Nepal for Trekking and Wildlife and Cultural Tours
Undisputably, Nepal is the world's mountaineering destination number one. Arguably, it's also the world's best trekking destination. Mountain Treks and Hillcountry Hikes are available in almost all parts of the country and for each number of days and for various grades of physical fitness. Apart from climbing and trekking, several more mountain adventures are on offer such as white water rafting, canyoning, mountain bikin, sky diving, balooning, ultralight flights. But Nepal is more than mountains. It's rich in ethnicities and cultures and has templesof various religions and historical towns and the lowlands are a paradise for wildlife entusiasts. Relaxing holiday activities such as Yoga and Meditation and Ayurveda are in offer, too. Our list of 20 top travel destinations tries to represent various regions and various kinds of attractions.
Nepal's Top 20 Travel Destinations sorted by category
cities & templesKathmandu
Pokhara Lumbini Bhaktapur Patan Manakamana Temple |
hills & lowlandsChitwan
Poon Hill Nagarkot Dhulikhel & Namobuddha Bandipur Gorkha Palace Sarangkot |
mountain regionPoon Hill
Annapurna Base Camp Everest Base Camp Manaslu Langtang & Gosaikund |
watersGokyo Lakes
Rupse chhahara Rara Lake |
Top 20 Must-Sees of Nepal - 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. Kathmandu - City of Temples
Kathmandu is the capital and, with a population of approximately a million people, also the largest city of Nepal. It's situated in a bowl-shaped valley in the foothills of the Himalayas at an altitude of 1,400 m. Kathmandu was one of three royal cities, along with Patan just to the south and Bhaktapur further west. Most travelers spend some time in Kathmandu for visiting historic attractions, before heading out to the Himalayas or to Chitwan or Lumbini in the lowlands. The highlight of Kathmandu is Durbar Square with the ancient royal palace and several temples. It's one of seven parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Kathmandu Valley. The backpacker Ghetto Thamel is only 1.5 km further north and mars the opposite end of the center of the city. Temples and monuments of varying shapes, sizes, styles, and faiths can be found here. Kathmandu is also home to several museums and art galleries, including the National Museum of Nepal and the Natural History Museum of Nepal. The Buddhist stupas of Swayambunath and Boudnath and Nepal's most important Hindu pilgrimage site, Pashupatinath, are in the immediate surroundings and are also parts of the World Heritage Site.
2. Pokhara - City of Lakes
Pokhara, situated 200 km west of Kathmandu, is Nepal's second largest city. It's the gateway to trekking in the Annapurna massif and also to the Kali Gandaki valley and Mustang in between Annapurna and Manaslu. Pokhara is famous for its lakes and for the views to the mountains. Phewa Lake, 4.6 km long and 2 km wide, is the largest and closest to the town. The southwestern outskirts of Pokhara are at its western shores, where several hotels are located and boats are available for rent. The opposite eastern end of the lake is the river mouth of Pardi Khola in its a natural state as a wetland with sandbanks. An islet in the center of Phewa Lake is the most important religious monument of Pokhara. The Lake Temple, known as Tal Barahi, is a two-story pagoda. Phewa Lake is situated in an altitude of 742 m. It's flanked by two ridges to the north and south, both of which are excellent vantage points. The southern ridge is crowned by the World Peace Pagoda (Biswo Shanti Stupa). Situated in an altitude of 1113 m, the Peace Pagoda has the best views to the lake. There is a hiking path from the town to the top. The northern ridge, just to the west of the city centre of Pokhara, is even more famous for its fews to the Annapurna Range 30 km further north. This is the hill and village known as Sarangkot, see below.
