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The legends that surround ancient monuments and shrines have always intrigued foreign visitors, and the stories lure them to visit these attractions. Many tourists come to Nepal to explore the magnificent architecture and design of the old buildings. The engineering feats that were accomplished are breathtaking, and the mystery and atmosphere of the monuments can almost be felt in the air. One of these spectacular monuments in Nepal, which has become a popular tourist attraction, is the shrine of Manakamana.
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Mountain bike and road running enthusiasts are preparing for battle in the increasingly popular Berghaus Yak Attack – a road runner versus mountain biker race held along the Annapurna circuit in the Himalayas of Nepal, from March 6 through to March 18, 2008. This grueling circuit provides many exciting challenges for even the most seasoned athlete.
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In 2001 the owners of Sunrise Paragliding in Nepal, Rajesh Bomjan and Adam Hill, quite by chance met up with Scott Mason, a falconer from England. Realizing that birds of prey rely on thermals to assist them in gliding long distances, in much the same way as paragliders do, these three men decided to blend the modern techniques of paragliding with the ancient art of falconry – the result of this collaboration is parahawking.
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The Lord of all Lords in the Hindu religion is Lord Shiva, and his home was in Nepal. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is therefore one of the biggest and most celebrated events of the year. Lord Shiva is also known as the God of Destruction or Destroyer of Evil, and the day of his creation is the day that is honored and celebrated by the Hindu followers. The festival is held on the thirteenth night until the morning of the fourteenth day, in the month of Phalguna, as indicated on the Hindu calendar. Visitors are welcomed at the ceremonies, and invited to join in on a unique opportunity to experience the festival first hand.
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The exquisitely beautiful area of Helambu, situated about 30 kilometers north of Kathmandu in Nepal, is a popular and easily accessible destination for tourists who enjoy trekking. The valley is renowned for its natural beauty and temperate climate which makes trekking enjoyable throughout the year, except during July and August which is monsoon season.
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Legend tells us that the Kasthamandap pagoda was constructed through a deal made between a tantrik priest and a Machhindranath disciple centuries ago. The disciple (also said to be a god of wood, in some versions), Gorakhnath, morphed into human form to attend a chariot procession and festival that was held in Nepal. Unfortunately, a tantrik recognized him and cast a spell on him so that he was unable to leave the settlement, now known as Kathmandu. Gorakhnath was desperate for freedom and asked to make a deal in exchange for being set free. The tantrik agreed and told Gorakhnath that his only desire was to have enough materials to build a temple. Soon, the tantrik found a massive tree that was growing on his property. It was big enough to build the entire temple from its wood, and the Kasthamandap came into being.
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The ancient ruins of Tilaurakot are situated about five kilometers north of Taulihawa, the present day district centre of the Kapilbastu District in Nepal. Although there is some controversy surrounding the Tilaurakot ruins, it is generally agreed that the site was the citadel complex of the surrounding Kapilvastu Kingdom which was founded by Suddhodana, Siddhartha Guatama Buddha’s father.
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Nepal has always been known as a popular mountain biking destination, as its varied terrain offers bikers some of the most challenging, picturesque and scenic routes. Many tour operators started offering visitors to Nepal, the opportunity to explore that country by going on a mountain biking trip, and soon the sport that was initially a tourist attraction became a serious sporting event. Riding through the Kathmandu valley or taking on the adventurous journey from Pokhara to Kathmandu, has led to many competitions and championships, such as the 8th Nepal Mountain Bike Championship, which is scheduled to take place on 24 November 2007.
