The ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ is an initiative taken by the government of Nepal in order to boost the tourism aspect of the country in the year 2020 and further. The goal is to attract and host more than 2 million tourists starting from 2020. The initial plan was to host the ‘Visit Nepal’ agenda in 2018, but it was forced to postpone due to the massive earthquake of 2015. The devastating calamity dealt a lot of damage to the country, all in terms of physical structures, landmarks, and also to the economy of the country. The country is focusing majorly on the reconstruction of various roads, airports, and monuments. Thus, the initiative was postponed to 2020 due to reconstruction purposes.

Now, a general question of security arises in the midst of avid travellers wanting to visit Nepal, “Is it safe to travel to Nepal after the 2015 earthquake?” Thus, one of the major purposes of this initiative. Nepal suffered a decrease in tourists due to the earthquake. And now that there construction is completed, Nepal is as safe as ever, even more so prepared for such tragic events. The ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ intends to spread awareness amongst the rest of the world regarding this matter. Apart from the awareness target, the government of Nepal intends to increase the tourism industry as a whole, because Nepal’s economy majorly relies on Tourism and Remittance. Hence, the subsidiary goal is to further develop and increase the industry for the sake of development.

So what attracts tourists to Nepal? One might ask. Well apart from the poverty, Nepal gladly boasts one of the most diverse flora and fauna that one can experience. From the Majestic Mt. Everest, to panoramic lakes and lush forests with thriving wildlife, Nepal is included in the top 10 countries to visit among the whole world. 

Visiting Nepal at least once in your lifetime will be very worthwhile for you. From rich cultures, sky-piercing mountains, gorgeous wildlife, and deep, ancient historical monuments, your trip to Nepal will be exhilarating and fun-filled. The following are some of the reasons why you should visit Nepal at least once in your lifetime.

• The birthplace of Lord Buddha

As you might already know, Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. Gautam Buddha, born in 563 BC, is the one who founded Buddhism, and is known as a Symbol of Peace. The birthplace of Buddha, Lumbini, lies in the Terai region of Nepal. The place is a popular tourist and religious site and was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. The place is very fascinating with many historical monuments and other relics like the Ashoka Pillar, Mayadevi Temple, World Peace Pagoda, etc. 

• Magnificent flora and fauna

Nepal has an amazing assortment of rich wildlife and greenery. With constant additions to the many endangered animals in Nepal, many wildlife reserves and national parks are wonders in themselves. You will have the chance for a face to face encounter with many endangered animals like One-Horned rhinoceros, Bengal Tiger, Clouded Leopards, Asiatic Elephants, and many more. This opportunity is very exclusive as most of the endangered animals are only found in Nepal.

• The Himalayas

If wildlife and forests are not for you, then you might prefer the amazing mountain scenery that Nepal has to offer. Mt Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, with the height of towering 8848m, is a resident of Nepal’s Himalayan range. In fact, among the 10 highest peaks in the world, 8 of them are here in Nepal. This goes to prove just how majestic the Himalayan mountain range is. Nepal boasts these amazing mountains and you can take a glance at the majestic mountains in the form of a trek or a hike. Nepal is truly a trekker’s paradise.

• The rich cultural diversity

A place where people of more than 100 different ethnicities reside in peace and harmony together, Nepal is a great cultural hub. Unaffected whatsoever by the western culture, Nepal is what you call Unity in Diversity. So for those who are fascinated by different cultures and traditions, Nepal is the place to be.

• Adventurous activities

Apart from the natural fascinations that Nepal proudly boasts, Nepal is also a destination for adrenaline junkies who seek thrill and pursue adventure sports. With activities like kayaking, bungee jumping, canoeing, paragliding, etc. you will have a lot to do here. Forget about being lethargic, you will have amazing activities to do all throughout the duration of your stay and more.

Must Visit Destinations 

If you are visiting Nepal, or are planning to do so, there are some places that you absolutely must visit. These places have great significance, either religious, historic, or even natural. These are the places that you absolutely must visit on your stay here. They are listed below in no specific order:

• Gosainkunda – freshwater lake with elevation of 4380 m



• Everest Base Camp trek – 15 day trek to the base of the highest mountain in the world



• Poonhill trek – 4 day trek to a beautiful location with panoramic views of the Himalaya



• Lumbini – the Birthplace of BUddha



• Janakpur – Religious site



• Pokhara – Tourist hub of Nepal with great views and environment



• Chitwan – A great place to start your wildlife exploration and visit multiple National parks and wildlife reserves



• Annapurna Circuit Trek – Trek to Annapurna Base camp and through Tilicho lake, the highest lake in the world



• Upper Mustang – An allround magnificent journey to the Himalayas to a religious site



• Halesi Maratika tour – An amazing religious site situated 4,734 m above sea level



• All the world heritage sites – Pashupatinath temple, Swoyambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan Durbar Squares, Boudhanath Stupa, Changunarayan Temple



• Rara lake –  The biggest and deepest freshwater lake in Nepal



• Sey-Phoksundo Lake – One of the most beautiful and visually soothing freshwater lakes

In conclusion, Nepal is a country with a lot of different attractions to offer to the world. The Visit Nepal 2020 focuses to promote the country more and attract more tourists to the country. With many special facilities and amazing hospitality to the foreign guests, Nepal is one of the top tourist destinations and travel locations. Hence, I personally invite you to visit our country at least once, although you will come to realise one thing, once is never enough to explore this beautiful country.