Shivapuri National Park

Shivapuri National Park {144 sq km) is situated on the northern fringe of Kathmandu valley and lies about 12 km away from the center of capital city. The area was gazette as the country's ninth national park in 2002. Prior its declaration as national park, it was managed under the Shivapuri Watershed Development Board, and was later declared as Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve. It lies in a transition zone between subtropical and temperate climates. The vegetation consists of a variety of natural forest types including pine, oak, rhododendron etc, depending on altitude and aspect. Recorded wildlife in the park includes mammalian species such as Himalayan Black bear, leopard, jungle cat, and rhesus monkey. The park is also home to 177 species of birds, including at least 9 threatened species, 102 species of butterflies with a number of rare and endangered species, and 129 species of mushroom.

The park is easily accessible from Kathmandu. Visitors are attracted to the park for trekking. Trekking routes to Nagarkot, Gosaikunda, Helambu and Langtang National Park also pass through the park. Several religious sites for the Hindus and the Buddhists lie inside the park. On Nepalese New Year's Day, which falls in mid-April, pilgrims from Kathmandu valley and neighboring areas flock to Baghdwar and Bishnudwar of the park from where the sacred rivers Bagmati and Bishnumatii originate. Visitors can have breathtaking views of the high Himalayas from the northern aspects of the park. Likewise, the panoramic views of Kathmandu valley could be seen from the southern slopes of the park.

Langtang National Park

It was established in 1976 to conserve the unique flora and fauna of the region. It is the nearest national park of the capital Kathmandu in the Central Himalayan Region about 32 Km (20 miles) north of Kathmandu. The 1710 sq. km. of the park extends over parts of Nuwakot, Rasuwa, and Sindhupalchokdistricts in the southern mountainous terrain of the Nepal-China (Tibet) border. In 1998 an areas of 420 sq km in and around the park declare as a buffer zone. The park represents a meeting point between indo-Malayan and Palearctic realms, and holds a rich biodiversity. 

Buffer zone management is a joint venture between the park office and the local communities. Local communities have a decision-making role in the management of such areas. Additionally, the local communities or the buffer zone receive 30 to 50 % of the park revenue for the better management of natural resources to ensure a sustainable supply of resources and community development. This park consists of the beautiful Langtang Valley, and several high altitude glacial lakes. One of the famous lakes is Gosainkunda, which is a sacred lake for Hindu pilgrims. People from the plains come every year to bathe in this icy cold lake in August. This park also includes more than 40 villages.

Shey Phoksundo National Park

Shey-phoksundo Narional Park is situated in the Trans-Himalayan region of northwest Nepal. It is Nepal’s largest National Park covering an area of 3,555 km and contains the highest lake, Lake Phoksundo. It was established in 1984 to preserve a unique Trans-Himalayan ecosystem with a diversity of flora and fauna. The Park’s climatic differences, altitude variations, and different zoo-geographical regions support a diverse range of biotic systems.

In 1998, an area of 1349 km2 surrounding the park was declared as buffer zone, which consists of forests and private lands. The buffer zone is jointly managed by the park and local communities. Together they initiate community development activities and manage the natural and cultural resources. The park contains luxuriant forests mainly composed of blue pine, spruce, cypress, poplar, fir and birch. The Jugdual River valley consists mostly of Quercus (oak) species. The trans-Himalayan area has near-desert type vegetation consisting of dwarf juniper and caragana shrubs.

The park provides prime habitat for the endangered snow leopard and the blue sheep. Other common animals found in the park include goral, Himalayan tahr, serow, leopard, wolf, jackal, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan weasel, Himalayan mouse hare, yellow-throated marten, langur and rhesus monkey. The park is equally rich in many species of birds such as Impeyan pheasant (Danphe), blood pheasant, cheer pheasant, red and yellow billed cough, rave, jungle crow and snow partridge. Individual trekking is permitted to trek to Ringmo or Phoksundo Lake. The Tran-Himalayan region of inner Dolpa is restricted to group trekking only; a group trekking permit is needed and can be arranged by us.

Khaptad National Park

Khaptad National Park is situated in the mid mountain region of Far-Western Nepal. The park was gazette in 1984 covering an area of 225 sq. km. The proposed area of buffer zone is 216 sq. km.  The vegetation of the park varies from sub-tropical in the lower altitudes to temperate forest with grasslands on the Khaptad plateau. The common tree species are rhododendron, chir pine, spruce, fir, maple, birch and alder. Dense stands of bamboo (nigalo), prairie flowers, and a variety of medicinal herbs occur inside the park.