3. Chitwan - Nepal's most famous national park in the lowlands
Chitwan National Park is one of the most famous wildlife areas in South Asia. Second only to Kaziranga National Park in India's Assam State, Chitwan in southern Nepal has one of the largest populations of one-horned Indian rhinos. The national park in the Chitwan Valley, which belongs, to the so-called Inner Terai Vallays of Nepal, covers an area of 932 km². The western border is marked by the Gandak river, also known as Narayani in this area. The northern border of the wildlife park is a tributary, the Rapti River. Most hotels and lodges are located along the northern shores of the Rapti River just outside the park borders. The most important tourist hub being Sauraha. Riverside hotels in Sauraha offer perfekt sunset views to the park. An overnight stay within the park is only permitted at an observation tower. Sauraha is also known for its Tharu culture. A Tharu village and museum and cultural show are popular tourist attractions in Sauraha. For those interested in truly authentic local culture of minority groups, trekking in the Chepang hills of Chitwan District is an option worth considering. The Chepang are an egalitarian society, without castes and gender discrimination. As they were semi-nomads and therefore illiteracy is widespread, the Cenpang are often called the poorest of Nepal's poor. But most of them are farmers now, but they continue to rely on the forest as an important source of food.
4. Lumbini - Birthplace of the Buddha
Lumbini in the Terai lowlands of Nepal is one of the four most revered Buddhist pigrimage sites. Only Bodhgaya at the place of enlightenment in India is of even more significance for Buddhists than Lumbini, which was the birthplace of the Buddha. The ancient site includes a temple that is dated back to the 6th century BC, some say, to the lifetime of the Buddha. But is could also be a sanctuary that predates Buddhism. In the 3rd century BC, the famous Indian Emperor Ashoka erected a column whith an inscription in only a few meters distance from the oldest structures. Remnants of a monastery also date back to that eraly period. Just north of the ancient site, a large garden area was created with the support of the Government of Nepal in recent decades. The area, crossed by a canal as the central north-south axis, is reserved for temples and museums only. Mahayanist The entire Lumbini Garden now spreads in an area of almost 5 km length from north to south and 1.6 km width from east to west. Almost each Buddhist nation and several international Buddhist organizations have created new temples and meditation centers and pilgrim rests in their respective national styles, developing Lumbini into an international centre of Buddhist culture. The temples in the Theravada tradition of Buddhism are situated to the east of the canal, whereas the Mahayana temples are found in the western section.
5. Poon Hill - Vantage Point at one of the most popular treks
Poon Hill in the foothills of the Annapurna Massif is one of the best vantage points in Nepal and therefore the highlight of one of the most popular trekking routes. It's one of the shorter and easier trails but nevertheless a perfect way to enjoy a picturebook mountain panorama. By the way, Poon Hill is one of the very few places in Nepal which has a watchtower. What's special about this hilltop in a moderate altitude of 3210 m is that it overlooks two diferrent massifs of two eight-thousanders at the same time and from a not too far distance, namely the Annapurna Range to the northeast and the Dhaulagiri Range to the north-northwest. Annapurna I (8,091 m) is in only 25 km distance, as the crow flies, Dhaulagiri (Dhaulagiri and) is in 38 km distance. Apart from the two eight-thousanders, several more tall peaks and also glaciers of their respective ranges can be seen from Poon Hill. Trekking to Hill from Pokhara takes 2 or 3 days. Overnight stays are in the village of Ghorepani (2874 m), which has some lodges called hotels and numerous simple guesthouses known as teahouses along trekking routes in Nepal. This is why the Poon Hill Trek is also known as Ghoepani Trek. A climb to the Poon Hill viewpoint can also be included when trekking to the Annapurna Base Camp via Ghorepani.
