Chilling Out In Nepal – Hill Stations, Lakesides And Much More…

out destination’s in Nepal

Nagarkot – A popular tourist destination that people use as a quick stop off to view the spectacular Himalaya. There is a lot more to this magnificent Hill Station than just that. You can enjoy secluded retreats and hotels where you can get away from it all, enjoy revitalizing massage, rekie, mediation or just spend your time exploring the hillside villages. Nagarkot is within easy reach of Kathmandu, Nepal’s thriving capital city, in facts it’s an ideal place for a weekend city escape. In Nagarkot, there is also much more to do than just admiring the Himalaya, take a guided off road motor bike tour to experience the rich culture of the Tamang people, pony ride or hike to some nearby villages, go bird watching in the jungle or tackle and exhilarating downhill on mountain bike.

Bandipur – Half way between Kathmandu and Pokhara you can find this sleepy hill station high up on a ridge above the Marsyandi River and the orange growing regions. This one time isolated town is one of the finest examples in Nepal of how eco and social responsible tourism can work to create a wonderful experience for visitors and a profitable one for the villagers. Here you can explore the biggest caves in Nepal, see silk making first hand or just soak up inspiring views of the middle Himalaya. Visits to Bandipur can be arranged on the way to or from Pokhara and they can be combined with trips to Manakarmana, one of the holiest temples in Nepal and the only cable car ride the country has to offer. In Bandipur accommodation varies from first class mountain retreats to basic yet rewarding village home stays.

Bhaltali – Yet another example of tourism working for improved villages in Nepal. This hidden valley is a remarkable place, hemmed on one side by a river gorge and pine forests and on the other side by hillsides terraced with rice and millet fields. It’s a fantastic destination for photographers or people who want to just spend time in a typical Nepali village. Home stays can be arranged or you can spend your evenings in the hilltop resort soaking up the village and mountain views. In close proximity is the breathtaking Namobuddha, a famous Buddhist Monastery and Pauntie an ancient Newari Town (Newars are an ethnic group of Nepal), so you can easily spend a few days here and it’s only an hour’s drive plus two hours walk to get there from Kathmandu.

Chisopani – A 16km trek through the Shivapuri National Park takes you to Chisopani, a small village and trekker’s outpost on the valley rim. From here the views rival those from Nagarkot. One can easily spend a few days chilling out here, relaxing, getting to know the villagers, visiting the local cheese factory, explore the Dhaps “wetlands” or just use it as a stopover on treks to Nagarkot, into Langtang and Helumbu or down to Melamchhi. Chisopani is fast become one of the Kathmandu Valleys most popular Hill Stations and its eco and culturally friendly theme make it an ideal destination for those visitors after a taste of what trekking in Nepal is all about.

Pokhara – Not just a starting point or finishing point for trekkers but an unbelievably beautiful and chilled out place to partake in Rekie or Yoga course, or do some meditation in a retreat. Pokhara also has a world class golf course if that’s your cup of tea! It also boasts a stunning 5 star resort, with manicured gardens, tennis court an pool, if you want to do it in style, or just kick back in one of many cozy road and lakeside hotels lining the main strip, packed full of shopping, restaurants and chilled out night spots. Pokhara is the kind of place that one goes to and never wants to leave.