Beyond the Kathmandu Valley

NAGARKOT
Nagarkot is a very popular place for Nepal visitor, it lies just 32 kms. east form. It is situated at an altitude of 2175 m. the panorama of the major peaks of the eastern Nepal Himalayas including Mt. Everest can be seen from here. We can take scene of sunrise and sunset.

KAKANI
This place, 1982 m above the sea level and located 29 kilometers northwest of the Katmandu city, is famous for the magnificent view of the Valley. It overlooks the northwestern Himalayan rages against the vastness of the blue sky. The fabulous holiday area of Kakani features attractions ranging from beautiful alpine scenery to the magnificent Himalayn panorama particularly of the Ganesh Himal Massif, Other peaks that can be closely seen from Kakani are Gaurishanker (7,134 m), Choba Bhamre (6,016 m.), Manaslu (8,463 m), Himalchuli (7,893), Annapurna ! (8,091 m) and several other peaks One should not also miss to watch the majestic view of sunset that Kakani offers.

A trip to Kakani along the beautiful mountain highway, Trishuli Road, is scenically rewarding with green forest and mountain grandeur in one direction and fertile river flats and terraced cultivation on the other. The road to Kakani begins at Thamel and terminates at Kaule from where the road the road Kakani bifurcates. The vehicles can go right up to the top of Kakani. It takes about one and half hour to reach Kakani by car form kathmandu. There are frequent bus and other vehicle services from Thamel to Kaule.

PANAUTI
It is a thriving village off the road to Dhulikhel, with some very lovely temples and interesting old houses, particularly beautiful are some fourteenth century wooden temple struts. The drive is through beautiful countryside.

GORKHA
The Gorkha township is the Headquarters of the district of the same name Gorkha is the birthplace of king Prithvi Narayan Shah, the Great, the founder of modern Nepal, hence it is the ancestral home of the Shah. Kings of Nepal. Situated on a hill overlooking the snowy peaks of the Himalayas, there is said to have been built by King Ram Shah, King Prithvi Narayan Shah began his campaign to unity the Kingdom from this palaces of Gorkha.

There are two attractive temples of Gorakhnath and Kali inside the palace precinct Gorkha Durbar is certaily one of the most outstanding examples of Nepalese architecture. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple of Gorakhnath , where from the town derives its name The World famous Gurkha Soldiers hail from this place. Gorkha cab be reached in about four hours from Kathmandu and in about two hours from Pokhara. Regular buses for Gorkha leave at 7 AM every morning from the center Bus Terminal. A side trip to manakamana either from Gorkha or from Kahireni of Prithvi Highway is very enjoyable and interesting.

MANAKAMANA TEMPLE
Goddess Manakamana is highly noted as a wishful filling goddess through out the country. The holy temple of goddess Manakamana lies on a beautiful ridge west of Kathmandu valley. It is said that she is the younger sister of goddess Kali. She is regarded to be a very sacred goddess. The temple is important from the historical and archeological point of view. It is a famous pilgrimage site for Hindus. Manakamana is four hours walk up hill from the highway. On the occasion of Visit Nepal Year 1998, the cable cars have been plied from Kurintar Village, Chitwan to the hill of Manakamana, which takes only 8 minutes to reach there.

POKHARA VALLEY
Pokhara valley is situated at an altitude of 827 meters above the sea level and is 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu valley. Prithivi Raj Marga is the highway linked with by Bhairahawa by Siddhartha Raj Marga [Sunauli border] It is a combination of the long arrays of world famous snow clad peaks, emerald lakes, turbulent rivers with deep Georges and picturesque villages inhabited by Magar, Gurungs and Thakalis. Pokhara offers the magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Machhapuchhare, five peaks of Annapurna Himalayas and others.

Pokhara numerous lakes known as "Tal" in Nepal offer fishing, boating and swimming, which ensure the famous Phewa, Begnas and Rupa lakes of Pokhara. Pokhara is also referred as the center of adventure. It is the starting point for most of the popular trekking & rafting destination. The serenity of Phewa lake and the magnificence of Machhapuchhare [6,977m] rising behind it, creates an ambiance of peace and magic

Phewa lake is situated at an altitude of 784m above sea level with an island temple at the middle of the lake. It is second largest lake in the kingdom. Temple situated at the island is the two storied pagoda dedicated to the boar magnification of Ajima. The reflection of Mt. Machhapuchhare & Annapurna can be seen in its serene water. Thick forest lies on the adjoining southern slopes of the lake.

Begnas & Rupa Lake lies in the northeast of the Pokhara valley at the distance of 13kms from the main city. These lakes are locates at the foothill of Begnas, mountain and are separated by the Pachabiya hill.

Seti River Gorges carved by Seti-Gandaki is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. K.I. Singh Bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapool & Prithivi Highway Bridge near Bus Park provides a perfect view of the river's dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water.

