See more in Nepal!
Ordinary Nepal tours visiting Katmandu, Chitwan National Park, Pokhara and the mountain valley of Kali Gandika or trekking in the most popular ranges such as Everest or Annapurna or Langtang are really highly recommendable. You can find a list of Nepal's most popular travel destinations here... But for those who want to see more than what most others have on their itinerary or who like to avoid the crowds or who are looking for something new on their second visit to Nepal, there are some additions or alternatives that really make a difference in the sense that they allow a travel experience that is distinct and undisturbed. For those interested in culture or trekking in remote areas, we recommend some less known villages around Kathmandu and the mountain ranges in the far east and far west of Nepal. The Apex Nepal team can support you in making dreams of truly extraordinary travel experiences coming true.
Links to highlights
Top 20 Hidden Gems of Nepal - Hitlist of Recommendations
nature & wildlifeBardia National Park
Shukla Pantha Siddha Gufa Ilam Khaptad National Park Sisneri |
trekking areasShey Phoksundo Lake
Api Base Camp Upper Dolpo Makalu Kanchenjunga |
village cultureChitlang Village
Ghalegaun Balthali Chepang Hills |
heritage attractionsLo Mantang
Kirtipur Bungamati & Khokana Kailashnath Mahadev Statue Janakpur Dham |
Top 20 less-known Attractions - Our hitlist
We sorted by priority-preferences: Places of interest we consider to be more attractive appear higher-ranked in our top 20 list. Sure, every such list is somewhat arbitrary. But a debatable ranking is better than no grading of recommendations at all, isn't it?
1. Bardia National Park - Nepal's remote tiger habitat
Exploring Bardia National Park in the far west of Nepal is a way to experience the wildlife of the lowlands almost undisturbed by mass tourism. The main attraction of Bardia is the tiger population. Chances to observe tigers during a two-days safari are around 50% or higher. In contrast to most national parks in neigbouring India, Bardia in Nepal can be explored on hikes. Even full-day jungle walks are available. Apart from tigers, also wild elephants and rhinos ocur in the park. However, they are equally difficult to spot. A special attraction are the South Asian river dolphins (Platanista gangetica), an endangered freshwater dolphin species, though the population in the Karnali river in Bardia has declined dramatically in recent years. Most hotels and guesthouses for Bardia safaris are based in and around Thakurdwara. More...
2. Lo Mantang - Upper Mustang hidden behind the mountains
Upper Mustang in the trans-Himalayan region is geographically and culturally linguistically very similar to neighbouring Tibet. A special permission which is not cheap is required to visit this almost arid region and it can only be explored on foot or by motorbike or jeep, whereas Lower Mustang around Jomson and Muktinath is easy to treach. Lo Manthang is the major municipality in the northern part of the Mustang District. A spectacular attraction at a cliff in an elevation of more than 4000 m is a group of caves decorated with ancient Buddhist paintings from around the 13th century. Chungsi cave is even older and is believed to have been a shelter of Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche), who introduced Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century. Tsarang village has an ancient stupa and a palace and a monastery with murals.
3. Shukla Pantha - Nepal's remotest wildlife reserve
Shukla Phanta is a national park in the Terai lowlands at the westernmost point of Nepal, the border with India marking the western and southern boundary of the park. The Syali River forms part of the eastern boundary. Covering around 300 km2, Shukla Phanta is one of the smaller national parks. It's rich in wetlands and open grassland. Actually, it's one of the best-conserved examples of floodplain grassland, which is called phantas in the Terai region. Around 700 species of flora occur in the park. All big five animals of South Asia inhabit the park, namely Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, sloth bear, and one-horned rhino. Shukla Phanta is a paradise for bird lovers in particular, as 423 bird species have been recorded. In particulat, the park houses the highest population of Bengal floricans in Nepal.
4. Shey Phoksundo Lake - deep cut into the mountains
Covering more than 3,500 km2 in the Dolpa region, Shey Phoksundo is the largest national park in Nepal. The centerpiece of the very scenic mountain park, the highest point of which is a peak of 6,883 m, is the turquoise-colourd Phoksundo Lake at an elevation of 3,660 m above sea level. The three arms of the lake are fjord-like cut into the mountains and are surrounded by glaciers. Phoksundo Lake covers almost 500 hectares. Near its outlet is the 167 m tall Phoksundo waterfall, also known as Suligad Falls. The park contains many religious sites, the most famous one being Shey Gompa from the 11th century. The lifestyle of the villagers in the park is Tibetan, they practice the archaic religion known as Bon, which has only recently been recognized as a branch of Buddhism by the other Tibetan schools of Buddhism.
