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outside
Kathmandu Valley
It would be a serious oversight for any traveller to
Nepal to neglect visiting at least some of the
fascinating and beautiful places of interest, most of
them lying only a short distance away by plane and bus.
Nagarkot, Dhulikhel and Kakani are only a short distance
outside the Valley; the first two, in fact, offer
excellent views of the Valley and its various landmarks.
Situated in other parts of the country are Pokhara,
Tansen, Lumbini, Janakpur, Gorkha and Daman. Also of
major interest are Nepal's National Parks and Wildlife
Reserves along with some other destinations best reached
by trekking.
Nagarkot-Nagarkot,
located 32 kilometres east of Kathmandu, is one of the
most scenic spots in Bhaktapur district and is renowned
for its spectacular sunrise when the weather is clear.
Visitors often travel to Nagarkot from Katmandu to spend
the night there so that they can then get up early and
observe the breathtaking sunrise.
Nagarkot has acquired the fame as one of the best spots
to view Mount Everest as well as other snow- topped
peaks of the Himalayan range in the eastern Nepal. It
also offers an excellent view of the lndrawati river
valley lying to the east.
With an elevation of 2195 metres, Nagarkot also offers a
panaromic view of the Valley and is generally described
by visitors as a place whose beauty endures all year
round with a harmonious blending of the changing
scenery.
Many visitors prefer to visit Nagarkot in the spring
when the valleys and dales of the surrounding area break
out in a rich kaleidoscope of differently coloured
flowers. The flowers stand in stark beauty against the
serene backdrop of the snow-covered mountains on the
horizon.
Ever popular among the tourists are the less-exacting
treks and picnics which Nagarkot offers. Treksfrorn
Nagarkot are unique and delightful. For anyone who may
want to have an adventure without exerting much effort,
a hike to Nagarkot's surrounding areas would be the best
option. One can always traverse short distances on
trekking trails and come close to nature's wonders such
as the outer fringe of verdent forests, flower- covered
Himalayan meadows and unusual rock formations.
Dhulikhel-Dhulikhel
is a scenic and ancient town situated 30 kilometres east
of Kathmandu of the Arniko Rajmarg (Kathmandu-Kodari
Highway). From here one has a panaromic view of the
whole Himalayan range, from west to east. From the main
town a short visit to Namobouddha, an old Buddhist
monastery, is highly recommended. Panauti, a village
noted for its numerous temples with magnificent
woodcarvings, is a short distance from Dhulikhel.
Kakani-Kakani
is another good location near Kathmandu for viewing the
mountain scenery. From this location one can see the
mountain landscape of the central and western Nepal, a
vast collection of majestic peaks stretching from Ganesh
Himal to the peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri
ranges. Kakani is unique in the sense that there is an
unusually perfect blending of the imposing mountain
scenery with the more sylvan environment of the lower
valley. Trees growing wild on the mountain slopes begin
to bloom in late winter and stay in bloom for several
months, giving the village even more charm.
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