The common mammals of the park are Leopard, Musk Deer, Goral, Yellow-Throated Marten, Himalayan black bear, Himalayan Tahr and Langur monkey. The common bird species include Impeyan pheasant (Danphe), Chukor, Partridge, Kalij Pheasant, Monal, red and Yellow-billed Blue Magpie and Himalayan Griffin. A variety of colorful butterflies, moths and insects are also found here.

The core area of the park is an important religious site. The park is home to the Ashram of Khaptad Swami, a renowned spiritual saint, along with other religious areas and temples. The best way to reach the park area is to fly from Nepalgunj to Dipayal and the local buses are available from Silgadhi, Doti. From Silgadhi Bazzar one has to hike 6 hours to the park entrance and another 7-8 hours to the Park Headquarters. Other options are-flight to Dipayal followed by a three-day walk, or flight to Achham or Bajhang followed by a two-day walk, or flight to Bajura followed by a four-day walk. However, Dipayal and Accham airport are rarely open.

Bardiya National Park

Bardia National Park is the largest park in the lowland Terai covering an area of 968 sq. km. The park situated in Nepal's Western Terai was established to protect representative ecosystems and conserve tiger and its prey species. Initially, a small area was gazette as the Karnali Wildlife Reserve in 1976. When this area was protected, approximately 1500 people of the Babai valley were resettled outside the park allowing the vegetation and wildlife to flourish. In 1982, it was renamed as Bardia Wildlife Reserve, and in 1984 it was extended to its current size. The reserve was given the status of a National Park in 1988. Greater One-horned Rhinoceros were Trans located from Chitwan National Park in 1986, 1991, and 1999.

The park offers a variety of experiences in its vast undisturbed wilderness. About 70% of the forest consists of Sal trees with a mixture of grassland and riverine forests. Sal leaves are used in festival and religious offering. The park is home to endangered animals such as the Royal Bengal tiger, wild elephant, Greater one-horned rhinoceros, swamp deer, and black buck; the other endangered species include gharial-crocodile, marsh mugger and Gangetic dolphin. Endangered birds found in the park are Bengal florican, lesser florican and sarus crane, more that 30 different mammals, over 230 species of birds and several species of snakes, lizard and fish have been recorded in the park's forest, grassland and river. In addition to the resident species, several migratory birds visit the park.

Changunarayan Temple

Changu Narayan is one of the most important monuments of the Kathmandu Valley and is full of art works on metal and wood. Situated 18 km east of Kathmandu city and standing 1541 meters above the sea level, this monument is significant from religious, cultural, historical and archaeological viewpoints. The temple itself is dedicated to Vishnu (often called Narayan). The site is termed with different names during ancient period such as Champak Narayan , Dolashikher and Dolaparvat and become famous with the names of Changu Narayan in the medieval period to at present .The lord residing in this place is worshipped by the Hindus as Garuda Narayan Lokeshwor one among this many Lokeshwor is Mahayana Buddhism. This is one of the seven world heritage sites of the Kathmandu Valley listed on the UNESCO world heritage list.

The history of this site dates back to 4th century AD. According to the Gopal Raj Vanshavali a fathomable chronicle believed to be written in the 14th century AD credits king Haridutta Verma as the founder/builder of this shrine, who also built 3 other shrines dedicated to Lord Vishnu in three cardinal points of the valley: Bishankhu Narayan in the east, Shikhaar Narayan in the south and Ichangu Narayan in the west.

Garuda

One of the proud collections of Changu complex is the pillar with inscription engraved on it, and installation of human faced Garuda, the mythical half-bird, half-man donated by king Manadev in the year 464 AD, a great devotee of Vishnu (Narayan’s mount). The pillar and the statue of Garuda are considered to be the oldest records of religious importance to be discovered not only in the shrine but in the whole valley of Kathmandu; the language of the inscription is Sanskrit but is written in the Lichhavi Script. After Manadev, king Ansuverma, an illustrious ruler of 7th century replaced the worn out golden shield and Garuda.

