Palpa, one of the first cities one encounters on the mountains in Nepal when travelling by road from India. It's a 4 hour ride from Butwal in a quaint little bus with the drivers cabin done up like a bride. I'd do the same if I were I spent most of my days...and nights behing the wheel.
We see the plains of the Terai fade away. There is a sudden drop in temperature as hills with terraced farms appear. It's best to sit on the left side of the bus. A local traveller brought two goats and a chicken onto the bus. One of those goats was huge. It weighed around 25 kg and was worth a fortune.
Palpa bus stop is very busy. It's an important junction en route to Kathmandu, Pokhara and other cities in Nepal. There are lots of really cheap hotels with the bare minimum facilities and of questionable hygeinic standards. One can find better hotels after a really steep climb up the hill to the main market. I staid at the Green Hill...just minutes away from Durbar square.
Palpa was established by the Newari people who built houses with pagodas and huge wooden windows. The Greeh Hill is on a street lined with Newari style houses which gives an ethnic feel to it. It's right next to the Doco...a little restaurant in the attic of the house right next to it. There're just two tables so it's not great for a large group but one get's the opportunity to stare out of those windows I mentioned earlier. A Doco is a shuttle cock shaped wicker basket women strap to their backs and use as baskets while picking leaves in tea plantations. It's also inverted and used to cage poultry. It's a common site in rural Nepal.
There is no public transport on the hill. I didn't see any vehicles save for the odd motorbike. It's too steep for them.
There are shops in the main market where one can purchase basic necessities. There are a few chemists but I'd advise purchasing essential meds before the journey.
A small white tower is at the heart of Palpa. There is the Durbar...the court of the erstwhile princes which houses the municipal offices at present right next to it. It was bombed during the Maoist uprising and was being done up when I visited.
There's a famous temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. There's a gala procession every year which I missed by a week. Nanglo's west, one of Nepal's most popular restaurant chains has an outlet At Durbar Square. It's huge and has an old world ambience with mats and low tables. Most waiters speak English so communication is not a problem for the foreign traveller.
Papla is famous for Dhaka hats...the traditional headgear of the Nepali menfolk and copperware.
A short trek up the hill and one is in Srinagar...a beautiful hilltop full of pine trees. I love the smell of wood in the air which is so characteristic of hillstations. The best thing to do in Palpa is the trek to Ranimahal which I'll write about in my next blog.
Peace!
We see the plains of the Terai fade away. There is a sudden drop in temperature as hills with terraced farms appear. It's best to sit on the left side of the bus. A local traveller brought two goats and a chicken onto the bus. One of those goats was huge. It weighed around 25 kg and was worth a fortune.
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| Durbar Square |
Palpa was established by the Newari people who built houses with pagodas and huge wooden windows. The Greeh Hill is on a street lined with Newari style houses which gives an ethnic feel to it. It's right next to the Doco...a little restaurant in the attic of the house right next to it. There're just two tables so it's not great for a large group but one get's the opportunity to stare out of those windows I mentioned earlier. A Doco is a shuttle cock shaped wicker basket women strap to their backs and use as baskets while picking leaves in tea plantations. It's also inverted and used to cage poultry. It's a common site in rural Nepal.
 |
| a traditional Newari house |
There are shops in the main market where one can purchase basic necessities. There are a few chemists but I'd advise purchasing essential meds before the journey.
A small white tower is at the heart of Palpa. There is the Durbar...the court of the erstwhile princes which houses the municipal offices at present right next to it. It was bombed during the Maoist uprising and was being done up when I visited.
There's a famous temple dedicated to Goddess Durga. There's a gala procession every year which I missed by a week. Nanglo's west, one of Nepal's most popular restaurant chains has an outlet At Durbar Square. It's huge and has an old world ambience with mats and low tables. Most waiters speak English so communication is not a problem for the foreign traveller.
Papla is famous for Dhaka hats...the traditional headgear of the Nepali menfolk and copperware.
A short trek up the hill and one is in Srinagar...a beautiful hilltop full of pine trees. I love the smell of wood in the air which is so characteristic of hillstations. The best thing to do in Palpa is the trek to Ranimahal which I'll write about in my next blog.
Peace!
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| the view from my room |
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