Nagarkot

One of the most famous tourist destinations is Nagarkot, which is located on the nort-east rim of Kathmandu Valley at an elevation of 2000 meters. It offers the panoramas of the major peaks of western Nepal like Annapurna Range, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal Range, Langtang Range and Gaurishanker in the east. It takes one and a half hour drive from Kathmandu.

At sunset and sunrise the snow-covered peaks are painted in shades of rose, pink orange and gold. It is a sight not to miss, though one can never be sure of the visibility of the mountain ranges even during the winter months. Seeing a single pink peak appearing in the midst of clouds can be as thrilling as seeing the whole 400 kms panorama of peaks. Since mornings are clearer than afternoons, it is recommended spending a night up here.

Nagarkot is also a place for hikes, especially when you do not have enough time for long treks. The possible destinations for hikes from Nagarkot are Chisapani, Dhulikhel and Changunarayan. Number of comfortable hotels and lodges are available there.
If you want more information about the hikes in Kathmandu Valley, click here.