Nepal is largely a mountainous country.
Beneath the shadows of the gigantic Himalayas, lush hills create glorious
landscapes viable for hiking and scenic observations. Add to this the many
heritages and cultural sites scattered throughout the country, and it means
there is a large assortment of possibilities to hike in the country. From the
hills around the Kathmandu Valley to the solemn hilltops around Pokhara, hiking
is one of the prominent activities in Nepal.
Kathmandu has many locations around the city to hike. Being a valley, it is
home to many hill stations that provide excellent views of the flat cauldron
below where the city lies or can be a quick shelter of tranquility from the
hustle and bustle of the city. One such location is Nagarkot. It is a village
on the hill on the rim of the valley. It provides wonderful panoramic views of
the mountains in the distance, and an excellent sunrise the next day. You can
also trek through farmed terraces down and through deciduous forest to Changunarayan
the next day. Similar Destinations include Shivapuri, Dhulikhel, Phulchowki,
Kakani, and Champadevi. Similarly, Pokhara is home to serene lakes and lies on
the foot of the mountains of Annapurna and adjoining hills in the background.
Sarangkot is the shortest and easiest hiking location from Pokhara. Famous for
being the jump point for paragliding, Sarangkot also entertains hikers with a
glorious panorama of the Annapurna Himalayas along with the majestic
Machhapuchhre (6997m). Thulokot is another hill from Pokhara which provides a
wonderful view of the surroundings; this place is just picking up steam and is
still relatively less crowded than others in Pokhara. From the top, you can see
views of Annapurna (8,091 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Machhapuchhre (6,997m).
Numerous destinations around the country are in the process of allowing easy access and comfort during travel. This makes up for newer tourist destinations and travel options further increasing the reputation of the country as a tourist’s paradise. Hiking, being the easiest of traveling options, around the picturesque destination around the cities like Kathmandu and Pokhara proving to be worth the money.
