The Ultimate Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Nepal

Nepal, as a country, has always been a land that the human imagination. It is clear why this charismatic nation has been stealing hearts for so many years. Nepal The appeal of Nepal lies in a myriad landscape, cultural diversity and intense adventure spread across the length and breadth of its soil. From the highest mountains on earth to the tranquil plains of Terai, Nepal has something for every kind of traveller. In this article, I will talk to you about the top places to visit in Nepal, be it for adventure holidays, cultural tours or just a getaway from the crowded city.

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1. The Cultural Pocket Of Nepal - Kathmandu Valley

The day I arrived in Kathmandu for the first time, it was like stepping into a living museum. Kathmandu Valley (composition of three cities: Kathmandy, Bhaktapur and Patan) is goldmine for history, architecture and spirituality.

The City of Temples, Kathmandu

The capital city is Kathmandu, a symbol two myriads of years history and spiritual country Nepal. Almost every visit to the city will be accompanied by an ancient temple, stupa or palace jutting out from above a dream-like skyline and if you have some 72 hours in Kathmandu these are definitely going to feature on your itinerary pretty heavily.

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) – This ancient stupa is set atop a hill, from where it commands impressive views of the capital below. The air is filled with a chorus of chanting monks and the rustling prayer flags, making it one of grace.

Pashupatinath Temple: I never really religious places that much until this temple but when we were here at Pashupatinath a sacred place for Hindus and the locals are so fervent, you can almost feel spirituality. I remember watching the Bagmati River rituals with a profound sense of respect.

Boudhanath Stupa: Nepal's largest stupa and a focal point of Tibetan Buddhism. Boudhanath emanates a profound spiritual energy as I walk around the stupa, spinning wheels with other pilgrims.

Bhaktapur: The city’s various names therefore symbolize the title City of Devotees

Bhaktapur gives a medieval look, making the place to be a totally different world in itself.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square: The elaborate 55-Window Palace and the majestic Pyatadaw Temple are really marvelous to me. What used to be the perfect setting for a bustling marketplace surrounded by artisans and those who traded in all forms of merchandise today looks calm and sacred.
Pottery Square: While walking around Pottery Square where people make pottery @items from scratch, I could observe some level of professionalism among the artisans. One can still marvel at the ways the classical approaches are still in use here.

Patan: The City of Fine Arts is a needed result of the development of art, the continuity of the process of the creation of a new aesthetic world

Lalitpur or, as it is called, Patan, sparkles with the talent of craftspeople and talented artists.

Patan Durbar Square: The square is another masterpiece of Newari art that, along with elaborated wooden windows and doors, contains several temples. In particular, I failed to remain indifferent to the disturbed meandering structures and the rich stoned carving decorations of the Krishna Mandir.
Patan Museum: If you have love for Nepalese art and history, Patan Museum is a place that you should visit. The artwork presented in the museum I visited gave me a much more comprehensive view of the traditional art of that region.

2. Pokhara: Gangtok: Gateway to the Himalayas

At least, I can declare definitely that the town of Pokhara, which is about 200-kilometer away from Kathmandu, is one of the most beautiful places in Nepal. Famously referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Himalayas’, the city of Pokhara has both relaxed natural beauty and adventurous activities to offer.

Lakeside: This is probably one of the hearts of Pokhara. People from all over the world gather to perform and experience some of the most significant and picturesque moments of their lives

Lakeside, as the name implies, is located beside the serene Phewa Lake and thus gives tourists the perfect starting point to discover Pokhara.

Phewa Lake: It is in the evening that I spent most of my time just cruising in Phewa Lake while enjoying the mirror-like image of Annapurna and Machhapuchre at the surface of the water. Tal Barahi Temple in the centre of the lake on an island is a good place of interest where one can relax.
World Peace Pagoda: I got to the World Peace Pagoda from Lakeside by a short trail head. Here there are stunning views of the city of Pokhara itself and of Phewa Lake, not to mention the fantastic mountain views.
Sarangkot: For photography enthusiasts or for those who love to watch sunrises, Sarangkot is a must-visit. I recall one time when I arose at 4. 30 A. M. to view the sunrise on the Annapurna range, and was not disappointed.

