INTRODUCTION

On the northern edge of the Indian Subcontinent, wearing a mighty crown of the high Himalayas, lies a land wreathed in magic. The dancing ground of Lord Shiva, birth place of the Buddha, and home of the elusive yeti, Nepal has always enthralled the visitor.This kingdom has been a dream destination to hikers,

mountaineers, rafters,wildlife lovers, and scientists since it opened its borders to the outside world in the 1950s. Today it entertains about 500,000 visitors each year, providing them with not only adventure and thrills of nature, but cultural experiences that encompass two thousand years of human civilization.

The country's capital, the Kathmandu Valley, contains seven World heritage Sites. Tales explain that this place was a huge pool of water once upon a time. Boddhisttva Manjushri came upon this prehistoric lake and drained it to create a lush land area fit for human habitation. Today, the Valley has ancient market places, medieval villages, unspoiled wilderness areas, and charming people. Stone images from the second century AD, seventeen hundred years old temples, massive Buddhist stupas, finely crafted wood, stone, and metal images, the Living Goddess Kumari, and history-laden shrines and chaityas make Kathmandu an unsurpassable holiday destination.