OVERLAND TO NEPAL

 The three most common border crossings for tourists include: 

--Sonauli/Belahiya, reachable from Delhi, Varanasi and most of North India (via Gorakhpur); 

--Raxaul/Birgunj, accessible from Bodhgaya and Kolkata via Patna; and 

--Kakarbhitta, serving Darjeeling and Kolkata via Siliguri.

As always, be aware of any scams while crossing the border, including petty theft and money exchange scams.

* Dorothea Mackellar (to be continued)

TRAVELLING OVERLAND TO NEPAL

 A lot of travellers to Nepal combine their visit with a trip to India, via overland

Although we haven’t done this route, we’ve heard from many travellers that it’s relatively pain free. You can book tours/buses through travel agents in Nepal, or jump on a tour such as this one with G Adventures.

There are numerous border crossings between India in the south of Nepal, and can be navigated fairly easily, especially when organised through tour agencies.

* Dorothea Mackellar (to be continued)

FLYING TO KATHMANDU

 Almost all international arrivals into Nepal are through Kathmandu’s international airport.

If travelling over peak periods, book flights months in advance as routes fill up. Only a small number of international airlines fly to Nepal, including Qatar, KLM and Malaysian.

Depending on the time of year, the cost of airfares vary. The timing of the high, low and shoulder seasons differ from airline to airline, and don’t always coincide with tourist seasons.

Note: Nepal’s airport is extremely old and inefficient, so be prepared to wait for immigration/visas, baggage, and baggage checks.

* Dorothea Mackellar (to be continued)

#21 VISIT THE BIRTHPLACE OF BUDDHA, LUMBINI

 A UNESCO World Heritage site of huge global significance, Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, otherwise known as Buddha.

The modest Maya Devi Temple is the epicentre for pilgrims keen to pay their respects to Buddha’s birthplace - the temple housing the exact site Buddha was born, with an inscribed pillar found in 1896 amongst ancient monastery ruins. Beyond Buddha’s birthplace, there is the Secret Garden adjoining the temple, replete with ubiquitous prayer flags.

* Dorothea Mackellar (to be continued)

The historic village of Bandipur

 Beautifully preserved traditional houses line the main street and restaurants spill out onto the motor vehicle free streets giving it a distinctly European feel. You can also walk up to the peak which has epic views onto the surrounding valleys below.

We recommend staying in one of the beautiful, quaint main street guesthouses

* Dorothea Mackellar (to be continued)