Outside Kathmandu Valley

Lumbini:

The birthplace of Lord Buddha lies in the plains south west of Kathmandu. It is a sacred place for Buddhists from all over the world, standing on an equal footing with holy places sacred to other world religions. As millions of Christians look to Jerusalem for inspiration, as million of Muslims turn to Mecca, so do three hundred million Buddhists visit Lumbini. This nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Asoka's commemorative pillar is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The sacred garden of Lumbini spreads over 8 sq. km. with many historic sites related to Lord Buddha.


Gorkha:

It is a hill town situated 131 km west of Kathmandu valley at an altitude of 1135 m at the end of mountain road that branches north from the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway at Abu Khaireni. It is an ancestral home of the Shah Dynasty and home of the original Gorkha soldiers. Gorkha's centerpiece is the magnificent 17th century old Gorkha Durbar which is a fort, a palace and a temple with excellent views of the surrounding valleys and the Manaslu range. The erstwhile small kingdom of Gorkha, founded by king Drabya Shah in 1560 A. D. became famous during the dynasty of Ram Shah (1604-1641 A.D.), who earned the reputation of being just to his people. Till date this beautiful township has always remained as the center of attraction for many Nepalese as well as foreign visitors.


Chitwan:

Chitwan is a flat, furrowed lowland area where the government of Nepal has set aside sizeable chunks of the land for a National Park which has now become one of the finest parks in Asia. The park has wide varieties of wildlife offering people from across the world an opportunity to observe beautiful flora and fauna. Here, one can see very rare endangered species like one-horned rhinos, sloth, wild boars leopards, crocodiles and more than 500 species of birds. UNESCO has listed Chitwan National Park as World Heritage Site (Natural) in its list. Visitors to this park may enjoy elephant back excursion, jungle walk, canoeing and bird watching trip.


Pokhara

Situated 200 km west of Kathmandu, it is Nepal's second most enchanting tourist destination. The city is overshadowed by a massive wall of the Himalayas and dominated by the towering peaks of the Annapurna ranges. The most impressive view is the fishtailed pinnacle of Mt. Macchapuchhare (6977 m) and the Phewa Lake. This rural town is also the starting point for Nepal's most famous treks and rafting destinations of the Annapurna region. This scenic town is connected by air as well as by road from Kathmandu and other neighboring towns.


Sarangkot:

Sarangkot is located to the north of the Pokhara Valley. The area carries historical significance, and its name is derived from the Magar language. Most people prefer to walk up the gentle slopes, enjoying the mountain views and, as one reaches higher, the views of the lake and township are especially spectacular from here. The hilltop is also accessible by road, a barely 25-minute drive. Sarangkot is a popular take-off point for paragliders.


Bandipur

It is a tantalizing and as yet undiscovered a Newari town at hilltop situated midway on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway at an altitude of 1005 m overlooking the Marshyangdi river valley. It offers mountain views, artistic houses and pagoda temples. It has the largest cavern in the country, the Siddha Gupha, which is full of stalactites and stalagmites. From Dumre Bazaar you drive through pristine forests to this medieval town.


Manakamana:
The temple of Manakamana, a very popular pilgrimage site in Nepal, lies 125 km to the west of Kathmandu. The deity is one of the manifestations of the Hindu goddess Bhagwati who is believed to have the power to fulfill wishes. Situated atop a 1302 m hill, it is a steep three hour hike from Abu Khaireni of the Kathmandu-Gorkha highway. A cable car is also available to visit Manakamana.

Nepalgunj

Nepalgunj, an industrial and tourism hub, is located 199 km east of Dhangadhi at the Nepal-India border. It is the gateway to Bardia National Park (95 km), Dolpo Region and Mount Kailash/Lake Mansarovar (Tibet). The Jai Bageswari temple marks the town center. After the safari, one can drive to Chisapani to view the 500-m long, single-tower bridge over the Karnali River.

Butwal

Butwal is a small town situated on the lowland (Terai) near the Sunauli border to India. It is only 26 km from the Indian border and about 22 km from Bhairahawa. It remains a key crossroads and bazaar town on the East-West Highway leading north to Tansen (39 km) and onto Syangja (81 km) and Pokhara (38 km). The old part of town on the west bank of the Tinau River is worth seeing.