Writing about the best places to visit in Nepal is quite a pleasure for me, since this Himalayan country will always be my ‘first-ever’ crossing the home-borders to a foreign land. I am going back in June for Everest Base Camp Trek, but before that here is a comprehensive travel guide for visiting Nepal for the first time.

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Relatively small in diameter and vast in curious cultural loops, it can get strained in Kathmandu and soul-searching in the Himalayas. From visa to budget accommodations, from tourist attractions in Nepal to my unique experiential recommendations – hold your horses!

Why Should You Visit Nepal?

I think we all know why this country has bagged its touristic stance on the world map. Mount Everest. In 1863, Mount Everest was named after British surveyor Sir George Everest. The local Sherpas call it Chomolungma, “Goddess Mother of the World.” The Nepalese word for Everest is Sagarmatha, meaning “Forehead of the Sky.”

As I traveled across this Himalayan country for five months, without a peak at Everest, I realized the cultural and religious balance is somewhat distinctive. Everything is, in one way or another, deeply resorted to religion, and with that, mythological beliefs. I would say, the whole country is a mythology. People believe in magic.

Trekking, hands down, is certainly a good-enough reason for taking that long flight to the Himalayas. How often do you encounter the unknowns of nature at 5000m? And the concealed Buddhist and Tibetan teachings? Mustang, Langtang…. Way less explored than Everest Base Camp!

Also, I have never seen Nepalese people getting viciously angry! Coincidence? The tongue and intonation of the local language tune out only as ‘sweet’.

Also read – Volunteering/Painting in the Monsoons of Kathmandu

Quick Things to Know Before You Go

• National Language – Nepali

• Capital City – Kathmandu

1. Where Exactly is Nepal?

A common misconception among Westerners: Nepal is part of India. Absolutely wrong.

Officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, this Himalayan country stretches between India and China in South Asia. It is slightly larger than the State of Arkansas, and it is also the gigantic base of eight of the world’s ten highest mountain peaks. The topographical changes rule their economy, caste system and livelihoods. While the alluvial Gangetic plains benefit agricultural fertility and wildlife breeding, the frozen Himalayas contribute a huge part of the country’s GDP through trekking-tourists. 

Their regional topography has three parts.

• The Upper Himalayan (himal) ranges from 4,000m to 8,848m above sea level, occupying 15% of the total area of the country and within this region alone stand eight of the fourteen highest peaks in the world above 8000m. Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, Manaslu, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri, and Annapurna.

• Next are the middle hills and Lower Himalayas (pahad), covering 68% of the country. Kathmandu, Pokhara, and the other tourist-densities flock to this region.

• The lowlands of Nepal are known as the Terai and they occupy 17% of the land. The Ganges River waters this region and makes the land very fertile for growing crops.

2. Still Recovering from A Civil War

Before visiting Nepal, have a rough idea about their political stance. The conflict lay between the royal government and the Communist Party (Maoist) from 1996 to 2006. In 2008, it ended its monarchy through a passage of out-and-out mob protests. King Gyanendra, who held the power till 2001 stepped down from the cushion. This governmental change emerged nearly after 20 years of political insurgencies. As you would walk around, the country’s fresh changes would float to the surface.

3. Buddhism and Hinduism Co-Exist in Harmony

With only 9% population revering to Buddhism in Nepal, it has a parallel effect on the worshippers of Hinduism. In Mahankalsthan, Bajrayogini, Guheshwarí, Pashupatinath, Budhanilkantha, and Muktinath, images of Bhairava are worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. The priest in the Hindu temple of Muktinath is Buddhist and a priest in the temple in Lumbini is Hindu. Not only that, these two religions have now overlapped in rituals and customs.

4. The Currency of Nepal

The Nepalese Rupees (NPR) is the official currency. Often added to the World’s Most Beautiful Currencies List, NPR can easily be identified by their unique color codes and images of animals. As of now, 100 Indian Rupees = 160 NPR.

Indian rupees (except for 2000 Indian-rupee notes) are also accepted around the borders and tourist areas. So, if you have a few Indian rupees left in your pocket, you can use that in Nepal (But not everywhere!)

5. Know about Network & Sim Cards

NCell provides decent coverage all over the country. The activation of the SIM card is immediate, and you can buy NCell SIM cards everywhere!

