Nepal's culture is greatly influenced by its music, architecture, religion and literature. Your first sight of Nepal may leave you speechless, the great quantities of temples, churches, monasteries and other religious buildings, the hurly-burly in the streets and the number of people and animals socializing on every corner of the narrow cobble-stone lanes.
Culture and customs in Nepal run deep.
Some of them you will find interesting, some strange and others beyond logic.
But as long as you show respect and sensitivity to local traditions, willingness to learn and adapt to Nepalese ways and values, you will be fine. For a people so deeply rooted in traditions and culture, Nepalese are remarkably open-minded and easy-going. If at any time, you have doubts, ask or simply do what other Nepalese do.
Most Nepali people follow the Hindu religion, whilst there are also many Buddhists and a small percentage of Taoists, Christians and Muslims. I find it fascinating however, that despite the rich diversity in culture and beliefs, Nepal seems to be exceptionally tolerant of other people’s beliefs. There is no segregation between different religious temples and people seem to accept everyone’s individual beliefs without prejudice.
I thought I’d write about a few of the customs and cultural traditions that I found particularly interesting in the past two days. When we arrived at Restless Development offices, we were greeted by all the staff and welcomed with a traditional ceremony- the Nepali workers rubbed Tika powder on our forehead (red is the national colour) before giving us a marigold chain.
The political situation in Nepal has become exceedingly volatile throughout the past several years. The country has gone through an extremely tense transition of power often characterized by violent struggles between the King, political parties and Maoist insurgents. This political instability has taken its toll on the country’s economic performance as it has adversely affected the country’s manufacturing, transport, communication and tourism from time to time.
Culture and customs in Nepal run deep.
Some of them you will find interesting, some strange and others beyond logic.
But as long as you show respect and sensitivity to local traditions, willingness to learn and adapt to Nepalese ways and values, you will be fine. For a people so deeply rooted in traditions and culture, Nepalese are remarkably open-minded and easy-going. If at any time, you have doubts, ask or simply do what other Nepalese do.
Most Nepali people follow the Hindu religion, whilst there are also many Buddhists and a small percentage of Taoists, Christians and Muslims. I find it fascinating however, that despite the rich diversity in culture and beliefs, Nepal seems to be exceptionally tolerant of other people’s beliefs. There is no segregation between different religious temples and people seem to accept everyone’s individual beliefs without prejudice.
For girls, Nepal can be a difficult place to visit, especially when we are on our placements… As tradition goes, when women have their time of the month, they aren’t allowed in the kitchen, nor are they allowed any contact with men. In the village they are usually sent to sleep in the barn with the livestock- a custom which leads to many deaths in the winter. This is by no means an out dated tradition; it is very common even today, hence all the girls on the programme have been advised be extremely discreet to avoid such bestial treatment.
I thought I’d write about a few of the customs and cultural traditions that I found particularly interesting in the past two days. When we arrived at Restless Development offices, we were greeted by all the staff and welcomed with a traditional ceremony- the Nepali workers rubbed Tika powder on our forehead (red is the national colour) before giving us a marigold chain.
In the evening we had daal bhaat for the first time, the national dish in Nepal. It is a basic dish of lentil soup, rice and curried vegetables, which you mix together and eat with your right hand. It may sound quite weird but the flavours are amazing when you mix the food with your hand!
The political situation in Nepal has become exceedingly volatile throughout the past several years. The country has gone through an extremely tense transition of power often characterized by violent struggles between the King, political parties and Maoist insurgents. This political instability has taken its toll on the country’s economic performance as it has adversely affected the country’s manufacturing, transport, communication and tourism from time to time.
Due to the high level of political violence and corruption within the country the economic opportunities within the Nepali economy are lacking. In both the public and private sectors, corruption, petty as well as grand, has become a fundamental problem and is considered endemic by many Nepalese. It has become a major obstacle to economic and political reforms, accountability, transparency and effective governance.
In 1989 Ekai Kawaguchi the Japanese Budhist scholar who was the foreigner to visit pokhara said "In all my travels in the Himalayas I swa no scenery so enchanting as that which encraptured me art pokhara."
No Words to describe the serenity of the nook
Battle of the beauties the bubbling brook
It is said " If there is a paradise on earth, it begins from north to Pokhara." Obviously, on the lap of Annapurna Himalayan Range, Pokhara is blanketed with emerald blue lakes, green forests, deep gorges and underground waterfalls, caves, hills and rills.
