Located 30 km to the east of Kathmandu on the valley rim, Nagarkot is the favorite weekend getaway for those who seek Himalayan scenery and rural serenity.
THE VIEW
Nagarkot is situated at an elevation of 2,175 m and provides a grandstand panorama of the Himalaya. You can see five of the world’s 10 tallest mountains - Everest (8,848 m), Lhotse (8,516 m), Cho Oyu (8,201 m), Makalu (8,463 m) and Manaslu (8,163 m) - and many other lesser summits. The snow peaks look especially gorgeous during sunset and sunrise.
ACTIVITIES
Surrounded by terraced hillsides and picturesque farm houses, the hilltop resort is the epitome of an idyllic escape - with only the wind and the sound of rustling leaves to disturb you. Bird watching is a joy in the forests here. Short hiking options abound. The most popular walk leads down from Nagarkot along a ridge to the temple of Changu Narayan - with views of Sankhu village to the right and Bhaktapur to the left. Another preferred trail leads south from Nagarkot to Nala and Banepa on the highway to Tibet.
OTHER HILL RESORTS
DAMAN
Daman (elevation 2,400 m) is the place to go for those seeking the ultimate pan-Himalayan view and willing to travel the extra distance to find it. Located 75 km to the southwest of the Kathmandu Valley on the highway to India, Daman offers the only unimpeded view of the entire Himalayan range, a sight guaranteed to leave the early riser spellbound for days to come.
KAKANI
Kakani (elevation 1,982 m) lies 23 km to the northwest of Kathmandu. It is a less crowded and more pristine destination which provides excellent mountain views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang and the Annapurnas. The offerings of nature provide the impetus to visit Kakani, and nature lovers will hail the close-up view of Ganesh Himal to the north, as well as the beautiful oak and rhododendron forests on the south slope leading down to Balaju.
RESORT HOTELS IN NAGARKOT
CLUB HIMALAYA
Windy Hills, Nagarkot; Tel: 680080, 227767 680083; Fax: 977-1-680068
Kathmandu Office: Tel: 413632, 418733, 425983; Fax: 977-1-417133
Club Himalaya offers fine restaurants, indoor pool with its own bar, sauna, gymnasium and a sundeck. For open air enthusiasts, the hotel provides hikes and pony rides along the Nagarkot ridge, white water rafting on the Indravati river, kite flying and other adventures.
HOTEL CHAUTARI KEYMAN
Nagarkot; Tel: 680075, 680019; Fax: 977-1-680020
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 3011, Kamaladi; Tel: 419798; Fax: 977-1-419260, 418919; E-mail: keyman@wlink.com.np; Website: www. keymanchain.com
The perfect place to take time out and relax in the arms of nature at Nagarkot. Hotel Chautari Keyman has six semi-detached cottages with double rooms totalling 17. Clear, unobstructed views of the Himalaya and the fertile valley can be enjoyed from all the rooms. All rooms have attached bathroom with shower and 24-hour running hot water provided by individual solar panels. The restaurant serves Continental, Nepalese, Indian and Chinese cuisine while the adjoining bar is stocked with both imported and local beverages. The hotel also has a conference room with a capacity to hold 50 persons.
HOTEL COUNTRY VILLA
Nagarkot; Tel: 221012, 680127; Fax: 977-1-680127
Kathmandu Office: Tel: 425305; Tel/Fax: 417395; Website: www.catmando.com/countryvilla; E-mail: hcvilla@col.com.np
Hotel Country Villa, nestled atop a serene hill, has spacious rooms with private verandas from where the entire mountain range is visible. The hotel’s restaurant serves delicious cuisines and the bar, decorated in Japanese style, offers a wide range of both local and imported drinks.
HOTEL ELEPHANT HEAD
Nagarkot; Tel: 680031, 611825
City Office: Thamel, near Hotel MM International; Tel: 413628
Come to Hotel Elephant Head, a home away from home. Our deluxe rooms and nine double-bed rooms have attached bathroom with bathtub and 24-hour hot and cold water. Savor delectable dishes in our restaurant and tea in our balcony from where you can enjoy magnificent views of the Himalaya and the Valley. Experience with us to believe us. For your convenience, we have daily tourist bus service to Nagarkot.
HOTEL GALAXY
Nagarkot; Tel: 680122
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 1285, Thamel; Tel: 438908; Fax: 977-1-417424
The first hotel to open in Nagarkot 16 years ago. Built atop a 7,200-ft hill, the hotel offers 14 comfortable, spacious and sunny double-bed rooms that provide perfect views of the sunrise, sunset and the mountains. All rooms have attached bath and are well furnished. Beautiful garden for sunbathing. Restaurant serves all types of cuisine. Conference facility for more than 50 people.