6. Annapurna Base Camp - amidst snow mountains
The Annapurna Sanctuary, where the Anuradhpaura Base Camp is located in an elavation of 4130 m above sea level, is concealed within the folds of two ridges that project southwards and can only be reached through a narrow valley, where the run-off from the glaciers drains into Modi Khola River. Annapurna Sanctuary is situated in is a high glacial basin, which is like an oval mountain amphitheate, spectacularly surrounded by a ring of the prominent peaks of the Annapurna Massif in close distance, seven of which are seven-thousanders, plus the eight-thouasander Annapurna I (8091 m). The eye-catching Macchapuchare, known as Fishtail Mountain, is only 7 m below 7000 m. The deep-cut valley of Annapurna Sanctuary receives less than 7 hours of sunlight a day. Besides the Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Sanctuary is one of two Nepal's most popular destinations for those travelers who spend one or two weeks for trekking. The treks usually starts at Nayapul or Phedi and first cross villages and terraced paddy fields of the Gurung people and other ethnic groups, then rhodendron forests further uphill. The trail often runs along a ridge, where the south-facing slopes are covered with dense jungles of rhododendron and bamboo and the north-facing slopes have a much drier climate. Along the way to the said narrow entrance passage to the Annapurna Sanctuary, trekkers can enjoy panoramas of both the peaks and the forests with pockets of cultivation at the same time. The best time to see the rhodendron blooming is the northern hemisphere spring, wheres October and November are best for the views. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project has introduced restrictions on number of foreign travelers and particularly the gathering of firewood. Out of respect for traditions of th Gurung people, for whom the Annapurna Sanctuary is sacred, trekkers should refrain from eating meet and eggs.
7. Everest Base Camp - the legendary mountaineering starting point end trekking end point
The southern Everest Base Camp at the Nepali side of the mountain is a campsite that is both an end point of trekking and a starting point of mountaineering expeditions, the latter being used for climbing via the classical route along southeast ridge, which was used by Thenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary for the first Everest ascent, started in April 1953 from a different base camp at a slightly higher altitude. For acclimmatization, today's climbers usually rest a few days at the Everest Base Camp, which is at an elevation of 5,364 m above sea level. The trail from Lukla Airport via the Sherpa capital of Namche is known as Everest Base Camp Trek. With up to 40,000 trekkers annually, it's one of the most popular routes in Nepal. The distance between Lukla Airport and Everest Base Camp is 65 km. It usually takes 8 days to reach the camp, whereas the return can be done within around 4 days. But it's also possible to do the entire trek within only 10 days. A detour of two or three days to the Everest Base Camp can be included in the very famous and rewarding - but also rather tough - Three Passes Trek to Gokyo Lake (see below), though the normal Three Passes round trail does not neccesarily include the detour to the camp. Including Everest Base Camp, the amazing Three Passes Trek will take 16 days up to three weeks, whereas the ordinary Three Passes Trek is managable in only around 14 days. Trekking groups should not go right into the camp, where the mountaineering expeditions are setting up, as this could disturb their preparations or transmit infections. But a view of the camp, of course, is included in Everest Base Camp treks. Because it's the dream destination of every trekker, the entire trekking route and the immediate surroundings of the camp can be touristy. The large visitor numbers along the comparatively few Everest region routes result in a pretty good infrastructure for travelers. Supplies are shipped to lodges in higher regions and to the Everest Base Camp by porters with the help of yaks.
8. Bhaktapur - also called City of Temples
Bhaktapur, also known under the old name Bhadgaon and the Newari name Khwopa, is one of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley. The Malla dynasty, reigning in the valley from around 1200 till 1779, partitioned the territory into three different kingdoms after 1482, namely Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. Actually, though Kathmandu is the most prominent city today, it was Bhaktapur that was the largest of those three Malla kingdoms. The early modern era of the Three Kingdoms was the golden age of Nepalese art and Bhaktapur is regarded to be the best preserved of those royal cities. So not surprisingly, it's one of the greatest treasure chests for lovers of Nepalese art and culture. Apart from the Durbar, which is the ceremonial square in front of the royal palace, Bhaktapur has two more major squares with classical temples that comprise some of the finest religious architecture of Nepal. Traditional craftwork of Bhaktapur first and foremost includes weaving and pottery and woodcarving. The attractions of Bhaktapur are legion and cannot be listed in a short overview. To name a few, we focus on Durbar Square: The Lun Dhwaka, the Golden Gate of the Royal Palace, is the small but shining landmark of Bhaktapur, a masterpiece of repoussé metalwork. The gilded pediment features a Garuda eagle wrestling with Naga serpents. The four-headed and ten-armed goddess Taleju Bhawani was the guardian deity of the Malla kings. To the right of the Golden Gate is the 55 Window Palace. Built on a tall multi-tiered substructure, the Nyatapola, which means "five storeys" in Newari language, is the largest and highest ancient pagoda of Nepal. Another imposing monument at Durbar Square is the Shiva temple known as Bhairava Nath temple, which is of a destinct pagoda type, built on ground level and much wider, whereas the Radhakrishna temple on a tiered pedestal is of the Sikhara type.
