Nagarkot

NAGARKOT Located 30 km to the east of Kathmandu on the valley rim, Nagarkot is for those on the lookout for Himalayan scenery and rural serenity. Nagarkot, situated at an elevation of 2,175 m, provides a panorama of five of the world’s 10 tallest peaks - Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Makalu (8,463 m) and Manaslu (8,163 m) - and many other lesser summits. Visitors also go to Nagarkot to watch the stunning sunrise and sunset.It is a favorite weekend getaway for Kathmanduites to beat the heat during summers and to enjoy, if there is, the snowfall during winters. The accessibility, only 30 to 45 minutes’ drive from Kathmandu, and tourist facilities, play a part.Surrounded by terraced hillsides and picturesque houses, the hilltop resort is an idyllic escape – far from the noise and din of Kathmandu’s city life. Bird watching is a joy in the forests here. Short hiking options abound. You can take a walk 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 trail leads south from Nagarkot to Nala and Banepa on the Arniko Highway to the Tibetan border.

DHULIKHEL

Bandipur

BANDIPUR Located on a 1,000 m ridge overlooking the Marshyangdi River Valley in Tanahu district, some 140 km from Kathmandu on the way to Pokhara. Once a vibrant commercial center on the Tibet-India trade route, Bandipur offers mountain views, artistic Newar houses, shrines, forts and caves. While the Newars are predominant in Bandipur, the Magar and Gurung ethnic groups, who have traditionally joined Indian and British armies, inhabit the hillsides growing rice, millet, corn and mustard on terrace fields.People: While the Newars are predominant in Bandipur, the Magar and Gurung ethnic groups inhabit the hillsides growing rice, millet, corn and mustard on terrace fields. Brahmin, Chettri, Kami, Sarki, Damai ethnic groups have also made Bandipur their home since the Magars first settled here.
Experience MOUNTAIN VIEWS: From the hillocks surrounding Bandipur, you are able to take in a 300 km "visual tour" of the central Himalayan chain from the Jugal Himal (mountain) directly north of Bhaktapur in Kathmandu, westwards to Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Gorkha Himal, Manaslu, Himalchuli, Buddha, Annapurnas, Dhaulagiri and Kanjiroba. The different viewpoints around Bandipur include Gurungche hill, 20-minute hike from Bandipur Bazaar, Tundikhel and Mukundeswari.TUNDIKHEL, the large field at the northern end of the town, offers 180-degree panoramic views of the Himalayan ramparts to the north and Marshyangdi Valley down below. Also visible from here are the Gorkha Palace and the famous Manakamana peak.SIDDHA GUPHA,

Tansen

One of the few "off-the-beaten-track" destinations in Nepal is the ancient hill town of Tansen with its old artistic Newari houses and cobbled streets. Midway between the Indian border and Pokhara, it is a picturesque hill town lying on the lap of the Srinagar Hills. Tansen is the headquarters of Palpa district and the hub of the mid-west culture of Nepal. The district varies from 250 to 2,000 m in elevation.Palpa was the seat of the Sen kingdom that ruled over this region from the 16th century for almost 300 years. The name "Tansen" has its origin in the Magar language, meaning "northern settlement." The Magars are assumed to be the first settlers in this area. However, the town’s houses are strongly influenced by traditional Newari architecture as the Newars, originally from the Kathmandu Valley, had migrated to Palpa in search of opportunities of trade and craft.People: The percentage of Magars and Newars in the district is high. Other inhabitants of Palpa are the Brahmin, Chhetri, Bhojpuri, Tharu, Gurung, Tamang and Limbu.


ExperienceTANSEN BAZAAR: The main bazaar of Tansen, also known as Makhan Tole, is the focus of the town's commercial activities notably for the sale of brass utensils and Dhaka cloth used to make topis, the Nepali cap. Baggi Dhoka, the main gate to Tansen Durbar, a former palace and the district’s administration headquarters, is tall and majestic and is said to be the largest of its kind in Nepal.SRINAGAR:The hilltop of Srinagar provides the most extensive mountain views from Dhaulagiri in the west to Gauri Shanker in the northeast. There is a statue of Lord Buddha at the eastern end of Srinagar.RANIGHAT, on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River, is famous for the palace built by Khadga Shumshere Rana in memory of his wife Tej Kumari. The palace, often called the Taj Mahal of Nepal, was designed by British engineers from Calcutta. It is reached from Tansen by walking along a steady downhill slope passing through a narrow gorge.RAMDI is a half-day walk through terraced rice fields, and is famous for its cave temples where farmers from nearby villages offer milk for the protection of their cattle from leopards.PILGRIMAGE SITES: To the west of Tansen lies the oldest temple here, called Bhairavsthan, and is marked by a huge trident. The statue of Bhairav, the God of Terror, in the temple is hidden, because the sight is said to be frightening. The Amar Narayan Temple is a three-storey pagoda-style temple. Surrounding the premises is a remarkable huge dry stone masonry wall called the Great Wall of Palpa.RIDI is situated at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Ridi Khola rivers, and the Rikheswar Narayan Temple at Ridi is considered as holy as the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. During the Makar Sankranti in February, devotees throng here for a ritual dip in the water. A 50-km road leads you to Ridi from Tansen.SATYAWATI LAKE (1,400 m) is a popular pilgrimage site on the top of a mountain ridge. On the way to the lake, beautiful views of the Himalaya can be had. The nearly 2-hour uphill trek to Lake Satyawati starts from the Siddhartha Highway, about 19 km from Tansen. A fair is held each year in honor of Goddess Satyawati during the full moon night in October-November.Deule Archale, believed to be a sacred pond, has several temples. The Siddheshwar Gupha (cave) is a popular pilgrim site at Siddheshwar on the bank of the Ridi Khola (stream).

