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Nagarkot :
Savor the beauty of majestic mountains in
comfort and quite.
Nagarkot is located 30 km to the east of
Kathmandu on the valley rim, Nagarkot is the
favorite weekend gateway for those who seek
Himalayan Scenery and rural serenity. From
Nagarkot, you witness the stunning view of
mountains that extend all the way from
Dhaulagiri in the west past Mt. Everest to
Kanchenjunga in the east. The surrounding
countryside of Nagarkot is great for walking.
Nagarkot is situated at an elevation of (2,175
m.) and provides a grandstand panorama of the
Himalaya. You can see five of the world’s
tallest mountains – Everest (8,848m.), Lhotse
(8,516m.), Cho Oyu (8,201m.), Makalu (8,463m.) –
and many other lesser summits. The snow peaks
look especially gorgeous during sunset and
sunrise.
Nagarkot, surrounded by terraced hillsides and
picturesque farm houses, the hilltop resort is
the epitome of an idyllic escape – with only the
wind and the sound of rustling leaves to disturb
you. Bird watching is a joy in the forests here.
Short hiking options abound. The most popular
walk leads down from Nagarkot along a ridge to
the temple of Changu Narayan-with views of
Sankhu village to the right and Bhaktapur to the
left. Another preferred trail leads south from
Nagarkot to Nala and Banepa on the highway to
Tibet.
Dhulikhel :
Himalayan viewing amid nature’s bounty.
Dhulikhel (1440m.) is a small town with a long
history. Records show that it has been around
for more than 500 years. The artistic skill and
urban ethos of its Newar inhabitants have
created a place of charm and beauty. Streets
lined with bare-brick houses, carved wooden
windows, sloping title roofs, pagoda temples and
sacred statues everywhere. You will think you
have wandered into a cultural theme park.
The major places of worship here are the Narayan
and Harisiddhi temples which are adored with
profuse wood carvings. The Gokhureswar Mahadev
temple, a 30 minutes walk to the eastern part of
town, is a peaceful and scenic spot. The
Bhagawati temple is situated at a height in the
western part of Dhulikhel and dominates the
skyline. From here, you can get a beautiful
vista of the town and surrounding areas.
There are many vintage points in Dhulikhel which
offers a panorama of the Himalaya that will
leave you spellbound. Looking out over low hills
and valleys, the mountains rise up in an
extended arc stretching from the far left to the
far right. More than 20 Himalayan Peaks can be
seen in all their glory. You should get up early
in the morning to watch the first rays of the
sun hit the summits and their colors change.
Sunset views are equally spectacular. |