9. Patan - Handicraft City of Kathmandu Valley
Patan, also known as Lalitpur or Manigal or Yala, is the third largest city of Nepal. It's located just across the Bagmati river from Kathmandu. Patan is one of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley. Like Kathmandu and Bhaktapur, Patan has a Durbar Square for public events of the royal court, with a royal palace at one side and the square itself full of temples and statues. The Durbar of Patan is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. To the west of the Royal Temple is a series of ancient temples, including the two most imposing specimens of Indian Sikhara-style architecture in Nepal, namely Krisna Mandir on a square groundplan in the north and the octogonal Chasyan Daga in the south of the royal square. Krishna Mandir, built in 1667, is most notable for the stone carvings along the beam above the first and second-floor pillars. The first floor enshrines Krishna, but the second a Lingam symbolising Shiva, and the third Lokeshwor. Thereby, this very elegantly designed pavilion-like edifice integrates three different of the major religious traditions of South Asia, viz. Vishnuism, Shivaism, and Mahayana Buddhism. The Chyasin Dega, also dedicated to Krishna, was built in the 18th century. A noteworthy feature of the ancient architecture of water conduits and stone spouts and tanks known as Jaladroni. The so-called Asoka Stupas mark the cardinal points of the city. Another must-see attraction is the Patan Museum. Patan is famous for its tradition of arts and crafts. It's a great place to purchase jewelry, masks, metal works, and stone carvings. Make sure to buy Buddhist art only from workshops of the local artists and artisans, as souvenir shops mainly sell statues made in China. Patan is also called the city of festival and feast. In May, the four-weeks chariot festival honouring the god Bunga Dyah Jatra, is the longest of the religious celebrations in Patan.
10. Gokyo Lakes - deep blue water best seen from Gokyo Ri at Three Passes Trek
Located at an altitude of up to 5,000 m, the Gokyo Lakes are the world's highest freshwater lakes. They are famous for their crystal clear water and for the intense blue colour of their surface. The lakes are sacred to Hindus and Buddhists alike. They are believed to be the home of a serpent deity known as Nag Devata. Gokyo can be reached within two days from the Sherpa capital of Namche Bazaar by taking the direct route along the river valley of Dudh Koshi, with an overnight stay in Dhole or Machhermo. However, many trekkers prefer the more scenic but also longer and much harder Three Passes Trek along the Bhote Koshi River further west, which then crosses the 5360 m high Renja La Pass to reach the valley of the Gokyo Lakes. This longer route is also managable within two days, with an overnight stay in Maralung. A visit to the area of the Gokyo Lakes usually includes climbing Gokyo Ri, a 5,357 m high peak, which has one of the most stunning views in the Himalayas. It's also the best place for overlooking the deep blue main lake, which is called Gokyo Cho or Dudh Pokhari. Most pictures of this fairytale lake, which is in an altitude of 4737 m above sea level, are taken from the peak. Gokyo Ri can be reached without any mountaneering equipment. The Gokyo Lakes are connected with the standard Everest Base Camp Trek not only by the abovementioned direct route along the Dudh Koshi valley to Namche Bazaar to the south but also by the eastern segment of Three Passes Trek route crossing the 5420 m high Cho La Pass on the way to Dughla to the east, where it reaches the valley of Tsola River. From here, the Thokla pass is just north, on the way to Lobuche and the Everest Base Camp. From Dughla, both the direct up-and-down Everest Base Camp Trek and the round-trail Three Passes Trek run along the Tsola River to Namche Bazaar via Tengboche.
