Nepal Travel Guide
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Grafik Sightseeings in Nepal
Places to visit D - N Kathmandu
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Trekkings in Nepal
Nepal Visitor Guide
Sightseeings in Nepal
Dhankuta

Dhankuta is a charming hill town of cobbled streets and whitewashed houses populated by Rais, Limbus and Newars. Situated at an altitude of 1,220 m north of Biratnagar in east Nepal, it is about 50 km from Dharan, formerly a recruitment centre for British Gurkha soldiers. The villages north of Dhankuta are the trailheads to the Makalu and Kanchenjunga regions.

Dolakha

Dolakha is an old settlement known for its shrine of Dolakha Bhimsen, the patron deity of businessmen. It is 4 km from Charikot (133 km) on the Lamosangu- Jiri Highway that branches off to the east from the Arniko Highway at Lamosangu. Dolakha is a chance to visit an historic place and enjoy fantastic near- range views of Mt. Gauri Shanker.

Dolakha-Dolkha Photo Gallery Dolakha-Dolkha
Dolakha-Dolkha Trekkings Charikot (Dolakha district)
Godavari - Royal Botanical Garden
Located at the foothills of Phulchowki ( 2,758 m high), one of the highest hills surrounding Kathmandu valley. The road from Patan city runs to Godavari to the southeast, passing through the small old towns of Harisiddhi, Thaiba and Badegaun. The only botanical garden in Nepal, it is open daily including Saturdays and Government holidays. In this place, a holy pond known as "Kunda" is located.

A fair is held in every gap of 12 years where most of pilgrims come to take bath. It is believed that taking bath in the cold water at this holy pond makes one to free from all the skin diseases. The garden is landscaped over 72 hectares of land. Over 500 species of plants can be found in the various gardens. The peak flowering season falls in spring and in autumn. The coming of spring is indicated by the bloom of Rhododendron Arboretum, the national flower of Nepal, and the dramatic appearance of a number of colourful flowers in the garden beds and the surrounding forests. The gardens are also the dwelling place for butterflies, Godavari area being a reservoir for hundreds of species. Maps and plant listings are available at the entrance. A small admission fee is charged.

Phulchowki is a good spot for hiking. A Buddist shrine is situated on the top of the hill which can be reached through a jeepable road. The VHF tower of Nepal Television is located at the top of the hill.

Godavari Springs

Very close to the Botanical Garden (200 metres away from the main gate) is what is called in Nepali, 'the Godavari Kunda', a fresh water spring forever spouting forth cool, crystal clear water. A pilgrimage place revered by both Hindus and Buddhists, the water is channeled through five carved stone spouts Panchadhara in Nepali) where pilgrims bathe, drink and worship. There are various temples and a retreat monastery in the surrounding vicinity. Hindu legend has it that a certain realized saint, Bahadur Puri Swami, in ancient times used to walk to the River Godavari in India daily to take a purification bath. The Goddess being pleased with his devotion, manifested herself at his doorstep so that he did not have to walk the distance everyday. The Buddhists believe that the Great Indian mystic, Padmasambhava, who initially introduced Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet, while passing through Nepal struck the root and created the spring in order to symbolize the ultimate truth - always clear, always fulfilling the thirst of people for supreme knowledge.

Godavari - Royal Botanical Garden Kathmandu Photo Gallery
Kathmandu Area Map Grafik
Gorkha

Gorkha is situated 131 km west of Kathmandu at an altitude of 1,135 m at the end of a mountain road that branches north from the Kathmandu- Pokhara highway at Abu Khaireni. It is the ancestral home of the shah dynasty and home of the original Gorkha soldiers. Gorkha's centrepiece is the magnificent Gorkha Durbar that is a fort, a palace and a temple with excellent views of the surrounding valleys and the Manaslu range.

Dharchya Trekking
Janakpur

Janakpur is the birthplace of Sita, heroin of the great Hindu epic. Ramayana is situated in the Terai plains. Thousands of pilgrims flock here throughout the year to pay homage at the Janaki Mandir, Ram Sita Bibah Mandap and Hanuman temple. Janakpur is the centre of Maithili culture and the magnificent Janaki Mandir is one of Nepal's architectural showpieces. It is 375 km southeast of Kathmandu.

Janakpur
Kodari

Kodari lies on the Nepal China border 114 km to the northeast of Kathmandu. The village (altitude 1,640 m) has an exotic history as the starting point of the ancient trans Himalayan caravan route, the Nepalese equivalent of the Silk Road. The Arniko Highway connecting Kathmandu and kodari takes you through magnificent river gorges and mountain scenery. The famous hot water springs Known as Tatopani are situated 3 km before Kodari.

Arniko Highway from Kathmandu to Kodari

Kathmandu

"Heritage Road"

The extension of the Sampada Marga (Heritage Road) for reaching to the historical and archaeological sites of Kathmandu Metropolis has reached its final stage. The route incorporates Kamalakshi, Asan, Indrachowk, Hanuman Dhoka and Paropakar Secondary School, Thahity, Bangemudha, Bhedasingh, Kilagal, Hanumandhoka, Adko Narayan, Chikanmugal, Hyumata and Teku. Similarly, the road starting from Chhetrapati, Tengal, Naradevi, Pyafal, Makhan, Hanuman Dhoka, Jhochhen, Lagan and Pachali is also named Heritage Road. The metropolis is to publicise and hold interactions and distribute brochures on this which is aimed at publicising the major historical heritages to the world.

Kathmandu's Air Pollution Kathmandu Photo Gallery
Kathmandu Sightseeings Godavari - Royal Botanical Garden
Kathmandu Area Map Grafik
Mustang

The Upper Mustang was opened as a restricted area since then only 1000 foreigners are permitted annually for tourists in 1990.

The Mustang region is dry, desolate and windy, and is a paradise like no other on earth. Strong winds blowing up between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains have created a dry desert landscape- dusty and bare in all its beauty. Because of dry climate found over here agriculture is impossible without irrigation and agro-productive land is also very nominal. Polyandry, marriage of one woman with two or more brothers, is still in practice to avoid the splitting of the family's farmland. But like all traditional ways, these are changing too.

The face of Lo Manthang is gradually changing. The dirt road extended from Tibet passing through Nechung to the medieval settlement of Lo Manthang was completed some months ago. It has started to show its impact not only on the local economy but also on the local environment and community as a whole.

Mustang
Namche Bazaar

Namche Bazaar lies on a lap of Khumbu Himal range. Namche Bazaar is about 241 km from Kathmandu. It can be reached be the Arniko Highway and the road to Charikot and Jiri. From Jiri there will some days of trekking to Namche Bazaar. But it is worth to do that trek across the Solu-Khumbu area. This place is the home of the legendary Sherpas. One can fly from Kathmandu to Lukla and Thyangboche in the Everest region.

Khumbu: Everest Region
Nagarkot

Nagarkot is a popular tourist destination of Nepal. It is situated 32 kilometers east of Kathmandu at an altitude of 2,170 m. Nagarkot isn't much of a village, but there are more than a dozen lodges.

br> The panoramic view of the major peaks including Mt. Everest can be seen from here. The view point tower offers the best vantage point from where you can get a 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalaya. Nagarkot boasts a 200-mile panorama of the Himalayas that extends from Dhaulagiri in the west, to Ghaurishankar Himal range and to beyond Mount Everest in the east. This place is also famous for viewing sunrise and sunset.

Nagarkot Gallery
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