Saturday 20th April 2024
Located at an elevation of 7,200 feet on the northern fringes of the Kathmandu Valley, Nagarkot is a very popular hilltop destination in an idyllic setting surrounded by serene pine forests and charming villages with magnificent views of the majestic Himalayas.
Nagarkot, which earlier served as the summer retreat for Bhaktapur Kingdom’s royal family, presents a relaxing weekend getaway for people from the frenetic-paced Kathmandu.
With a refreshing landscape and invigorating atmosphere, Nagarkot provides tourists with an amazing travel experience throughout the year, with the months from March to May being ideal for hiking and other activities.
Tourists to Nagarkot are assured of the best panoramic views of eight of the thirteen Himalayan peaks, which include the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Jugal, Rolwaling, Everest and Numbur ranges.
The classical beauty of the green valleys ensconced among the snow-clad mountains is a marvelous sight to behold.
The long winding roads and beautiful little cottages in the midst of lush green fields provide a quaint rustic feel to the picturesque place.
Nagarkot provides several options such as hiking, rock climbing, birdwatching, pony riding, mountain biking and paragliding for nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts to unwind.
Some of the popular biking and hiking trails from Nagarkot include the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail to Dhulikhel, the Changu Narayan trail, Sankhu trail and Sundarijal trail.
Mountain bikes costing around Rs 600 per hour can be hired from the Nagarkot Naldum Tourism Development Committee.
A number of boarding and dining options are available for all types of travelers, including budget, midrange and top end ranging from less than USD 50 per day to more than USD 150 per day. The top choices of foreign tourists to Nagarkot are Hotel Country Villa, Mystic Mountain, Club Himalaya Resort, Fort Resort and Cafe du Mont.
Changu Narayan, Nepal’s oldest temple and a UNESCO heritage site is situated at a short distance from Nagarkot and has one of the richest artistic structures with several 5th century Nepalese art masterpieces adorning the pagoda style edifice.
The Nagarkot View Tower provides a 360-degree view of the Himalayas, with tourists making an hour long early morning hike to the location to see the changing colors of the snow as the first rays of the rising sun fall on the mountains.
The Jahlapa Devi Temple and Muhan Waterfalls are other places of interest in the vicinity of Nagarkot.
The scenic natural landscapes, blissful climate, and warmth and hospitality of the locals make Nagarkot an ideal tourist paradise and honeymoon destination.
Do not miss including Nagarkot while planning your travel itinerary to Nepal!
Leave a Reply