Religious and Cultural Tourism in Nepal

Kathmandu. Religious tourism is a form of tourism, whereby people of faith travel individually or in groups for reasons related to religion or spirituality in their quest for meaning. (Jongmeewasin, n.d.) Tourists travelling for the purpose of religious activity leaving his/her country or home travelling to religious and holy places is religious tourism which is also the oldest form of tourism activity in the world. It began almost with the dawn of humanity itself. Religious tourism is not only a visit to the specific holy temple or site but it may be a travel for a humanitarian cause as well. It means that the tourist or visitor shall not be of specific religion. Anyone can visit for this purpose. Religious and cultural tourism is a big market in the world.

(Tourism and More, 2014) Religious and Cultural tourism in Nepal is another popular tourism type where each year thousands of people visit Nepal for this purpose. This activity is coined ‘Pilgrimage Tourism’ as well. People all over the world visit Nepal to travel to religious places and pilgrimage. Nepal has majority of Hindu people but it does not stop other people following different religion to travel Nepal for religious purpose. People following Buddhism travel Nepal in high number each year since Nepal is the land where Lord Gautam Buddha was born. Nepal has many world famous religious sites such as Pashupati temple, Swyambhunath, Bouddha, Dakshinkali, Asura Cave, Lumbini, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Sqaure, Muktinath, Gosainkunda, Manakamana,  Janakpur, Namobuddha which are the popular ones. Among these few are listed in the world heritage sites by UNESCO as well.