11. Nagarkot - best Himalaya views from the rim of Kathmandu Valley
Nagarkot, 32 km east of Kathmandu, is a hillstation at an altitude 2,195 meters. It was once a summer retreat of the royal family. Nagarkot is situated on a ridge that forms the eastern edge of the basin of the Kathmandu Valley and almost 1500 above the Indrawati river valley to the east. Among the towns and villages around Kathmandu, Nagarkot is the one with the broadest vistas of the Himalayas. In particular, it is known for the sunrise view of the mountains. On clear days, you can see the mountains of the Langtang region in 50 km distance to the north and the Everest region to the east. In a distance of 80 km to the north-northeast, the 7124 m high Holy Mountain Gauri Shankar, sharp and very conspicuous in shape, is the nearest prominent peak. The breast-like Numbur near the famous Lukla Airport of the Everest region is in 100 km distance to the east. Mount Everest can be seen in 120 km distance, but only on very clear days. To the west, even the Annapurna Range in 170 km distance is sometimes visible. Nagarkot also offers a panoramic outlook of the Kathmandu Valley. The hillcountry in the immediate surroundings of Nagarkot is known for the scenic beauty of the rising and falling hills and deep green valleys. It's a very popular region for hiking, the 12 km long Nagarkot Panoramic Hiking Trail being the most popular one. Nagarkot is also well known for paragliding opportunities.
12. Dhulikhel & Namobuddha - hiking to a Buddhist pilgrimage site
Namobuddha, situated 42 km to the east-southeast of Namobuddha, situated 42 km to the east-southeast of Kathmandu, is one of the major Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal, as the small village houses the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, which is to believed the place where Prince Sattva gave his body to feed a starving tigress and her cubs. Due to its Karma, Prince Sattva was reborn in his last life as no other than Siddharta Gautama, the historical Buddha. So Namobuddha is a spot of one of the major events in one of the previous lives of the Buddha. However, also the Mankiala stupa in northern Pakistan is claimed to mark the spot where he sacrificed himself for the tigers. The monastery in Namobuddha is a pretty scenic place and therefore the destination of two popular hiking trails. Namobuddha can be reached from Banepa by passing through the Panauti and Sangku. Panauti is a picturesque old town with a classical pagoda, whereas Sangku, also known as Shankhupati Chaur, is a small village which is famous for growing the best oranges of Nepal. Even more famous is the hiking trail from Dhulikhel to Namobuddha, which takes three to four hours. Dhulikel has one of the most attractive historical townscapes in Nepal. The medieval old town, now forming the southern part of Dhulikhel, consists of narrow cobbled streets and traditional Newar houses with elaborately carved windows and doors. The traditional craftmanship, of course, can also be seen at the temples, the most important one of which is the ensemble of Narayan Temple and Harisiddhi Temple in the very centre of the old town. An 30-minutes climb on concrete steps leads to a large Buddha statue and the Kali temple, which is nicknamed "Thousand Steps Temple". It's also the place of one of the very few viewing towers of Nepal, offering vistas to the mountains in around 100 km distance. The steep climb to the Kali Temple is the first part of the trail to Namobuddha. Dhulikhel Municipality is also a highlight and the final point of the three- or four-days Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail via Chisapani and Nagarkot.