Adventure Activities in Pokhara

Pokhara has numerous activities that one may do to tour the natural surroundings in a vastly different way.

Paragliding: The breathtaking bird view of the entire landscape is experienced by paragliding in Pokhara adventure activity. Flying out of Sarangkot, I felt the sensation of flying over the valley with the Annapurnas as a background.
Ultralight Flights: For people who want more, this biodiversity sanctuary provides an opportunity for an aerial view on ultralight flights. As for the point of view of the flight over the peaks and valleys, it can’t be put into words, it is something that is worth feeling.
Trekking: There are several trails that originate in lowland Pokhara and the most famous trek is the Annapurna base camp trek. For the adventurous, Casablanca has challenging treks and, for first timers, there are easy treks to suit your needs.

3. Chitwan National Park: Wildlife Sanctuary

To take the tour of the entirely different experience, I went to Chitwan National Park in the subtropical low lands of Nepal. Some of the finest wildlife spotting in Uganda can be witnessed in this conservation area which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Safari Adventures in Chitwan

I recommend Chitwan to anyone who wishes to explore the biological tissue of the Nepalese biogeographical box.

Jeep Safari: I decided to go for jeep safari whereby I was able to go much deeper into the jungle. The absolutely wonderful moment was when I was able to see a one-horned rhinoceros about 20 meters from the water where it fed – I had only seen this in pictures before.
Canoe Ride: From the Rapti River, I took a canoe trip through which I saw crocodiles lazing on the river’s edge as well as birds of different species. The quietness of the river and the noises of the jungle are that again it is almost close to meditation.

Tharu Culture and Village tour

The people that dominate the Chitwan area are the Tharu people, and I was interested primarily in their culture and norms.

Tharu Village Tour: I got a little idea of the kind of lives Tharus lead by visiting one of their settlements. The traditional and archaic mud houses, thesedear and nice clothes, all these were so appealing to me and welcomed me warmly.
Tharu Cultural Museum: I proactively managed to visit the Tharu Cultural Museum, which made me develop some understanding of the Tharu people and their customs. They are such strong people, and they’re tied to the land in a way that really is amazing.

4. Lumbini: The Lord Buddha's birthplace

The place which is known nowadays as Lumbini has a great importance for Buddhists all over the world because of the reason that the great founder of Buddhism-Siddhārtha Gautama, or known as Buddha, was born here. To my surprise, I think Lumbini is quite quiet and meditative.

Key Attractions in Lumbini

Lumbini is not only a location that tourists go to pay their respect, but also an area where they can go for history and spirituality.

Maya Devi Temple: It is the birthplace of Prince Siddhārtha Gautama who later became Buddha. This temple was built at the place where queen Maya Devi gave birth to the prince. Being there, I found myself contemplating the relation to history and, to an even greater extent, spirituality.
The Ashoka Pillar: This ASI protected pillar was installed by Emperor Ashoka to indicate that Lumbini was the birthplace of Buddha. When coming across the inscribed texts carved into the pillar, I was thrown back to the pre-Buddhistic period when Buddhism was rapidly extencing its influence across Asia.
Lumbini Monastic Zone: One of them is the monastic zone that consists of monasteries of different countries decorated in the perspective of the corresponding countries' architecture. The mood in the ‘zone’ resembled a round-the-world Buddhist tour.

Sacred Garden

The sacred garden in Lumbini is appropriate for meditation, and it comprises some of the areas described above. Overgrown with mighty trees and small ponds, I realized that it was a perfect place for becoming more attuned to the spiritual energies of the place and doing some meditation.

