Kathmandu Excursion : Places nearby Kathmandu - Nepal

Places to visit nearby destination - Kathmandu

Bungamati Village

Bungamati is a sleepy, 16th-century village which is considered the winter home of Lord Machchendranath. Though it is a village, the cobbled streets and tightly packed houses around the streets gives it a distinct feel of a town.

Chapagaon

Situated on the southern tip of the Kathmandu Valley, Chapagaon is a rural village famous for its temple of Vajra Varahi, one of the many incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Dakshinkali

Dedicated to Goddess Kali, the temple of Dakshinkali is one of the most popular places of tantrik worship in Kathmandu. The shrine is specially crowned on Tuesday while Saturday is the day for animal sacrifice. Dakshinkali is located 22 km from the city centre on the southern rim of the valley.

Daman

Daman is located along Tribhuvan Rajpath at a distance of 80 km southeast of Kathmandu on an elevation of 2,650 metres. There are excellent views of Mt. Everest and other mountain peaks from Daman. There is a special tower built for this purpose.

Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel is a historic town situated 32 km east of Kathmandu. You can watch the views of the snowy ranges of Makalu in the east to Manaslu in the west from Dhulikhel.

Gorkha

The birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of modern Nepal, Gorkha is situated on a hill overlooking the snowy peaks of the Himalayas. The main attractions here are Gorkha Durbar and the temples of Gorakhnath and Kali. The town is situated at a distance of around 144 km from Kathmandu.

Helambu

Famous for its scenic grandeur and pleasant climate, Helambu is situated about 72 kilometres north-east of Kathmandu. There are many Buddhist monasteries here. You can trek to this place from Sundarijal situated 11 km away from Kathmandu.

Janakpur

Janakpur is one of the holiest places for Hindus as it is believed to be the place where Sita, the wife of Lord Ram was born. The town is full of temples and artificial ponds like Janaki Temple, Ram Temple, Ram-Janaki Vivah Mandap, Ganga Sagar, Dhanush Sagar, and Janakpur Women’s Development Centre. Janakpur is situated at a distance of around 140 km south of Kathmandu in the Terai Region.

Kakani

Situated at an altitude of 2,000 metres above sea level, Kakani is an excellent spot for mountain viewing. It is located at a distance of around 28 km northwest of Kathmandu. A good place for picnicking and walking with accommodation facilities.

Kodari Road

Situated on the international border with China, Kodari Road is situated some 144 km from Kathmandu. It has an exotic history as the starting point of Trans-Himalayan trade in the ancient times. The national highway from Kathmandu to Kodari road is full of magnificent views all along such as magnificent river gorges, mountains, and the famous hot water spring known as Tatopani.

Lumbini

Considered as the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini is situated 250 kilometres south-west of Kathmandu. The main attractions here are the broken Ashokan Pillar, remnants of an old monastery, and images of Buddha’s mother Maya Devi.

Nagarkot

Situated 34 km north-east of Kathmandu, Nagarkot is one of the most beautiful sites in Nepal. With an altitude of 2,715 metres, this is an ideal place to watch sunrise over Mt. Everest. There are magnificent sites of other mountain peaks too from this place.

Namche Bazaar

Situated around 241 km from Kathmandu, this place is the starting point for climbing the Mt. Everest. The distance is generally covered in 15 days by trekking. The place is also the home to legendary Sherpas.

Panauti Valley

Situated on the road to Dhulikhel, Panauti is a thriving village with lovely temples and interesting old houses. There is a beautiful area with some fourteenth-century wooden temple struts.

Trishuli

Trishuli is the most popular river for rafting in Nepal and gives some serious challenges to the rafters. Mungling, the starting point for many of the rafting expeditions, is situated some 110 km from Kathmandu.