If Kathmandu is the cultural hub- Pokhara, a place of exhilarating beauty is to refresh and relax and to discover the mysterious creation of nature. Thousand of people from different part of the world come here just to awake the sleeping beauty.
WHY TO VISIT POKHARA VALLEY?
“…Among 50 places to see before you die”.
Gate way to the world famous Annapurna Trekking trails.
Garden city of Seven Lakes: Fewa, Begnas, Rupa, Gude, Neurani, Deepang, Maidy, Khastey.
Homeland of world famous Gurkha Army where 370 youths are selected to recruit for England every year because Gurkha solders fought bravely during Second World War.
Valley of Orchids, Lakes, Caves, waterfalls and Massif glaciers.
Three mountains above 8000 m (Mt. Dhaulagiri 8167m., Mt. Manslu 8163 m., Mt Annapurna 8091m) can be seen standing at 850 m.
World Peace Stupa stretched on Raniban forest ridge..
To explore Peace & Harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism.
Ramapithecus was thought to be the first direct ancestor of modern humans. And, 165 km south to Pokhara nearby Butwal. Its Fossils was found dated 14 millions year.
Highest lake on earth “Tilicho 4949 m”
Kaliigandaki Valley, the Deepest Gorge in the World.
Holy and Virgin Mt. Fishtail 6993m.
The Only place in the world that you find 7 different species of DANFE Lophophorus.
Spiny Babbler the bird only found in Nepal.
Largest cave in Asia and Biggest Trident in Asia is in Gandaki Zone.
Whole mountain ridge imaging just like Sleeping Buddha seen from Akala Devi Temple.
Homeland of World Famous Honey Hunters.
Entry Point to Famous Hindu Temple “Muktinath”
Easy Access to Lumbini “The Birth Place of Lord Buddha”
The most favorite destination for Trekkers, photographers, artist, bird watchers, researchers, archaeologist, geologist, movie maker, tourism promoter.
ULTIMATE PARADISE- ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH…………………….
Sight Seeing Places :
About the Bindabasini Temple:-
Pokhara is a popular destination in Nepal, filled with many fascinating sights for tourists to investigate. One of the most popular and most visited of these is the intriguing Bindabasini Temple, known locally as Bindhyabasini Mandir. Standing proudly atop a hill, this striking temple looks calmly over the bustling city of Pokhara.
The white pagoda-styled building of the Hindu Bindabasini Temple quietly sits at some 3000 feet above sea level along the renowned Annapurna and Machhpuchhare mountain ranges. It is located near the busy Old Bazaar of Pokhara, a center of commerce in the Himalayas.
Bindabasini temple or Bindhyabasini Mandir is of great religious importance to Hindus living in the Pokhara region. It is a vital hub of religious fervor. The temple itself is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, who is Pokhara's chosen guardian deity. Durga, also known as Shakti or Kali has numerous manifestations and at the Bindabasini temple she is seen as Bhagwati, a blood-thirsty aspect of the goddess. Durga appears in the form of a Saligram. A Saligram, according to Hindu mythology is an propitious stone. It is said that the temple was created after the goddess ordered king Khadag Bum Malla to set up a her statue here. The Bindabasini temple was then founded in BS 1845. Since its establishment, Bhagwati has been an object of worship here on a daily basis. Animal sacrifices are typically presented at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The Hindu festival of Dashain sees large numbers of believers coming to offer sacrifices at Binhyabasini Mandir. Indeed, there is little space for tourist during the festival of Dashain.
The ornate structure of Bindabasini Temple is surrounded by a park-like landscape. Many come here to enjoy pleasant picnics whilst enjoying the amazing panorama. Spectacular views can be absorbed from this marvelous vantage point which looks out over the town of Pokhara and takes in some of the impressive Himalayas. Adding to the peaceful atmosphere is the fresh scent of “Dhup”.
A visit to Bindabasini Temple can be combined with a stroll through the Old Bazaar. Nearby is also the popular holiday leisure spot of Phewa Lake. Located at the foot of the hill on which Bindabasini Temple stands is the roadway to Sarangkot, another popular lookout point.
About the Seti Gorge:-
The roaring Seti River passes right through Pokhara, but you won’t see it unless you go looking. The river has carved a deep, narrow chasm through the middle of town, turning the water milky white in the process. The best place to catch a glimpse of the Seti River is the park just north of Old Pokhara near the Gurkha Museum.
