Nepal: Walking the Path to Inner Peace

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Nepal is famous for the towering peaks of the Himalayan range and the long treks that offer truly spectacular landscapes. However, there are equally fascinating routes for those less experienced hikers who desire a broader itinerary without needing specialized equipment or training.

➜ Also discover the Annapurna trekking route

In the surroundings of Pokhara, for instance, the country's largest town after Kathmandu and a key hub for hikers, there are 3 special places that absolutely deserve a visit.

The Pagoda (Stupa) of Peace

On Ananda Hill, in the village of Pumdi Bhumdi, stands the Shanti Stupa, one of 80 religious monuments built worldwide by Japanese monks of the "Nipponzan Myohoji" Buddhist order as a symbol of peace and non-violence following the devastations of World War II (Italy has one too, located in Comiso, Sicily).

The Pagoda (as it is known), standing 35m high and 105m wide, is situated at an altitude of 1100m and is decorated with 4 Buddha statues from different parts of the world: Nepal, Sri Lanka, Japan, and Thailand. Each sculpture represents important events from the life of Siddhartha Gautama and his path to enlightenment:

• his birth,
• his awakening,
• understanding the true nature of all things,
• teaching the 4 Noble Truths,
• attaining Nirvana after death.

The garden welcoming visitors, with its 1000 varieties of plants, is a celebration of biodiversity preservation and promotion, as well as an example of integration and harmony.

You can reach the Stupa by crossing Fewa Lake by boat and then continuing on foot up a staircase for approximately 45 minutes. When you reach the top, try not to be distracted by noisy tourists and respect the silence, opening yourself to the emotions this sacred place can offer. A true pilgrimage towards peace.

Sarangkot

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On the hill across the lake, you'll find Sarangkot, a small village situated at 1600m offering breathtaking views of some of the world's highest mountains: Dhaulagiri (8167m), Annapurna (8091m), and Machapuchare (6993m), the only Nepali mountain where mountaineering is forbidden because it is associated with Shiva and considered sacred and pristine by the local population.

Here, far from traffic and smog, a sense of peace is immediate; the tranquility of the place and the panorama invite you to savour the moment in contemplation of majestic nature, meditating or reading a book while sipping a cthai, the typical milk tea, aromatic with spices.

I strongly recommend spending at least one night in one of the local Guest Houses to witness the sunrise as it awakens the body and spirit, infusing lightness and serenity.

Sarangkot is reachable by bus and taxi, on foot it takes approximately 3 hours. From here, there are also small trails for morning walks.

Tibetan Refugee Village

Another fascinating site to visit is definitely the Tashiling Refugee Camp, one of 4 Tibetan refugee centres existing in Pokhara.

Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet, Nepal became a crucial passageway for those seeking to reach India in search of a new home. Of the thousands of people on the move, approximately 20% settled in the country in one of the official containment camps or in small settlements on the hills.

Tashiling is located near the lake area, about an hour's walk away, on the road to Devi's Fall.

Here you can meet refugees directly, speak with them, participate in ceremonies celebrated by monks, visit the museum dedicated to Tibetan history and culture, and of course contribute to the community's sustenance and development by purchasing handmade jewellery, sculptures, or carpets.

A truly unique opportunity to learn about an important part of the world that has endured far too long under senseless persecution and continues to struggle to find peace.

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