5. Everest Region: Summiting the World’s Mountain of Mountains

For several, the BBC seems to sum up the epitome of the Everest region. I discovered this area as being very interesting not only from the point of view of tourism and high-altitude hiking, but also from the anthropological aspect, as the Sherpas are one of the most congenial peoples of the world.

Trekking in the Everest Region Of all the regions of Nepal, the Everest region has remained a more popular one for travelers as it offers a close view of the tallest mountains in the world.

Most treks here in the Everest region can boast of some of the best breathtaking sceneries in the entire world.

Everest Base Camp Trek: I would like to say that this particular trek remains in my list of the favorite ones. From Lukla it took me 6 days to reach the base of Mount Everest, passing through beautiful forests and crossing through other terrain that resembled the moon's surface. That was a short trek to base camp, but it felt like conquering a mountain felt like an achievement. But it was an experience that was unforgettable – the monasteries, the sherpa people and culture, meeting fellow trekkers in the mountains, the fellow hikers, the entire process was heartening.
Gokyo Lakes Trek: For those who want something different, the Gokyo Lakes Trek is a beautiful and less crowded area of the world. The beautiful view of the turquoise lakes and the Gokyo Ri made the treking worth it.

Sherpa Culture and Heritage

Originally, the Sherpa people inhabited the region of the Everest, and they were truly mountain people.

Namche Bazaar: It is a busy town and is the gateway to the ever popular Mount Everest region. I stayed there for two days to rest and to visit several markets which offer a wide range of things that can be bought there, including hiking clothes and accessories, as well as native delicacies and souvenirs.
Tengboche Monastery: Tengboche Monastery was one of the religiously charged places that I entered. The monastery is built on higher cliff views of the Himalayas, particularly Everest and Ama Dablam; it felt like being in heaven when I listened to the tapping of the monks.

6. Annapurna Region: Trekking Paradise

Trekking in the Annapurna region is one of the most fascinating hiking experiences one can ever imagine in Nepal. The beautiful and diverse terrain together with friendly people enriched my experience while here.

Annapurna Circuit Trek

I realised why many people claim the Annapurna Circuit Trek is one of the best treks when I did the trek. The trek is a journey through the areas of subtropical forests, alpine pastures and great stony yards and rock crevices, all beautiful, all unique.

Thorong La Pass: The most enjoyable as well as the most difficult section of the trek was considered to be the crossing of Thorong La Pass section, with a height of 5,416 meters. The top views, which were the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges, seemed to have left me in awe.
Muktinath Temple: Proceeding further and coming down the valley to the village of Muktinath, a place of great religious importance for Hindus as well as Buddhists. The area of the temple – the place with the eternal flame and twelve and eighty water spouts-was a place I found spiritual, even though the temple in its broad American definition is far from the site of the world.
Manang and Jomsom: Tiring as the trek was, relief was taken in the villages of Manang and Jomsom. I had always felt that Manang was a well-hidden paradise, between the mountains and the Tibetan-style civilisation. Jomsom, on the other hand, was a completely different place altogether; with plains of wind and, actually, quite barren beauty.

Annapurna Base Camp Trek

If you are not up for a long trek but would like a trek of relatively equal strenuousness, then the Annapurna Base Camp trek is for you. This particular trek heads you straight into the shadow of the Annapurna, impressive scenery throughout the journey.

Ghorepani Poon Hill Trek: Of the many great things that I was able to experience on this trek, the most memorable was the climb to Poon Hill and seeing one of the most beautiful sunrise of my entire life. I have had quite a number of light moments in Annapurna, but probably the first light that touched the summit of Annapurna and Dhaulagiri was outstanding.
Machhapuchhre Base Camp: On the way to Annapurna Base Camp I stayed one night at Machhapuchhre Base Camp. Beautiful glimpses of the holy mountain of Machhapuchhre (Fishtail) were another feast to behold here. The structure of the mountain as well as the legends surrounding it made the trek a little more ‘spiritual’.