About cultural museum pokhara
International Mountain Museum (IMM) is only the mountain museum in world. Therefore it carries a significant importance of its own. With the objectives to record, document, exhibit and chronicle the past and the present development of mountain and mountaineering activities in the world, with support of many mountaineering clubs and associations individual donors from the world, Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) has built this International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara.
The museum was partially opened on May, 2002 by famous climbers Ms. Tabei Junko and Appa Sherpa. It was fully opened for public on February 05, 2004, with the display area of more than 4200 sq.mt. Museum building is built on 12.6 acres land with nice open landscape.
The land area consists of 100 ropanies (5.10 Hectares, 12.58 Acres). The land was purchase by NMA on 4th Aug 1985, costs Nrs.12000.00 per Ropani. The foundation Stone was laid on 1st Nov. 1995 by the Honorable Minister for Tourism Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastola whereas a soft opening was done on 29th May 2002 by the famous climbers Ms. Junko Tabei and Mr. Appa Sherpa, graced by Honorable Minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Mr. BAL Bahadur K.C. On the other hand, grand opening was done on 05th Feb 2004 by the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa. The plinth area of Building is 3,110 Sq. Mt. and the total display and facility area is 4,250 Sq Mt. For the construction of IMM it cost Approx. Nrs. 100 million while investment had been done for the establishment of museum and its remises including land purchase, Landscaping, Access roads, Compound walls and living museum etc.
Location
Pokhara, an idyllic city in the Western Development Region of the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, has an added attraction in the form of the International Mountain Museum, the only museum of its kind in the world. The city is located 200 km. west of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and is situated at an altitude of 827m above the main sea level. Referred to as the Lake City, Pokhara has the serenity of the lakes and the awe-inspiring Himalayas in the background creating an ambience of tranquility and magical spell.
It is also a starting point of trekking and rafting destinations. A visit to Nepal without a sojourn to Pokhara is often considered incomplete. And, while in Pokhara, a visit to the International Mountain Museum is a must.
Objectives of IMM
The objectives of International Mountain Museum are very wide and bright. The objectives if IMM are;
Collection, documentation and display of the natural history and culture of the Himalayas and the world mountains.
Record and document chronicles of mountain activities in the Himalayas and other International mountain ranges.
Function as an educational and center for research on anthropology, sociology, mountaineers, ecology for the researchers, tourists, students and general public.
Provide a forum to share information among the international mountain community.
Reasons to build IMM in Pokhara
International Mountain Museum carries a certain reasons for its construction on Pokhara. The reasons are:
To help in the decentralization of development.
As we know that Pokhara is the second tourism destination of the country, lots of tourist can have a glance on it making it internationally renowned
It is a gateway to mountains and world famous trekking routes.
First eight thou sander summated by French on Annapurna I.
About the Exhibition Halls
The theme of this museum is to cover the information and exhibits related with the Man, Mountain and Mountain activities around the world. The whole display area of the museum is based and divided on the above theme therefore the exhibition Halls are as follows:
Hall of Mountain People introduces the customs, tradition, heritage, culture and way of life of the mountain peoples.
Hall of World Mountains represents the introduction of all the fourteen peaks over 8000 m. and geological facts about the origin of world mountain system. The hall also displays and gives explanations on the subjects like flora/fauna of Himalayan mountain and it further exhibits about the great personalities i.e. Kumar Khadga Bikrum Shah (founder president of NMA), Dr. Toni Hagen (Renown geologist who published the book “Nepal”), Reverend Kawaguchi Ekai (The first Japanese who entered Nepal in 1899), and Dr. Harka Gurung (Renown scholar, geographer, development planner and first tourism minister of Nepal). In the flora fauna section WWF and National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) has displayed their various activities for the nature conservation in Himalayan region.
Hall of Mountain Activities comprises the historical ascents and explorations in and around mountain areas, trekking etc. And it also displays the development of the climbing gears and required equipments for mountaineering.
Hall of Associates’ / Periodic exhibition is the presentation of various activities carried out by different INGO’s and NGO’s in and around mountain areas e.g.:- IUCN, ICIMOD are displayed and explained in this hall.
Library small library with a collection of more than 2,000 books related to mountaineering, culture, flora/fauna, geology and glaciology of famous author and the various journals of the world could be used by the students and scholars.
Lakhang In this hall, a scene Lakhang, which reflects the culture of the people living in the Himalayan regions, is on display. A prayer room is a symbolic of the religion prevalent in the Himalayan region. A prayer by the Lama before the climbing on the mountains takes place has become a part of culture of mountaineering in the Himalayas.
