Nagarkot Kathmandu Travel Guide

Nagarkot is one of the beautiful places of Nepal which is located in the Kathmandu valley. It is around 27 kilometer from Kathmandu valley making it more worth as it is thrilled with the breath taking views of the Himalayas. Those who love to enjoy with the nature and get rid of traffic noise Nagarkot can be the ideal place for the visit. As it is very close to the Kathmandu valley lots of tourist and local can be seen in the place as the environment is very much greenery and after hectic long day trek it can be the best place to hang out and refresh yourself.
Even you can enjoy a short trek to Nagakot i.e. Nagarkot to changunarayan trek which covers the distance of 12 km .Nagarkot is the best place to view the close mountain and the maximum duration will be around 3 to 4 hours so those who love to enjoy short trek it can be the best option for the hiking. The natural environment and the local villages and forest will refresh your body and the soul. Nagarkot is also popular for honeymoon destination because of its pristine nature and specular views of the mountain it attracts the tourist and create mood for romance.

Elevation of Nagarkot/ Above

Sea Level
Nagarkot is located in the Bhaktapur District of Nepal which is located at the maximum elevation of 2,195 meter i.e. 7200 feet above sea Level. From top of the Nagarkot you will get to explore the panoramic views of the Himalayas including Mount Everest on clear days.

Temperature and Climate
Nagarkot is located at the elevation of 2,175 meter making it cooler than Kathmandu. The temperature of Nagarkot is range from 20°C to 25°C during day time however in night time the temperature decrease significantly making it cooler.

Winter (December to February)

During winter the temperature will be ranging from 5°C to 15°C during day time however during evening and night time the temperature decreases below -5°C making it more freezing cold. Though the temperature decreases significantly there are less chances of snow but it added serene charm to the landscapes.

Spring (March to May)

Spring is the best time to visit in
as the temperature will in between 15°C and 25°C during day time and in the evening and night time it remain above 5°C to 10°C making its cool. As the sky seems to be very clear during this season you get to see the best view of the Himalaya.

Summer/Monsoon (

June to August)

When it comes to trekking and hiking weather plays a vital role for the adventure if the weather goes bad your adventure will be worst so it’s very crucial to choose right season for the hiking or trekking. During monsoon/summer in Nepal there will be a heavy rain as a result landslide may occur and roads may be blocked so if you choose monsoon season you should prepared accordingly. So in Nagarkot during summer the temperature will be above 20°C to 30°C in day time so it can worsen your hiking however in evening and night time 15°C to 20°C.

Autumn (September to November)

Autumn season is the best time for the trekking in Nepal as the sky seems to be very clear as a result you get to see the clear view of the mountain and the climate will be around 5°C and 25°C during day daytime and 5°C to 15°C in the evening time making it more ideal for the trekking and the photography.

Location/Where is Nagarkot Located?

Nagarkot is located at the Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur District within Bagmati province Nepal. It is around 32 kilometer from east of Kathmandu. It is one of the best place to visit near Kathmandu and enjoy the natural and greenery environment .There are some few short hikes route which is worth and can refresh yourself after having long day trekking. From Bhaktapur its just 14kilometers and if you want to peace and want to stay away from hectic traffic and crowd Nagarkot can be the best choice.

Administrative Details
• Country: Nepal
• Province: Bagmati Province
• District: Bhaktapur District
• Municipality: Changunarayan Municipality
• Kathmandu, a 32-kilometer drive away, further facilitated its growth as a popular tourist destination.

How to get to Nagarkot from Kathmandu?

There are various options to get to Nagarkot from Kathmandu. It depends upon your budget and the time. From Local bus to Car, Jeep can be the better option to get to Nagarkot. Apart from the transportation if you prefer hiking you can hike to Changunarayan,Chisapani sundarijal and Sankhu.The route is very much adventurous as you will be hiking through the dense forest ,small villages and paddy field. Here are some means of transportation to get to Nagarkot.

Private Vehicle or Taxi: Private vehicle or Tax is the most flexible and easy way to reach to Nagarkot. The journey from Kathmandu to Nagarkot is about 1.5 hours’ drive depending upon the traffic. So if you hire taxi your journey will be more comfort and convenient and can stop in between and enjoy the route and take pictures along the way.

Public vehicle: If you are on tight budget local bus can be another best option to get to Nagarkot however you have to face with the crowd and the local people. The journey will be little bit more difficult as the buses are fully filled with the passengers. Compared to taxi or private vehicle the journey will be little bit longer i.e. 3 to 4 hours as they stop the bus in between the routes to add more passengers. To catch the bus from Kathmandu you need to go to Newbuspark and headed to Bhaktapur and once you reach Bhaktapur you need to transfer to another bus which headed to Nagarkot.

