Nearby Locations - Kathmandu

Several places around Kathmandu are of tourist interest. Tours may be arranged by local tour organizers, who have scheduled tours for the weekends. Longer tours may be organized as per need of the tourists. Some places of tourist interest around Kathmandu are Nagarkot is a picturesque village located 30 kms from Kathmandu, is an ideal weekend getaway for those who love to be in the mountains, in quiet villages. Nagarkot offers stunning views of the Himalayas, of the ranges from Dhulagiri in the west to the Kanchenjunga in the East, past Mt.Everest. Nagarkot, surrounded by terraced hillsides and picturesque farm houses, the hilltop resort is the epitome of an idyllic escape. Short hiking options abound

Dhulikhel at 1440m. is a small town with a long history. Records show that it has been around for more than 500 years. The artistic skill and urban ethos of its Newar inhabitants have created a place of charm and beauty. Streets lined with bare-brick houses, carved wooden windows, sloping title roofs, pagoda temples and sacred statues. There are many vintage points in Dhulikhel offering a panorama of the Himalaya that will leave one spellbound. Looking out over low hills and valleys, the mountains rise up in an extended arc stretching from the far left to the far right. More than 20 Himalayan Peaks can be seen in all their glory. Early morning sunrise exhibits spectacular beauty as the first rays of the sun hit the summits and changes colors. Sunset views are equally mesmerizing.

Bhaktapur lies about 14 Km east of Kathmandu at a height of 1400m, has a fine blend of culture and religion. The places of interest are Durbar Square which is famous for the. innumerable temples and other architectural show pieces like the Lion Gate, the statue of king Bhupatindra Malla, the picture Gallery, the Golden Gate, the Palace of 55 Windows and Bell of Barking Dogs dots the landscape here. The Golden Gate was built by King Ranjit Mall.The Gate is a masterpiece in repose art and one of the most beautiful and richly carved specimens of its kind in the world.

Dattatreya Square derives its name from the Dattatreya Temple dedicated to the trinity of Hindu deities Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiva). The temple is said to have been built from a single tree in 1427 AD.

Lumbini is the birthplace of Gautam Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. This nativity site, identified by the Ashokan Pillar, erected by emperor Ashoka, to commemorate the birth place of Buddha, the Lumbini grove. The pillar was erected over 2200 years ago, making Lumbini the quintessential Buddhist heritage site.

Lalitpur is the city of fine arts. Situated some 5 kms south-east of Kathmandu, this ancient city is full of history and heritage, exemplified by Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments. The important tourist attractions of Patan are Durbar Square is listed as a world heritage site, the former royal palace situated in the heart of the city is like its counterpart in Kathmandu.

Mahaboudha: Just a few yards east to the Patan Durbar square lies this Buddhist monument, which is an excellent example of terra-cotta art form.

Hiarnya Verna Mahavihar: This three storey golden pagoda of Lokeshwar (Buddha) is located inside Kwabadehal.

Pokhara is a resort city of remarkable beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificent summit of Machhepuchhare rising behind it create an ambience of peace and magic. Clearly the most stunning of Pokhara’s sights is the spectacular panorama of the Annapurna range which forms its backdrop. The Annapurna massif includes Annapurna I to IV and Annapurna south. Although the highest among them is Annapurna I (8,091m.), it is Machhepuchhare (6,977m.) which dominates all others in this area.

Phewa Lake: The second largest lake in the Kingdom roughly measuring 1.5 by 4km, is the center of all attractions in Pokhara. It is the largest and most enchanting of the three lakes that add to the beauty of the resort town. The eastern shore, popularly known as Lakeside or Baidam, is the favorite home base for travelers and is where most of the hotels, restaurants and handicrafts shops are located.

Tansen: This pristine hill-town of Nepal is no less than a 'Jewel of the nature' offering amazing views of the Himalayas - from Dhaulagiri in the west to Gaurishanker in the north-east. A leisurely walk in the countryside and one is at the banks of the Kali Gandaki River, the Majestic Ranighat Palace. Situated at an altitude of 1343 m. Tansen - the most popular summer resort in western Nepal is just 6-7 hrs from Pokhara.

Namche: Situated on the lap of Khumbu Himal, Namche is the main Sherpa settlement and trekking center in the Everest National Park. It is about 240 km from Kathmandu and is generally associated with the Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest), the highest peak in the world, providing entrance to the Everest region. Sherpa homes have turned into lodges to play host to serious mountaineers as well as pleasure hunters.

Chitwan National Park is situated in southwestern Nepal and covers 932 square kms. This is Nepal's first famous national park for the wildlife safaris. One can see wild elephant, white footed gaur, leopards, wild boar, sloth bear and several species of deer including the spotted, barking, and sambar and hog deer. It is the home of the one-horned rhinoceros and the largest populations of the exclusive and rare Royal Bengal tigers. The park hosts 450 species of birds. In Chitwan there are many hotels inside and outside the park. A usual visitor spends 2 nights and 3 days, but it is also possible to stay longer if one desires . Inside the park a visitor can have a variety of activities like canoe trip on the Rapti river, bird watching for the bird watchers .It is a Paradise Island with over 450 species of exotic birds of domestic as well as migratory birds. Elephant riding, Elephant bathing, Jungle drive on a four wheeled vehicle to the interior of the Jungle may be arranged.

Package Tours are available with various Tour operators. It is advisable to choose Government recognized tour operators.

Package Tours
The Land of Fishtail - 1/2 Nights Package tour to Pokhara
Jungle Safari- 2 Nights at Royal Chitwan National Park
1/2 Nights tour to Nagarkot, Dhulikhel and Jomsom
4 Days 3 Nights Exclusive Kathmandu Package
8 Days 7 Nights the Bonanza Tour
8 Days 7 Nights Package the Mystical Himalayan Tour.