Living Museum is the thatched huts on the south-eastern side outside the museum, offer a view of the typical Nepali mountain People’s village’ It is a live museum, where one can see people at work. In this village local or foreign visitors would find equally interesting and homely village atmosphere with all originality and tradition. It would have all the indigenous craft, Culture, works and activities of social and ceremonial. The unique restaurant serves all kinds of foods including Nepali delicacies.
Mountain Model The 31 ft High model of Mountain outside the museum in another attraction. The climbable 31 feet high model of Mt. Manaslu just out side of the museum building is another attraction for the visitors. This is very popular among the young students.
What to see
Way of life of different mountain people of Himalayas and rest of world as well, like: – Tamang, Thakali, Chantyal, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa and also Slovenian, Japanese and Taiwanese.
Comparative pictures of the way of life of Nepal Himalayas and European Alps, which has intended to show that we are not very far behind to catch the desired development, it is just two generation away i.e. fifty years.
Brief introduction to the 14 highest peaks in the world. A lot of impressive pictures of various mountains of Himalayas.
Birth of Himalayas, typical rocks, fossils and geological formation are displayed in the geological section such as Metamorphic rock, Sedimentary rock, Minerals, Fossils (Ammonites), folding of rocks and ripple marked rocks etc.
In the flora fauna section WWF and National Trust for Nature Conservation has displayed their various activities for the nature conservation in Himalayan region, along with the nice pictures of the flowers of the Himalayas.
To give the honor to Kumar Khadga Bikrum Shah, Dr. Toni Hagen, Reverend Ekai Kawaguchi and Dr. Harka Gurung for their significant contribution for the introduction and promotion of the Nepal Himalayas to rest of the world, a corner has been dedicated in their honor and hence their exemplary works are on display.
Mountaineering chronicles of the first ascents of all the highest peaks (above 8000m) of the world are displayed in the panels of mountain activity Hall. Likewise this section exhibits the equipment used by those expeditions.
The necessary equipments, way of their uses and their development history are exhibited in the showcases in the same Hall.
Tale of ‘YETI’, (the sensation of the Himalayas), presents the stories, thoughts and beliefs of famous researchers and writers and the remark of the local people who encountered with Yeti.
Display of garbage from Mt. Everest tells us how the human activities on mountain pollute the mountains.
Royal Geographical Society and British Council has presented the historical pictures of Everest region which reflect the mountaineering activities since 1921 to 1953 (the first ascent of Mt. Everest) under the title of ‘Imaging Everest’.
Trekking view section shows the typical photographs of the Annapurna area.
Museum Layout
This International Mountain Museum has four exhibit halls open to the public at present.
1. Hall of Mountain People (Basement Floor)
There are two sections in this hall.
Mountain People of Nepal
To introduce the customs, traditions and culture of the mountain people of Nepal, the dresses, ornaments, musical instruments, household utensils and cultural activities of the Tamang, Thakali, Chantyal, Gurung and Sherpa’s are displayed in the section.
Mountain People of World
In this section, the visitors are introduced to the mountain people of other countries.
2. Hall of World Mountains (Basement Floor)
This hall introduces the names and heights of national and international mountains, historical background, highest summits, geographical formation, origin of the Himalayas, flora and fauna of the Himalayan region, researches on mountains and changes in the earth over a period of time. There are four sections in this hall.
Mountain Section
The introduction of all the fourteen peaks over 8,000m.and their photographs are presented in this section.
Geological Section
The geological formation of the mountains is exhibited in this section.
Flora and Fauna Section
This section displays the natural vegetation, animals and birds of the mountain region.
In addition these, the clothes, equipment, photographs etc. of Reverend Kawa Guchi-Ekai, dr.Toni Hagen and Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah are displayed in each separate corner. There are three corners reverend Kawa Guchi-Ekai Corner, Dr.Toni Hagen Corner and Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah Corner.
3. Hall of Mountain Activities (Basement Floor)
Mountaineering Section
This section displays the equipment, clothes and photographs of the successful French Expedition team member Mr. Herzog who scaled an over 8000m. Peak (Mt. Annapurna) for the first time in 1950. Furthermore, exhibits of Ms. Junko Tabei, first women Everest summiteers, Mr.TImanishi, the first Manaslu summiteers and other climbers’ equipments are also on display.
