Nagarkot

Overview

Nagarkot is a beautiful place located 32 km east of Kathmandu, in the Bhaktapur district. It is a small town with a population of less than 5000. It is located at an altitude of 2195m and is best known for proving stunning views of mountains and hills. Nagarkot is a very popular tourist destination near Kathmandu. From Nagarkot, several mountains are visible like Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, Shisha Pangma, Cho-oyu, and Gaurishankar. However, good weather is very important for this view. On a clear day, you can even see a view of Mount Everest. Besides enjoying the view, you can also explore the villages, and meet local people and know about their lifestyles. Nagarkot is one of the easy, short, yet equally beautiful destinations. Many national and international tourists visit Nagarkot every day for its scenic beauty.   

Best time to visit– Basically Nagarkot can be visited any time of the year. However, if you want to see the stunning views of the mountains the best time for you to go is in spring (March-May). The days are very warm and sunny. You can see the green vegetation from the top. The atmosphere is very clear from the rain of monsoon which washes all the pollutions. You get to see beautiful views of the mountains, and Kathmandu valley, and a crystal blue sky. During the monsoon season, it is usually cloudy restricting the views and the winter is pretty cold and foggy again restricting all the views.  

Lodges in Nagarkot– the route to Nagarkot and the hill itself is highly populated with lodges and hotels. They have the best facilities and offer you delicious meals. You can take along rest and relax, after the long hike to Nagarkot. This way you can also see amazing sunset and sunrise in next morning. You can also have many international foods in these hotels. 

Getting to Nagarkot– Nagarkot basically is the best destination for hiking. However, if you are not really a hiking kind of person, you can take a bike or car to the top of Nagarkot. The roads are great and very well managed. Hike to Nagarkot however offers the best scene and thrill. The hike to Nagarkot starts from Bhaktapur. You can pass through the Changu Narayan temple or from a small town called Sankhu. It usually takes 3-5 hours to hike from Bhaktapur.