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Other
Valley Destinations
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Guide > Destination
Guide > Other Valley Destinations |
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| Balaju |
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This ancient pilgrimage site lies
a few kilometres north of Thamel. It centres on a line of 22
carved stone dhara from which sacred water is believed
to spout. Crowds of devotees flock here for ritual bathing on
astrologically auspicious days, most notably the April full
moon. The Balaju Water Gardens with their beautiful fish farm,
forests, waterfalls and plants, have been the focus of several
Nepali folk songs and constitute a popular picnic spot.
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| Buddhanikantha |
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The Vishnu statue at Buddhanilkantha
was found buried in its original state. It is estimated to be
about 1,000 years old and shows Vishnu lying on the cosmic water
before the creation of the universe. The statue, carved from
a single massive block of black stone, lies in a water tank
set in an old courtyard. The kings of Nepal have avoided viewing
this image on pain of death ever since King Pratap Malla had
a prophetic dream. However, other visitors flock here to perform
puja every morning and evening.
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| Chobar
Gorge |
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Eons ago, the sage Manjushri came
across a huge lake and saw an enormous lotus gleaming in its
centre. He cut a deep gorge in the wall of the lake to drain
out the water so that he could observe and worship the lotus.
The bed of the lake became Kathmandu Valley and the place where
he cut the lake is said to be Chobar Gorge. The picturesque
village of Chobar tops the hill. Also in the vicinity are an
intricate cave and a Ganesh Temple.
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| Dakshinkali |
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The temple at Dakshinkali is dedicated
to the goddess Kali, the most ferocious incarnation of Shiva’s
consort. It is believed that those who make animal sacrifices
of uncastrated male animals on Tuesday and Saturday are granted
strong will power and vast amounts of energy. The temple is
literally awash with blood during the annual festival of Dasain
in October, as devotees flock to bathe the image of Kali in
blood.
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| Jawalakhel
Zoo |
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The zoo contains fine examples of
Himalayan animal species. If you miss the one-horned rhino or
the Royal Bengal tiger in the wild, this is a good place to
see them. The zoo is managed by the King Mahendra Trust for
Nature Conservation.
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| Godavari
Royal Botanical Garden |
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This is probably the most popular
picnic ground in Kathmandu. The plants are of a wide variety
and the flowers, when in bloom, add vibrancy to the quiet and
peaceful environs of the park. Song and dance sequences for
many Nepali films have been shot here. From the garden, you
may wish to visit the Nau and Panch Dhara Ponds or hike up the
2,700 metre Pulchowki Hill nearby.
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| Kakani |
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The Kakani hilltop, only an hour’s
drive from Kathmandu, is a quiet place that offers skyline views
of Gauri Shanker, Langtang, Choba Bhamare, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu
and Himalchuli.
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| Nagarkot |
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The resort village of Nagarkot at
a height of 2,099 metres, offers one of the best views of the
Himalayas. The view extends all the way from Dhaulagiri, past
Mt Everest, to Kanchenjunga. You can also see Manaslu, Ganesh
Himal and Gauri Shanker from here. An hour’s walk away is a
tower that offers an even better, 3600 view. The
best time for a pilgrimage is between October and March, when
the sunrise and sunset views are simply breathtaking. There
are a number of walks to and from Nagarkot, including some down
to Sundarijal, Sankhu, Changu Narayan, Bhaktapur and Banepa.
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| Pulchowki |
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At about 2,700 metres above sea level,
Pulchowki is the tallest hill around the Kathmandu Valley. The
thick cloud forests here – one of the last surviving of their
kind in Nepal – allow for interesting bird-watching and nature
hikes, as more than 250 bird species, as well as barking deer,
leopards and bears have been sighted here. The period between
March through April is a good time to visit, as the rhododendrons
are in full bloom then.
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| Chandragiri |
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The best approach to Chandragiri,
which offers excellent hiking and views of the Valley, is from
Hattiban. The vegetation is sparse, but this is a good place
to catch a glimpse of the rural lifestyle – you will see farmers,
their houses and rice fields as you climb. Be sure to take plenty
of water because the upper reaches of Chandragiri are dry and
uninhabited.
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| Nagarjun |
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Nagarjun is named after a famous sage.
A stupa stands at the top. The forest surrounding it
is well known for its animal life. Also known as the Queen’s
Forest, its flora and fauna is protected by the army. There
is a variety of wildlife – leopards, deer, squirrels, and other
animal species – and the hill tracks are perfect for mountain
biking.
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| Shivapuri |
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As the main watershed for Kathmandu,
Shivapuri is protected by a conservation project that has resulted
in the return of the tremendous biodiversity typical of midland
Nepal. One study of Shivapuri found 129 varieties of mushroom,
50 types of birds and a species of dragonfly formerly unknown
to science. The Buddhist nunnery of Nagi Gompa offers a peaceful
communal setting that allows Sherpa, Tamang, Newari and Tibetan
women of all ages to study and pray. Higher up, the dripping
springs of Bagdwar, the legendary source of the Bagmati River,
are a sacred pilgrimage site. Shivapuri’s summit lies less than
an hour beyond and offers some fine Himalayan views.
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| Dhulikhel |
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At a distance of 32 kilometres from
Kathmandu, Dhulikhel is an old Newari town that was once a stop
along the old trade route to Tibet. The wealth that passed through
the region still manifests itself in the impressive though now
almost tottering buildings. There are various Hindu temples,
including a hilltop Kali shrine, and a few elegant resorts that
offer Himalayan sunset-views with dinner. The hilltop stupa
of Namobuddha, a two-hour hike away, is said to enshrine the
relics of a virtuous local prince who, moved to compassion at
the sight of a starving tigress, fed himself to her, piece by
piece. Tibetan Buddhists revere this peaceful site and flock
here to string up prayer flags and spin the prayer wheels. Mountain
bikers will appreciate the ride up to the shrine.
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| Sankhu |
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The peaceful village of Sankhu (whose
name comes from its conch shell shape) is a Newari settlement
that seems almost forgotten. Like Dhulikhel, it was once an
important halting place on the Tibetan trade route, and the
wealth that passed through contributed to its fine old buildings
with ornate rococo plasterwork. The Gum Bihar religious complex
above the village houses the temple of Bajra Yogini, built in
the 17th century. The area has been an important
religious site since the 4th century and has excellent
woods and bird life as well as monkeys and pigeons in the temple
area. Visitors may wish to bike up to Nagarkot and bike down
to Sankhu.
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