Destination: Hiking in Nepal

Nepal is largely a mountainous country. Beneath the shadows of the gigantic Himalayas, lush hills create glorious landscapes viable for hiking and scenic observations. Add to this the many heritages and cultural sites scattered throughout the country, and it means there is a large assortment of possibilities to hike in the country. From the hills around the Kathmandu Valley to the solemn hilltops around Pokhara, hiking is one of the prominent activities in Nepal.

Kathmandu has many locations around the city to hike. Being a valley, it is home to many hill stations that provide excellent views of the flat cauldron below where the city lies or can be a quick shelter of tranquility from the hustle and bustle of the city.

One such location is Nagarkot. It is a village on the hill on the rim of the valley. It provides wonderful panoramic views of the mountains in the distance, and an excellent sunrise the next day. You can also trek through farmed terraces down and through deciduous forest to Changunarayan the next day. Similar Destinations include Shivapuri, Dhulikhel, Phulchowki, Kakani, and Champadevi.

Similarly, Pokhara is home to serene lakes and lies on the foot of the mountains of Annapurna and adjoining hills in the background. Sarangkot is the shortest and easiest hiking location from Pokhara. Famous for being the jump point for paragliding, Sarangkot also entertains hikers with a glorious panorama of the Annapurna Himalayas along with the majestic Machhapuchhre (6997m).

Thulokot is another hill from Pokhara which provides a wonderful view of the surroundings; this place is just picking up steam and is still relatively less crowded than others in Pokhara. From the top, you can see views of Annapurna (8,091 m), Manaslu (8,163 m) and Machhapuchhre (6,997m).