Shaurab Lohani

After hearing a lot on social media and seeing pity videos of “Bhaktapur after earthquake” I decided to go take a short motorbike trip, with my friend and look around to check its authenticity. I wouldn't like to go on the contrary, as the videos were shot concurrently at the time for quake but would like to request the owners of the video should try and visit Bhaktapur and update the recent status of the periphery. Let me tell you my findings after walking and talking to the local authorities, locals and the vendors. First thing the entrance of the Durbar square still has a huge pile of rubble left from the prehistoric mud and brick gate but once we enter the durbar square periphery you will see it clean and ready to welcome guests. Not to forget that this vicinity I am writing about at the moment dates back to over 300 years and making hypotheses about not seeing the distress is completely a hypothesis itself. The museum suffered a major hit which is why only one of...

Nothing rocked this nation in centuries than the relentless tweets and status updates after the earthquake of 25 th April, 2015. Being persistent in either convincing or conveying the world of either “we are fine” or “how hard mother nature is hammering Nepal with unremitting aftershocks” has created such a huge buzz in the social media and news media that the consequences of our own actions are seeming to be looming in the Nepalese skies. I was shocked, dazed and in chaos as well with every possible mixed feeling after looking one of my tweets still being re-tweeted, the tweets posted at the initial days of the quake. Really! I took a moment of my own and thought of million Nepalese people who tweeted emotionally and let me think even my friends who never updated their facebook status were updating every seconds. It’s just my perception but what I believe there is still someone somewhere reading stale tweets or the links that we shared on the early days of the quake and cancell...

The #GoHome movement was phenomenal that even I couldn't sway my hands away from making twitter posts, people rose from every corner of the country and world to show the rest of the world that Nepalese will not remain hushed for every misrepresentation Indian media imposed. This was on the very initial days of the earthquake and as an after earthquake social activist I had a hunch that it wouldn't be long before Nepalese get back on their feet and continue doing their chores.  #Stillnepal #Stillsmining is amongst the campaigns with a positive lead to my hunch. These campaigns invite travelers who have been stationed or landed in Nepal post quake, intended to boost post Earthquake confidence for travellers willing to trot in this beautiful country. These are the signs that we are up, moving and are not frowning for what we had no control of. The request to the entire world is to “Participate in the Recovery of Tourism in Nepal” and there are many ways to do so. As an owne...

Most of the travelers dwelling in Nepal or getting ready to get in the country are probably or not aware that this nation has just been rocked by the quake of decade or even may be century. If you are travelling for the first time or travelling over, there are few things and places changed and may not be similar or even familiar as seen in your last visit or as seen on the pictures or even on the internet. The rubble is cleaned and majority of fragile dwelling is demolished but still you would be able to see old structures with noticeable fractures standing with the external support of either metal or wooden pillars. Few things like such will remain as it is for quite a long time and if you are travelling to Nepal in July or onwards until next year at least, you may be lucky enough to witness what earthquake has left us with! The first on my list is the ancient Palace courtyards known as Durbar squares. Durbar squares are open and welcoming travelers but I recommend you to keep t...

There is no as such as best time of the year to visit Nepal but there are certain things that one wishes to do in the country which is available only at certain times of the year. Let’s not brag about the fact that it can be visited year around like an entrepreneur who would convey couple of lies to get guests to visit the country at anytime of the year and stick to the ground reality. The best is either before the monsoon which is spring or after the monsoon which is fall. My favorite is the month where I can go around places on half sleeve. Why do people talk a lot about visiting Nepal in these seasons? Let me break it down although it may not be a new thing for a lot of you folks reading this blog. The primary reason behind tourist flocking in Nepal in the months of March – May which I have already mentioned as spring season and September - December which is fall season is for the clear views of one of the tallest peaks even from distant hill stations. Primary reasons also...

I was a spoken English teacher, I had 2 startups in the form of traveler’s hostel and a trekking agency and I was a public speaking trainer on Saturday’s until 25 th of April, 2015. It was a Saturday and one of my friends was giving her speech on “why everyone should volunteer” and everything started shaking. It was a session of around 25 people and most of them ran out, some were crawling and most of them were petrified and expressing their grief. Immediately my senses kicked in and started working for relief with my friends from Dormitory Nepal and Wonderful Everest view treks and expedition. I was astound with the fact that such a tiny project like ours which was successful to receive $7000-$8000 started receiving calls from big dogs in the field of charity organization. The names of the organizations have already faded but I do remember Bibeksheel Nepali, Rotary club, Rotract, Lions club and teach for Nepal knocking our doors for carrying out relief operations in their respe...

I left for United States in 2005 for my undergraduate degree and returned back to the country after completion of it and have been working for companies in Nepal and have my own startups. The reason behind pulling up my context is for the reason that I was invited to one of the relative’s farewell party who was departing to the Kangaroo land for his degree along with his wife as his dependent. With a piece of chicken drumstick on my left hand I sparingly tossed him with a question “how long are you gone for?”. He was reluctant to reply but softly looking at his newly married wife replied ‘never’. I have been deeply concerned with the recent devotion of Nepalese youth for United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The dreams of being a doctor, engineer, pilots, nurses, health assistants have been replaced with these first world countries. This relative of mine who is almost of the similar age as mine is awestruck with lives abroad and how he believes to have his life d...

Everyone has their own favorites when it comes to seeing places and doing things and so do I. I am a big time foodie and a travel junkie and nothing stops me from munching around and nothing forbids me from the places I like to visit time and again, not even a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. 1.       The first on my list is mountain flights and it reserves a top spot on my list for the reason that it is an absolute stunner. The first time I had a seat right behind the pilot and copilot on a small aircraft which offered me a wide angle view of Himalayas stretched as far as India was awe-inspiring. It was 2010 that I had decided I would do mountain flight every once in a while if I had the shekels and luckily I have done is thrice since then. 2.       Walking around Durbar squares is another favorite Saturday fixation. I have had best times around these monument as a kid and visited them in field visits from schools very recurrently ...

When friends and strangers ask me why travel Nepal after earthquake and the devastation? I answer their question with another question “Why not travel to Nepal?” Something I  don't  understand is why people think that if a country is hit by any natural disaster it would completely halt the  country's  daily chores and sob about what has been left behind by the catastrophe. It has been more than two months now and it is people’s nature to be constructive and positive and look for what lies ahead and not what was left behind. The shops are open, the hotels, restaurants and recreation centers have come under operations and I have been to a theatre on the 8 th floor to watch avengers with my friends and still alive. I can sense the enthusiasm in the air in the old souks, see the people walking in the narrow  alleys  and even the children going to schools and being frolic. Yes there are obviously scars left from the quake that s...

Chinese tourists expected to return to Nepal in Aug Chinese tour operators at Nepal Tourism Board on Friday.  Photographer: photo courtesy: NTB KATHMANDU, JUL 11 - “You go first, and we’ll follow.” This is what Chinese travellers say to tour and travel operators selling Nepal packages. Although, the Chinese government has not restricted its citizens from travelling to Nepal, potential visitors from the northern neighbour expect assurances from their tour organizers that it is safe to visit, a group of Chinese tour operators said Friday. Currently, nine tour operators from China are on a Nepal visit. This is the first batch of tour and travel operators to visit Nepal after the April 25 earthquake. The operators said that Chinese travellers were likely to resume Nepal tours from August. “Initially after the earthquake, we were under the impression that everything had been destroyed, but we see that except for a few places, all are intact,” said Li...