NAGARKOT COTTAGE
Nagarkot
Kathmandu Office: Natraj Tours & Travel, P.O. Box 495, Ghantaghar, Kamaladi; Tel: 222532, 222014; Fax: 977-1-227372
Nagarkot Cottage offers an experience in rural living. We do not promise the comforts of a five-star hotel, but we provide you a five-star experience of life in a Nepali village. We can also take you on a mini-trek through villages where you can observe human civilization in a historical perspective.
NAGARKOT VILLAGE RESORT
Gairi Sumara, Nagarkot; Tel: 680021; Fax: 977-1-332524
The only property in Nagarkot from where one can see Everest. The resort sprawls on a hillside, and its 14 well appointed rooms are cozy and come with private balconies. They offer exclusive vantage points from where guests can take in the bewitching sunrise over the mountains. The Utkarsh Restaurant serves Chinese, Continental, Indian, Japanese and Nepalese food and has a well stocked bar. Other facilities include indoor games, parking and children’s park.
NIVA NIWA LODGE
Naldum Nagarkot; Tel: 680097
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 178, Van Van Restaurant, Maitighar, Babar Mahal, Kathmandu; Tel/Fax: 977-1-255490
On the hill of Nagarkot where time flows gorgeously. Situated on the top of Nagarkot from where you can see white mountains, blue mountains and green mountains, and smell the flowers and hear the birds sing.
HOTEL VIEW POINT
Nagarkot, Tel: 680123
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 1285, Thamel; Tel: 417424; Fax: 977-1-417424, 438908
Hotel View Point offers the best vantage point from where you can get a 360-degree panoramic view of the Himalaya - from Mt. Ganesh to Mt. Everest. The hotel has 30 double-bed rooms with international standard amenities. Restaurant serves hygienic and delicious food. Conference facility for 60 pax. Regular tourist buses leave Kathmandu for Nagarkot.
HOTEL VIEW TOWER
Nagarkot
Kathmandu Office: Thamel; Tel: 262602; Tel/Fax: 977-1-417424;
The hotel offers nine well-furnished, double-bed deluxe rooms with TV and attached tub bath. Large conference hall for 70 people with full-fledged service. Rodighar Restaurant serves all types of cuisine prepared by an experienced chef and has a well-stocked bar.
AROUND THE VALLEY
LE MERIDIEN
General Manager: Mr. Chris Newman
Gokarna
Kathmandu Office: Durbar Marg; Tel: 224399, 244154; Fax: 977-1-226414; E-mail: gokarna@mos.com.np
The Gokarna Forest Golf Resort offers a par-72, 18-hole golf course. Spread over 130 acres of undulating greenery and challenging water bodies, the golf course is designed by Gleneagles Golf Developments of Scotland. A 100-room resort with five-star facilities is coming up. Gokarna was once a royal game sanctuary and is a wondrous nature preserve. It is situated 7 km from Kathmandu central just past the Bouddhanath stupa.
HAATIBAN RESORT
Pharping
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 1273; Tel: 371397, 371537, 370714; Fax: 977-1-371561; E-mail: nepal@intrek.wlink.com.np
Haatiban Resort commands the most awesome view of the majestic Himalaya and the fabled city of Kathmandu. We invite you to take the enjoyable pony rides, mountain biking, nature walks and treks to Champa Devi Hill, or Khokana and the Bungamati region. This is the right place to acclimatize before starting off for mountaineering or for trips to Tibet. We have nine comfortable cottages with commanding views of the Himalayan range, 27 standard and six deluxe rooms, fully furnished with a decor of ethnic beauty, a spacious lobby with large French windows adjoined by a restaurant serving excellent cuisine and a variety of drinks.
MALLA ALPINE RESORT
Kalitar-Tika Bhairav; Tel: 228668
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 6809, Lekhnath Marg; Tel: 410620, 410966, 410968; Fax: 977-1-418382
The resort is located in the midst of the countryside which still lives on the way it has for years. The 18 well-appointed rooms have neat attached baths with running hot water. The ethnic-styled bungalows offer a magnificent view of the Himalaya and are also strategically placed for a swim or a sauna bath and for bicycling or a walk in the hills or the forest. It is a launching place for hikes to the nearby villages of Tamangs, Khadkas and Magars. For leisure time, there is the informal bar where you can also try your skill at the dartboard. Authentic Nepalese along with Indian, Chinese and Continental cuisine served in the restaurant.
OTHER PALCES
EVEREST PANORAMA RESORT
Daman; Tel: 977-057-40382; Fax: 977-057-40380
Kathmandu Office: Kamal Pokhari; Tel: 428500, 414644, 434491; Fax: 977-1-416029
Mountain views: Over 400 km from Everest to beyond Dhaulagiri. Tranquility, friendly staff. Luxury hotel rooms with ensuites and deluxe thatched huts. Continental, Chinese, Indian or Nepali cuisine. Fully stocked bar. Hiking, mountain biking, pony trekking, fishing, and rock climbing/abseiling. Seminar facilities. Packaged itineraries. Ideal location for kite-flying, para-gliding, hang-gliding. Easy to extend Chitwan and rafting expeditions. Ninety km from Kathmandu on the Tribhuvan Rajpath (on the way to Chitwan National Park), elevation 2,500 m. Open all year round.
