So you have decided to visit Nepal. Good decision, as it can be the cheapest foreign trip you can take with no compromise in scenic views, food and weather. We have curated a list of places to visit in Nepal that you should check out. These places are visited by us, and then they are made to the list. The places are grouped in the city, primarily Kathmandu and Pokhara – the two most important cities in Nepal.
Kathmandu
1. Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is the largest and the oldest temple in Kathmandu, Nepal. The temple is dedicated to Pashupati, who is the incarnation of Lord Shiva. While entering, you will see a giant ‘Nandi’ statue in front of the temple. The Pashupati face is carved in the ‘linga’ in the temple. It is a must-visit if you are in Kathmandu.
2. Kathmandu Darbar Square
It is a bustling area of the city with temples, monuments, food courts and people wandering. Great place for hanging out with friends. This place can be seen as the “Connaught place” of Nepal if you have ever visited India. But this is more than that. Its vibe and crowd have a great mixture of culture and people. There is no parking in this area, but people park their bikes alongside the cafes’ doors.
3. Thamel
Thamel is known for its nightlife, so never plan to visit it before 9pm. It is a well-known hub among travellers and tourists that has hundreds of stores, international eateries and instagrammable vibrant nightlife. Filled into the narrow valleys of Thamel are hundreds of shops and bars that attract casual tourists and shopaholics.
4. Chandragiri Hills
Chandragiri Hills is a popular tourist spot. It is almost 15km from the Kathmandu main city. Since you are at a height of 2551 m, the sports activities offered here become more adventurous. After spending 10 mins in a cable car to reach the top of the hills, you will get the chance to see the panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley and Mt Everest. It is a great place to come with family and indulge in the various activities these hills offer.
5. Rani Jhula
Rani Jhula is a suspension bridge in Nagarkot and also referred to as the Nagarkot Hanging Bridge. The bridge is firmly attached via steel cable to the ground, giving it stability and safety. A few km trek leads to a sports activities centre which offers the highest zipline, paragliding and other such activities. There is a road that also leads to this centre if not interested in trekking from Rani Jhula.
6. Nagarkot Waterfall
Just below the Rani Jhula is Nagarkot Waterfall. There are two ways to this waterfall; one is left of the Rani Jhula and the other one is on the right going down. The right one is the shortest path. No need to take the long one, as it offers nothing. Sit and relax with your friends at the rocks, seeing water falling, and lose yourself in deep conversations.
Pokhara
7. Phewa Lake
It is a boating paradise. If you are in Pokhara, then this is the place you need to stay. You will find hundreds of hotels alongside Phewa Lake advertised as ‘Lakeview Hotel‘. You can enjoy the lake view and the weather from the balcony of your hotel room. With dusky weather, a cold breeze flowing, trees on the road shedding leaves and a cup of tea in your hands, is all you need to get away from your mundane routines.
8. Pumdikot Shiva Statue
Pumdikot has the second tallest Shiva statue in Nepal. It is at 1500m above sea level. People often miss this small detail. If you patiently wait, then you will see the Lord Ganesh idol circling around this Shiva statue in a clockwise direction. This statue can also be seen from Pokhara lakeside, which is a 30-min drive.
9. Gupteshwar Mahadev Cave
A long time ago, in the 1500s, some local men found a strange spot in the ground covered with grass and dirt. When they cleaned it up, they discovered the entrance to a cave! Curious, they went inside and found statues of Hindu Gods and Goddesses like Mahadev, Parvati, Nageshwar, and Saraswati.
As they went deeper, they noticed water flowing through the cave from a nearby waterfall called Davis Falls. They also found a special stone that looked like Lord Shiva. Because of this, they named the cave Gupteshwor Mahadev, which means “Hidden God” in Nepalese.
Later, in 1991, people placed a statue at the entrance of the cave. The cave is in Nepal, 772m below sea level, and is said to be the longest cave in the country!
Devi’s Fall can also be seen from the cave if you go further down.
10. Devi’s Fall
On the other side of Gupteshwar Cave is the Davis Fall, just less than 50m. Davis Falls is a fascinating waterfall located in Pokhara, Nepal. Locally, it’s known as Patale Chhango, which means “underground waterfall” in Nepali.
What makes Davis Falls special is that after the water cascades down, it doesn’t just flow away like most waterfalls. Instead, it disappears into a deep, narrow tunnel that goes underground for about 500 feet and is around 100 feet below the ground. This tunnel leads to the Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave.
The waterfall got its name from a sad event in 1961. A Swiss woman named Mrs Davis was swept away by the strong currents while swimming near the falls. After this tragic incident, the waterfall was named “Davis Falls” in her memory.
You will find many spellings of this fall. At the outside before the market, it says ‘Devis Fall’, and in the ticket, it says David’s Fall.
11. Bat Cave (Chamero Gufa)
From the name, it is itself clear. It is a habitat of Horshoe bat. It is a great tourist attraction, as it offers you to enter from one end and exit from the other. And the exit is not a simple way out. You have to squeeze your way out. It is very fun and exciting. You will be provided with a battery-powered lamp which you can use in the cave to see the bats.
12. Mahendra Cave
Just a few kms ahead of Bat Cave, you will get to Mahendra Cave. It is named after Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, a Nepali king. This cave is a rare example of spikes hanging from the ceiling (stalactites) and spikes from the ground (stalagmites) building up as dripping water from above lands on the floor, depositing minerals.
Conclusion
A retreat to Nepal is sometimes all you need. So dont wait up and plan these places to visit in Nepal. Two days in Kathmandu and two days in Pokhara are enough to cover these places mentioned.
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