5. Chitlang Village - eco-tourism destination at the edge of Kathmandu Valley
Chitlang, 27 km to the southwest of Kathmandu, is situated at an elevation of 1,750 m on a ridge of the Mahabharat Range. It can be reached via a cable car. The village inhabited by around 8,000 people, mainly from the Newar and Tamang ethnicities. Chitwang has become a destination for those travelers interested in village life and to taste organic and locally grown food. In particular, Chitlang is famous for goat cheese introduced only recently by a local who had studied the art of making cheese in France. Nepal’s first goat cheese factory can be visited. Apart from a few hotels and resorts such as Chitlang Organic Village Resort, which also provides tents, there are homestays available in Chitlang, controlled by a Home Stay Association. Locals from the cities come on weekends in groups to go camping.
6. Api Base Camp - Nepal's lonesome westernmost mountains
With 7,132 m, Mount Api in the extreme northwest corner of Nepal is the highest mountain in the Api Nampa Conservation Area is the remotest and one of the least frequented trekking regions of the country. Hindu and Buddhist cultures along the Api Base Camp Trek are almost untouched by tourism. Camping equipment is required. The trek traversing the Mahakali Valley takes the same trail up and down. Only group trekking is allowed in this remote area. The 9 to 12 days trek is challenging due to long daily stages and steep trails at the passes. The trail starts at Latinath or Gokuleshwor, which is in one and a half or two days driving distance from Dhangadhi, the latter can be reached by flight from Kathmandu or by bus from Delhi. Attractions of Dhangadhi include Jokhar Lake, a botanica garden and an aircraft museum.
7. Upper Dolpo - Tibetan culture in the trans-Himalayan region of Nepal
Dolpo is a district behind the Himalayas, located to the north of Dhaulagiri. Near Shey Gompa is the holy Crystal Mountain, the "young brother" of Tibet's Mount Kailash. Upper Dolpo is an arid area with a Tibetan-Buddhist culture, while Lower Dolpo contains a mix of Buddhist and Hindu villages and also has dense forests. Usually, trekking to Upper Dolpo includes crossing Lower Dolpo and the Phoksundo National Park. The combined Lower and Upper Dolpo Trek with Phoksundo Lake takes between 18 and 21 days from and to Juphal. The special permit for Upper Dolpo is expensive and trekking in this remote area requires camping equipment. Three passes of more than 5000 m have to be crossed. In contrast to most other treks, Upper Dolpo in the trans-Himalayan region is best to do in the summer monsoon season.
8. Siddha Gufa - Nepal's largest dripstone cave
Siddha Gufa near Bandipur is the largest cave in Nepal, almost half a kilometer deep. Actually, it's one of the largest in South Asia, because the subcontinent is not rich in limestone caves The largest room measures 50 m in height. Some parts of the cave are under water. Like most caves in Asia, Siddha Gufa is inhabited be numerous bats. The cave can only be visited with a guide, who will also provide the torch, but it's better to have own torches additionally. Be aware, that this is not a well-developed show cave, it's not easy to walk around here and its slippery. Some damage in the cave is the result of climbing adventures. The hike to the Siddha Cave takes 90 minutes each way. A shorter trail of only 45 minutes starts in Bimalnagar at the Prithvi Highway from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
9. Kirtipur - old town on a ridge
Among Kathmandu Valley's historical cities with narrow winding alleys, Kirtipur, the "town of glory", is the least touristy and least busy one. Just 9 km southwest of Kathmandu, the town is nested on the slopes and the summit of a steep ridge. A small plateau in between two hills chas the pagoda-style temple Bagh Bhairab Temple, which is is dedicated Shiva in his most terrifying form of an angry tiger. The present three-storeyed temple was built already in the 16th or 17th century. It is situated in a picturesque courtyard with rest houses around it. Another three-storey pagoda is Uma Maheshwar Temple further northeast on the highest point of Kirtipur at an elevation of 1414 m. It's the city's best vantage point. The white dome of the Buddhist Chilancho stupa is on the southwestern hill.
10. Ghalegaun - cultural tourism for sustainable development
Ghalegaun, an eco-tourism destination for sustainable development, is situated at the Annapurna Circuit only 30 km east of Pokhara, as the crow flies, but 120 km by road. The scenic village on a 2,070 m high hill has panoramic views to the mountain ranges of Annapurna and Manaslu. Ghalegaun is known as South Asia’s model tourism village, supported by the SAARC, which operates the Village Tourism Museum. Homestays in Ghalegaun allow to come into close contact with locals of the Ghale Gurung ethnic group. Men of this former warrior tribe still use to serve in armies of Nepal and India and the UK. Another tradition is that of hospitality. Of the more than a hundred households 25% provide accommodation for travelers. The homes are well furnished with local products and have clean washrooms.