Apart from this guide, I have also written a detailed guide on ‘Practical Things to Know Before Travelling to Nepal’. For information on food, alcohol, road conditions, Wi-Fi availability, volunteering, and safety, you can consult this article. It will also answer your questions like, ‘how safe is it for solo female Travellers’, ‘What cab services to book?’

When is the Best Time to Visit Nepal?

Seasons here are divided into four, although with the present climate conditions, these seasons are distinctly blurred. The monsoon starts in June and flushes in August. Monsoons can be unpredictable even for the locals.

By mid-September, as Spring jumps in, the rains have already ceased and autumn is hanging mid-way. September to November is the most popular time of year for trekkers and explorers.

Winter pops in from late November to February and is eventually rain-free and snowed out. High-altitude hill areas above 3,000 meters are snow-capped with temperatures of -10°C not being unheard of. Gear up for some snow-trekking!

Any time of the year except the monsoons (June to August) is favourable for visiting tourist places in Nepal.

Also read – A Vegetarian’s Guide to Newari Food in Kathmandu

What Are the Best Places to Visit in Nepal?

Any travel guide can be stretched further, and I myself don’t follow an itinerary. Create your own itinerary with all my recommendations. But then always go out of the way to find your own path!

1. Kathmandu Can Get Busy, But Still Worth It

Kathmandu, the ancient Capital City! At a glance, you will find yourself in haphazard traffic-jams, while people patiently cut through one another with rough-and-sharp driving! All the vehicles are rushing ‘fast and furious’ and the plastic packets are flying around the footpaths within an unsanitary non-existent garbage-disposal system. And there is more. Way more.

A juxtaposition of heritage and traffic, but adorned with Boudha Stupa, Swayambhunath, Pashupatinath Temple, Durbar Square and Thamel! Read about all the 8 best places to visit in Kathmandu Nepal in 2024.

2. Bhaktapur for Age-Old Historical Squares

The cultural capital, Bhaktapur’s history travels back to the early 8th century.

It used to be the Capital of the whole country from the 12th to 15th century. Until the early 18th century, the ancestors protected the city as a sovereign country surrounding it with boundary walls and city gates. Shaped like a flying pigeon, Bhaktapur gives shelter to almost 100 thousand people, most of whom are peasants, businessmen, artisans, and public employees. Pottery and handicrafts are the identifiers of the city.

Bhaktapur stands out for its World Heritage Site, Durbar Square. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is a conglomeration of stone art, metal art, wood carving, terracotta art, and architectural showpieces. The Golden Gate, a statue of King Bhupatindra Malla perched on top of stone monoliths, National Art Gallery, the palace of 55 windows, the Vatsala Temple and many more pieces of stone sculptures adorn the square.

Apart from Durbar Square, adjacent squares like Taumadhi Square, Pottery Square, Dattatraya Square display peacock and terracotta windows.

Pottery Square – Talakwo (middle-south of the city) and Suryamadhi (east of the city) are two particular localities of Bhaktapur where earthen pots are made, and known as Pottery Squares. A few steps away from Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu Valley, artisans lay out their artwork at Pottery Square. They even provide hourly pottery classes for NPR 700. 

As you finish looking around this popular tourist attraction in Nepal, don’t forget to buy some Bhaktapur-special Juju Dhau, the Nepalese yogurt.

3. Patan (Lalitpur) for Wood Carvings

Lalitpur, also known as Patan, is an age-old Buddhist city of the 3rd Century BC. ‘Lalitpur’ means ‘The City of Fine Arts’ or ‘City of Beauty’. Patan was built as the replica of the Buddhist Dharma-Chakra. In Patan Darbar Square, which is another World Heritage Site, you will explore Taleju Bell, Yoga Narendra’s Statue, Krishna Temple, Char Narayan Temple, Bhimsen Temple, the ornamented Chowks (‘Courtyards’) in the Royal palace that is now a museum, and the Buddhist stupas Ashoka built in five corners of Lalitpur. For a detailed guide to Patan, read the article – Patan – The Age-Old Buddhist Town in Nepal.

4. Markhu – Kulekhani – Chitlang

Plastic and dirt. The ‘beauty’ of the ‘beautiful’ had to be enforced with the imagery of no plastics. The shore is a factory of plastic bottles. What seemed from the distance to be beautiful, was in fact a touristic circus inside. Sadly, the majority of tourists don’t value what they drive all the way to see. 

