully “the roof of the world”, Nepal is a beautiful country with never ending spectacular landscapes, compelling mountains and mesmerizing lakes.

Nepal is one of the supreme countries with extensive panorama of development in technology and tourism segments with varied diversity of flora and fauna in the country. It is a miniature landlocked country inserted between two giant neighbors- China and India, is a country sacred with many phenomena. It is like a paragon box, best of things handpicked by the goddess herself and enclosed within its borders. Not only flora, but the artificial structures and beliefs and tradition of people here also make for something humorous. Following are some of those interesting facts about Nepal.

• Major Part of Himalayas is In Nepal

• Nepal was never under any foreign Assault

• Nepal is the only country with a non-rectangular flag

• Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha

• The only living goddess in the world called Kumari can be found in Nepal

• Nepal Gurkhas have been part of the British Army Since 1816

• Nepal Holds a Number of Records Which Makes a High Profile for this Small Country

• Not a single drop of blood has ever been shed in Nepal in the name of religious and ethnic riot

• Nepal has over 80 ethnic groups and 123 Languages

• Nepal boasts few of the world’s most popular trekking trails such as Annapurna Circuit trekking and Everest Base Camp Trek.

• Nepal is one of the best arenas for Extreme & Adventure Sport tourism such as mountaineering, cannoning, paragliding, mountain biking, kayaking, rafting, bungee jumping, high altitude marathon etc.

• Nepal has more than 360 species of Orchid which constitutes over 2% of the world’s orchids.

• Nepal has 8 % of the total species of birds found in the world.

• Some of the highest permanent human habitat exists in Himalayan region of Nepal.

Shivaratri is feted on the 6th night of the dark falgun (Feb or March) every year. On the fortunate day, believers perceive fast and retain vigil all night. Maha-Shivaratri grades the night when Lord Shiva achieved the ′Tandava′. Shivaratri is also rumored  that on this day Lord Shiva was wedded to Parvati Ma. On this day Shiva supporters perceive fast and negotiation fruits, flowers and bel verdures on Shiva Linga.

Maha Shivaratri is a widespread Hindu festival. It is renowned every year in admiration of the Lord Shiva. Shivaratri is considered especially favorable for women. Married women pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons. And it is said believed that unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Lord Shiva.

There is many fabulous myths connected with this day. Rendering to a prevalent fairytale, when a tracker could not find anything to slay for his food in a forest, he waited on the branch of a Wood apple tree. In order to fascinate deer, he started flinging the leaves of the tree on the ground, oblivious that there was a Shiva Lingam below the tree. Delighted with the Wood apple leaves and the persistence of the hunter, it is alleged that Lord Shiva appeared in front of the hunter and blessed him with wisdom. From that day onwards, the predator stopped eating meat.

Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival which is renowned by people succeeding Hinduism in India. People habitually fast on the night of Shivratri and sing chants and tributes in the name of Lord Shiva. Hindu temples through the country are ornamented with lights and vibrant adornments and people can be seen proposing night long devotions to Shiva Lingam. Wood apple leaves, cold water and milk are accessible to the Shiva Lingam on this day as they are whispered to be Lord Shiva’s beloved.

Shivaratri is the day of one of the chief festivals in Hinduism—Maha Shivaratri—the night of Lord Shiva, god of both foundation and destruction. So, celebrate safely don’t get in trouble & don’t be the reason of other’s  trouble .

Best Regards from Leaf Holidays Treks and Expeditions Family!!

Bungee Jumping Tour

Bungee Jumping is the adventurous tourism activity done in Bhote koshi. It is the long suspension bridge with 160 m of height and down the fast-flowing Bhote koshi river. It is one of the breathtaking activities i.e. dangerous also but also the dare taking. This activity is recommended for the dare taking one only not for the others.

Nepal’s first bungee jumping site is situated 160 m over the wild Bhote Koshi River. It is located close to the Nepal-Tibet border, a three-hour bus ride from Kathmandu. As of now, there is only one agency offering this sport i.e the Last Resort. The jump, at 160 m, was designed by one of New Zealand’s leading bungee consultants, and is operated by some of the most experienced jump masters in the business. It’s mishap-proof. The agency takes safety very seriously. The bridge is Swiss designed, especially for bungee jumping with a 4x safety factor. The bridge has a loading factor of 250 kg per running meter.

This means that the bridge will hold 250 x 166 = 41,500 kg or 4.5 tones. Over 6000 meters of steel wire is used to build the longest suspension bridge in Nepal. The bridge joins two sides of a great valley. Before its construction, locals walked five hours to cross this river gorge. It is located within a reach of 3 hours outside Kathmandu and just 12 km away from the Tibet Border.It is advised to empty the pockets and not take any intoxicants before the jump. Everyone is weighed before the fall is made, to use different cords for different categories of weights. The Green, Red and Black cords are used for the lightest, the heavier and the heavyweights accordingly. Adrenaline begins to rush as you jump.

“Travel extends the mind, and raises the spirits”

Follow in the footpaths of folklores journey to an iconic mark of dare and escapade. At 29,035 feet, Everest ascends high in contradiction of a framework of massive blue sky. Our proficient staffs have ringed in every detail of the expedition, providing insider standpoints and sympathetic tips through the journey. The definitive Everest Base Camp journey instigates and ends in Kathmandu. Nuzzled between mountains and steppes, the city is alive with energy. Explore villages sprinkled with trembling prayer flags and become familiar with colorful Buddhist and Hindu traditions. Devote numerous days hiking to surrounding villages, discerning remote reclusive caves and adapting the body to the elevation. See the legendary Khumbu Ice Fall and its towering seracs from a distance.

