After Earthquake
Nepal is definitely open for business, from trekking trails to architectural sites. You will still see the damage in places like Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Darbar Squire, also Nuwakot Darbar,Gorkha Darbar, but reconstrusction is well under way and the country needs your business like never before.
Langtang Valley
After suffering great damage in the 2015 earth quake, the Langtang trekking route is back. Trekking lodges have been rebuilt, the valley is as gorgeous as ever and the new border with Tibet is open at nearby Rasuwagadhi.
Kathmandu Durbar Squire
The 2015 earthquake toppled several temples in this royal squire, but most temples remains standing and reconstruction has started, notably on the towers of Hanuman Dhoka palace.
Annapurna Roads
Four –wheel-drive tracks continue to inch around the Annapunra circuit, shrinking the famous trekking route. Trekkers now generally start in Chame or Dharapani, and a dirt road now reaches as far as Manang.
Traffic- Free Thamel
A partially pedestrianized Thamel has made walking Kathmandu’s main tourist district much more pleasant. We have seen the scheme come and go before, so hopefully it will be continuing.
Elephant Welfare in Chitwan
In 2017 Tiger Tops announced it was ending its elephant-back safaris in Chitwan due to animal welfare concerns, and many international agents no longer offer elephant safaris. More local companies will likely follow, offering foot safaris instead.
Five-Star Thamel
A rash of new five –star hotels are opening on the edge of Thamel, from the Sheraton Kathmandu and Aloft Kathmandu to the already opened Fairfield Marriott. How far the once-budget-conscious Thamel has come…
International Airports
Airports in Bhairawa (Near Lumbini) and eventually Nijghad in central Nepal and Pokhara, are due to start regional international flights over the nest couple of years, opening up some potentially useful air connections with India.
Terrible Roads
The construction of a water pipeline from Melamchi to Kathmandu through the Kathmandu valley has left roads in both the city and valley is a terrible state. The roads to Bouchanath, Sankhu and Langtang are particularly bad and will remain so for a year or two at least.
Reliable Electricity
Kathmandu’s infamous load shedding (Power Cuts) are finally a thing of the past and electricity supplies are now pretty constant. On the down side, new hydro projects are impacting rafting routes and the environment across the country.