Culture and other related factors in the Annapurna area

Indeed, what makes the Annapurna region even more attractive is the fact that it is home to people from as diverse backgrounds as the geography of the area.

Ghandruk Village: Hiking through terraced fields to Ghandruk, I was impressed by the looks of this typical Gurung village. One could easily say that the beautiful stone houses, the carefully arrayed terraced fields, a small museum of local flavour, all of which belong to the Gurungs, contributed to the cultural treaty. They have hospitable people, and it is something that I will always cherish.
Kagbeni: Sitting right at the edge of the upper Mustang region, Kagbeni gave a sensation of entering a different world all together. With its monasteries that have been standing for several centuries, small stony interior-like streets and the presence of Tibetan Buddhism, the village provides a view of history and local traditions.

7. Mustang: The Forbidden Kingdom

This is perhaps why Mustang is known as the ‘Last Forbidden Kingdom’; it stands out as a different world from the rest of Nepal. It has the wild, picturesque feel of a truly remote area, and much of the population is Tibetan.

Lo Manthang: The enclosed city

Lo Manthang – the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Mustang, is one more place which does not resemble mediaeval Europe just because of several hundreds of years which have passed.

Royal Palace: There is still a lot of cultural importance in Lo Manthang; although the Royal Palace is no longer the current ruling palace it was historically. When I was strolling through its rather cramped streets and standing inside the centuries-old houses, I felt like I was in the Middle Ages.
Monasteries of Lo Manthang: The monasteries that are found in Lo Manthang, particularly the Jampa Lhakhang and Thubchen Gompa, are some of the most uniquely decorated, where I have observed elaborate frescoes and carvings. These are real monasteries, and I was able to capture monks in rituals; again the scenario impressed me very much.

Trekking in a Mustang

The geography of Mustang that I was to discover was very different from any terrain I had come across in the rest of Nepal. The features of the surrounding landscape, with the absence of vegetation on most of the area, a craggy landscape with numerous sharp peaks, gigantic deep gorges, and red formations adds to this stable and surrealistic mood.

Tiji Festival: I was fortunate to visit during the Tiji Festival, which is a three-day festival where the people organise rituals in order to chase away evil and shower the land with blessings. Seeing the performances of the colourful masked dresses and listening to the chants that accompanied the dancers took me through what it means to be a part of an event that dates back to the old civilization and is a rite.
Kagbeni to Muktinath: Another journey or trek which I realised was quite fulfilling was the Kagbeni to Muktinath trek. Located in the district of Mustang on the northern side of the Himalayas, Muktinath is a religious shrine for both the Hindus and Buddhists and the surrounding area looks like something out of this world. Thus, it is a rather religious site that has also got naturalist attractions to offer.

Lower Mustang: Damodar Himal; The gateway to Upper Mustang

While the part of the Upper Mustang receives greater attention, the Lower Mustang has its own wonders.

Marpha Village: Marpha is well-known for the apple gardens and yummy apple items; it produces apples and apple wine here. Marpha seemed to me to be an ideal place for rest after all the hardships on the hiking. The village does present a very pleasant image with well laid out stone-paved pathways and the houses being all painted white.
Jomsom: The main airstrip for anyone intending to visit Mustang or the Annapurna circuit is at Jomsom. The town sits in the Kali Gandaki Valley, which is one of the world’s deepest gorges; one gets spectacular views of the valley and the winds blowing very strongly through the valley is an added bonus of a dramatic natural element.

8. Rara Lake: This great Jewel of the West, the grand feature of the Mississippi valley, the proudest creation of St. Peter, was an organised community of naked men?

Deep in the municipality area of Nepal’s northwestern lowland, the country’s little-known gem lies: Rara Lake. It was like walking into the zoo to find out that Rara Lake was another wonder of the world.