Statue of Malla king and Queen

Bhupalendra Malla, the king of Kantipur had renovated Kileshwor temple in 1691 AD and arranged the priest for its worship, in 1704 AD the queen Bhuban Laxmi, having performed the yagya, got the Changu Narayan temple built and got the enthroned idols of herself and her late husband, Bhupalendra Malla established at the main gate. The statue of Bhupalendra Malla stolen on 2 Sep, 2001 and reinstall in the same place

Janakpur

Named after the legendary King Janak, Janakpur was the capital of the ancient Indian Kingdom Mithila, the native country of goddess Sita, the wife of the Hindu god Rama and the heroine of the great Hindu epic Ramayana. Today Janakpur stands as the most cleanest and interesting place among all the towns of Terai. Janakpur has become a great piligrimage site for Hindus today. The most sacred sites are the Janaki Mandir, dedicated to goddess Sita, the Ram Sita bibaha(marriage) mandir, built over the spot where Ram and Sita were said to be married, Ram Mandir, dedicated to god Ram and the holy pond Dhanush Sagar. Hundreds of Indian devotees come here every year to pay their respect to the goddess at this temple.

Besides the religious importance, Janakpur is also the center for the revival of the ancient Mithila art and craft. As a tradition, Mithila women have always been decorating the walls of their houses with paintings depicting figures from Hindu mythology in abstract forms, sometimes resembling a mandala.

Mt. Manaslu

Manaslu (8,163) is the peak of the Gorkha massif, and is the eight highest mountains in the world. It is located about 40 miles east of Annapurna, the tenth highest mountain. The mountains long ridges and valley glaciers offer feasible approaches from all directions, and it culminates in a peak that towers steeply above its surroundings landscape, and is dominant features when seen from afar. The name Manaslu is derived from the Sanskrit word Manasa and can be roughly translated as mountain of the spirit. An all-female Japanese expedition successfully ascended to the summit, thereby becoming the first women to climb an 8,000 meter peak.

Mt. Dhaulagiri

Dhaulagiri (8,167), whose name means White Mountain, is the seventh highest mountain in the world .It is an enormous Himalayan massif, located in north central Nepal. After its discovery by the western world in 1808, it replaced Ecuador’s   Chimborazo (20,561 ft) as the postulated highest mountain in the world. It maintained this standing for nearly 30 years, until the discovery of Kanchenjunga which was then falsely believed to be the world’s highest mountain.

Dhaulagiri’s crest stretches for thirty miles, lending structure to an otherwise tangled topography of twisting ridges, glaciers, and ice falls. Along the main crest, several pyramid-shaped peaks rise. Four of these summits, numbered form east to west, rise above 25,000 feet.

In 1960, the Swiss/Australian expedition who first reached the summit did so despite their airplane having crashed during the approach. This was the first Himalayan climb supported by an airplane, although the plane was subsequently abandoned on the mountain.

Mt. Cho Oyu

Cho Oyu (8,201) is the sixth highest mountain in the world, located a short distance to the west from Everest and Lhotse (the fourth highest) in the Khumbu region of Eastern Nepal along the Tibetan Border, its towering peak stands with Everest well above the surrounding mountains. It become a familiar landmark to climbers ascending Everest ‘s north face .Just west of Cho Oyu is the Nangpa La, a 19,000- foot glacier pass, and  the main trade route between the Khumbu sherpas and Tibet. Cho Oyu’s proximity to the Nangpa la has earned it the distinction among some climbers as being the easiest 8,000 meter peak. it was the third such peak climbed, and the first climbed in autumn by two Australian.

Mt. Makalu

Makalu (8,463) is the fifth highest mountain in the world. It is an isolated peak, located just 14 miles east of Mount Everest. Its size alone is impressive, but its structure, that of a perfect pyramid with four sharp ridges, make this mountain all the more spectacular.

It has proved to be a challenging climb, as only five of its first sixteen attempts were successful. Previously, it had been admired and studied by several Everest parties, but like so many other giants in Khumbu region, it was not attempted until the  summit of Everest had been attained in 1954.A French group first climbed Makalu in year 1955.

Chomo Lonzo(25,650 ft) is a subsidiary peak of Makalu, rising just north of the higher summit, separated by a narrow saddle.