Trip highlights:

Achieve a true container list item: trek to base camp at Mount Everest
See spectacular Himalaya visions, including Khumbu Ice Fall, Makalu and more
Follow homegrown guides with 25 years of involvement on a fully supported trek
Discover UNESCO World Heritage sites and absorb Buddhist and Hindu ethnicity

Kathmandu World Heritage Tour

Leaf Holidays Treks and Expedition presents one day cultural tour in Kathmandu which delivers a close preview of Nepal. It not only vitrines the ironic culture of the Nepalese people but also takes you back in time through its architectural whizzes. This tour takes you to four places: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Bauddhanath and Swayambhunath temples that clench both spiritual and cultural significance to the Nepalese people. We begin our visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites starting within the Kathmandu District.

These places include Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Swayambhunath and Bauddhanath.Kathmandu Durbar Square Vitrines Nepalese sculpture and construction at its paramount. The construction is emblematic of the Malla dynasty who leads over Nepal from the 12th to 18th century.The Swayambhunath Temple has a gripping blend of both Hindu and Buddhist monuments and stupas. It is popularly known amongst outsiders as the Monkey Temple due to the large monkey population exists in the area. Pashupatinath Temple is positioned on the panels of river Bagmati and is one of the chief temples of Lord Shiva.

The temple zone is filled of other smaller temples of frequent Hindu divinities which give the whole place and quality of a blessed heaven. The Bauddhanath Stupa is one of the chief stupas in South Asia which was constructed on the olden trade course to Tibet. Alongside the foremost stupa, which was constructed in a Nepali Buddhist grace, there are over fifty Tibetan friaries around the area built by Tibetan dealers and the large invasion of Tibetan refugees over the years. Here, you not only get to escalate the remarkable art and architecture of ancient Nepal but that of bordering Tibet as well.

So, join Leaf Holidays Treks and Expedition if you are desperate to grasp the chance for the cultural tour of Kathmandu!!

Hiking in Bandipur is the finest hiking target for tourists in Nepal. Bandipur is also very famous as Newari village. Bandipur is the existing gallery of Newari culture. Mostly the buildings in Bandipur are old-fashioned Newari houses, with fixed wooden windows, and pendulous pan roofs.

Bandipur remains a very great living community, as you stroll around the contracted streets, you will see agriculturalists nurturing market gardens, and women carrying baskets of freshly cut food. Goats, buffalos, and chickens roam around as if they owned the place. The parade ground, when this place was a professional route between India and Tibet, was the setting for trade carnivals and archery contests. If you are desperate to feel the freshness of Bandipur join Leaf Holidays Treks and Expedition and even grasp the experience of Hiking in Bandipur and feel the Adventure.

We Leaf Holidays Treks and Expedition family will love to have you and will surely provide you with the best hiking experience!!

Trekking In Langtang Valley

Nothing fairly like the hiking experiment offered by the Himalayas – are you ready to prevail it?? More than just Everest Base Camp, this trek in the Kathmandu Valley gives people a diverse standpoint on the valleys and peaks of Nepal. Hike up through the ever-changing scenery of flower-filled arenas and lavish green forests before developing among monasteries and villages. Take in the remarkable view of the Langtang Glacier and stay in rustic villages and monasteries, as a reward. If you’re longing to get off the congested track from Base Camp, this exclusive hike is the flawless resolution.

It is a lovely trip in Nepal that begins with tours of Kathmandu’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We Leaf Holidays Treks and Expedition welcome you with all heart to be part of our trek and feel the Adventure with us.

First Trekking experience

When I was Trekking Guide, In 2004 April, the first time I went to Langtang Trek. I was surprised by knowing Langtang Trekking which includes amazing Himalayan views in various areas. The word Langtang is a combined word of Lang which means Ox and another word Tang means stomach with lots of meals.

I was very happy, our trek was of total eight days but the fourth day, was a very memorable day for me because, on that very day, I got a great opportunity to visit Kanging Gumba of Langtang village, which was a very beautiful place. My client who was from the U.S.A. woke up early in the morning we observed very clear weather, and the environment was calling us to catch up with its natural beauty. We started Our destination from the Langtang village. The Kanging Gumba trekking route was also an amazing gumba I have seen ever. We were surrounded by snowy mountains from both sides which were willing to touch the sky and touch the white clouds.

On the way, the jungle consisting small trees like: – Sunpati (a small tree of rhododendron which is a national flower in Nepal) and many kinds of flora and fauna. There was very beautiful scenery. Beside this, a river named Langtang Khola which was flowing with clean water. It comes from mountainous areas by melting the snow of it. On the way, we saw many yaks (Himalayan Buffaloes) living at higher altitudes. We found Dahi (yogurt) and yak cheeses made from yak milk, it was very tasty and healthy too. Big hills were observed. We saw real Tamang culture, and metal made many local things. Finally, I like to suggest that in once everyone needs to go to Langtang Trek to observe Nepal’s naturality, lifestyle, and culture of that area.