This section also exhibits the photographs of the first successful ascents of all the 14 peaks over 8,000m in a chronological order to the year i.e. Annapurna I (1950), Everest(1953), Nangaparbat(1953), K2(1954), Choyu(1954), Makalu(1955), Kanchenjunga(1955), Lhotse(1956), Gasher Brum II(1956), Manaslu(1956), Broad peak(1957), Gasher Brum I (1958), Dhaulagiri (1960) and Shisha Pangma(1964).
The introductions of the summiteers are displayed on the panel boards.
Mountaineering Equipment Section
The necessary equipment and their uses in climbing mountains are exhibited in the showcases.
Mountain Ecology/Environment section
In this section, environmental information of the mountain region is presented.
This section also exhibits the garbage collected from Mt.Everest and Lhotse between 2000 and 2003.
Imaging Everest Section
This section exhibits the photographs of British expeditions to Mount Everest from 1921 to the successful expedition of 1953.
4. Hall of Associates’ Guests Exhibition (Ground Floor)
WWF, IUCN and ICIMOD have launched various programs to uplift the mountain people their activities conducted in the different periods, the present activities and future planned activities are exhibited in this hall.
There are three sections;
WWF Sections,
IUCN Section and
ICIMOD Sections.
Other Facilities:
International Mountain Museum has other facilities too:
Ramps: Ramps are made to facilitate the visitors on the wheel chair. And wheel chairs are available on request.
Audio Visual Hall: To screening the documentary, films and other presentation a small Audio/Visual hall with capacity of around 100 audiences is in the Museum building
Conference Hall having around 120 – 150 sitting capacity conference hall is available on rent.
Library: A small library with a collection more than 1000 books related to culture, flora/fauna, mountaineering, geology and glaciology of famous author and the various journals of the world could be used by the students and scholars.
Security: 16 Channel CCTV cameras, Smoke detectors, Sensor Alarm System, Fire extinguisher equipments has been installed for the security of the Museum and 13 security guards are employed for that purpose.
Restaurant: There is a facility of a restaurant too. A large variety is found as well as it is having the design of village home. This restaurant has helped a lot to the tourist as well as locals who are having a glimpse of IMM.
No Words to describe the serenity of the nook
Battle of the beauties the bubbling brook
It is said " If there is a paradise on earth, it begins from north to Pokhara." Obviously, on the lap of Annapurna Himalayan Range, Pokhara is blanketed with emerald blue lakes, green forests, deep gorges and underground waterfalls, caves, hills and rills.
If Kathmandu is the cultural hub- Pokhara, a place of exhilarating beauty is to refresh and relax and to discover the mysterious creation of nature. Thousand of people from different part of the world come here just to awake the sleeping beauty.
WHY TO VISIT POKHARA VALLEY?
“…Among 50 places to see before you die”.
Gate way to the world famous Annapurna Trekking trails.
Garden city of Seven Lakes: Fewa, Begnas, Rupa, Gude, Neurani, Deepang, Maidy, Khastey.
Homeland of world famous Gurkha Army where 370 youths are selected to recruit for England every year because Gurkha solders fought bravely during Second World War.
Valley of Orchids, Lakes, Caves, waterfalls and Massif glaciers.
Three mountains above 8000 m (Mt. Dhaulagiri 8167m., Mt. Manslu 8163 m., Mt Annapurna 8091m) can be seen standing at 850 m.
World Peace Stupa stretched on Raniban forest ridge..
To explore Peace & Harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism.
Ramapithecus was thought to be the first direct ancestor of modern humans. And, 165 km south to Pokhara nearby Butwal. Its Fossils was found dated 14 millions year.
Highest lake on earth “Tilicho 4949 m”
Kaliigandaki Valley, the Deepest Gorge in the World.
Holy and Virgin Mt. Fishtail 6993m.
The Only place in the world that you find 7 different species of DANFE Lophophorus.
Spiny Babbler the bird only found in Nepal.
Largest cave in Asia and Biggest Trident in Asia is in Gandaki Zone.
Whole mountain ridge imaging just like Sleeping Buddha seen from Akala Devi Temple.
Homeland of World Famous Honey Hunters.
Entry Point to Famous Hindu Temple “Muktinath”
Easy Access to Lumbini “The Birth Place of Lord Buddha”
The most favorite destination for Trekkers, photographers, artist, bird watchers, researchers, archaeologist, geologist, movie maker, tourism promoter.
ULTIMATE PARADISE- ONCE IS NOT ENOUGH…………………….
