Situated between two large countries China and India, Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, religions and political instability. The north mountainous region contains eight of the world’s ten highest Himalayan Mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest. Nepal is famous for its heavenly natural beauties, unique wonders, and gifts in the world. Because of this natural beauty, rich culture, tradition, arts, civilization we can say Nepal is a suitable place to promote tourism.
We have so many historical and natural beauties which are admired by tourists. Many tourists visited Nepal for a different reason. Some come here to enjoy the natural beauties and wonders. And some of them visit our country for trekking and climbing mountains. Similarly, some want to learn something about our history, culture, religion and so on. We can see that many tourists come here to enjoy their holidays. There are many attractive places to visit in Nepal. But here we have the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal. You could travel to while you’re in, or planning to visit Nepal.
Top 12 Most Beautiful Places To Visit In Nepal
1) Kathmandu
Lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia the Kathmandu Valley is the capital of Nepal. And has at least 130 important monuments, including several pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists. Kathmandu is considered as the city of the temple. Here are innumerable temples of Hinduism and Buddhism and some of them are declared as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO and they are Pashupati, Swayambhu, Boudha, Budhanilakantha, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, etc. Kathmandu is rich in various cultures. The Newari culture people celebrate various festivals such as Indra Jatra, Gai Jatra, Ghode Jatra, Bhote Jatra, and so on. You can Shop and Hang Out in Thamel, bird watching, canyoning and mountain biking, Hiking and so on. Furthermore, It is the first place among the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal.
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2) Pokhara
There are many beautiful and interesting places to visit in Nepal, outside and inside the Kathmandu Valley. Talking about places to visit outside of Kathmandu valley Pokhara is one of the most scenic and exciting valleys. Pokhara valley is the ‘Jewel of the mid-west’, second major tourist sport in Nepal but the favorite of tourists from around the globe.
Phewa Lake
Pokhara is a place full of natural resources such as Seti Gandaki is the main river flowing through the city, in the south the city borders on Phewa Tal located at an altitude of 742 m (2,434 ft) and covers an area of about 4.43 km2. The reflection of mount Machhapuchhre and other mountain peaks of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri ranges can be seen on its surface. The Taal Barahi Temple is situated on an island in the lake. Baidam is situated in the eastern banks of Phewa Lake also known as Lakeside.
This part of Lake Site contains an endless strip of hotels, lodges, restaurants, bookshops and souvenir shops. This site is one of the best-known tourist areas of Nepal. It is also known as the starting point of the tour to Pokhara. Sarankot is the only place in Nepal, for the paragliding, from where you can fly over the Fewa Lake. The formation of caves and several caves can be found in the porous underground of the Pokhara valley. Among many other caves, Mahendra Cave is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Pokhara Valley above all. Images of elephant tusks, gods, and goddesses can be observed in the inner walls of the cave. Boating, trekking, rafting and extreme sports like rafting, canoeing, and bungee jumping are the major attraction of Pokhara. Therefore it is a second place among the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal.
3) Chitwan
Chitwan is located in the southwestern part of Province No. 3 with Bharatpur, district headquarters and the fourth largest city of Nepal. Bharatpur is a commercial and service center of central south Nepal and a major destination for higher education, health care and transportation in the region. Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the Terai region. It formerly extends over the foothills of Nepal and also has a particularly rich flora and fauna.
Chitwan National Park
The Chitwan National Park which is Nepal’s first national park together with another national park, Parsa National Park supports species diversity much higher than any other on the Indian subcontinent. Rare species of wildlife in Nepal include Bengal tiger, gharial, rhino, leopards, mugger crocodile, Indian rock python and several species of deer can be found here. These protected areas are guarded by a battalion of the Nepal Army and patrolled by anti-poaching units. The Rapti River flows east to the southwest of Bharatpur and forms the northern border of the Chitwan National Park. And the Narayani River flows north to south in the west of Bharatpur. It is known as the deepest and also one of the biggest rivers in Nepal.
