If you don't have the time to spend for a long trek on Himalayan trails and would not expend time to travel long around the country, then the 1 night/2days Dhulikhel-Nagarkot-Changunarayan Hike is ideal for you. This hike is a unique blend of natural and cultural sight-seeing that provides magnificent vistas of scenic Himalayan Ranges of Nepal, with ancient fine arts of the Malla dynasty aka “The golden era of arts” that ruled over Bhaktapur in 17th century. Nepal is adorned with the gems of natural beauty such as alluring mountain ranges, enchanting woodlands, and much more. During this hike, you will get an opportunity to observe and experience first-hand the beauty of Nepal with the touch of cultural sightseeing at a short period of time.
The trek starts from the ancient town of Dhulikhel which was a stopping point in the ancient trade route between Tibet and Kathmandu. The hill station displays captivating culture and artistic monuments. Afterward, we hike for through woodland with lush greenery to the lovely town of Nagarkot. The town is highlighted as a travel destination for its exquisite views of the Eastern Himalayas comprising of Mt. Everest as well as the peaks of Langtang, Ganesh Himal and Annapurna. The spell-binding sunrise and sunset of Nagarkot is considered as the spotlight of the entire hike. From Nagarkot the trek descends to Changunarayan, a sacred shrine for Hindus, situated at the ancient city of Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is famous for its ancient but spectacular monuments filled with extraordinary fine arts.
| Day | Highlight | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Early morning drive to Dhulikhel, trek to Nagarkot and overnight in Nagarkot (Lunch and dinner) 5-6 hours hike | Nagarkot |
| Day 2 | Hike to Changunarayan and drive back to Kathmandu, on the way sightseeing at Bhaktapur (Breakfast, Lunch)-3 hours hike and 1 hour drive back. | Kathmandu |
After breakfast, we drive to Dhulikhel in a private vehicle. The drive takes about 1-2 hours depending on the traffic conditions. Dhulikhel is an ancient town that exhibits aesthetic structures and site that bears historical importance. If it is a clear day, we’ll get to observe the distant sight of mighty Himalayas under endless blue sky. After exploring Dhulikhel, we now hike 5-6 hours to Nagarkot on the trail that passes through the woodland consisting lush greenery. After we check in on our hotel, we’ll have our lunch and then hike to the view tower of Nagarkot. The view tower is situated at the top of Nagarkot, where we can observe beautiful sunset and sunrise views.
Overnight in Nagarkot. (Lunch and dinner)
Before sunrise, we wake up early in the morning to watch arresting and vibrant sunrise above the endless horizon with the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas as a backdrop. After capturing those mesmerizing moments, we now hike for about 3 hours to the Hindu temple of Changunarayan in Bhaktapur District. We explore Changunarayan temple and them drive to ancient city of Bhaktapur. The city offers the first-hand ethnic culture of the natives and showcases the astonishing ancient architecture filled with impressive fine arts. Bhaktapur Durbar Square area is an example of the vivid skills of the old artists and craftsmen of the Malla Dynasty during 17th century. The entire complex consists of at least four distinct squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square) with scores of pagoda and shikhara-style temples and well-renowned fifty-five window palace, made up of brick and wood. Then, we drive back to Kathmandu city on private vehicle, which generally takes 1 hour depending on traffic conditions.
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