Sight Seeing Places :
About the Bindabasini Temple:-
Pokhara is a popular destination in Nepal, filled with many fascinating sights for tourists to investigate. One of the most popular and most visited of these is the intriguing Bindabasini Temple, known locally as Bindhyabasini Mandir. Standing proudly atop a hill, this striking temple looks calmly over the bustling city of Pokhara.The white pagoda-styled building of the Hindu Bindabasini Temple quietly sits at some 3000 feet above sea level along the renowned Annapurna and Machhpuchhare mountain ranges. It is located near the busy Old Bazaar of Pokhara, a center of commerce in the Himalayas.
Bindabasini temple or Bindhyabasini Mandir is of great religious importance to Hindus living in the Pokhara region. It is a vital hub of religious fervor. The temple itself is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, who is Pokhara's chosen guardian deity. Durga, also known as Shakti or Kali has numerous manifestations and at the Bindabasini temple she is seen as Bhagwati, a blood-thirsty aspect of the goddess. Durga appears in the form of a Saligram. A Saligram, according to Hindu mythology is an propitious stone. It is said that the temple was created after the goddess ordered king Khadag Bum Malla to set up a her statue here. The Bindabasini temple was then founded in BS 1845. Since its establishment, Bhagwati has been an object of worship here on a daily basis. Animal sacrifices are typically presented at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The Hindu festival of Dashain sees large numbers of believers coming to offer sacrifices at Binhyabasini Mandir. Indeed, there is little space for tourist during the festival of Dashain.
The ornate structure of Bindabasini Temple is surrounded by a park-like landscape. Many come here to enjoy pleasant picnics whilst enjoying the amazing panorama. Spectacular views can be absorbed from this marvelous vantage point which looks out over the town of Pokhara and takes in some of the impressive Himalayas. Adding to the peaceful atmosphere is the fresh scent of “Dhup”.
A visit to Bindabasini Temple can be combined with a stroll through the Old Bazaar. Nearby is also the popular holiday leisure spot of Phewa Lake. Located at the foot of the hill on which Bindabasini Temple stands is the roadway to Sarangkot, another popular lookout point.
About the Seti Gorge:-
The roaring Seti River passes right through Pokhara, but you won’t see it unless you go looking. The river has carved a deep, narrow chasm through the middle of town, turning the water milky white in the process. The best place to catch a glimpse of the Seti River is the park just north of Old Pokhara near the Gurkha Museum.
About cultural museum pokhara
The museum was partially opened on May, 2002 by famous climbers Ms. Tabei Junko and Appa Sherpa. It was fully opened for public on February 05, 2004, with the display area of more than 4200 sq.mt. Museum building is built on 12.6 acres land with nice open landscape.
The land area consists of 100 ropanies (5.10 Hectares, 12.58 Acres). The land was purchase by NMA on 4th Aug 1985, costs Nrs.12000.00 per Ropani. The foundation Stone was laid on 1st Nov. 1995 by the Honorable Minister for Tourism Mr. Chakra Prasad Bastola whereas a soft opening was done on 29th May 2002 by the famous climbers Ms. Junko Tabei and Mr. Appa Sherpa, graced by Honorable Minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Mr. BAL Bahadur K.C. On the other hand, grand opening was done on 05th Feb 2004 by the Rt. Honorable Prime Minister Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa. The plinth area of Building is 3,110 Sq. Mt. and the total display and facility area is 4,250 Sq Mt. For the construction of IMM it cost Approx. Nrs. 100 million while investment had been done for the establishment of museum and its remises including land purchase, Landscaping, Access roads, Compound walls and living museum etc.
Location
Pokhara, an idyllic city in the Western Development Region of the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal, has an added attraction in the form of the International Mountain Museum, the only museum of its kind in the world. The city is located 200 km. west of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, and is situated at an altitude of 827m above the main sea level. Referred to as the Lake City, Pokhara has the serenity of the lakes and the awe-inspiring Himalayas in the background creating an ambience of tranquility and magical spell.
It is also a starting point of trekking and rafting destinations. A visit to Nepal without a sojourn to Pokhara is often considered incomplete. And, while in Pokhara, a visit to the International Mountain Museum is a must.
Objectives of IMM
The objectives of International Mountain Museum are very wide and bright. The objectives if IMM are;
Collection, documentation and display of the natural history and culture of the Himalayas and the world mountains.
Record and document chronicles of mountain activities in the Himalayas and other International mountain ranges.