Hiking : If you are adventure lover and want to connect with the nature closely hiking is the one of the best option to get to Nagarkot. The route begins from Changunarayan to sankhu via Nagarkot and it will be the best experience as you get to engage with the local people around. The trek usually takes 5 hours to complete from Kathmandu.

Transportation
There is variety of option for the transportation from jeep to Car to local bus. It depends which one to choose depend upon your budget and time. If you are on tight budget bus is the best option to choose however it may not be comfortable as private vehicles or jeep. To catch the bus from Nagarkot you need to board from Kamala Binayak Bhaktapur and from Bhakatur you need to inter change another bus and head straight away to Nagarkot. However it’s may be hectic but you can save some amount of money.

Private taxi or jeep can be another good option to get to Nagarkot if you don’t have any issue with the budget. If you don’t want to over stay and want comfortable night you can hire taxi for full day that will cost around 5000 to 6000 Nepalese rupees. In one hand you can save the time and get to explore the village and return to Kathmandu on same day.

If you are adventure lover and love to ride motorbike or mountain bike can be the another best option to head to Nagarkot. You can hire motorbike from Thamel however road is bumpy and narrow but you can experience best moment of your life.

The Greatest Activities in Nagarkot

1. Savor Himalayan view from the view tower– From the top of the Nagarkot tower you can enjoy the panoramic views of the Himalayan range. You may enjoy breath taking views of the snow covered hills and mountains by taking a quick stroll to the viewpoint. Apart from the enjoying the panoramic views of the mountain you can enjoy the sunrise in the morning from top of the Nagarkot.

2. Explore the village
The best thing about Nagarkot is that you can enjoy the beautiful village and interact with the local people and get time to understand their way of living. The people are very much friendly and welcoming so you can experience the best moment of your life. There are many hotel and restaurant where you can enjoy the local food and can experience the best hospitality of a lifetime. There are many health post, army camp and meditation center established by a spiritual organization.

3. Hiking: Nagarkot is one of the top destinations for hiking which is around 33 kilometer away from Kathmandu valley. As it is close to Kathmandu valley lots of local tourist is seen in between the routes. Changunarayan is one of the best trails for the hiking which is one of the famous UNESCO worlds Heritage Site of Nepal.
Nagarkot Chisa pani is another one of the best destination for the hiking which usually completed in 2 days from Kathmandu Valley. It is very much popular among the trekkers because of the refreshing climate and the elevation ranging at 2,175 meter. Compared to Kathmandu valley the weather is significantly cold during morning and evening. Along the route you can explore the Tamang and Newari village which are very rich in culture and get to understand their lifestyle. Shivapuri Nation Park is the end of the trek however you can enjoy the beautiful area and enjoy the local food in the restaurant and rest for a while.

4. Biking Tour 
Bike Ride to Nagarkot from Kathmandu valley can be a thrilling experience as it offers the uphill and downhill ride and the curvy turns make it more adventure and fun. Riding through the pine forest and the Himalaya make it more adventurous and can experience the best moment of a lifetime.

5. Chill and Relax

Nagarkot is one of the best places to chill and relax because of the beautiful nature. The environment is very much greenery and peaceful helping to remove all your stress and recharge your inner batteries. After coming from the long day trek ,Nagarkot can be the best place to hang out and chill as the atmosphere is very much fresh and very rich in nature helps to keep your mind and soul fresh.

6. Yoga Retreats: Mokshya yoga Retreat and Ananda Yoga home are the most famous yoga retreats located in Kathmandu valley which offers the tranquil environment for refreshment and rejuvenation.

7. Paragliding: Nagarkot Everest View Paragliding offers paragliding experiences with breathtaking mountain views.
Mountain Views from Nagarkot
Nagarkot is the best place to view the mountain as it is located at the elevation of 2,175 meter making it more worth it to visit as tall summit like Langtang, Annapurna South, Jugal Himal,Manaslu ,Ganesh Himal, Gaurishankar ,Dorje Lakpa,Shisapangma,Huinchuli and Mahalangur range can be seen from top of the Nagarkot. The hill station is well-known for providing expansive views of these magnificent peaks, which makes it a well-liked spot for trekking and sunrise gazing.

Accommodation
Nagarkot is one of the most beautiful places of Nepal which is located in the Bhaktapur district. Even it’s more popular between the local people as well because of its beautiful nature and the surrounding and close to the city. There are many hotels and resort in Nagarkot so you can choose from luxury hotel to budget hotel based your budget. As Nagarkot is very much famous between the tourists large number of foreign tourist is seen during busy season. Apart from Luxury hotel you can also find homestay near the village where you can enjoy the local authentic food and enjoy with the local people and understand their way of living.

Best Time to Visit Nagarkot

As it is close to the city we can visit any time of the year however if you want to enjoy the crystal and clear views of the Himalaya it’s better to travel during drier autumn and winter season. During this time there will be a snowfall and the mountain is covered with the snow as a result you will get the best view of the mountain making it more worth it to visit.