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Despite advancements in energy access, more than half of Nepal’s households still rely on firewood for cooking, according to the final results of the National Census 2021. Out of 6.66m households nationwide, 51 percent frequently use firewood as their primary cooking fuel.   However, the data shows a decline in firewood usage compared to the 2011 census, which reported that 64 percent of households used firewood. The latest figures indicate a 13 percent decrease over the past decade. Meanwhile, 44.3 percent of households now use liquefied petroleum (LP) gas for cooking.  

The use of household energy varies by geography. Approximately 20 percent of homes rely on modern energy sources such as electricity and LP gas for cooking, while 80 percent still use traditional fuels like firewood, agricultural residues, and dung cakes. Access to electricity also varies significantly. While 99 percent of households in the Tarai region are connected to the national grid, only 32 percent of homes in the Himalayan region have grid electricity. As a result, many families in the hills and mountains depend on forests for energy needs.  

A survey conducted by the International Development Association (IDA) in 2022 found that 80 percent of rural households and 44.6 percent of urban households still used firewood for cooking. In contrast, LP gas was used in 89 percent of urban households and 57.3 percent of rural households.   Additionally, 17.4 percent of rural households and 5.4 percent of urban households use agricultural residues and dung cakes as fuel. Electricity is used for cooking in 7.3 percent of rural households and 14 percent of urban households.  

Regionally, firewood remains the dominant household fuel. In the Himalayan region, 96 percent of households use firewood for cooking, followed by 79 percent in the Tarai and 65.5 percent in the hills. Overall, firewood accounts for 84.9 percent of Nepal’s total household energy consumption.  

The heavy reliance on firewood raises concerns about deforestation, air pollution, and health risks from indoor smoke exposure. Expanding access to clean energy sources such as LP gas, electricity, and renewable alternatives could significantly improve household energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in Nepal.

Holi, the festival of colors, is being celebrated Thursday across the hilly regions of Nepal, while the Tarai region will mark the festival on Friday. A massive crowd has gathered at Kathmandu’s historic Basantapur Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to celebrate the Holi festival here.

The festival is also known as Fagu Purnima here. The Holi festival, symbolizing the victory of good over evil and the arrival of spring, was marked with enthusiasm, bringing people together in a colorful embrace of harmony. Revelers and foreign tourists, smeared with bright hues, danced to music, exchanged festive greetings, and soaked in the vibrant atmosphere.

Meanwhile, the District Police Range, Kathmandu, has deployed over 300 security personnel to maintain order and prevent any unwanted incidents during the celebrations.

I went to Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh, India, for the first time in 1994. I was fascinated by the Bhool Bhulaiya in Bara Imambara. I got lost in its seemingly endless, interconnected labyrinth of tunnels and enjoyed discovering all the nooks and crannies, with their little windows that looked out to streets teeming with rickshaws and ice-cream vendors. I also especially enjoyed the famous kulfi at Prakash Kulfi in the busy streets of Animabad, a stone’s throw away from Hazratgunj, a shopper’s paradise and the capital and largest city of India’s Uttar Pradesh. 

Thereafter, Lucknow meant a life-sized puzzle and kulfi by the plateful and that is perhaps how my parents lured me there year after year. They had both gone to college in Lucknow and would revisit friends almost every year. After a while though, I had had enough and vowed never to go to Lucknow. I felt like I had seen everything I had to see and knew all the alleys like the back of my hands. I would argue with my father, who seems to have left a little bit of himself back in the busy, noisy city, every time he’d suggest visiting Lucknow. But I ended up in Lucknow many times later in life and each time, I discovered something that would sort of lure me back again. 

It’s a city that has everything, from beautiful historical sights to wonderful eateries and shopping options. I like the Rumi Darwaza, and go there every time I’m in Lucknow. The gateway, built in 1784, is 60 feet tall and is located between the Bara Imambara and the Chota Imambara. Earlier it used to mark the entrance to Old Lucknow but now it’s just a nice spot to take in the surroundings. 

Shopping at Aminabad is another highlight of Lucknow. It’s a busy area with many roadside eateries, random stalls, and vendors selling everything from sunglasses and kitchen wares to leather bags and belts. Clothes with chikankari work, a type of hand embroidery done on sheer fabrics like muslin and georgette, is the speciality of this market. It’s also a good place to get home decor items like rugs, cushion covers, bedsheets, etc. at reasonable prices.

The good thing about Lucknow is that it makes for a quick escape. You can reach Lucknow from the border town of Rupaidiha near Nepalgunj. You can fly to Nepalgunj from Kathmandu and take a rickshaw or taxi to the border and then hire a private vehicle there to take you to Lucknow. The fare is around InRs 3,000 and you will reach Lucknow in around four hours. The road is smooth, making the trip hassle free. 