Chitwan District with Nawalparasi District of Nepal connects by the Narayani Bridge over the river. Nagarban, the small island in Narayani River are popular picnic spots. 20 Thousand Lake is close by Chitwan National Park, about 5 km south of Bharatpur. The lake is a famous place for the important bird-watching center and is attractive for bird lovers. It also harbors crocodiles. Elephant Back Safari, Jeep Safari, Visit Elephant Breeding Centre, Jungle Walk, and Bird Watching, Canoe Ride, Village Walk, Cultural Program, Elephant Bathing, Crocodile Breeding Center, Oxcart or Pony Ride Chitwan, 20 Thousand Lake Tour are the most attraction of Chitwan National Park. Therefore Chitwan is a third place among the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal.
4) Lumbini
Lumbini is known as the birthplace of the lord buddha. It is located in the Rupandehi district of Nepal. To arrive there, we have to drive 30 minutes from Bhairahawa and 9 hours from Kathmandu. For the flight, the nearest airport is Gautama Buddha Airport which flies from and to Kathmandu. According to Buddhist tradition, Maya Devi gave birth to Prince Siddhartha on her way to her parent’s home in Devadaha in May in the year 642 BC. Later prince Siddhartha became the Buddha after founded Buddhism. Lumbini is a famous pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha.
The main attraction of Lumbini is Maya Devi Temple, Ashokan Piller, Myanmar Golden Temple, World Peace Pagoda, Dharma Swami Maharaja Buddha Vihar, China temple, Lumbini Museum and many more. If you are planning on traveling to exotic places in South Asia looking to find some Nirvana, Lumbini in Nepal is the best place for you. Therefore, Lumbini is the fourth place among the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal.
5) Rara Lake
Rara Lake is a fifth place among the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal. Rara Lake is the biggest and deepest freshwater lake in the Nepal Himalayas. At an altitude of 2,990 m (9,810 ft), Rara Lake lies above sea level, has a water surface of 10.8 km2 (4.2 sq mi), a maximum depth of 167 m (548 ft), is 5.1 km (3.2 mi) long and 2.7 km (1.7 mi) wide. It drains into the Mugu Karnali River via the Nijar River.
The best season to visit the lake is September/October and April to May. While from December to March, the temperatures go low below the freezing point, and heavy snowfall occurs up to one meter, blocking the way to the lake. April to June is warm in this region. The lake lies within the Rara National Park, which is by far the smallest national park in Nepal. The Rara National Park is home to some 214 species of birds and over 20 species of mammal. And it has unique floral and faunal importance with rare and vulnerable species. This remote location Rara Lake has been a popular destination with a very rough route in Western Nepal for those trekkers who want to get a glimpse of the spectacular lake. Boating, Hiking, sightseeing, jungle safari, Campfire, Cycling are the major attraction of Rara Lake.
6) Ghandruk, Ghorepani, Poon Hill
Talking about the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal Ghandruk village is one of them. Ghandruk is a famous Gurung village and also a popular place for treks in the Annapurna range of Nepal, with easy trails and various accommodation possibilities. From Ghandruk you can get stunning views of the mountains including Annapurna and Machapuchare. This popular Gurung village is the second biggest village in the Annapurna region which is located northwest of the lakeside city of Pokhara. it is widely popular among international visitors and claims to be the most visited area for trekking in Nepal.
The small village is on the much-used trail to the Annapurna Sanctuary or the Annapurna Base Camp trek. There are two museums in Ghandruk. One in the old city and one next to the monastery where we can go and see the way of life of the Gurung people. Ghorepani is another beautiful village, famous for rhododendron forest as well as the fantastic panoramic sunrise, the sunset view from Poon Hill 3210 meter which is one hour climb from Ghorepani. This beautiful and magnificent village of Ghandruk is home to Annapurna Conservation Area Project. Gurung Museum, culture and tradition, Monastery is an interesting place to visit. It is about one hour walking to get to Poonhill (3210m) from Ghorepani.
7) Jomsom
Talking about the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal, Jomsom got the 7th position in our list. Jomsom is the town located at an altitude of about 2700 m in Mustang District, Nepal. It extends over both the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. Along the banks of the Kali Gandaki River, we can find the black rocks or stone which is called Shaligram in the Hindu culture and take it as the form of God Vishnu. This type of stone is only found in this Kali Gandaki River, it is holy to the Hindus.
