Visiting Nagarkot During Your Nepal Trip

Nepal is renowned as a world class trekking destination, but if you're a non-trekker don't let this put you off. During your Nepal holiday, you can get wonderful Himalayan views without necessarily putting in the hard graft. If you're starting your Nepal trip in Kathmandu, you'll immediately find yourself surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Kathmandu is a city practically bursting with rooftop cafes, so grab a slice of cake and a cup of coffee, and head for the roof garden. Helena's Cafe in Thamel is famous for its rooftop views and a great way to while away a few hours during your Nepal holiday.



So, you do not necessarily have to trek for days at a time to find an incredible view complete with snowy peaks while you're on holiday in Nepal. Another brilliant option is Nagarkot, only a short drive from Kathmandu city - around 32 km and sits at an elevation of 2175m.People usually arrive on foot, by mountain bike, or by car from Kathmandu City or one of the nearby towns in the Kathmandu Valley region such as Bhaktapur or Dhulikel. It is possible to include Nagarkot as a one night trek stop on a 4 day Kathmandu valley trek.



One night is usually enough - ie. one sunrise and one sunset. The place itself does not pack a lot of charm, but some of the guesthouses are comfortable enough for one night and try and grab a room with a balcony. The views are really stunning and the best viewpoint is a full panorama from the lookout tower on the ridge about an hour's walk from the village near the Mahakali Temple. Most visitors catch the sunset over the valley and then rise early to catch sunrise, perhaps the most atmospheric moments to take in the breath-taking view and watch the sun colour the distant snow-capped peaks.



These will certainly become highlights of your Nepal travel experience. The mountains seem to float on the horizon from Kanchenjunga to the east and Dhaulagiri to the west.The best time to catch a clear view is in the cooler, drier months; from October to February. March, April and May can get a bit misty and hazy as the heat builds up towards June, when the monsoon rains usually begin to fall. When the monsoon clouds gather in Kathmandu valley (usually June to September) it will be quite unlikely to get unobstructed views and good visibility from Nagarkot.



So, this all means that you don't need to be put off from travelling in Nepal if you're not up to trekking or it's just not your thing. There are all kinds of ways to enjoy a Nepal holiday, and Nagarkot is a particularly good option for those iconic Himalayan views.