‘They are organizing cleaning campaigns. The water level will rise to the level of the suspension bridge soon. That’s why all the cleaning is going on.’ A local man said.

Nonetheless, the backdrop changed, and so did my peace of mind, as the two of us decided to hike to a waterfall through an off-the-beaten track.

First, we had to cross the Kulekhani dam by boat, then hike for one and a half hours through the regional villages in the Makwanpur district. The waterfall is known as Mohini Waterfall, a frenzied gathering of local tourists. I think the hike was the intent of the landing destination, even though the waterfall was exquisite; just experiencing the phenomenon of overcrowded tourism.

Just a heads up, if you are headed that way, visit Markhu, Kulekhani, and Chitlang together, a trio that’s famous among the domestic tourists of Nepal, and it’s only 33.2 km away from Kathmandu. If you are not headed that way, you can give it a miss.

5. Pokhara is More Commercialized

Pokhara is the stage where everything is flawless, in high contrast to Kathmandu and Chitwan. So you can expect a completely different setup. Less traffic, but a hardcore touristic congregation. When I say hardcore, I mean hardcore. I am personally not very intrigued by places like Pokhara. So this travel guide is only for touristic purposes. But I did love Phewa Lake, and my visit was in the off-season. I had my pieces of beautiful times in this town.

Here is a detailed article with all the best places to visit in Pokhara.

6. Trekking to Annapurna Base Camp

Are you travelling to Nepal for the long-taken trail of Annapurna Base Camp? There is a whole other world at 4120 metes, reclining on the foothills of Annapurna Mountain Range. It’s poetry, up there! For 5-7 days you will hike the ABC Trail, you will be in constant awe of the Himalayas! And in this trek, you get to touch two base camps (not just one): Annapurna and Machhapuchhare. From the path we took to the itinerary, cost, and weather conditions, you will find every single detail about Annapurna Base Camp Trek here.

7. Chitwan National Park for A Safari

The Chitwan National Park (CNP), a World Heritage Site, also contains a Ramsar Site – Beeshazari Tal in its buffer zone. The CNP has a history of over three decades in wildlife management and a conflicted streak between the National Park and the Tharu people evicted on the eve of its making.

The forest and grassland areas are opulent in conservational patches in the Terai, the subtropical southern part of Nepal. A total of 68 species of mammals, 544 species of birds, 56 species of herpetofauna, and 126 species of fish have been conserved in the widespread. The National Park shares recognition for its preservation of One Horned Rhinoceros, the Royal Bengal Tiger, and the Gharial Crocodile.

Chitwan National Park is the wild-terrain in the Terai region, closest to the India-Nepal Border, and one of the best places to visit for Safari-enthusiasts. For jungle safaris in the National Park, you can connect with Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour.

8. Visit the Tharu Tribe And Understand Rural Tourism in Nepal

Tharu is an indigenous tribe living in the Tarai region of Nepal. With a history of Malaria-battles and eviction conflicts, the Tharu people have become scattered now. In one such Tharu village named Patalhara, I had the good fortune of volunteering in a Nepali Government School. Even though I did not directly teach the Tharu tribe, living there gave me the edge to get to know them and their unique culture. The principal of the school, who hosted me in his house for two weeks, thankfully spoke the colloquial language. Through him, I could closely understand their lifestyle.

You can also learn a lot about the Tharu tribe in many villages around Chitwan. Read on to know how to connect with them – Tharu Ethnic Tribe of Patalhara Worships A Broom

8. Australian Camp for A Short Hike near Pokhara

Australian Camp is a day-hike near Pokhara, the base of which can either be Phedi or Kande. If you choose the route through Phedi, you will have to hike to Dhampus Village first, make a halt, and then hike straightaway further up to Australian Camp from 1650m to 2060m. Or, you may choose the more straightforward way through Kande. 

At Australian Camp, you can pitch your tent (what I did), or choose a guesthouse. All the details about this not-so-visited place in Nepal are in this article – Thunderstorm while Solo Camping – Australian Camp Hike

9. Lumbini is the Birthplace of Buddha

In many ways, the story of Buddhism commenced from Lumbini, under a full-moon night that unfolded more than 2600 years ago. Queen Mayadevi stopped in Lumbini during her travels, to give birth to her son, Siddhartha, who would find enlightenment and become Buddha 35 years later.