Mt. Lhotse

Lhotse (8,516) is the fourth highest mountain in the world. Its long east-west crest is located immediately south of Mount Everest and the summits of the two mountains are connected by the South Col, a vertical ridge that never drops below 8,000 meters. Lhotse is sometimes mistakenly identified as the south peak of the Everest massif. No serious afternoon was turned to climbing Lhotse until after Everest had finally been ascended. Lhotse was first climbed in 1956 by two Swiss, fritz Luchsinger and Ernest Reiss.

In addition to the main summit, there are two subsidiary peaks, Lhotse Shar, which is immediately east of the main summit, and Nuptse, a high peak on the mountain’s west ridge.

Dharan

At the east of Nepal, right at the foot of hills, located in the Sunsari district at an altitude of 1148 ft (349m) lies this beautiful city, Dharan. It is linked by road with the East-West highway of Nepal and can be reached by two hours drive from Biratnagar. Beautiful roads, remarkable homes and natural beauty aren't all that makes Dharan. It embraces cleanliness, openness, friendly hill people and their smiles. Dharan grew after British setup the `Gurkha Recruitment Center' in 1953, which helped many Nepalese earn employment. Two ethnic groups namely Rais and Limbus used to constitute the major portion of Gurkah soldiers. These groups came from the eastern region of Nepal, and Dharan was their center for training.

Due to immigration from the hilly region and all over Nepal, Dharan now however, has people from other ethnicities like Rai, Newar, Brahman, Chetris, Tamang, etc., can be found here, making Dharan a multi-lingual community with different languages and various dialects spoken. However, Nepali is the official and common language.

Dharan has a tropical monsoon climate with maximum temperature of 35 to 36 Degree Celsius in April, and minimum of 10 to 12 Degree Celsius in January. Nepal's one of the largest river, Saptakoshi, runs near Dharan.
From Dharan, about 50 Kilometers of what is the most scenic drive in Nepal takes you to a place where your imaginations of greenery gardens are revealed. Some say, come to Dhankuta, if you want to walk in the clouds. Meet the clouds, village folks, and greet the awesome enchanting tea gardens here, and learn some on organic tea and tea processing units in Nepal. If you are a tea lover, you will enjoy visiting a privately owned tea garden and factory. Also visit Hile, a hill town situated at 1850m altitude, which is just 6 Km from Dhankuta for the Hile Bazaar and gracious people.
This hill is located about 90 km from Dharan, and about 1 km from Hile. It is the starting point for trekking to Kanchanjunga Base Camp. Beyond the hill, beautiful forests Rhododendrons can be seen.

Excellent spot to view Kanchenjunga, Khumbakarna, Makalu and Mt. Everest. This hill is located 20 km from Dharan

Dharan bazar itself is admittedly not terribly beautiful, but in addition to Bhedetar and Raja Rani hill, it's a great starting point for short hikes and longer treks. If you have a couple of extra days, a visit to Basantapur, the starting point for the tough Kangchenjunga base camp trek, or the lovely village of Hile near Dhankuta, are great add-ons to a Dharan visit.

Illam

A brisk walk in a tea garden, tranquil picnic and sightseeing stops, short treks along gentle slopes, or a trudge into the nearby woods –all this and more is offered for its tea, is a small hill town with pristine landscapes of slopes tea gardens, mountain streams, dense natural forests, holy sites and a unique culture. Using Ilam Bazaar as a base you can take excursions for a day or more.

While the subtropical climate of Ilam ensures good weather throughout the year; the best time to visit Ilam is between October –December or from April –February.

Ilam district is bordered by Panchthar in the north, Jhapa in the south, West Bengal of India in the east, and Morang and Dhankuta district in the west. It lies to the south of the Mahabharat range and west of the Shinghalila range.

Elevations in Ilam district range between 140 m to 3,636 m above sea level. Ilam is sometimes called Charkhol (area of four rivers) because of the four main rivers-the Jogmai, Puwamai, Mai, and Deumai in the district.

