Places to Visit near Kathmandu

With trekking trails, lush greenery, and a variety of species of flora and fauna, the Langtang National Park is the fourth national park that was established in Nepal in 1976. The Langtang National Park is situated at an approximate distance of 32 kilometres to the north of the capital city of Kathmandu and is connected to the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve in Tibet.

Known For : Bhaktapur Durbar Square Changu Narayan Nyatapola Temple

Distance from Kathmandu: 15 km

Best Time: October to November, March to April 

11 Bhaktapur Attractions

Known For : Paragliding in Nagarkot Nagarkot Nature Trail Nagarkot Panoramic Hiking Trail

The tiny village of Nagarkot burrowed in the lap of towering peaks is a part of Nepal's Bhaktapur district. Perched at the edge of Kathmandu Valley, Nagarkot gives you one of the widest panoramas of the Himalayan ranges - you can spot 8 out of the 13 Himalayan ranges from the comfort of your hotel. The mighty Annapurna, Manaslu, Langtang, Jugal, Everest, Numbur, Ganesh Himal and the Rolwaling ranges can be seen from Nagarkot on a clear day!

Distance from Kathmandu: 26 km

Best Time: October to March

8 Nagarkot Attractions

Sagarmatha National Park is a wildlife reserve that is well known to people for its location which is dominated by Mount Everest in the Himalayas of Eastern Nepal. The location, which is in the Solukhumbu district of Nepal, has been visited by tourists since the 1960s, although it was officially established in the year 1976, people have been flocking the area increased over the years because of the stunning scenery and the adventurous trails for trekking and hiking.

Best Time: October to November

Birgunj is a Nepali city which is based near the border of the Indian state of Bihar. It is a major point of entry for Indian goods trade. Birgunj also receives the goods coming in from the port of Kolkata. Located in the Terai region, Birgunj is the second-largest city after Biratnagar and the sixth most populated metropolis in Nepal.

Distance from Kathmandu: 135 km

Best Time: November-March

You can never get enough of the mountains. There is something about the scenic beauty and tranquillity of the majestic peaks that just makes you want to stay there forever and breathe in the pure fresh air. Dhulikhel in the Kathmandu Valley is one such place, which offers picturesque views of the high Himalayas and the range of peaks that it comprises of, right from the Langtang Lirung in the west to the Dorje Lakpa, Gauri Shankar and Melungtse, and then Numbur in the east. You just have to be willing to climb a little over the village to enjoy these panoramic views.

Distance from Kathmandu: 30 km

Located some 32 kilometres away from the capital Kathmandu, Panauti is a leftover reminiscence of a time long bygone. The word ''Panauti' in Hindi means 'unlucky', and for some reason unknown, it sits perfectly well with the historical background of this medieval city. At one glance, the town of Panauti is a melancholic chock-a-block of wooden houses, public halls, temples and shops, all nestled together resembling the shape of a fish in the laps of Himalayan greenery. Though still dotted with enough places worth mentioning, there is a feeling of decay spread all across the once prosperous town.

Distance from Kathmandu: 33 km

A lot of people visit Nepal for the attraction of the wilderness, namely Chitwan National Park. Bharatpur is the city that falls right in the gateway of the forested area. Located in central-south of Nepal, Bharatpur is the headquarters of the Chitwan district as well as a separate metropolitan administration - one of the four metro cities of Nepal. In essence, the main Bharatpur is mostly about urbanisation. All the government offices, colleges, hospitals are here, while most of the shopping and dining places are in its neighbouring town Narayangarh.

Distance from Kathmandu: 153 km

Pretty as a picture - that is how one can perfectly describe Bandipur. This living and breathing abode of Newari culture is a hilltop settlement in the Gandaki Zone at 1030 metres, some 700 metres above the Marsyangdi River. The municipality snuggles itself on the saddle of the Mahabharat Range of the Himalayas. Bandipur is a perfect weekend retreat from Kathmandu or Pokhara, now that it is connected with the highway by an access road. There isn't much to see, so hoping for an extensive session of sightseeing will meet with disappointment.

Distance from Kathmandu: 147 km

Chitwan National Park is the first step that Nepal took towards protection of the wildlife and nature at large. Located in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal, the national park covers an area of 952.63 sq. km. over the districts of Nawalparasi, Parsa, Makwanpur and Chitwan itself. The place was granted its long-due status of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, and ever since its inception 11 years before that, Chitwan National Park has been getting the footfalls of the nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts.

Distance from Kathmandu: 169 km

Some 25 km north of Abu Khaireni, the picturesque town called Gorkha is the ancient home of the lionhearted Gorkha people. Around 300 years ago, when Prithvi Narayan Shah unified all the rivalling fiefdoms of Nepal into one monarchy and divided up the country into 50 different states, Gorkha was born along the slopes of Himalayas in north-central Nepal. Needless to say, the place has immense historical and cultural significance and is dipped in tremendous natural beauty.

Distance from Kathmandu: 142 km

The sleepy town of Kirtipur comes like a breath of fresh air amidst the other dust laden villages and cities. Thanks to the stunning ancient temples that are scattered along its backstreets and the authentic experience of the Newari culture that it offers, the town has been gaining more and more popularity in the past few decades, and today it stands as a symbol of the faded grandeur of the bygone era. Located just five kilometres to the southwest of Kathmandu, the town of Kirtipur is perched upon a rocky hill and is an excellent place to visit, especially for someone who is stepping out of Kathmandu for only a few hours.

Distance from Kathmandu: 10 km

Towards the north of the Kathmandu valley, just from where the hustle and bustle of the urban world start to fade away, and the imaginary lines of the city get blurred into the outskirts, lies the Shivpuri National Park. The sprawling sub-tropical forest, spreading for around 160 square meters, the forested area covers the districts of districts of Kathmandu, Nuwakot and Sindhupalchowk. Other than being a biodiversity hotspot, this is also a favourite place of the locals for hiking, trekking and mountain biking. Tourists who love to tread the path less travelled and take the offbeat journey also should keep a day or two for a visit to these woods.

Distance from Kathmandu: 32 km

The thing about Nepal is that you can never run out of spiritual places to visit. And yet most of them are old temples with the same archaic architecture and follows a typical path of devotion. Shashwat Dham, on the other hand, is completely different, both in terms of ambience and philosophy practised in the establishment. In the calm and composed premises of Shashwat Dham, spirituality finds a new home and an evolved meaning altogether. The temple and ashram complex is located in the beautiful surroundings of Devchuli region of Nawalprasi district in south-central Nepal, on the east-west Mahendra Highway only 23 kilometres from the twin city of Bharatpur-Narayangarh.

Distance from Kathmandu: 168 km

Perched at a height of 6000ft, the quaint village of Kakani is quiet and tranquil. It is one of the lesser known villages in Nepal that is mostly visited by hikers and travellers. The hospitality of the Nepalis is unmatched as you are likely to be fed the local food whch includes the grilled rainbow trout is as good as it sounds and their delicious homemade strawberry liquors amidst the beautiful Himalayan mountains will make for a great evening.  

If your're looking to get away from the noise of Kathmandu then Chisapani is the place to be. It is a charming little village which overlooks the Karnali river. The place is filled with forests, rolling valleys and spectacular views of the Himalayan mountains. A visit to Chisapani is a must if your're visiting Nepal.

This hidden paradise in Nepal is a great place to visit because of it's warm and friendly locals who are very welcoming to weary travellers. Blessed with lovely weather and picturesque natural beauty, Lakuri Bhanjyang is the ideal place for a trek with your friends.