The small Himalayan country Nepal is one of the most sought after destinations for mountain lovers. Kathmadu, being the capital, is the major entry point to Nepal. Of late, the city has become crowded and polluted with lots of vehicles and traffic jam all around the day. So if you want to chill out in nature and avoid the city, you can head straight towards Nagarkot.
Nagarkot is a laidback and serene destination about 32 km from Kathmandu and has the reputation of being the best place to see the Himalayan ranges from the balcony of your hotel. Infact, most of the hotels in Nagarkot are lined along a ridge thus offering one of the best views of the Himalayan ranges like Annapurna, Manslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Everest and Numbur.
What can be more rewarding than sitting in the balcony with a cup of steaming tea and looking out at the now clad Himalayan ranges? It is indeed a heaven at Nagarkot and its contrast from Kathmandu is palpable. You will understand this as soon as you start moving away from the city. The landscape changes dramatically, the concrete jungle giving way to green mountains and quaint villages. This is undoubtedly one of the best places to spend if you want to stay away from noise and crowd.
Things to do at Nagarkot
Well, there are not much activities centred on Nagarkot. This is a place to simply relax and enjoy the nature. The view of the mountains are so majestic that you will simply spend time looking at them. For the more active ones, there are numerous hiking trails to the different villages.
Relax and enjoy the nature
This is the best thing to do at Nagarkot. As it is so much closer to the Himalayan ranges, you will get great views of the snow clad ranges from the hotels and most restaurants, as long as the day is clear. You can simply sit around with a book and enjoy the mountain views and contemplate your life.
Go for hiking
If you are looking for hiking opportunities, there are a few in Nagarkot. The Panoramic Trail is the most popular one which is actually a gigantic circuit around the whole place. At the start of the trail, there is a board that says “Entrance to the nature Walk”. You can do the entire trail or a part of it.
You can also go hiking in the nearby villages and explore these quaint places. The people are very friendly and will welcome you warmly.
Hike up to Nagarkot View Tower
You will get some great panoramic view of the region from the Nagarkot View Tower. On a clear day, you will see all the great peaks of Nepal. The hike to the View Tower is not very difficult, but the rewards are many. There is an entrance fee of 350 nepali rupees to the View Tower. This is also the place from where you can see awesome sunrise.
Visit Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is one of the ancient cities of Nepal. The other two were Kathmandu and Patan (also known as Lalitpur). The Bhaktapur durbar Square has some very beautiful temples and architecture. Bhaktapur is only 12 km from Nagarkot and you can explore this region while staying at Nagarkot. Local buses are available from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur. But be prepared for a bumpy ride. The local buses are also usually very crowded. You can also hire a car for Bhaktapur and rest of Kathmandu sightseeing.
How to reach Nagarkot
From Kathmandu, the best way to reach Nagarkot is to hire a car. It will take about 2500 Nepali rupees for a one way trip to Nagarkot. There are local buses available also, but you have to change buses to reach there. You have to take a local bus from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur and then another local bus to Nagarkot. If you have luggage, then travelling in this local buses can be a bit of pain.
Places to stay
There are a number of hotels in Nagarkot of various range and budget.
Best Time to visit
October to April is the best time to visit Nagarkot. During this time, the weather remains clear and you will get some great views of the mountains.
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