Surrounding the Mayadevi Temple are the foundations of immemorial monasteries that were built for pilgrims as early as the 3rd century BC. Lumbini reverberates the footsteps of Buddha; the region where he spent his childhood as Prince Siddhartha. The very spot where Buddha was born is marked and the site is a monumental Holy symbol for Buddhists.

Trekking to the Himalayas is A Must for Hikers

Word of caution. Trails are endless. Trekking has a very defined place in every Nepal Scrapbook. Here are 10 treks you can choose from for a high-altitude bargain.

• Everest Base Camp (15 days)

• Annapurna Base Camp (7 days)

• Annapurna Circuit Trek (12 days)

• Manaslu Circuit Trek (13 days)

• Langtang Trek (7 days)

• Upper Mustang Trek (12 days)

• Gokyo Lakes Trek (12 days)

• Dhaulagiri Circuit Trek (14 days)

• Nar Phu Valley Trek (9 days)

• Ghorepani – Poon Hill Trek (9 days)

Where All to Stay in Nepal

Accommodations are everywhere! Whether or not you book your stay online, you can always find budget accommodations or luxury stays in Kathmandu or Pokhara!

1. Kathmandu Accommodation Choices

For budget travellers and backpackers, the dormitories are in the Thamel area. They cost as low as NPR 400 ($3-4). Here are some suggestions as to where to stay in Nepal:

• Trekkers Home
• Planet Nomad Hostel
• Big Tree Hostel

For families in need of private rooms, choose homestays over hotels.

• Sudha’s Garden Home
• Monkey Temple Homestay
• Eco Homestay

2. Where to Stay in Pokhara

From first-hand experiences of living in both hostels and homestays in Pokhara, I can give you some suggestions on the best accommodations in Pokhara.

Some hostels and dormitories for backpackers:

• Hotel Cherry Garden

• Gaurishankar Backpackers Hostel

• Pokhara Backpackers Hostel

For private rooms in Pokhara:

• Mangal Homestay (Highly recommended)

• The North Face Inn’s Homestay
• One & Only West Inn Homestay

How to Reach Nepal

By Air

Getting to Nepal by air is the fastest option. Now the only international airport is Tribhuvan International Airport in the capital city of Kathmandu. All in all, 43 airports including Lukla Airport, the world’s most dangerous airport, are dispersed all over the country.

By Rail

Wondering how to reach Nepal by rail? No, there’s no railway connectivity available within the country.

By Road

With six border crossings with India, road travel is an economical and striking way to reach this country. 

• How to Reach Nepal from Delhi? The most convenient crossing point is Sonauli, near Bhairahawa.

• The other popular crossing is the Raxaul border accessible from Bihar which takes you to Birganj in Central Nepal.

• The next two common crossings, the Panitanki and Banbasa crossings, will lead you to Kakarbhitta and Bhimdatta, respectively.

Also read – The India-Nepal Border Crossing by Land Via Gorakhpur

Getting Around Nepal

By Air

Domestic flights can fly you to different parts of the country, offering astonishing views along the way. Most flights take off from Kathmandu, landing at airstrips across the country including Pokhara, Bhojpur, Biratnagar, Lukla, Lamidanda, Tumlingtar, Dolpo, Phaplu and Jumla, amongst others.

By Cab/Taxi

What cab services are common? Pathao and InDriver are two of the most used cab services. You can navigate easily across the country using these two apps. You better download these as soon as you land in this country!

By Bus

The primary mode of transportation in terms of frequency, connectivity, and cost-effectiveness is the bus. Local buses travel everywhere, from big towns to the outskirts. There are both local and tourist long-distance buses. Whether or not you take an economy or deluxe coach, the journey is bound to get bouncy on Nepal’s infamously precarious roads.

No rail services run within the country.

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Here it ends, all the best places to visit in Nepal. I hope you draw out your own itinerary before visiting this culturally-rich country. To make it more convenient for you, I have jotted together all the Nepal tourist places on Google Maps. You can access the map here.

Are you also planning to visit this beautiful Himalayan country?

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