Best Season To Visit Nepal

Nepal is a country known for its unique geographical, natural and cultural diversity. People around the world visit Nepal to experience the diversity as well as the beautiful scenery that the country has to provide. The seasonal variation in Nepal adds to its diversity.

Spring, summer or monsoon, autumn, and winter are the four seasons that one can experience in Nepal. Among those four seasons that one can experience in Nepal, autumn and spring are considered busy tourist seasons. Most tourists come to visit Nepal during this time as the weather is pleasant and it is ideal for many activities. However, one can choose to visit Nepal any time of the year i.e. during any season, depending on what kind of activities you want to do here.

The Seasons And The Activities One Can Enjoy

Spring

Spring is one of the most favorable seasons to travel to Nepal. The days are warmer and longer than in winter and it is more lively during spring. Spring in Nepal starts in March and ends in May.

Nature-Oriented Activities

If one loves nature then spring is one of the best times to travel to Nepal. During spring one gets the chance to see a variety of flowers bloom and be mesmerized by their vibrant colors that add to the preexisting natural beauty. It is also a good time for wildlife safari as many animals come out of hibernation and different flora and fauna grow during spring. If you plan on trekking spring is also a good time for that as the weather is favorable and the view is clear most of the time. White river rafting is also an activity that is suitable to enjoy during spring. If one wants to observe honey hunting — which has recently become quite popular in Nepal — then this is also a good time to do that.

Socio-Cultural Activities

Besides all the nature-oriented activities there are different cultural festivals and events that one can witness and be a part of during spring. One of those festivals is Holi (Fagu Purnima). Holi is known as the festivals of colors during which, powder of different and vibrant colors are used to cover each other. Holi is usually celebrated during early or mid-March and marks the end of winter and the start of spring. Besides Holi, one can also experience Nepali New Year which usually takes place in between March or April. Almost a week-long celebration known as Bisket Jatra which can be observed in Bhaktapur which signifies the end of the year and celebrates the beginning of a new one. It is also a good time to visit cultural heritages and enjoy the bustling nightlife of certain areas like Thamel and Lake Side.

Summer

Summer or monsoon season in Nepal is very hot and humid with plenty of rainfall. Summer in Nepal begins from June and lasts till August. It is a suitable time to travel to Nepal if one is planning to stay here for a while and has a flexible schedule. Summer in Nepal is better for visiting cultural heritage, museums and so on. Activities like paragliding, rafting, trekking that are nature-oriented are not recommended during summer as there is usually heavy rain is not favorable for these activities. However, these activities are quite popular during summer in Nepal. If one just wants to observe paddy, wheat or barley farming and dense luscious forests then summer is the best season for that. It is also a good season to visit Nepal as it is usually prices are usually lower and there are fewer tourists as it is the “off-season” for tourism in Nepal.

Autumn

Autumn, as mentioned above, is one of the busy tourist seasons in Nepal. Autumn in Nepal lasts from September to November.

Nature-Oriented Activities

Autumn comes right after the monsoon or rainy season and therefore is a good time to enjoy adventurous activities like trekking, mountaineering, skydiving, and paragliding as the sky and the view will be very clear because the dark, rainy clouds will be gone. Since the temperature is mild during this time of the year it is favorable for many activities. It is also a good season to enjoy white river rafting and wildlife safari. Observing honey hunting is also suitable for this season. It is also a preferable season to visit the Terai region of Nepal. Lumbini, Janakpur, Birgunj, and Chitwan are among the recommended places to visit during this season.

Cultural Activities

Culturally, Nepal is very lively during Autumn as the majority of people are getting ready for the two of the biggest festivals — Dashain and Tihar— that usually take place during October/November.

During Dashain, the Kathmandu valley is pretty vacant as most people go to the villages to meet their family and relatives. It is a joyous celebration honoring the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon named Mahishasura. It is a 15-day-long celebration which is celebrated with family and relatives enjoying each other’s company.

Tihar is known as the festival of lights. Traditional lights known as diyo as well as candles are used to light up the house. Nowadays artificial lights are used as well, as it is considered more convenient. At night during Tihar, one is likely to get a view of the large area covered with light which is a magnificent sight that one can never get tired of. During both the festivals the city areas especially are filled with vibrant colors and the market places are filled with people trying to get a hold of all the different things that are needed for the preparation of the festivals. It is therefore also a great time to visit the cultural heritages within Kathmandu valley as they will be exceptionally breath-taking this time of the year.

Winter

Winter in Nepal is quite cold and dry and starts in December and lasts till February. The sky is very clear during this time and mountain peaks are seen very clearly. It is therefore also a good time for trekking, although it might be a bit cold. One can also get the chance to experience snow in the mountain regions and some parts of the hilly regions during winter. Other activities that are popular during the winter in Nepal are hiking, paragliding, sightseeing, mountain biking, and camping. Places like Poon Hill, Kalinchowk, Nagarkot, Pokhara, and Bandipur are recommended to visit if one visits Nepal during winter.

Final Words

There are different activities and events that one can take part in or witness during

the different seasons in Nepal. Certain activities like bungee jumping, zip lining, boating on Fewa Lake, sightseeing within Kathmandu valley and other indoor activities can be enjoyed during any season. One may choose to come to Nepal depending on what one enjoys and things one wants to do in Nepal. The natural, geographical and cultural diversity that adds to the beauty of the country will surely appeal to most people’s aesthetics and is most definitely worth experiencing. It does not matter what season one decides to visit Nepal, it will undoubtedly be a wonderful experience to be able to enjoy all the greatness the country has to provide. The time spent here will definitely make for some treasurable memories.