It is also one of the richest districts in Nepal in terms of its cultural diversity, natural landscape, and flourishing cash crops sector. Potato, cardamom, ginger, red round chilly, milk, and broom grass are the major cash crops. Visitors also go to Ilam for botanical and anthropological research.
Mai Pokhari (2,121m) is a pristine little lake surrounded by dense forest a fir, juniper, birch, pine and a variety of flora and fauna. Mai Pokhari is a religious and historical spot with a 9-cornered lake as the main attraction. The lake is considered the sacred abode of Goddess Bhagawati. Different species of medicinal plants, herds and orchids, mostly for research and experimental purpose, are cultivated in the Mai Pokhari area. Rare animals like the musk deer, leopard, porcupine, jackal as well as numerous migratory birds and rare insects are also found in the area. People from different parts of Nepal visit Mai Pokhari in Ilam for annual festivals on Kartik Ekadasi which falls in October or November. Mai Pokhari is about one and half hour drive from Ilam Bazaar.
Chhintapu (3,353m) is the second highest peak in Ilam district. Nearly 11 varieties of rhododendron, rare herbs, endangered species of animals like the musk deer and red panda are found in this area. Mt Kanchenjunga, the third highest peak in the world, and most parts of Ilam can be seen from here.

Gorkha

Gorkha is a scenic hill- town with great historical significance.

King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified the kingdom of Nepal during eighteenth century, was born in the township of Gorkha. Situated on a small hillock at an attitude of about 1000 m, Gorkha offers panoramic view of snow-fed mountain.

Then the small kingdom of Gorkha, founded by king Drabya Shah in 1560 A. D. became famous during the dynasty of Ram Shah (1604-1641 A.D.), who earned the reputation of being just to his people. There was a famous proverb in those days which said that one should go to Gorkha if he were looking for justice.

In the middle of eighteenth century there were hundreds of small kingdoms and principalities in what is today's Nepal. The great Prithvi Narayan Shah took the mammoth task of unifying Nepal in the eighteenth century. The Gorkha soldiers under his dynamic leadership eventually succeeded in conquering theKathmandu valley. The capital of greater Nepal was shifted to Kathmandu since then. But this beautiful township has always remained as the center of attraction for many Nepalese as well as foreign visitors.

Ten meters below the palace's southern side, is the sacred cave temple of Gorkhanath. The cave is is carved out of the solid rock and is among the most important religious sites for mainstream Brahmins and Chhetris of Nepal. Gorkha is also an alternate starting point for a few trekking routes in the region. Gorkha-Trisuli is an easy three day walk along unspoiled Nepali country side. One can also walk a long day's walk to Besishahar, which is the usual starting point for Annapurna and Manang area treks. One can also walk through Besishahar area to Pokhara in a four days.

Tansen

The township of Tansen is among a few towns outside the capital which bears a rich legacy of the traditional art and architecture. Perched on the lap of the spectacular Srinagar Danda (hill) Tansen, commands a gorgeous panorama of the Himalayas as well as the plains of Terai. Located at an elevation of 1310 meters Tansen is a pleasant place to visit during any season of the year. The hill of Srinagar, half an hour’s walk up Tansen Bazaar at an elevation of 1524 m. is rare vantage point to view the contrasting manifestation of nature. An Incredibly Long panorama of the mountains encompassing Kanjiroba, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Langtang Himal at a stretch is visible from here on one hand, while on the other the plains of Madi valley and the bigger terai also comes to distinct view from the same point. Tansen is a good put off point for short as well as long treks. You can visit some of the beautiful points on the Kali Gandaki river such as Ranighat Palace and Ramdi Ghat the dense and serene woody slopes of Rambhapani and Satyawati lake.For longer treks you can choose any area in Annapurna-Dhaulagiri region such as Dhorpatan, Jomsom, Ghorepani or Annapurna Sanctuary. Tansen also provides opportunity for study of Buddhist culture and the life and culture of Magar tribes.
One of the most picturesque spots in the whole Palpa region, Shreenagar hill abounds in scenic grander and magnificent natural surroundings. A mere 30 minutes climb on foot or 10 minutes drive from the town of Tansen, One would reach the top of the hill which commands a unique spectrum of natural extravaganza-from the snowcapped Himalayan peaks in the north to the lush green wide expanse of plains of Terai in the south, and of course, the panoramic view of the Tansen town. The impressive meadow on the hill top is an ideal spot to view the breathtaking scenes of majestic Dhaulagiri, annapurna and the famed twin peaks of Machhapuchare-the fishtail mountain. also, many beautiful short walks and excursions may be enjoyed from this point. To the comfort of the visitors, there are newly built facilities like cottages and camping sites on the top of the hill. An added attraction is a recently built ‘Twa-dewa’, a huge Newari style bronze lamp stand.
Built in 1927 AD by Pratap Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana, the durbar is a grand imposing palace in the heart of the town. Once the seat of the Rana governors, the Durbar is now the district secretariat of Palpa district.
Built by Ujir Singh Thapa in 1814 AD to mark the victory over colonial British-India forces, the temple is a small structure but holds immense religions importance. Located near the Tansen Durbar, it is a pilgrimage of Palpalies. It is said that the original structure was remarkably bigger and beautiful. and it has undergone many physical adjustments, most recently after the great earthquake of 1934. In the month of august every year, a chariot procession of deities is taken out throughout the town with military honor to observe the historic battle.