13. Manaslu - the eight-thousander massif in between Everest and Annapurna
With an altitude of 8,152 m, Manaslu is the world's eighth highest peak. The Manaslu Range is also known as Mansiri Himal. It's in between the Annapurna Range to the west and the from Ganesh Himal and Langtang Himal to the west. When compared to the Annapurna or Evereset regions, much fewer visitors are encountered along the trails in the Manaslu Conservation Area. Though developed comparatively late, the 177 km long Manaslu Circuit Trek has got teahouses along the way. Nonetheless, camping remains to be a favourite option in this area. Starting in Arughat Bazaar, the trail of this quite demanding almost three weeks long trek first follows an ancient salt-trading route from India to Tibet and first runs along the Budhi Gandaki River. The highest pass to be crossed is Larkya La at an elevation of 5,106 m. Trekking in the Manaslu Himal allows close interaction with the ethnic groups of Gurungs, Nubris, Tsums, and Bhotias. The Manaslu Range belongs to Gorkha District in the Nepali heartland, but particulalry the region of the Bhotias shares much of its culture with neighbouring Tibet. Numerous Buddhist monasteries and chorten can be seen along this northern section of the route, which runs through the Manaslu Conservation Area. This part of the range is close to the Chinese border. A common end point of the route is Besisahar in the southwest of the Manaslu Range, where it meets the Annapurna Circuit Trek. The two villages of Lokpa and Nyak at opposite sides of the Budhi Gandaki river are connected by a new bridge. It's in this area that two alternative trekking routes branch off the Manaslu Circuit Trek, namely the Tsum Valley and Gamesh Himal Treks to the east and the Rupina La Trek crossing the less visited central area of the Manaslu Range. Though the pass of Rupina La is in a comparatively low altitude of 4610 m, this shorter trek is somewhat more exhausting, as the pass is difficult to cross.
14. Langtang & Gosaikund - high mountain valleys closest to Kathmandu
Langtang Himal is the range closest to Kathmandu, in only 50 km distance and easy to reach. A large part of the range forms the Langtang National Park, which was Nepal's first national park in the Himalayas. Covering an area of 1,710 square kilometers, it is know for its high diversity of climate zones and vegetation types. Langtang Himal has two seven-thousanders, namely Langtang Lirung (7,234 m) and Langtang Ri (7,205 m). The Gosainkunda Lakes, located at an elevation of 4,300 m within the park, are sacred to Hindus. The trail along the Gosainkunda Lakes connects the two major trekking areas of the region, namely the Langtang Valley and Helambu highland villages, which are home of the Hyolmo people. The valleys of Helambu are famous for sweet apples. There are different trekking routes in the Helambu region. The Helambu Trek takes only around a week and can even be started in Kathmandu. The maximum height reached in this trek is 3650 m. A second trail connecting Helambu with the Langtang valley is Ganja La Trek further east than the Gosainkunda route. This trek crosses the pass of the same name, which is an elevation of 5122 m above sea level. It's the most strenuous and least visited trek in the Langtang Himal. The majority group in the Langtang region are the Tamang people of Tibetan origin. The Tamang Heritage Trek at the western border of the national park takes about 6 or 7 days. The village of Langtang was close to the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake and completely destroyed by a massive avalanche. More than 300 villagers lost their lives, many bodies have never been found.
15. Bandipur - hilltop village rich in ethnic minorities and old time atmosphere
Bandipur is one of the most charming old villages in Nepal and one of the very few well-preserved historic 18th century townscapes of Newari culture outside the Kathmandu Valley. The main street is now a pedestrian zone lined with traditional 2 –3 storey row houses with shuttered windows, several of them well restored but many in a poor condition. Their covered verandas are a characteristic feature of the architecture of Bandipur. Most of the buildings still have little shops in them or some serve as lodges or restaurants or cafés. The entire settlement is nested on a lofty ridge, a true hilltop town at an elevation of 1030 m above sea level and 700 m above the Marsyangdi River Valley. The mountain saddle is just 200 m long, just wide enough to accommodate the said main street. The gardens at the back of the old houses standing next to steep slopes are only accessible by stairs. Attractions include the Bindyabashini temple and the historical library in the centre. Bandipur Eco Cultural Tourism Project was established with European support to conserve the historical architecture and natural environment and to promote Bandipur as a tourist destination. Visiting Bandipur requires only a small detour of 10 km one way from the Kathmandu-Pokhara main road (Prithvi Highway H04). The distances to Kathmandu and Pokhara are 150 km resp. 75 km. Gorkha is in 50 km distance by road to the east. Bandipur was an important trade center on the traditional route from the Kathmandu Valley and the Gangetic Plains to Tibet and China crossing the Himalayas along the Gandaki river.