Trekking to Rara Lake

The trail to Rara Lake passes through some of the remotest and undeveloped territories of Nepal. What is more, it has a rather interesting plot, as the journey is full of changes that can always hold one’s interest.

Rara National Park: Wildlife that is found around the lake includes those found in the Rara National Park which borders the lake. As I wandered for hours through the park this time, I was thinking I was lucky to see the red panda or the Himalayan black bear at least once. There are also in excess of 200 bird species and a number of mammals in the park.
Camping by Rara Lake: This was one of the highlights of my whole trip and that was the camping that was done near the shores of Rara Lake. The waters of the lake are absolutely clean; it is surrounded by pine and juniper trees; there are no noisy people, only calm and silence reigns in space.

Exploring Local Culture

The people who live in the region of Rara Lake are Thakuri, who are still closely linked with their environment.

Traditional Villages: Walking through the Thakuri villages, I did not see a sign of luxury in their lives, but I saw a sort of elegance. People are very friendly here: the courtesy extended by such an endearing host was heartwarming; it was good to catch some glimpse of their way of life.
Local Cuisine: Exploring this type of space allows one to enjoy the agritourism benefits or try the local food, like in the case of Rara. The meals served here are generous portions and the food sourced locally and that makes every meal savoured, especially when on a hiking expedition.

Landscape around RARA Lake: Rara Lake Trekking Best Season

In my opinion, the weather in Rara Lake should be best during the spring and autumn seasons because the weather is great, and the skies are clear. These are the periods in which tourist activities such as hiking and watching the lake are most productive.

9. Bandipur: Newars Pavilion, also known as the Living Museum of Newari Culture

Bandipur is a charming small town perched on a hill at the midpoint between the two major cities of Kathmandu and Pokhara that still seems hidden from the tourist zone. The town boasts Newari culture and architecture and spectacular views of the Himalayan ranges.

A Stroll Around Bandipur

Remarkably for a town that isn’t on any tourist map, walking around Bandipur gives a different, era impression. Most of the town’s souvenirs are architecture based, with colourful Newari architecture lining up the main street of the town.

Thani Mai Temple: Within a short hike from the town centre is the Thani Mai Temple, and this temple will provide some of the most stunning aerial views of the surrounding valley and mountains. The first thing I ensured was that I visited at the break of dawn; the first rays of light on the mountaintops were a masterpiece.
Silk Farming and Local Crafts: Bandipur is one of the leading areas of Tamil Nadu that has been very much into silk production, and so I made sure that I paid a visit to a silk farm in this region. Woodcarvings are also specialities of the town, and this makes the souvenirs unique in every way.

Cultural Experiences in Bandipur

Bandipur’s cultural resources are not only the physical structure of the buildings.

Newari Cuisine: To my surprise, it had a new cuisine route with different tests that was completely new to me. Several dishes that I saw included yomari and chatamari, where the two differed in the type of rice and fillings they used in the preparation. I also undertook a cooking session which enabled me to understand the various strategies used in the preparation of these heritage culinary dishes.
Homestays: I get to visit families of locals in Bandipur, which I think was one of the most memorable experiences I have had. The situation provided a closer look into the interaction with culture and practice of the encountered town’s inhabitants, which included work, agriculture, food preparation, etc.

The best time to visit Bandipur is any time of the year except from March to May and August to October.

Bandipur can be visited throughout the year, but it is comparatively better during the autumn and spring seasons, since it is not too hot and the sky is usually clear to watch the Himalayan range.

10. Langtang Valley: The Region of Ice

Langtang Valley, which is situated in the northern part of Kathmandu valley, is one of the most attractive but still ignored hiking regions of Nepal. Trekking through such a valley was like a treasure hunt, and I was amazed by rocky valleys, huge mountains and interesting culture.

Langtang Valley Trek

The Langtang Valley Trek is without doubt one of the most interesting treks to undertake because it has a variety of sights, and it’s an incredible cultural adventure.

