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. |