Function as an educational and center for research on anthropology, sociology, mountaineers, ecology for the researchers, tourists, students and general public.
Provide a forum to share information among the international mountain community.
Reasons to build IMM in Pokhara
International Mountain Museum carries a certain reasons for its construction on Pokhara. The reasons are:
To help in the decentralization of development.
As we know that Pokhara is the second tourism destination of the country, lots of tourist can have a glance on it making it internationally renowned
It is a gateway to mountains and world famous trekking routes.
First eight thou sander summated by French on Annapurna I.
About the Exhibition Halls
The theme of this museum is to cover the information and exhibits related with the Man, Mountain and Mountain activities around the world. The whole display area of the museum is based and divided on the above theme therefore the exhibition Halls are as follows:
Hall of Mountain People introduces the customs, tradition, heritage, culture and way of life of the mountain peoples.
Hall of World Mountains represents the introduction of all the fourteen peaks over 8000 m. and geological facts about the origin of world mountain system. The hall also displays and gives explanations on the subjects like flora/fauna of Himalayan mountain and it further exhibits about the great personalities i.e. Kumar Khadga Bikrum Shah (founder president of NMA), Dr. Toni Hagen (Renown geologist who published the book “Nepal”), Reverend Kawaguchi Ekai (The first Japanese who entered Nepal in 1899), and Dr. Harka Gurung (Renown scholar, geographer, development planner and first tourism minister of Nepal). In the flora fauna section WWF and National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) has displayed their various activities for the nature conservation in Himalayan region.
Hall of Mountain Activities comprises the historical ascents and explorations in and around mountain areas, trekking etc. And it also displays the development of the climbing gears and required equipments for mountaineering.Hall of Associates’ / Periodic exhibition is the presentation of various activities carried out by different INGO’s and NGO’s in and around mountain areas e.g.:- IUCN, ICIMOD are displayed and explained in this hall.
Library small library with a collection of more than 2,000 books related to mountaineering, culture, flora/fauna, geology and glaciology of famous author and the various journals of the world could be used by the students and scholars.
Lakhang In this hall, a scene Lakhang, which reflects the culture of the people living in the Himalayan regions, is on display. A prayer room is a symbolic of the religion prevalent in the Himalayan region. A prayer by the Lama before the climbing on the mountains takes place has become a part of culture of mountaineering in the Himalayas.
Living Museum is the thatched huts on the south-eastern side outside the museum, offer a view of the typical Nepali mountain People’s village’ It is a live museum, where one can see people at work. In this village local or foreign visitors would find equally interesting and homely village atmosphere with all originality and tradition. It would have all the indigenous craft, Culture, works and activities of social and ceremonial. The unique restaurant serves all kinds of foods including Nepali delicacies.
Mountain Model The 31 ft High model of Mountain outside the museum in another attraction. The climbable 31 feet high model of Mt. Manaslu just out side of the museum building is another attraction for the visitors. This is very popular among the young students.
What to see
Way of life of different mountain people of Himalayas and rest of world as well, like: – Tamang, Thakali, Chantyal, Gurung, Magar, Sherpa and also Slovenian, Japanese and Taiwanese.
Comparative pictures of the way of life of Nepal Himalayas and European Alps, which has intended to show that we are not very far behind to catch the desired development, it is just two generation away i.e. fifty years.
Brief introduction to the 14 highest peaks in the world. A lot of impressive pictures of various mountains of Himalayas.
Birth of Himalayas, typical rocks, fossils and geological formation are displayed in the geological section such as Metamorphic rock, Sedimentary rock, Minerals, Fossils (Ammonites), folding of rocks and ripple marked rocks etc.
In the flora fauna section WWF and National Trust for Nature Conservation has displayed their various activities for the nature conservation in Himalayan region, along with the nice pictures of the flowers of the Himalayas.
To give the honor to Kumar Khadga Bikrum Shah, Dr. Toni Hagen, Reverend Ekai Kawaguchi and Dr. Harka Gurung for their significant contribution for the introduction and promotion of the Nepal Himalayas to rest of the world, a corner has been dedicated in their honor and hence their exemplary works are on display.
Mountaineering chronicles of the first ascents of all the highest peaks (above 8000m) of the world are displayed in the panels of mountain activity Hall. Likewise this section exhibits the equipment used by those expeditions.
The necessary equipments, way of their uses and their development history are exhibited in the showcases in the same Hall.