Davi's fall locally known Patale Chhango in the southern flank of the Pokhara valley is where the stream flowing from Fewa Lake collapses and surges down the rock into a deep gage, leaping through several potholes.

Mahendra cave lies at the north of the Pokhara valley. It is a large limestone cave, which is one of the few stalagmite stalactite caves found in Nepal.

Tibetan Village Tashiling in the south and Tashii Palkhel in the north of Pokhara valley is the two Tibetan village which is inhabitant by the Tibetan people who keeps themselves busy by producing and trading woolen carpets and other handicrafts.

Museum: One museum displays the life styles and history of the Gurungs, Thakalis and Tharu and other one Natural history museum and is functioned by the Annapurna Conservation area project. Butterflies, insects, birds and wild life found in the Annapurna region.

Mountain View: Spectacular Panorama of the Annapurna range forms the backdrop of Pokhara valley. The mountains stretching from east to west includes Annapurna I to IV. It lies at the distance of 40kms from the valley and at the elevation of 900m. Among these Annapurna. Annapurna I (8.091m high is the highest peak. Mt. Machhapuchhare with its pyramid shape dominated all the other neighboring Peaks. The other peaks are Mt. Dhaulagiri 8167m, Lamjung Himal 6983m and Manaslu 8163m and Himalchuli.

Barahi Temple: This is the most important religious monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the middle of Phewa Lake, this two-storied pagoda is dedicated to the boar manifestation of Ajima, the protectors deity representing the female force Shakti. Devotees can be seen, especially on Saturday, carrying male animals and fowl across the lake to be sacrificed to the deity.

World Peace Pagoda a massive Buddhist Stupa is situated on top of a hill on the southern shore of Phewa Lake. Besides being an impressive sight in itself, the shrine is a great vantage point which offers spectacular views of the Annapurna range and Pokhara city. You can get there by crossing the lake by boat and then hiking up the hill.

Bindhyabasini Temple is the center of religious activity in the old bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park like grounds offer a fine picnic area, and on Saturday and Tuesday when devotees flock there to offer sacrifices, take on a festival local flavor.

Pony treks are becoming more popular by the day. With a landscape varying from the even lakeside to small hills with the most famous view in the country. Pokhara provides a magnificent opportunity for sightseeing on horseback.

TANSEN:
Tansen is a bright Himalayan town situated on the slopes of a hill called Shreenagar Danda.Situated at an altitude of 1343 meter above the sea level. Tansen is the most popular summer resort in western Nepal's most far stretching views of the country's chief attraction the Himalayas, From Dhaulagiri in the west to Gaurishanker in the north -east from Shreenagar Danda one can have the views of sweeping Tinau river valley below and the surrounding Churia and Mahabharat hills including Terai's flat lands to the far south. Tansen is the headquarter of Palpa District.

Tansen is easily accessible. It takes just five hours by bus from pokhara to reach Tansen along the Sidarth Highway. The distance between Pokhara and Tansen is 123 kilometers. Situated midway along the route from Pokhara to Lumbini birth placed of Lord Buddha, it is a convenient stop on the way to or form Royal Chitwan National Park.

Trek to Ridi, Tamghas, Sandhikharka, Pyutan, Dhorpatan, Swargadware, Baglung, Beni, Jomsom, Muktinath, Annapurna Region, Dhaulagiri Region, Machhapuchhre Base Camp, Pokhara and other places as well can be organized from or to Tansen.

DAMAN
Daman is situated 80 kilometers southwest of Katmandu at an altitude of about 2,400m. Daman is located on the Tribhuvan Highway in between Katmandu and the town of Birgunj. For the view of breathtaking grandeur of the world's highest peaks extending in one glittering are from far-west of Dhaulagiri to far east of Mt. Everest there is no better place than Daman. There is a view tower fitted with long-range telescopes. Daman can be reached in four hours drive from Katmandu.

LUMBINI
Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya prince and the ultimate Buddha, the Enlightened One, is the pilgrimage destination of the world's millions of people faithful to all schools of Buddhism. Thisnativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka's comme-morative pillar is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The main attraction at the Lumbini remains the Sacred Garden spread over 8sq km and possessing all the treasures of the historic area. The Mayadevi temple is the main attraction for pilgrims and archaeologists alike. Here we find a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother giving birth to him. Standing west to the Mayadevi shrine is the oldest monument of Nepal, the Ashokan Pillar. The pillar was erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the sacred site. To the south of the pillar, we find the sacred pond, Puskarni, where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to the Buddha.

There are other places of interest too nearby. It is accessible by air from Kathmandu it takes about eight hours by bus or car.

For further information regarding dates, and itineraries don't hesitate to contact us. We will happy to assist your travel arrangements and answer any questions you may have.

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