16. Gorkha Palace - 18th century capital and origin of Nepal's most famous empire
The municipality of Gorkha in the district of the same name was known as Prithbinarayan until the end of the monarchy in 2008. In 2009 it was renamed, as the former name refered to a king and founder of the last royal dynasty of Nepal. King Prithivi Narayan Shah, who was of Gorkha ethnicity, is a key figure in Nepal's history, as he managed to unite the country under one single rule and to keep it independent from Mughal and British overlordship. Starting to gain control over one small principality after another since 1744, he finally conquered the entire Kathmandu Valley in the late 1760s, taking advantage of its division under three mighty Malla kingdoms. He became the founder of the Shahi dynasty of Nepal. The name of the Nepalese army was originally Gorkha army. As allies of the British, soldiers from the Gorkha ethnicity, also known as Gurkha in the world, already formed units of the armies of the British East India Company. They then served in the British Indian Army but not only within India but in all parts of the world. A Gorkha Brigade still exists in the British army. Gorkhas are famous for their braver and the curved knifes they call Khukuri. The main attraction of the Gurkha municipality are the former royal palace known as Gurkha Durbar. This landmark atop a hill at an altitude of about 1000 m was originally built in the 16th century by Ram Shah. The fortified palace is in a few kilometers distance outside Gorkha town and can be reached in about one hour on a footpath. The palace is the birthplace of the said famous king, Prithvi Narayan Shah, who was born here in 1723. Gorakhnath temple and Kalika temple are further main attractions of the Gorkha municipality.
17. Manakamana Temple - most revered temple between Kathmandu and Pokhara
Located 23 km south of the town of Gorkha, the temple of Manakamana is nested on a ridge at an elevation of 1,302 m above sea level, overlooking the river valley of Trisuli. Besides Pashupathinath near Kathmandu and Janaki Mandir in Janakpur and Muktinath in Lower Mustang, the Manakamana Temple is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in Nepal. It attracts millions of pilgrims from Nepal and India every year. The main pilgrimage season is in the months of Dashain, which corresponds late September and early October. The Manakamana Temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, an incarnation of Parvati and a reincarnation of the queen of Gorkha king Ram Shah, who reigned in the 17th century and largely expanded the his territory. When the ruler died, his consort commited Sati on his funeral pyre and was reborn as the goddess. After half a year, the place she had chosen as her final abode was miraculously revealed and her shrine was erected there. Manakamana is believed to grant the wishes of all devotees who make the pilgrimage to her shrine. The temple is constructed in the form of a four-storey pagoda on a square pedestal. The Manakamana Temple is one of the few Hindu sanctuaries where animal sacrifices are still practiced, most commonly goat sacrifices, since poultry sacrifice has been banned in Gorkha District. The only way to reach the temple had been a three hours walk, until a 2.8 m long cable car service from Kurintar was put into operation in 1998. The temple structure had already been weakened by previous earthquakes, when the 2015 earthquake caused severe damages, the temple tilted around 30 cm and developed cracks on its roofs. The restoration took several years. Most of the costs were caused by purchasing almost 15 kg of gold for the renewal of the gold-plating of the roofs, windows and doors.
