Nepal is a country rich in terms of natural beauty and culture. If some cities are full of ancient monuments some are full of pristine lakes and the beautiful white peaks. There are many amazing places to see here and the best of them are the following.
Best Places to Visit in Nepal
Kathmandu
Kathmandu City, also known as the city of Temple, has many temples and monuments of historical and religious importance. The Kathmandu Durbar Square, one of the three, is the main attraction. There are 50 temples within the square that reflect proficient Nepali craftsmanship. Other temple of great importance are scattered about the city. Two of them- Pashupatinath Temple and Swayambhunath Temple are UNESCO World Heritage Sites just like the three Durbar Squares. Then there are museums and libraries that once housed the Royalties. There are so many places to see within this one city that a whole day will not suffice.
Lalitpur
Lalitpur, another ancient city that makes up the Kathmadu Valley, was originally designed in the shape of Buddhist Dharma Chakra (Wheel of Righteousness). As such, at the cardinal points of the city’s periphery are 4 Thurs believed to be Ashok Stupas. The center piece of the city is the Patan Durbar Square, residence to earlier kings- the Mallas that showcase ancestral Newari architecture. Other things to see are the Vihars, Bahils, water sprouts and artistic gateways to towns within the city. Also, the only zoo of Nepal, Central Zoo, is in Lalitpur.
Godavari and Phulchoki
These places are part of the Lalitpur city but deserves a separate mention. Godavari is a beautiful place. Its streams and meadows make it a popular picnic spot. It is a large area with the National Botanical Garden (82 hectare) within it. Naudhara (9 water sprouts), Shanti Ban (Peaceful Forest) with a large statue of Buddha and few Shakti temples attract many tourist to Godavari. It is also the starting place for a 3 hour hike to Phulchoki, the highest place in Kathmandu.
Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur means “City of Devotees”. The main attraction, the Durbar Square contains age old temples and monuments of great religious and historical value. The most notable is the 55 window palace, Nyatapol Temple and the pottery. The other places to visit around Bhaktapur is the Changu Narayan Temple, a World Heritag Site like the Durbar Square, Thimi a village well known for pottery and Nagarkot, a famous hiking destination that is popular for the view of sunrise and sunset and Surya Vinayak which is one of the four holy shrine of Lord Ganesh.
Pokhara
The lake city Pokhara is a beautiful valley. There are eight lakes of which Phewa, Rara and Begnas are the most popular. One can boat or fish in these lake or just relax and enjoy the scenery from the beach. Mountain peaks like Annapurna, Machhapuchhare (fishtail) and Dhaulagiri overlook this lush green valley and the elusive Seti river runs through it. There are caves one can explore and the famous Davi’s Fall. It is also known for numerous adventurous sports like paragliding/ parahawking, skydiving, water touch bungee and the world’s most extreme zip line.
Lumbini
Lumbini, the birth place Buddha, is another World Heritage Site of Nepal. There are many Vihars erected by different nation and excavated ruins of the places that mark Lord Buddha’s story. The Vihars and Temples here are exquisite in terms of both the art and architecture. Besides this, one can visit the Lumbini Museum, visit the Peace Pagoda, see the four Ahsokan pillars and stupas and boat in the central canal.
Mountain Regions
Nepal is known for its mountains. Thousands of tourists come to see the Himalayas. The most popular among these are the Langtang, Annapurna and Everest region. These regions are popular among hikers and climbers.
This list is a concentrated form of all Nepal has to offer. There are many Nepal trekking and tour packages available to visit these beautiful places in Nepal. When you visit these places, you will find that one city alone houses many popular tourist destinations. However, if Nepal is your next vacation, do make time for these.