Kyanjin Gompa: This tour ends at Kyanjin Gompa, a small place at an altitude of 12500 feet. The scenery around Kyanjin Gompa is something to marvel at. Volcanic peaks, including the Langtang Lirung and others are visible around the village, which is ideal for acclimatization and exploration. The next day, I decided to climb a small peak called Kyanjin Ri which provided me with an excellent view of the Langtang range and the glacier. Staying here gave me the ability to actually ‘smell the roses,’ and take in the beauty of the Himalayan mountains.
Langtang National Park: When I was hiking in the area of Langtang National Park I was absolutely surrounded by beautiful, untouched nature. The park is also pronounced to be full of unique species of wildlife, and you may get to see animals such as the red panda or even the black bear of the Himalayas. It also has a great bird and plant varieties, which makes the trek even more appealing.
Glaciers and High-Altitude Lakes: The Langtang Valley is also known as the “Valley of Glaciers” and with good right for that. Here there are excellent sights of glaciers and the trek itself provides an excellent opportunity to enjoy a close-up view of the glaciers. I have also made a side trip to Gosain Kunda, which is a religious-believing site amongst Hindu and Buddhist people and is a high altitude Lake. The trip there was very tiresome yet fruitful with the crystal clear freezing waters of the lake circled with tall snowy mountains.

Real live Cultural Encounters in the Langtang Valley

The cultures of the people that you come across in the Langtang Valley are as remarkable as the physical geography of the place.

Tamang Villages: The valley is mainly populated by the Tamang people belonging to the ethnic group of Tibet. The Tamang people that we came across during both of our treks were very friendly, a welcoming community with a variety of culture which could be seen from the construction of their houses and other aspects of their normative life. The feeling of living in stone houses, people wearing their colourful costumes as well as the sound of fluttering prayer flags appealed to me so much, realising that they are strong people with a good relationship with the earth.
Cheese Factory: Another one of the surprises of the hiking was the Kyanjin Gompa cheese factory. Originally set up many years back by the Swiss, this is a very small factory that prepares fresh and healthy yak cheese which forms a major part of the diet here. Of course, I didn’t miss an opportunity to taste some of the fresh cheese, which is very suitable for a snack, having walked a lot during the day.

Timing of the Langtang Valley Trek

As to the best time to visit the area, it is ideal to avoid the rainy seasons and go to the Langtang Valley in March-May or September-November. At these times, the weather is clear and dry, and it is the ideal time to go hiking and to enjoy the beautiful sceneries that are in the valley. It is preferable to go there in the spring when many flowers bloom, including impressive rhododendrons.

Conclusion: This is one of those articles that can set you up on an adventure of a lifetime in Nepal.

Touring Nepal could be compared to opening up a history, culture and doubtless nature’s envelopment one after another. For each place I went to, there was always something new and interesting: the spiritual aura of Lumbini, the sceneries of the Everest and the Annapurna areas, the history and art of the Kathmandu Valley and Bandipur. Nepal can be rightly said to be a country where one will find something to one's liking.

Nepal is a perfect destination for every traveller; if you need some thrilling experience, and you love mountain climbing, the highest peaks are waiting for you, or if you are searching for the spiritual experience, you will find it here, and if you are travelling just loving countries and their peculiarities, then you won’t be disappointed either. Turkey’s people, the geography and history of the country are inviting and will always hold a certain allure that beckons people to come and embrace it.

Always remember that travelling is not solely about moving from point A to B, but it’s also about exploring the unknowns, colourful cultures, and fertile terrains of different countries; the moral here is to make time and really engage with the changing geography of the planet. Nepal is not just geography, it’s a feeling, it’s a sensation, and it is this reason I am sure will transform you into a person you have never dreamed of. Therefore, pick up your backpacks, put on your hiking shoes and let us tell you about the best experiences Nepal has to offer. Your adventure awaits!