18. Rupse chhahara - waterfalls in the world's deepest valley
Rupse chhahara is a waterfall consisting of several cascades, the total height being about 300 m. It's located at the highway from Baglung to Jomsom (Jomson Sadak, F042), which connects Pokhara with the region of Mustang in the north of Nepal. It is approximately 110 km from Pokhara and 50 km from Jomsom by road. A car park is close to the foot of the Rupse waterfall. There is also a short trail to reach the foot of the upper cascade. The waterfalls are in the southern part of the river valley of Kali Gandaki, which along this road section from Rupse Falls to Jomson is the deepest gorge of the world. This part of the Kali Gandaki valley is also known as Thak Kola. It's not only crossed by the said road to Mustang but also by one of Nepal's most popular trekking trails, which partly runs along the road. Most parts of the valley are wide, only a few segments look like a canyon. But actually, concerning the depth as the difference between the river height and the heights of the highest peaks on either side, this is the deepest valley on earth. Dhaulagiri to the west reaching 8,167 m in height and Annapurna to the east, 8,091 m high are separated by the riverbed which is at an elevation of 2,620 m at the narrow part of the gorge in between Tukuche Peak of the Dhaulagiri Range and Nilgiri Peak of the Annuparna Range, which are in only 19 km distance from each other. This corresponds a depth of 5,471 m below Annapurna. The distance between the summits of Dhaukagiri ans Annapurna I is 34 km, with the riverbed at an elevation of 2,527 m just in between them. This is 5,564 m below Annapurna I. The distance between Rupse chhahara and the peak of Annapurna I to the west is 18 km, as the crow flies. The distance from the waterfalls to the peak of Dhaulagiri in the northeast is 22 km. The Kali Gandiki river just below the waterfalls is at an elevation of 1558 m above sea level.
19. Rara Lake - Nepal's largest lake situated in the remote western mountains
Rara Lake, situated to the west of the Dhaulagiri Range and Lower Dolpo region, is known as the Queen of Lakes in Nepal. It's the country's record holder in several respects. With a length of 5 km and covering more than ten square kilometers, it's the largest lake in Nepal at all. Reaching a depth of 167 m, it's also the deepest one. Among the large lakes of Nepal it's also the highest one, situated in an altitude of 2,990 m above sea level. The lake is the centerpiece of Rara National Park, which is famous for its biodiversity. It's home to several rare species. The Park flora consists of more than a thousand species, of which 16 are endemic to Nepal. The fauna includes 3 endemic species of fish and one endemic amphibian species, namely the Rara Lake Frog. Among the Even-toed ungulate species, the Himalayan goral, classified near-threatened, and the Himalayan musk deer, classified vulnerable, are quite common in the park. Though a big carnivores, Himalayan black bear occur but are rarely sighted. Though a big name on the tourist attractions maps, Rara Lake is still far away from ordinary tourist routes. Accordingly, accommodation is very basic, mostly village homestays. Trekkers rarely encounter other foreigners in this region. This also means that the local culture has remained ti be authentic and is an attraction in itself. The Rara Lake Trek starts in Jumla and usually takes seven or eight days, most commonly the fourth day is reserved for surrounding the lake, which takes about eight hours. For the way back, there are alternative trails. The entire trek is not particularly strenuous. For domestic flights from Nepalgunj, Rara National Park is served by Talcha Airport, which is 4 km east of the lake. For those who can invest a few thousands of Dollars, Rara Lake can be visited from Kathmandu or Pokhara by helicopter.
20. Sarangkot - best easy-to-reach mountain panorama
Sarangkot is a village on the ridge of the same name just west of Pokhara. The village is located at an altitude of 1600m. Administrationally, it was merged into the city of Pokhara in 2015. Sarangkot is a popular tourist destination due to its breathtaking panoraimc views to the nearby mountains of the Annapurna Range, the prominent peak of the Fishtail Mountain (Machhapuchhare, 6993m) is in less than 30 km distance to the north, as the crow flies. Apart from the Annapurna I two more eight-thousanders can be seen, the Dhaulagiri further east and Manaslu to the west of the Annapurna Range. Phewa Lake is at the southern foot of the Sarangkot hill. Most tourists drive up the hill to the village, as ir can be reached easily by a car within 40 minutes, but there is also a hiking path up from Pokhara, which takes about 100 minutes. The main village of Sarangkot is just below the ridge, but a stairway leads further uphill to the viewpoint (1592 m), which was once the site of a fort. Another ruined fort with perfect views is at Kaskikot (1788m) only a few kilometers further west. Many travelers come to Sarangkot viewpoint at dawn or dusk, making it the most popular sunrise and sunset point of Nepal. Sarangkot is also one of the best places for paragliding.
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