Maximum enjoyment of Nepal will come through familiarity with this country’s history, culture, geography, and people. Most of the books in the following annotated list focus on areas outside of the Kathmandu valley and should help you learn more about the various regions of this country.
Lewis, Todd T., and Theodore Riccardi, Jr. The Himalayas: A Syllabus of the Region’s History, Anthropology, and Religion. Ann Arbor, Mich.: Association for Asian Studies, 1995. The comprehensive springboard for further study.
Mayhew, Bradley. Nepal (Country Guide). Lonely Planet, 2006. General guide to Nepal.
McConnachie, James and David Reed. The Rough Guide: Nepal. London: Rough Guides, 2009. An excellent guide to the rest of the country with much helpful information.
Moran, Kerry. Nepal Handbook. Chico, Calif.: Moon, 2004. Much thoughtful discussion.
Bista, Dor Bahadur. People of Nepal. Kathmandu: Ratna Pustak Bhandar, 1996. Presents an excellent, though dated, synopsis of most of the ethnic groups found in Nepal.
Brower, Barbara. Sherpa of Khumbu: People, Livestock and Landscape. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1991. A look at the yak and Sherpa society and changes brought by tourism.
Desjarlais, Robert R. Body and Emotion: The Aesthetics of Illness and Healing in the Nepal Himalayas. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992. Focused on Helambu.
Fisher, James F. Sherpas: Reflection on Change in Himalayan Nepal. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990. A look at this legendary ethnic group seen through their eyes, interpreted by an anthropologist who first worked among them in 1964.
Kipp, Eva. Bending Bamboo, Changing Winds: Nepali Women Tell Their Life Stories. Kathmandu: Pilgrims Publishing, 2006. A compilation of interviews with fourteen women representing diverse situations in Nepal.
Mumford, Stan Royal. Himalayan Dialogue: Tibetan Lamas and Gurung Shamans in Nepal. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 1989.
Gabriel, Hannelore. The Jewelry of Nepal. New York: Weatherhill, 1999. A luscious, lavish look at adornment in Nepal.
Tingey, C. Auspicious Music in a Changing Society. New Delhi: Heritage Publishers, 1994. A look at Nepal’s traditional musicians and their bands that play at hill weddings.
Gajurel, C. L., and K. K. Vaidya. Traditional Arts and Crafts of Nepal. New Delhi: S. Chand, 1999. Invaluable for understanding many of the folk processes going on around you.
Hagen, Toni. Building Bridges to the Third World: Memories of Nepal 1950–1992. Delhi: Book Faith India, 1994. Insight on the “development process” by one of the first long-term visitors to Nepal who played a key role in the early stages.
Hutt, Michael. Nepal in the Nineties. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2002. A compendium of essays on historic developments in the 1990s.
Shakya, Sujeev. Unleashing Nepal: Past, Present and Future of the Economy. Penguin Books, 2010. A look at the history, current state, and possible future of Nepal’s economy by the man who writes under the name Artha Beed for the Nepali Times. In it he covers a lot of ground, including the $15 billion in aid that has poured in over four decades, resulting in more reports (some 270,000) than results.
Shrestha, Nanda R. Landlessness and Migration in Nepal. Boulder: Westview Press, 1990. “Help me, I am a development victim” sets the perspective of this book.
Toffin, Gérard, ed. Man and His House in the Himalayas: Ecology of Nepal. New Delhi: Sterling Publishers, 1991. Architecture and human ecology.
Adhikary, Kamal R. A Concise English–Nepali Dictionary (with transliteration and Devanagari). Kathmandu: author, 1988. Very useful for the trekker who has mastered the basics.
Bloomfield, Andrew, and Yanki Tshering. Learning Practical Tibetan. Ithaca, N.Y.: Snow Lion, 1998. A useful beginning.
Hutt, Michael, Krishna Pradhan, and Abhi Subedi. Complete Nepali with Two Audio CDs: A Teach Yourself Guide. McGraw-Hill, 2010. A comprehensive approach to learning Nepali, from understanding to speaking and writing.
Karki, Tika B., and Chij K. Shrestha. Basic Course in Spoken Nepali. Kathmandu: authors, 1996. Originally written for Peace Corps volunteers; stresses the situational approach, for the serious trekker.