Bandipur

Bandipur is a hilltop settlement in Tanahu District, Gandaki Zone of Nepal. Because of its preserved, old time cultural atmosphere, Bandipur has increasingly been coming to the attention of tourism. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 9952 people residing in 1929 individual households.

Khadga Devi
The temple of Khadga Devi is one of the most revered temples in Bandipur, which is belied by its look of a residential house except for the finial. This temple is opened to devotees only once a year on the day of Phulpati during the Hindu festival of Dasain. The shrine does not contain any statues of gods or goddesses, but a Khadga, a sacred sword wrapped in layers of cloth. Legend has it that if anyone looks at it, he or she invites instant death by vomiting blood. According to another story, the relic was a present from Lord Shiva to Mukunda Sen, king of Palpa (1518-1553 A.D.). The Khadga is worshipped as a symbol of the female power, hence the name Khadga Devi, which means goddess of the sword.

Bindhabasini TempleThis temple is located in the main bazaar area and is constructed in the pagoda style. An image of the goddess Bindhabasini is enshrined here. It also contains statues of other goddesses. During the New Year celebrations of the Bikram Sambat, the image of Bindhabasini is put on a chariot and pulled through town amidst other revelry.

Chandithan
This temple lies to the west of Bandipur Bazaar. According to folklore, people would place 12 eggs inside the temple and cover it with straw and a brick before the start of the planting season. If the eggs kept fresh after one year when they were uncovered, it meant that there would be a good crop the following year.

Mahalaxmi TempleThis temple is located to the southeast of the main bazaar. Its architecture shows it to date from the medieval period. The temple is in the style of a pagoda. The struts and tympanum are adorned with figures of Bhimsen and various mythical creatures. The original statue of the goddess Mahalaxmi, however, was stolen, and it has been replaced by a new one.

Narayan TempleThis temple lies to the east of the main bazaar area. Statues of the god Harihar and the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu are installed inside.

TundikhelTundikhel is an excellent vantage point situated to the north of Bandipur's main bazaar. From here, one can view the magnificent Himalayan Range including the spectacular peaks of Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Langtang, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal, among others. The legendary Gorkha Palace and the famous Manakamana Peak can also be seen clearly. Other sights include the Marsyangdi Valley, Bimalnagar and Dumre.

Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel is situated 32 km east of Kathmandu at an altitude of 1550m on the side of Arniko Highway on the way towards Tibet. It is popular for its natural beauty and ancient traditions. There are some beautiful old buildings in this town which has culture with its old Newari heritage. The people in the village are Newars, Bhramin, Chhettri, Tamang and Dalit.

Dhulikhel was once known by the Buddhist name of Shrikhandapur and still has a few Buddhist stupas in memory of the old days. Namo Buddha is an interesting and pleasant three-hour hike from the town, and has a nice mix of Buddhist flavour and old Hindu temples. Dhulikhel also has several ancient temples dedicated to Sweta Bhairav, Hari Siddhi, Shiva, and Narayana, each with an interesting story related to how they came into being.

There are some good day walks in this area. You can take an interesting walk from Nagarkot through Nala to Banepa and there are plenty of other short hikes to undertake from Dhulikhel, but one of the best is the pleasant half-hour uphill from Dhulikhel to the telecommunication tower. Walk through a lush forest echoing with the chattering of racquet tailed drongos and turtle doves to come to a temple dedicated to Kali. If you can manage to wake up early and get up there, it is a sunrise you will remember for years. Many people come here to get warmed up before doing a longer trek.

