Weird & Interesting Facts about Nepal: Before you plan your trip!

Before you plan your visit to Nepal, here are few things you must know so that your stay in Nepal becomes a memorable one!

1.  FRIENDLY AND CURIOUS

Nepalis are generally very friendly people.  They would chat you up on the street and sometimes want to exchange contacts right there and then.  Then they would want to extract a promise from you that you would write them.

2. USE NAMASTE CAREFULLY

What is the meaning of the popular "namaste"?  The word, meaning "I salute the god within you" is the most attractive and addictive of Nepalese customs.  It is used as a mark of honour for the one so saluted.  And it is gaining a lot of popularity in usage the world over today.

3. RESPECTFUL ADDRESS

In every society, it is polite to begin acquaintanceship with formality.  Nepal is not an exception in this.  In a more formal address to anyone, Nepalis have their own nice word.  They just add "Ji" to the person's name.  Example: Michael-ji

4. CASTE SYSTEM

One thing other people from most cultures of the (especially western) world would find strange is the caste system.  The caste system is still highly practices in Nepal.  This system in most cases still determines whom one marries, where one lives, and with whom one associates.

5. FOREIGNERS FREE

To conservative Nepalis, especially the old, there is nothing wrong with the caste system, and so it stays! Interestingly, however, even to the conservative, foreigners are casteless.  This means the caste-system does not affect them.

6. STRANGE CURIOUSITY

The Nepalese society is hierarchical.  Age and status matter a lot.  And they have a way of finding this out easily even when meeting for the first time!  How?  Nepalis ritually ask each other's name, hometown, profession, etc.  They do this to know the correct level of deference.

7. A FOOD TABOO

Nepalese food and other taboos are a thousand and one.  You would find this particular food taboo funny.  In Nepal, once anything edible has touched anyone's lips, it has become polluted to everyone else!  For that reason, do not offer anything you have taken a bite or sip from.

8. MIND HOW YOU EAT

In Nepal, as in most countries where Islam is the dominant religion, the hand to eat with is usually known by all.  You are to eat only with your right hand.  Eating with the left is seen as odd, a taboo.  This is because the left hand is reserved only for washing up after defecating.

9. FOREHEAD IS SACRED

There are parts on the body of an adult that are forbidden to others.  The forehead is one such part.  The forehead is viewed as the most sacred part of the body.  Only that of a baby may be touched by the mother and a number of other relatives. It is bad manners to touch the head of an adult.

10. FEET ARE FILTHY

As Nepalis designate a part of the body as "most sacred", so do they designate another as the "most unclean."  The feet are viewed at the most unclean parts of the body.  There are places you must never put your feet.  For example, putting feet on chairs and/or tables are odd.

Tagged: Travel 60, Nepal 601, Tourism 37, Rara 2, UNESCO 5, Hotels 5, Economy 17, Airport 42, Flights 36