Lee, Hae Lyun. Conversational Nepali. Kathmandu: Hisi Publications, 2000. An excellent, well-organized workbook with audio materials following a situational approach to becoming conversational.
Matthews, David J. A Course in Nepali. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, 1998. A useful formal text for those seeking an in-depth study.
O’Rourke, Mary-Jo, and Bimal Shrestha. Nepali Phrasebook. Hawthorn, Australia: Lonely Planet, 2008. A useful resource.
Raj, Prakash A. Nepali-English/English-Nepali Dictionary and Phrasebook. Hippocrene Books, 2003.
Sherchan, Bijaya et al. An Exercise Book on Spoken Nepali Language. Kathmandu: School for International Training, 1994. A helpful next step.
Sherpa, Phinjo. Sherpa Nepali English. Kathmandu: ECO Himal 1999. The first resource on the Sherpa language.
Watters, Daniel P., and Narendra B. Rajbhandary. Nepali in Context, A Topical Approach to Learning Nepali, 2000. A workbook that is aptly described by its title.
Dixit, Mani. Over the Mountains. Kathmandu: Ekta Books, 1995. An historical ethnic novel about contemporary Nepal by a prolific writer.
Dixit, Kanak Mani (illustrated by Subhas Rai). Bhaktaprasad Bhyaguto: Adventures of a Nepali Frog. Lalitpur: Rato Bangala Kitab, 2001. A delightful book for adults and children alike.
Grimmett, Richard, Carol Inskipp, and Tim Inskipp. Birds of Nepal. Princeton University Press, 2000. A comprehensive field guide.
____. A Guide to the Birds of Nepal. Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd., 2000. This monograph contains range and distribution maps of species, aids for identifying difficult birds, and information on bird-watching areas. A complement to Birds of Nepal for the keen birder.
Polunin, Oleg, Adam Stainton and Ann Farrer. Concise Flowers of the Himalaya. Oxford University Press, 1998. A portable wealth of photographs and descriptions of the most common species, listed in the 1984 work.
____. Flowers of the Himalaya. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1984. Together with Stainton’s supplement, the best photographic record of flowering plants.
Smith, Colin. Butterflies of Nepal (Central Himalaya). Bangkok: Tecpress, 1989. The long-awaited guide, with color photos, to all the species in Nepal!
Stainton, Adam. Flowers of the Himalaya: A Supplement. Oxford University Press, 1998. More photographs and species to extend the seminal work of Polunin and Stainton.
Bista, Dor Bahadur. Fatalism and Development: Nepal’s Struggle for Modernization. Sangam Books Ltd, 1994. A seminal piece that sparked much controversy with its publication; this volume and Brown’s help the outsider understand current Nepal.
Mihaly, Eugene Bramer. Foreign Aid and Politics in Nepal. London: Oxford University Press, 1965. An early study. His conclusions make sense today.
Shrestha, Aditya Man. Bleeding Mountains of Nepal. IUniverse, 2001. The publisher’s description says it best: “The whole book is a document of how the country is being fleeced, milked and wrenched at all times by the insiders, outsiders, donor agencies and the NGOs. It speaks of Nepal and its teeming millions squirming below the poverty line, forever exploited. It is a story of Nepal’s failed development of the last fifty years, the tears behind the smile; the smile that does not reach the eyes.”
____. Wrong We Do Right We Don’t. Ekta Books, 2005. Pre-republic account of misappropriations, abuses of power, and styles of corruption in Nepal and the challenges that lie ahead.
Coburn, Broughton. Nepali Aama: Portrait of a Nepalese Hill Woman. Chico, Calif.: Moon, 1991. A sensitive look at life in a Gurung village, told by an old woman.
Downs, Hugh R. Rhythms of a Himalayan Village. New York: Harper & Row, 1980. A photo documentary of a Sherpa village in Solu—a most helpful book for understanding Mani-rimdu and how Sherpas may view their land.
Jefferies, Margaret, and Margaret Clarbrough. Sagarmatha, Mother of the Universe: The Story of Mount Everest National Park. Mountaineers Books, 1991. Information on the Khumbu.