Basantapur

BASANTAPUR (2,200 m) is a town set amidst enchanting scenery of mountains, lakes and greenery in eastern Nepal. Pastures, hills covered with rhododendron and jasmine flowers, stunning sunrise and sunset views, friendly people and a rich Limbu culture make Basantapur appealing. Basantapur hosts trekkers on the way to Taplejung and Mt. Kanchenjunga.People: Limbu culture is predominant in Basantapur and surrounding areas. Other ethnic groups that reside in the area are the Gurung, Rai, Tamang, Brahmin and Chhettri. Tharu, Newar and Marwadi people also live in the area. Most of the people are farmers by occupation

ExperienceTINJURE ,a ridge at 3,066 m offers, magnificent views of the sunrise and sunset, and the mountains. Tinjure Danda is about half-hour walk from Basantapur Bazaar and is famous for its rhododendrons – a stunning 34 varieties.The TINJURE MILKE JALJALE TRAIL, also known as the RHODODENDRON TRAIL, leads you through Taplejung, Tehrathum and Sankhuwasabha districts.Heading northeast out of Hile - to the north of Dharan - the trail climbs gradually through settle-ments of recent migrants from the northern Olangchung region - trans-Himalayan yak drivers. On the way lies Gupha Pokhari, a serene lake set on a ridge that looks east at the Kanchenjunga massif and west at Makalu and Khumbu Himal. From here, a shorter trek follows the Milke Danda ridge (2,905 m) - a rhododendron forest - due north, climbing to 4,700 m into the Jaljale Himal, a remote area spotted with lakes and inhabited by mountain people from Tibet. You can then descend east to the Mewa Khola (stream) and continue to Taplejung's airfield and further to the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area.Alternately, you can start from Phidim at the end of a newly com¬pleted dry season dirt road that trav¬erses Ilam's young tea estates.PATTEK DANDA (2,500 m) is famous for the sunrise, sunset views over the Himalayas including Mt. Everest and Mt. Kanchenjunga. Pattek Danda is ideal for short treks and is also a good area for picnics. It lies about 3 km from Basantapur. Pattek Danda can also be reached via Chitre that is a 15-minute drive away. From here, Pattek Danda is a 30-minute trek.

Illam

A brisk walk in a tea garden, tranquil picnic and sightseeing stops, holy sites, short treks along gentle slopes, a trudge into the nearby woods and a unique culture – all this and much more is offered by Ilam. Ilam has always been synonymous with tea, but it also produces excellent cheese and has great views of Mt. Kanchenjunga, 8,586 m, the third highest mountain in the world.Ilam district is bordered by Panchthar to the north, Jhapa to the south, West Bengal (India) to the east and Morang and Dhankuta districts to the west. It lies to the south of the Mahabharat range and west of the Shinghalila range.Elevations in Ilam district range between 140 m to 3,636 m above sea level and is sometimes called Charkhol (area of four rivers) because of the four main rivers - the Jogmai, Puwamai, Mai and Deumai - that flow through the district.Ilam is one of the richest districts in Nepal in terms of its cultural diversity, natural landscape and flourishing cash crops. Potato, cardamom, ginger, red round chilly (akbare khursani), milk and broom grass are the major cash crops. Many visitors also go to Ilam for botanical and anthropological research. Ilam is served by a good road which sees little traffic, making for a pleasant journey.

People:The main ethnic groups living in Ilam are the Brahmins and Chhetris. The Lepchas are also a predominant ethnic group in this region. Ilam reflects the rich social and cultural heritages of the people living in harmony. Other major ethnic groups living in Ilam include the Magars, Gurungs, Rais, Limbus and Sherpas. Most parts of Ilam are hilly with farming as the main occupation.