RIVER SIDE SPRINGS RESORT
Kurintar, Chitwan District; Tel: 056-29429
Kathmandu Office: Hitti Durbar; Tel: 241408, 434554; Fax: 977-1-232163; E-mail: nangint@ ccsl.com.np
This lavish property is where natural serenity and modern luxuries pleasingly meet for the perfect getaway. Built on the banks of the Trisuli river, merely 102 km or two and half hours’ drive from Kathmandu on the highway to Pokhara, this deluxe resort offers 10 well-appointed twin-bed cottages. The restaurant has a la carte menu, and can seat 150 guests at one time.
MANAKAMANA VILLAGE RESORT
Kurintar, Chitwan
Kathmandu Office: Shakya Arcade, Durbar Marg; Tel: 230287, 252560, 246549, 272877, 416813; Fax: 977-1-252570 E-mail: dcse@ thangka.mos.com.np
Manakamana Village Resort offers day-return package tour to Manakamana which includes two-way transportation, cable car ticket and lunch. Added facilities in one-night/two-day package are dinner, accommodation, breakfast and rafting. The resort has 8 double and one family room, all have attached bath with 24-hour hot and cold water. The "Village Restaurant" has a capacity of 100 persons and serves Chinese, Indian, Continental and typical Nepalese cuisine.
NEPAL VILLAGE RESORTS
Sirubari
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 9048; Tel: 430187; Fax: 977-1-435027; E-mail: village@ nep.mos.com.np; Website: www.virtual-nepal.com/nepal-village
For a different experience visit Sirubari, an unspoiled Gurung village near Pokhara. Live for a few days with the friendly locals and learn about their traditional family lifestyle. Enjoy delicious home-cooked food while staying in secure and comfortable accommodation in the village houses.
JOMSOM MOUNTAIN RESORT
General Manager: Mr. Samanta Tuladhar
Jomsom
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 3488, Kathmandu; Tel: 427150, 427358; Fax: 977-1-427084; E-mail: soi@wlink.com.np; Website: www.south-asia. com/soi
Jomsom Mountain Resort is a rare five star hotel set amidst the highest mountains in the world. A true experience in luxury among surroundings of the most challenging nature. A perfect example of the delicate balance between nature and men at work. A vacation here will relieve your tensions, cleanse your soul and revitalize your body.
CHARIKOT PANORAMA RESORT
Charikot, Bhimeshwor Municipality, Dolkha
Kathmandu Office: G.P.O. Box 8975, EPC 940; Tel: 524209, 529463; E-mail: thapamaag@ wlink.com.np
The hilltop resort at 2,000 m is about five hours’ drive to the northeast of Kathmandu. Its four bungalows have 16 double rooms with attached bathroom and shower and offer a sweeping view of the Tama Koshi valley and the surrounding hills which are ideal for trekking. Its restaurant serves Nepali, Indian and Continental food and offers breath-taking vistas of the Himalayan range including Gauri Shanker and Numbur.
THE BORDERLAND ADVENTURE CENTER
Barhabise, Tatopani; Tel: 425836; Fax: 977-1-435207; E-mail: info@borderlands.net; Website: www.borderlands.net
Namaste! Are you looking for a place that is truly unique? Three hours’ drive from Kathmandu, escape to a land that is far less complicated. The Borderland is a mere 16 km from the Tibet border and is situated on the banks of the Bhote Koshi river. Activities include canyoning, rafting, trekking, biking and conference retreats. We wish to share our little piece of paradise with you. You won’t be disappointed.
SYANGBOCHE PANORAMA HOTEL
Syangboche; Tel: 038-40146; Fax: 977-38-40121
Kathmandu Office: P.O. Box 2616, Chabahil; Tel: 478484, 478214; Fax: 977-1-483485; E-mail: sphdorje@mos.com.np; Website: www. south-asia.com/shyangboche
Situated 10 minutes’ walk from Syangboche airport, an hour from Namche Bazaar, surrounded by majestic Himalayan peaks including MT. EVEREST, Thamserku, Ama Dablam, best place for wildlife experience and photography. All 22 deluxe rooms, conference hall, tower and restaurant are traditionally built and decorated, and are fully insulated. Running hot shower provided. Food: Chinese, Continental, Japanese, Italian, Indian and Nepali cuisine; natural organic coffee, green and mint tea and fresh bakery items. Gamow bag, oxygen and all modern communication facilities provided. We organize package programs, book air tickets, cargo and helicopter charter flights especially for KTM/LUKLA/KTM and KTM/SYANGBOCHE/KTM.