Klatzel, Frances. Gaiety of Spirit—the Sherpas of Everest, Mera Publications, 2009. Kathmandu, Nepal
Messerschmidt, Don. Muktinath: Himalayan Pilgrimage, a Cultural & Historical Guide. Kathmandu: Sayahogi Press, 1992. A glimpse of the importance of these trekker destinations to people of South Asia.
Messerschmidt, L., F. Klatzel, et al. Stories and customs of Manang: as told by the lamas and elders of Manang. Kathmandu, Mera Publications, 2004.
Rogers, Clint. Secrets of Manang: The Story Behind the Phenomenal Rise of Nepal’s Famed Business Community. Mandala, 2004. Historical background and cultural insight of the Manang community and factors responsible for their economic success.
Sakya, Karna. Paradise In Our Backyard: A Blueprint for Nepal. Delhi: Penguin Books India, 2009. Autobiographical details by the founder of Thamel’s landmark Kathmandu Guest House and his ideas on development in Nepal.
Thapa, Manjushri. Mustang Bhot in Fragments. Lalitpur: Himal Books, 1992. What does a Nepali woman who was raised and educated abroad see when she returns to Nepal and works there?
Snellgrove, David. Buddhist Himalaya. Kathmandu: Himalayan Booksellers, 1995. A reprint of the 1957 edition that deals with the Solu–Khumbu region and the Buddhism of Sherpas and of Kathmandu.
Greenwald, Jeff. Shopping for Buddhas. Lonely Planet, 1996. A hilarious look at expatriate life in Kathmandu during the reign of King Birendra.
Khadka, Rajendra S. Travelers’ Tales Nepal: True Stories of Life on the Road. Travelers’ Tales, 2000. Short stories from travels in Nepal, some written by well-known people.
Lall, Kesar. The Newar Merchants in Lhasa. Ratna Pustak Bhandar, 2001. Travel accounts of men who conducted trans-Himalayan trade in a forgotten age without vehicle transport or mobile phones.
Murphy, Dervla. The Waiting Land. Overlook TP, 1990. Dervla traveled to Nepal in the 1960’s and recorded her experiences in Kathmandu and in Pokhara before motor roads reached the lake-city.
Scot, Barbara J. The Violet Shyness of Their Eyes: Notes from Nepal. Corvallis, Ore.: CALYX Books, 2005. An endearing chronicle of the author’s experience volunteering and traveling in Nepal, especially moving are insights into feminine issues.
Scott, J., and J. Robertson. Lost in the Himalayas. Lothian Books, 1994. What it might be like if you wander off the trail alone in the winter near Gosainkund and wait forty-three days for rescue.
Snellgrove, David. Himalayan Pilgrimage. Shambhala, 1988. A chronicle of travel through north-central and northwestern Nepal in the 1950s. Though scholars question his observations about hill regions, his wide range of interests and acute powers of observation make for fascinating reading.
Banerjee, Partha S. Trekking in Nepal, Annapurna. Milestone Books, 2007. General descriptions of main routes described on a day-by-day basis (but limited information on side and alternate routes) with photos and section-specific maps as well as a regional foldout map.
____. Trekking in Nepal, Everest. Milestone Books, 2009. Also includes a DVD of the Khumbu area.
____. Trekking in Nepal, Langtang. Milestone Books, 2009.
Boustead, Robin. The Great Himalaya Trail, A Pictorial Guide. Kathmandu: Himalayan Map House, 2009. A beautiful photojournal (including maps) of the Nepal portion of a walk along the spine of the Himalaya.
Burbank, Jon. Culture Shock: Nepal—A Guide to Customs and Etiquitte. Bravo Limited, 2000. Those who come to work in Nepal would do well to read this book prior to arriving.
Hawley, Elizabeth, The Himalayan Database: The Expedition Archives of Elizabeth Hawley, on CD (see also a website set up by Richard Salisbury, www.HimalayanDatabase.com). American Alpine Club, 2004.
Knowles, Peter, and Dave Allardice. White Water Nepal: A Rivers Guidebook for Rafting and Kayaking. Menasha Ridge, 1997.
