Best time to visit Nepal

Nepal's Holi festival marks the arrival of spring with two days of exuberant color throwing, water fights, and street celebrations across the country. The festival in Kathmandu's Basantapur Durbar Square is particularly spectacular, with thousands gathering to smear each other with vibrant powdered pigments.

Nepal's most important Hindu festival, lasting 15 days in October, celebrates the victory of good over evil with family reunions, kite flying, and the ritual receiving of tika blessings from elders. The country comes alive with enormous bamboo swings, festive markets, and the sacrifice of animals to honor the goddess Durga.

Nepal's five-day Festival of Lights honors crows, dogs, cows, and oxen before celebrating Laxmi puja with thousands of oil lamps illuminating homes and streets. The festival also includes Deusi and Bhailo singing traditions where groups go door-to-door performing songs in exchange for blessings and gifts.