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Nagarkot
Nagarkot is a village located about 25 miles east of
Kathmandu, Nepal. It is located on the northeastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley
at an elevation close to 6,800 feet above sea level. It is one of the most
scenic spots in the region, renowned for its sunrise and sunset views of the
Himalayas. You can pick Mount Everest
out with its snow-topped peaks on a clear day as there is an observation tower
at the very top of the village’s hills.
Nagarkot, historically, used to serve as the summer retreat
for the royal family and many other aristocrats from Kathmandu. While the town
offers great views of the mountains, there are few monasteries or temples.
However, Nagarkot makes for a good short hike, one in which
you walk on the ridge of the valley. It has also become a popular stop for
mountain bikers. You can catch a bus for the one-hour ride to Nagarkot from
Bhaktapur, Nepal. A taxi will cost about a hundred times more. Most visitors,
however, drive up, spend the night at one of the moderately-priced lodges and
walk down by any number of routes. From Nargarkot, it takes just less than
three hours to walk down a well-worn trail through several villages to
Bhaktapur.
Alternatively, in three hours time, you can hike down to
Changu Narayan, one of the most magnificent temples in the valley and
designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The present structure was built in
the early 1700's, but at the entrance of the main shrine are stone tablets with
the inscriptions dating to 400 AD. Facing the entrance is a 5th century statue
of a human-faced Garuda, the mount of Vishnu, who is also called Narayan. There
are many other fine statues from the Licchavi era, as well as several from the
more recent Malla pe riod, including that of King Bupatindra and his queen in a
gilded enclosure from the 17th century. Changu Narayan is also patron ised by
the Valley's Buddhists who wor ship Lokeswar (another name for Vishnu).
Nagarkot is the place where once Manjushree Bodhisatto stood
and watched the lake in the Kathmandu Valley. Nagarkot is at the eastern
periphery of the Kathmandu Valley. The hilltop called Nagarkot at more than
2,000 meters above the sea level is the second highest peak in the Kathmandu
Valley. After an hour long exciting and winding drive you will be above to feel
the cool breeze of air blowing endlessly into your face, and see the widest
range of Himalayas including Mount Everest with our bare eyes from here. It is
also one of the best spots to visit for unmatched sunrise and sunset views.And
if awesome view is your first preference to visit Nagarkot,then, Peaceful
cottage and cafe dumont ,nagarkot ought to be your first port of residence.
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