The deep valleys and high mountains encircling the giant Annapurna Himal embrace a wide range of peoples while terrain, from subtropical jungle to a high, dry landscape resembling the Tibetan Plateau. The Annapurna region is the most popular area for trekking in Nepal with plenty of trekking places. It’s also among the tamest areas, with excellent lodges lining the main routes. Not too far from Jomson, you find Muktinath temple, the famous pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus. To Hindus, Muktinath is a sacred place of salvation. They believe that bathing in the waters here guarantees salvation after death. If you happen to be in Muktinath in early September, you are likely to be in time for one of Nepal’s unique festivals, the annual horse race known as Yartung. This is a week of some serious horse racing, Tibetan style, and some equally serious merrymaking.
Geography Of Jomsom
Jomsom is the town located at an altitude of about 2700 m in Mustang District, Nepal. It extends over both the banks of the Kali Gandaki River where we can find the black rocks or stone, Shaligram in the Hindu culture and take it as the form of God Vishnu. This type of stone is only found in this Kali Gandaki River, it is holy to the Hindus. You will visit the deep valleys and high mountains encircling the giant Annapurna Himal embrace a wide range of peoples and terrain, from subtropical jungle to a high, dry landscape resembling the Tibetan Plateau. With plenty of trekking places, the Annapurna region is the most popular area for trekking in Nepal among the tamest areas, with excellent lodges lining the main routes.
Not too far from Jomson, you find Muktinath, the famous pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus. For Hindu devotees, Muktinath is a sacred place of salvation. They believe that bathing in the waters here guarantees deliverance from sin after death. If you reach Muktinath in early September, you will witness Nepal’s unique festivals, the annual horse race known as Yartung. This is a month of some serious horse racing, Tibetan style, and some equally serious merrymaking.
8) Nagarkot
Nagarkot is another beautiful village among the top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal. This valley is a popular tourist destination in Nepal. It is located 32 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone and as of 2015 part of Nagarkot Municipality. It is one of the most spectacular places in the Bhaktapur District.
This beautiful valley is also known for a Nagarkot sunrise view. You will witness the magnificent mountains view including Mount Everest as well as other peaks of the Himalayan range of eastern Nepal. Besides the stunning sunrise view, this place also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley. Located approximately 7000 ft (2000 m) above sea level and 28 km from Kathmandu International Airport, it a very popular hiking route for tourists for the scenic beauty of this place and also offers an excellent view of the Indrawati river valley to the east.
Every year many national & international tourists visit this place for many reasons. One of the most popular reasons is to travel to Nagarkot from Kathmandu to spend the night so that they can be there for the breathtaking sunrise. There are lots of hiking opportunities to do in and around Nagarkot for those active nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. It is also famous for Paragliding. From here you can see some of the highest mountains in the world including Mount Everest. Treks from Nagarkot are unique and delightful. For anyone who wants to have an adventure without exerting much effort, a hike to Nagarkot and surrounding areas would be a good option for you.
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9) Janakpur
Janakpur is an important religious pilgrimage site in the Terai plains, in south-central Nepal. It is the birthplace of Janaki or Sita, the consort of Lord Ram. In ancient times it was believed that during the Treta Yug, or period, nearly 12,000 years ago, Janakpur was the capital city of the Kingdom of Mithila and the center of Maithil culture. Because of benefitting from its position at the foot of the Himalayas, the city contains some of the most beautiful architecture to be found in Nepal. This place is surrounded by vast natural beauty. Each and every square of the town boats at least on deity related to the epic Ramayana, which adds to the town’s attraction. The town named after sage king Janak of Mithila Kingdom.
Janaki temple is the largest and most important holy site of Janakpur, fully built-in bright white. On another side Ram temple, Vivaha Mandap, Sankatmochan temple, Ratna Sagar temple, Dulaha temple, and Mahadev temple are another famous temple of Janakpur. Janakpur is also characterized by the presence of numerous ponds that are considered sacred. There used to be 72 different ponds in Janakpur in the time of King Jank in the ancient time. But most of the dried up or were encroached due to unmanaged urbanization.
In Vivaha Panchami, the re-enactment of Ram’s and Sita’s wedding in late November or early December a high number of a pilgrimage visit Janakpur. Ram Navami festival Ram’s birthday) that lies in March or April is another important festival celebrated in Janakpur. This place is a very famous destination for the entire national and international tourists where they can get Luxury hotels to budget accommodation. Janakpur bags ninth position in our top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal list.