You will have to go through a rigorous checking at the border point. The authorities stationed there are sometimes downright hostile and handle your baggage roughly, poking and probing through your things. The best thing to do is to keep quiet and let them do their jobs. I’ve seen people argue with them and they have been held back. But in the last few years, their behavior has gotten better. They only seem to check your bags if something looks suspicious. The last few times, we have been allowed to pass without having to open our luggages. But everything is totally dependent on their moods so you actually never know. 

However, this is the only annoying aspect of the journey. Everything else is smooth, easy, and economical. You can also take a taxi to Ayodhya directly from Rupaidiha. The journey takes around four hours too. This time, we went to Ayodhya from Rupaidiha and then took another taxi from Ayodhya to Lucknow after spending three days in Ayodhya. The fares were cheaper on inDrive compared to randomly booking a taxi or asking the hotel for the service. Ayodhya to Lucknow is roughly around a two-hour drive. But if you are planning to go to Ayodhya any time soon, I’d recommend you wait a couple of years. 

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Ayodhya is a city that’s being built. Think Kathmandu during the Melamchi project. Everything is under construction so the city has a dusty aura. Even the famous Ram Mandir is being built and only a small section is accessible at the moment. There are restaurants and hotels being constructed as well. Every hotel has a few rooms up and running while the rest is being made. No matter where you stay, you’re going to be up till late and up early because of noisy construction. I would have enjoyed my trip a lot more had I gone a few years down the line.

Having said that, Ayodhya wasn’t disappointing. There’s not much to do yet except temple visits but I guess that’s the whole point of the city anyway. We visited the Ram Janmabhoomi that many Hindus believe to be the birthplace of Lord Ram. It gets crowded during the day so make sure you go early or in the evenings. We went around 9:30 am and we came out of the temple premises a little over an hour later when it was just starting to get busy. 

Though this temple was the reason we went to Ayodhya in the first place, the other temples were far more interesting. We met a local who told us if we didn’t go to Kanak Bhawan our trip to Ayodhya would be incomplete. “We believe this is the place where God comes to rest,” he said. And indeed, the vibe at Kanak Bhawan and other temples like the Hanuman Garhi Mandir was calming and spiritual. We even sat through a bhajan session at Kanak Bhawan and it was a meditative experience unlike any other. 

There are many vegetarian eateries that open early for breakfast in the temple area. The food is fresh and delicious. We had our fill of idlis and dosas. Every place would be packed and we would have to struggle to find a table but our order came quickly and the food was worth the hassle. There are a lot of stalls and stores selling clothes and curios but make sure you haggle if you shop at these places. Most of the vendors will give you what you want for half the quoted price. 

Another thing you must do in Ayodhya is visit the Lata Mangeshkar chowk. It’s a hard to miss place since you might have to pass through it to get to the temples but make sure you get off there and stroll around. A huge sculpture of a sitar takes center stage at the chowk and it’s surrounded by murals of various scenes of the Ramayana. You can easily spend a few hours just looking at all the fabulous art. 

All in all, Ayodhya and Lucknow make for good short trips that you might want to consider when you don’t have the luxury of a long holiday but still want to go somewhere exciting. If you want to go to both these places then you should plan a week long trip. But if you want to visit only one place at a time, three days for Ayodhya and four days for Lucknow should be enough.

Lumbini, the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha and a UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is a sacred sanctuary for Buddhists and spiritual seekers worldwide. Beyond its religious roots, the Greater Lumbini Area offers an array of unique experiences through history, archaeology and natural beauty. Yet, this treasure trove struggles to reach its full potential as a global destination.

Today, countries like Thailand, Bhutan, and Srilanka attract hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims and tourists, while Lumbini sees just about 1m visitors a year. The challenges lie in infrastructure. Although there has been a surge in hotels across Lumbini, the region still falls short in offering comprehensive facilities beyond basic stay. Modern tourists not only want to visit the birthplace of Buddha but also, they seek for extended stays enriched with engaging activities, better facilities, and a well-rounded experience.

Lumbini and its surrounding areas are home to ruins dating back as far as the 11th century BCE to the 3rd century CE, alongside other sites such as Tilaurakot, Kudan, Gotihawa, Niglihawa, Araurakot, Sagarhawa, and Ramagrama. These sites hold profound connections to the life of the Buddhas and the evolution of Buddhism. Additionally, the region is remarkable for being the birthplace of the three Buddhas of Bhadrakalpa—Kanakamuni, Krakuchhanda, and Gautama Buddha. However, the lack of accessible information and proper guidance for tourists diminishes the potential of these historical and spiritual places.

There is an urgent need for effective marketing campaigns to highlight the essence of Lumbini and its sites. Many visitors remain unaware of the rich stories and spiritual significance behind the monuments scattered across the region. Developing meditation retreats, promoting outdoor activities, and offering cultural immersion programs could transform Lumbini into a holistic tourism center.

We cannot afford to wait for another ‘Visit Nepal’ campaign to spotlight Lumbini’s potential. It’s essential to focus now on establishing Lumbini as a truly iconic destination.