Tale of ‘YETI’, (the sensation of the Himalayas), presents the stories, thoughts and beliefs of famous researchers and writers and the remark of the local people who encountered with Yeti.
Display of garbage from Mt. Everest tells us how the human activities on mountain pollute the mountains.
Royal Geographical Society and British Council has presented the historical pictures of Everest region which reflect the mountaineering activities since 1921 to 1953 (the first ascent of Mt. Everest) under the title of ‘Imaging Everest’.
Trekking view section shows the typical photographs of the Annapurna area.
Museum Layout
This International Mountain Museum has four exhibit halls open to the public at present.
1. Hall of Mountain People (Basement Floor)
There are two sections in this hall.
Mountain People of Nepal
To introduce the customs, traditions and culture of the mountain people of Nepal, the dresses, ornaments, musical instruments, household utensils and cultural activities of the Tamang, Thakali, Chantyal, Gurung and Sherpa’s are displayed in the section.
Mountain People of World
In this section, the visitors are introduced to the mountain people of other countries.
2. Hall of World Mountains (Basement Floor)
This hall introduces the names and heights of national and international mountains, historical background, highest summits, geographical formation, origin of the Himalayas, flora and fauna of the Himalayan region, researches on mountains and changes in the earth over a period of time. There are four sections in this hall.
Mountain Section
The introduction of all the fourteen peaks over 8,000m.and their photographs are presented in this section.
Geological Section
The geological formation of the mountains is exhibited in this section.
Flora and Fauna Section
This section displays the natural vegetation, animals and birds of the mountain region.
In addition these, the clothes, equipment, photographs etc. of Reverend Kawa Guchi-Ekai, dr.Toni Hagen and Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah are displayed in each separate corner. There are three corners reverend Kawa Guchi-Ekai Corner, Dr.Toni Hagen Corner and Kumar Khadga Bikram Shah Corner.
3. Hall of Mountain Activities (Basement Floor)
Mountaineering Section
This section displays the equipment, clothes and photographs of the successful French Expedition team member Mr. Herzog who scaled an over 8000m. Peak (Mt. Annapurna) for the first time in 1950. Furthermore, exhibits of Ms. Junko Tabei, first women Everest summiteers, Mr.TImanishi, the first Manaslu summiteers and other climbers’ equipments are also on display.
This section also exhibits the photographs of the first successful ascents of all the 14 peaks over 8,000m in a chronological order to the year i.e. Annapurna I (1950), Everest(1953), Nangaparbat(1953), K2(1954), Choyu(1954), Makalu(1955), Kanchenjunga(1955), Lhotse(1956), Gasher Brum II(1956), Manaslu(1956), Broad peak(1957), Gasher Brum I (1958), Dhaulagiri (1960) and Shisha Pangma(1964).
The introductions of the summiteers are displayed on the panel boards.
Mountaineering Equipment Section
The necessary equipment and their uses in climbing mountains are exhibited in the showcases.
Mountain Ecology/Environment section
In this section, environmental information of the mountain region is presented.
This section also exhibits the garbage collected from Mt.Everest and Lhotse between 2000 and 2003.
Imaging Everest Section
This section exhibits the photographs of British expeditions to Mount Everest from 1921 to the successful expedition of 1953.
4. Hall of Associates’ Guests Exhibition (Ground Floor)
WWF, IUCN and ICIMOD have launched various programs to uplift the mountain people their activities conducted in the different periods, the present activities and future planned activities are exhibited in this hall.
There are three sections;
WWF Sections,
IUCN Section and
ICIMOD Sections.
Other Facilities:International Mountain Museum has other facilities too:
Ramps: Ramps are made to facilitate the visitors on the wheel chair. And wheel chairs are available on request.
Audio Visual Hall: To screening the documentary, films and other presentation a small Audio/Visual hall with capacity of around 100 audiences is in the Museum building
Conference Hall having around 120 – 150 sitting capacity conference hall is available on rent.
Library: A small library with a collection more than 1000 books related to culture, flora/fauna, mountaineering, geology and glaciology of famous author and the various journals of the world could be used by the students and scholars.
Security: 16 Channel CCTV cameras, Smoke detectors, Sensor Alarm System, Fire extinguisher equipments has been installed for the security of the Museum and 13 security guards are employed for that purpose.Restaurant: There is a facility of a restaurant too. A large variety is found as well as it is having the design of village home. This restaurant has helped a lot to the tourist as well as locals who are having a glimpse of IMM.