10) Gorkha
Gorkha is the ancestral hometown of Nepal’s royal family. It is situated at 140km west of Kathmandu at an altitude of 1,135 meters. It is only 18 km up a paved road of the Pokhara-Kathmandu Highway. This small town is perhaps the most important historical town in Nepal. Furthermore, according to the stones inscription from its hilltop, King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the ninth generation paternal ancestor of the present King, launched his lifelong attempt to unify the independent states of Nepal.
History Of Gorkha
This wildly ambitious project succeeded due to his brilliance, and the effectiveness of his locally. The name Gorkha is evolved from the British term “Gurkha” which refers to the famed fighting soldiers of the region. Gorkha Palace, King Prithvi Narayan Shah’s old palace, is one of the best places to visit Gorkha. This palace stands on a mountain ridge overlooking the ancient capital. The road from the bus stop passes throughout the town’s Tundikhel and an army camp. Most of these ancient buildings of Gorkha were made by Newar craftsmen who were brought by the King Prithvi Narayan Shah during his return from Kathmandu.
Gorkha is home for mostly the Gurung tribesmen, who have earned enough praise in both World Wars, including Victoria Cross. However, despite their fierce attitude on the battlefield that does not stop them to be friendly people with a tradition of genuine hospitality. Gorkha Durbar is the main attraction of Gorkha However; there are other sites in the area worth exploring. Popular pilgrimages temple Manakamana, Gorkha Museum, Gorkha Bazaar, Gorakhnath Cave are also an important place to visit. Even though Gorkha Bazaar is the base for treks in the Manaslu region however, if you want to plan for a cultural adventure, village tour and day hike could be the better option for you. Because of all these reasons we place Gorkha in 10th position in our top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal.
11) Ilam
Ilam is a beautiful hill station in eastern Nepal which lies in the hill region which is mostly known as Mahabharata range. It is one of the major places in Nepal for tea-production and also one of the important towns in the Mechi zone and one of the major places in Nepal for tea-production. Besides the tea garden, It is also famous for natural scenery, landscapes, and diverse agricultural economy. The main source of income in this district is tea production and horticultural crop production districts of Nepal. This place is popular for the spectacular views of the tea gardens but besides that, there are many other places to visit in Ilam.
Some of the famous and popular places for visit in Ilam are as follows: Antu Danda, one of the best places in Ilam to view the spectacular sight of sunrise, sunset and the Himalayas. One can also enjoy the views of Mirik, Kurseong, and Darjeeling on a bright and clear day. SimilarlyMai Pokhari, Sadakpur, Kanyam and Fikkal, The places with large tea estates in Ilam which has been famous for the last hundred and forty years. Siddhi Thumka, One of the wonderful places to enjoy the views of sunrise and sunset in Ilam.
Chhintapu, The second highest peak in the Ilam district. Gajur Mukhi, Pathibhara, Mai Beni, Narayansthan, Bhimsensthan, Singha Bahini, and Sati Devi Temple are other places in Ilam that seek visitor’s presence. Ilam is a beautiful place that could also be called as heaven in Nepal. Ilam is a place to visit for those who love nature and greenery. Therefore it is another beautiful place among our top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal list.
12) Tansen (Palpa)
Tansen is located on the highway between Butwal and Pokhara on the crest of the Mahabharat Range or Lesser. Himalaya overlooking the valley of the Kaligandaki River to the north. It is also the Municipality and the administrative center of Palpa District western part of Nepal. This old Newar town is full of history where they build traditional wooden Newari houses with their intricately carved windows line the narrow roads. Tansen is known for the place of Dhaka fabric. You can hear the looms clacking as families weave the famous.
Palpa is a district of Nepal. It is one of the districts of the Lumbini Zone. Tansen is the headquarter of Palpa district and hence, many people commonly refer to Tansen as Palpa. However, the other three important cities are part of the Lumbini Zone which are Butwal, Bhairahawa, and Lumbini. Tansen Bazaar, Palpa Ranighat, Tansen Durbar / Palace, beautiful hill town Tanahu, Bhairabsthan are the most important place to visit in Tansen. On clear days Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Gauri Shankar, and other peaks can be seen from here. Similarly, Tansen is another beautiful place among our top 12 most beautiful places to visit in Nepal list.
