Summer in Nepal has a lot more to offer than just beautiful weather. There are a host of activities to indulge and places to discover. Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or a longer escape, we have come with a list of places to explore and satiate your summer-time holiday passion:
Kathmandu
Kathmandu, the nerve-center of Nepal, flaunts rich history and vibrant culture in every possible nook and cranny establishing it as a city of assortments and contradictions. This largest metropolis carries great significance for its intriguing historic-cultural heritage, century old temples, unique architecture, fascinating history and warm people.
Bhaktapur
Known as the city of medieval art, Bhaktapur bursts with temples, pagodas and ornate pools. Formerly known as ‘Bhadgaon’ or ‘Khowpa’ in Newari meaning ‘City of Devotees’, Bhaktapur is filled with monuments, carved wooden columns, palaces and temples with elaborate carvings, gilded roofs and open courtyards. The city is dotted with pagodas and religious shrines flaunting rich history and vibrant culture in every nook and cranny, making it a living heritage.
Nagarkot
Located 32 kilometers east of Kathmandu, Nagarkot is the premiere Hill Station on the Kathmandu Valley Rim. Nagarkot is renowned for its spectacular views of the sunrise and the lofty Himalayas. From any clear point on the ridge, you can take in a panorama, from Dhaulagiri in the west to Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga in the east. With an elevation of 2,195 meters, Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Valley and is described by visitors as a place whose beauty endures year round.
Nuwakot
Formerly a royal base, Nuwakot village – which gives its name to the wider district – about 75 kilometres north of Kathmandu along a serpentine highway, is far from Nepal’s tourism hotspots and chronicles the country’s past. The monarchy’s legacy, and those of earlier dynasties, can be seen in the monumental squares of the Kathmandu Valley and fortresses such as the Nuwakot Durbar – the seven-storey palace that is the area’s piece de resistance.
Bandipur
Draped like a scarf along a high ridge above Dumre, Bandipur is a living museum of Newari culture. Once a commercial centre along the trade route to Tibet, the hilltop town not only overlooks the incredible expanse of the Marshyangdi river valley, but also offers a breathtaking sweep of the Himalayan range. With its glorious 18th century architecture, absence of motorized vehicles and restaurant tables set out on the bazaar, it has a distinct European feel.
Pokhara
Peaceful Pokhara has a prime position beside a deep green lake, nestling among forested hills with a picture-postcard backdrop of gleaming Himalayan peaks. Its pristine air, spectacular backdrop of snowy peaks, serene lakes and surrounding greenery make it ‘the jewel in the Himalaya’, a place of remarkable natural beauty. The beauty of the valley is enhanced by its lakes — Phewa, Begnas,and Rupa, which have their source in the glacial region of the Annapurnas.
Ilam
Located at the foothills of Mount Kanchenjunga, Ilam is a small hilly town with pristine landscapes of sloped tea gardens, thick natural forests, holy sites and unique culture. Ilam offers an excellent getaway from city life for romantic sunrise and sunset, a brisk walk in the tea garden, tranquil picnic and sightseeing spots, short treks along gentle slopes or a trudge into the nearby woods.