Mayhew, Bradley, and Joe Bindloss. Trekking in the Nepal Himalaya. Victoria, Australia: Lonely Planet, 2009. Treks with general route descriptions on a day-by-day basis.
McGuinness, Jamie. Trekking in the Everest Region. 5th ed. Surrey, U.K.: Trailblazer Publications, 2009. A thorough guide to the area with detailed, hand-drawn route maps and several suggestions for getting off the beaten path. Written by a longtime denizen of the Himalaya.
O’Connor, Bill. The Trekking Peaks of Nepal. Seattle: Cloudcap Press, 1989. A climbing guide to the original eighteen “trekking” summits. (Since 2002, the Nepalese government has specified an additional fifteen “trekking peaks.”)
Reynolds, Kev. Annapurna: A Trekker’s Guide. Milnthorpe, Cumbria, U.K.: Cicerone Press, 2004. A prolific series of guidebooks by this author.
____. Everest: A Trekker’s Guide. Cicerone Press, 2006.
Smith, Colin. Twenty Questions (and Answers) about Butterflies. Kathmandu: Modern Printing Press, 2007. A brief sketch with photographs by an expatriate resident of Pokhara since the 1960s. Colin’s interest in butterflies began as a hobby and blossomed into a full-time activity. He set up the butterfly collection now housed at the Annapurna Museum on the Prithvi Narayan Campus in Pokhara. Copies of this book are available at the International Mountaineering Museum in Pokhara as well as booksellers in tourist areas. Colin also leads groups on butterfly tours (www.butterflytreksnepal.com).
Thomas, Bryn. Trekking in the Annapurna Region. Surrey, U.K.: Trailblazer Publications, 2005. An informative guide to the area and lodges with detailed route maps.
Bezruchka, Stephen. Altitude Illness: Prevention and Treatment. Seattle: The Mountaineers, 2005. Another slim volume to carry with details on understanding and coping with problems at altitude.
____. The Pocket Doctor: Your Ticket to Good Health while Traveling. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 1999. Another inexpensive, small, carry-along book to help you prepare for and deal with health problems while traveling.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009. “CDC Health information for international travel 2010.” From www.cdc.gov/travel/click on yellow book. This is updated every two years and full of useful information.
Weiss, Eric. Wilderness 911. Seattle: The Mountaineers Books, 2007. A comprehensive guide to medical care in the outdoors.
Everest: 50 Years on the Mountain, 2003. National Geographic.
Everest (IMAX format), 2001. Directed by David Breashears, Greg MacGillivray, and Stephen Judson. Documents, with breathtaking footage, what is involved in climbing Everest. Filmed in 1996 at the same time as a tragedy unfolded on the mountain, and includes some of the rescue operation.
Himalaya, 1999. Directed by Eric Valli. Filmed in scenic Dolpo, a drama about generational struggles and yak caravans in the Himalaya.
NOVA: Lost Treasure of Tibet, 2003. Public Broadcasting System (PBS). Documentary about the technical and cultural challenges of restoring the inside of a monastery in Upper Mustang.
The People’s Nepal, 2010. Jim Wills. Documentary on the decade-long civil war of Nepal, the dismantling of royal rule, and the emergence of democracy.
Secrets of Shangri-La: Quest for Sacred Caves, 2010. Pete Athans, PBS. Exploring caves in Mustang, and discovering ancient manuscripts and artwork as well as human remains.
Trailblazing: The Women of Nepal’s Trekking Industry, 2005. Lisa Hoffe. Documents the pioneering spirit and determination of the fledgling few female trekking guides working in a male-dominated adventure tourism industry and a conservative mountain culture. (www.trailblazing.ca)
Blindsight, 2006. Directed by Lucy Walker. A film documenting the true adventure of the attempted ascent of Lhakpa-Ri peak (7045 m) by a group of six Tibetan teens who were societal outcasts due to cultural perceptions about blindness.
Kundun (“Presence”), 1997. Directed by Martin Scorsese. A film that provides insight into Tibetan Buddhism.
Lost Horizon, 1937. Directed by Frank Capra, based on a book by James Hilton set in the Himalaya.
Michael Palin-Himalaya, 2005. Travels through Himalayan countries with brief coverage of Nepal’s insurgency and a visit to Everest base camp.