1. Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal. It is located faintly south-east of Nepal’s centre and covers an area of about 230 square kilometres. The city has a population of about 700.000 inhabitants. Kathmandu is really two cities: on one hand a legendary capital of friendly pilgrims and engraved rose – brick temples, on the other hand a quick -tempered sprawl suffocated in the pollution of diesel fumes, dirt, monkeys and beggars.
Travel Guide:
The best way to explore Kathmandu is to walk. By foot you can reach great part of the sights in the town. Most travellers head to the old city of Kathmandu. The sights are very collected in the old part of the city from Kantipath west towards the Vishumati River. Durbar Square is the centre of the old town and residence of the old Royal Palace. The new tourist centre called Thamel is situated about twenty minutes walk north from Durbar Square. In Kathmandu you can enjoy shopping in the main streets of the city, where you can buy jewellery, statues and other manufactured souvenirs of Nepal. Also nightlife in Kathmandu
offers many kinds of entertainments for tourists and local people, there are theatrical shows, discos and casinos. The climate in the city is rather mild and characterized by the monsoon. The average temperatures in summer go from 19°C to 27°C and in winter from 2°C to 20°C.
2. Nagarkot
Nagarkot is a scenic city located in the Bhaktapur district of Nepal. It is a widely popular hill resort with a marginal populace. Renowned for its spectacular views of the Himalayas, Nagarkot is a preferred weekend getaway for nature lovers. Blessed with a cool and pleasant climate all year round, Nagarkot is a treat for
the tourists in any season. Summers are mostly moderate and pleasant, while winters are cold, and sometimes chilling. Monsoons make their presence felt in the period of June to September. Nagarkot, meaning ‘city of forts’, was an important trade route for Tibet in the ancient times. Today, the city’s trade
and commerce is mainly centred on agriculture, followed by tourism, carpets and textiles.
Travel Guide:
The city has plenty to offer visitors in the form of panoramic sights, hiking, nature trails, mountain biking and more. Nagarkot is most beautiful during spring, when the city beams with life and colour. The stunning sights of the Dhaulagiri range in the west and Mount Everest in the east are the most popular with tourists. Along the way, the historic town of Sankhu is a much frequented tourist spot. Bhaktapur, Sundarijal and Banepa are excellent hiking destinations. While on their hikes, visitors can also visit the temples of Sankhu, Changu Narayan and Vajra Jogini. Café Dumont is a peaceful place, where visitors can soak in the beauty of Nagarkot and watch the sunset. Also, the Fort is the city’s first resort with exceptional dining and boarding facilities. The place is equipped with an organic garden and displays traditional architecture.
3. Pokhara
Pokhara, located west of Kathmandu, is the capital of the Western Development Region in Nepal. With a population of about 190,000 inhabitants, it is the third largest city in the country. It is a well-known excursion destination with its relaxed nature and lush beauty. Pokhara has a subtropical climate with moderate temperatures. December to January is the coolest period with snowfall being a regular event. February to April is a warm period. The months of October and November are the best time to visit for the pleasant weather and lush green surroundings. Historically, Pokhara was a mystical place which was partly inaccessible. After the construction of roads in the sixties, the city developed rapidly; today, it is a peaceful, yet active, resort town.
Travel Guide:
The World Peace Pagoda is a huge Buddhist stupa located on atop a hill on the banks of the Phewa Lake. It is an interesting site with a beautiful shrine for devotees, also offering impressive views of the city. The lake itself is considered one of the most spectacular places globally. Surrounded by evergreen forests and bleached mountains, visitors can take a boat ride and enjoy the scenic beauty. There are many restaurants and shops along the shoreline. Devi’s Fall is a remarkable waterfall close to Pokhara’s airport. It is one of the most popular spots frequented by tourists. Bindhyabasini Temple is an ancient temple of Goddess Bhagwati. Devotees and visitors from all over come here and perform rituals. This temple wears a festive look on Saturdays, which is when a fair is held here. The Annapurna Museum displays an impressive collection of various wildlife species as well as precious rocks and stones.
4. Lumbini
Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddhism, is a holy city in the Lumbini Zone of Nepal. It is blessed with exquisite flora and fauna and is one of the four major pilgrimage sites in Nepal. The place is home to a population of about 50,000 inhabitants. Characterised by a tropical monsoon climate, Lumbini remains humid for most of the year. Summers are hot and humid with May being the hottest month. December is usually the coldest
month during winters. Monsoon is active between June and September. The city was a prominent park in the ancient times. Today, it is a listed World Heritage Site for its holy monuments and rich history. Tourism is the major industry, and it employs a large section of the population. Agriculture is another thriving
occupation.
Travel Guide:
A famous historic landmark is the Ashoka Pillar. The magnificent inscriptions on the pillars and the ruins of ancient temples are a visual treat. The place is of great importance and a much-visited spot. The Sanctum is considered to be the most important place in Lumbini, regarded as the birthplace of the Buddha. Visitors are enchanted by the painstaking excavations undertaken to reveal the site. Lumbini is most famous for its
temples which are befitting examples of the Buddhist culture. The most famous shrine is the Maya Devi Temple, which is a small structure displaying an image of Maya Devi, mother of the Lord holding the infant Buddha. A splendid combination of small pagodas, prayer halls and meditation rooms is the China
Temple. The Myanmar Temple and the International Gautami Nuns Temple are other sites of interest. The Lumbini Museum and the Kapilvastu Museum house the ruins of ancient
kingdoms and information about Buddha’s youth.
5. Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur is an ancient town of the Newar culture found in the eastern corner of the Katmandu Valley in Nepal. It is primarily located in the Bhaktapur District. It is the third largest city in the entire valley and was formerly the capital city of Nepal, sometime during the 15th century. It is a mere 13 kilometers away from Katmandu, the capital of Nepal. Bhaktapur, as the name suggests stands for the town of devotees. The city is very traditional in terms of cultures and customs. The city seems to be carved out of a fairytale as it has rich art and architecture, some excellent historic monuments, brilliant pottery industries, magnificent temples, clear and serene ponds, great festivals, drama and music centers and the list goes on. Bhaktapur is unaffected with the development of the outside region but has remained faithful to its ancient customs and have preserved their resources well. It has a population of about 75,405 inhabitants. The males here are characterized by a special type of cap called the Bhaad-gaaule topi.
Travel Guide:
There are a lot of visiting places in this city, which can be completed in a day alone. So, Bhaktapur is the best place to visit for tourists visiting Katmandu and other major cities. It is said that the journey of Nepal is incomplete if one does not visit Bhaktapur. There are the three squares namely the Darbar Square, the Dattatreya and theTaumadhi squares which are well-renowned heritage sites. Bhaktapur is a land of temples.
Some of the breathtaking sites are the Surya Vinayak, the Changu Narayan and not to forget the Chonga Ganesh which are something to really look forward to. There is also a temple which houses the largest Shiva Lingum. The Durbar square is a popular area because it holds the magnificent palace created by King Bhupatindra Malla, and is now a national gallery. The Taleju temple which is dedicated to Taleju Bhavani is also a great pilgrim attraction.