11. Makalu - the less-visited mountains east east of Everest
The 8,481 m high Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world. It's located only 20 km to the southwest of Mount Everest, as the crow flies. However, the trekking region in the valleys to the south of Makalu is distinct from that of the Everest region. The Makalu Base Camp is a less-frequented route. Treks usually start at Chichila, which is within a few driving hours distance from Tumlingtar airport. The trek passes rhododendron forests and rare pristine cloud forest, it offers views to the Everest from an uncommon angle, the so-called Kangshung face of the world's largest mountain. In comparison to the Everest region, the Makalu region has a higher density of trails, particularly around the small Sherpa village of Dobatak, which is close to the sacred Khembalung cave.
12. Kanchenjunga - world's third-highest mountain, at Indian border
The 8,586 m high Kangchenjunga is the world's third highest peak. The Kanchenjunga Himal is the easternmost part of Nepal's mountains. The ridge runs mainly north-south and marks the border to India's Sikkim state, five peaks are exactly on the border. Kanchenjunga is the highest peak of India and was erroneously considered to be the world's highest mountain until 1849. Because of its remote location and a 3-weeks duration of Base Camp Trek, it's one of the least visited areas of Nepal. Kanchenjunga Conservation Area is inhabited by Rai and Limbu people, their culture has remained untouched. On the trek you can see two other eight-thousanders, namely Mount Everest and Mount Makalu. The Kanchenjunga Base Camp Trek starts and ends at Taplejung close to Nepal's tea region nown asIlam. The next airport is at Badrapur.
13. Ilam - Nepal's little sister of Darjeeling
Ilam is Nepal's most important tea district. Situated in the far east, it borders India' West Bengal state. Elevations in Ilam district range between 140 m to 3,636 m above sea level. Whereas the lower-cost lowland tea accounts fo more than 90% of the domestic consumption, the highland tea, produced in altitudes between 1,000 and 2,000 m, is exported to western countries. Growers plant tea bushes in the same kind of fields like in Darjeeling, to which the eastern districts of Nepal have some topographical similarity. Like Darjeeling, Ilam has four flushes of tea. Cardamom and potatoes are among the other major crops. Apart from plantations, Ilam District has pristine forests and is rich in cultural diversity. The district capital Ilam Bazaar is a hill town, which has one of Nepal's few viewing tower close-by.
14. Bungamati & Khokana - charming temple towns famous for Newari culture
Bungamati and Khokana are two medieval village in only 3 km distance from each other and around 10 km south of Kathmandu. Like in the case of most other historical settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, the Newar people form the majority of the population. The first stele of the King Amshuverma of the Licchavi dynasty was found in Bungamati, dated to 605 AD. The historical building fabric is minly from the 18th and 19th century. Bungamati's emblematic main temple is dedicated to Machhindranath (Matsyendranath), one of the most venerated deities of the Kathmandu Valley. This rain god is believed to have introduced paddy cultivation in the Kathmandu Valley out of compassion for the people. Indeed, Bungamati is famous for its by intensely green paddy fields. The god is worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists alike the introduction of paddy-rice plantations in the valley. His beautiful ancient temple in the classical Shikhara style completely collapsed during the 2015 earthquake. The Karyabinayak Temple is dedicated to Lord Ganesh. Khokana, inhabited by around 5000 people, is only 30 minutes walking distance from Bungamati. The small village has narrow cobbled streets with typical houses in the traditional Newar style. In the middle of the wider main street is a temple dedicated to Shekali Mai, who is a local mother goddess. Among Newar people, Khokana is famous for production of mustard oil. The Rudrayani temple, also known as Shekali Mai Temple, is said to be established by King Amara Malla in 16th century to provide help against epidemics. The three-story pagoda-type Rudrayani Temple has carved balconies covered by fretwork screens. A distinctive feature of this temple is a highly projected inclined lattice work in the second storey. Rudrayani is a manifestation of Goddess Durga. The edifice was damaged but not destroyed by the 2016 earthquake. The nearby rectangular water pond is the setting of a spectacular temple festival, when young men fight for a goat sacrificed by being drowned in the pond.