The Himalayan ranges from the twin crest of Mt. Langtang in the west to the Mt. Everest in the east can be clearly viewed in a clear day. Dhulikhel is ideal for snow-capped peaks, sunrise, sunset and it is different from any other place. One can say Dhulikhel is where the peaks speak.

Gandaki River

The Kali Gandaki or Gandaki River (also known as the Narayani in southern Nepaland the Gandak in India) is one of the major rivers of Nepal and a left bank tributary of the Ganges in India It is also called Krishna Gandaki in Nepal.^[1] In Nepal the river is notable for its deep gorge through the Himalayas and its enormous hydroelectricpotential. It has a total catchment area of 46,300 square kilometers (17,900 sq mi), most of it in Nepal. It lies between the similar Kosi system to the east and the Karnali(Ghaghara) system to the west.

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmāthā National Park is a protected area in the Himalayas of easternNepal containing the southern half of Mount Everest. The park was created on July 19, 1976 and was inscribed as a Natural World Heritage Site in 1979. Sagarmāthāis a Sanskrit word, from sagar = "sky" (not to be confused with "sea/ocean") andmāthā = "forehead" or "head", and is the modern Nepali name for Mount Everest.

The park encompasses an area of 1,148 km² (443 sq mi) in the Solukhumbu District and ranges in elevation from 2,845 m (9,334 ft) at Jorsalle to 8,848 m (29,029 ft) at the summit of Mount Everest.^[1] Barren land above 5,000 m (16,000 ft) comprises 69% of the park while 28% is grazing land and the remaining 3% is forested. Most of the park area is very rugged and steep, with its terrain cut by deep rivers and glaciers. Unlike other parks, this park can be divided into four climate zones because of the rising altitude. The climatic zones include aforested lower zone, a zone of alpine scrub, the upper alpine zone which includes upper limit of vegetation growth, and the Arctic zone where no plants can grow. The types of plants and animals that are found in the park depend on the altitude. The park contains the upper watershed of the Dudh Kosi river basin system.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square  World Heritage Sites,UNESCO Basantapur Durbar Square is one of the famouse sight seeing spot for the wood carving. A very old Hindu text has described Kathmandu as the land of gods surrounded by beautiful Hindu temples.Mainly trinity gods are found there like Brama, Vishnu and Shiva alongside shakti temples. Kal Bhairav- one of the largest stone idol in Kathmandu representing the terrifying aspects of Shiva.Kal Bhairav is the god of the Justice in the ancient time. It means origin of the modern rules and regulation through Kal Bhairav. It has vital role todays environment.
Some two hundred years ago a western Visitor wrote that there were as many temples as there were houses and as many idols as there were people. In fact Kathmandu boasts one of the largest congregations of magnificent historical monuments and shrines ever built.Duly recognized as a world Heritage Site by UNESCO- this particular area best known as Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the heart of this city. Locally also called as Hanuman Dhoka Palace Square-an ancient seat of the Nepalese Royalty.

Patan Durbar Square

Patan (Sanskrit: पाटन Pātan, Nepal Bhasa: यल Yala), officially Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City, is one of the major cities of Nepal. It is one of the sub-metropolitan cities of Nepal located in the south-western part of Kathmandu valley. Patan is also known as Manigal. It is best known for its rich cultural heritage, particularly its tradition of arts and crafts. It is also called as city of festival and feast, fine ancient art, making of metallic and stone carving statue. At the time of the 2001 Nepal census it had a population of 162,991 in 68,922 individual households.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur (Nepali: भक्तपुर Bhaktapur ), also Bhadgaon or Khwopa (Nepal Bhasa: ख्वप Khwopa) is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of theKathmandu Valley, Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone. It is the third largest city in Kathmandu valley and was once the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom until the second half of the 15th century.

Bhaktapur is listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artwork.

Changu Narayan Temple

Changu Narayan is the name of the deity enshrined in the Changu Narayan Temple, located near the Changunarayan village in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. The temple is one of the oldestHindu temples of the valley, and is believed to have been constructed in the 4th century. Changu Narayan is the name of Vishnu, and the Temple is dedicated to him. A stone slab discovered in the vicinity of the temple dates to the 5th century, and is the oldest such stone inscription discovered in Nepal. The Changu Narayan Temple is one of seven structures cited by UNESCO as demonstrating the historic and artistic achievements that make the Kathmandu Valley a World Heritage Site.