15. Balthali - perfect rural village as a trek destination
Balathali, also spelt Balthali, is a village in a lush green surrounding in the eastern part of the Kathmandu Valley. The village lies on the southern side of a ridge. On top of the 1600 m high hill is the Balthali Village Resort offering a bird’s eye view of the rice terraces. As the village is not yet touristy, Balathali is a perfect destination for studying village lifestyle and rural culture and enjoying a relaxing hike exploring the paddy cultivation area, as the trail goes through terraced fields. Spring season is perfect to see the bloom of rhododendrons and magnolias. It's also a good birdwatching area. Vistas of the nearby Namobuddha monastery and the Himalaya mountains in a distance are part of the hiking experience. Hiking down to the historical Newari village of Panauti will take about five hours. This walk is recommendable for families with children in particular. The distance to Namobuddha would be three hours on a different trail. Further sacred sites in this region include Indreshwor Mahadev and Bramayani temples. It's also possible to spend a full day in Balthali for exploring the immediate surroundings. Near Balathali is the typical Buddhist village of Danda Gaon. Or a walk to another village named Pada Goan is rewarded with a majestic view of the Himalayan ranges.
16. Kailashnath Mahadev Statue - largest statue of Nepal
The Kailashnath Mahadev Statue stands on a ridge near Sanga, about 20 km east of Kathmandu. Constructed from 2003 till 2010, it's the tallest statue in Nepal, measuring 44 m in height. The Shiva statue is made of steel and concrete, with a bronzen surface. The construction was carried out by an Indian company in cooperation with locals. Since its completion, the statue has attracted large numbers of mostly domestic visitors. Shiva is shown with the right hand raised in Abhaya Musdra and the left hand holding the Trishula, his emblematic trident. The Kailashnath Mahadev Statue is a 7 m taller replica of a Shiva statue erected in Sursagar Lake in the city of Vadodara in India's Gujarat state in 2002. Nepal's version has an even more similar smaller brother on the island of Mauritius, the 33 m tall Mangal Mahadev Statue.
17. Janakpur Dham - Ramayana pilgrimage site honouring the marriage of Rama and Sita
Janakpur Dham, located 225 km southeast of Kathmandu, is the third largest city of the Terai lowlands of Nepal, after Biratnagar and Birgunj. Today's city of Janakpur was founded in the early 18th century. Though archaeological evidence of an ancient city has not yet been found, Janakpur is believed to have been the capital of the Videha kingdom, which already plays a role in the late Vedic literature. In the Ramayana, it's the birthplace of Sita, daughter of King Janak of Videha. Nobody could marry her due to a too demanding engagement challenge of cocking the bow of Shiva, until Rama came to the city and won the contest and thereby the princess. Because the city is the place of their marriage, it became a major Hindu pilgrimage site. The Janaki Mandir, built in 1898, is one of the largest Hindu temples of Nepal.
18. Khaptad National Park - established on the initiative of a saint
Khaptad National Park in the far west of Nepal was established in 1982 on the initiative of the hermit Swami Sachchidananda. After acting as a spiritual teacher in various mountainous regions of Nepal including Ilam in the far east, he finally settled down in Triveni in the Khaptad valley in the 1940s, after which he was named Khaptad Baba. After his death in 1996, allegedly at the age of 130, his hermitage known as Khaptad Baba Ashram and a stone statue have remained in the park, attracting Hindu pilgrims worshipping Shiva particularly on the full moon days of July–August. The park covers an area of 225 km2 at elevations from 1,400 m to 3,300 m. The valley is rich in moorland and riverine areas and the higher regions have rhododendron and oak forests. Iconic animals of the park are leopards and Himalayan black bears.
19. Chepang Hills - visiting a minority group truly off the beaten track
The trekking routes Nepal is most famous for are those in the highlands, of course. But for travelers interested in experiencing the culture of local people, the Terai lowlands and nearby hills are worth considering multi-day trekking, too. Near Chitwan National Park are the Chepang Hills. Trekking in this area is still a way of traveling that allowy to experience authentic hospitality of locals, although the so-called Chepang Hill Trek crossing the homeland of the minority of the same name was also established to generate some additional income for generating an additional source of income for the Chepang community. The Chepang are an egalitarian society, without castes and gender discrimination. As they were semi-nomads and therefore illiteracy gas been widespread among them, the Cenpang are often called the poorest of Nepal's poor. Most of them are farmers now, but they continue to rely on the forest as a source of food.
20. Sisneri - Natural Swimming Pool
Sisneri Village is located 37 km south-southeast of Kathmandu by road, is well-known among locals for it emerald-green and crystal clear natural swimming pool surrounded by large rocks, which attract cliff jumpers. The water is clear enough to see all details of the ground and fish as well. Apart from the rather deep main pool, there are several other pools within a few minutes walking distance, some of them safe for children. Though not far from famous places, Sisneri in Makwanpur District is difficult to reach by public transport only and the road condition is poor. This is why this charming place is still not crowded with tourists, though many locals from Kathmandu use to enjoy a weekend at the pond. For visitors there are small stalls available near the pool to serve visitors. To enter the pool, visitors have to pay a small fee.
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