Central hills
Historic hill towns, palaces and viewpoints between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
35 placesKalinchowk: Snow, Temple and Mountain Views in Dolakha
Kalinchowk in Dolakha: the hilltop Kalinchowk Bhagwati temple at about 3,800 m, winter snow, views of Gauri Shankar and the Rolwaling Himal, and how to get there from Kat...
Explore 02Manakamana Temple: The Wish-Fulfilling Goddess and Her Cable Car
Manakamana Temple in Gorkha district, home of the wish-fulfilling goddess: the cable car from Kurintar on the Kathmandu–Pokhara highway, temple rituals, views and tips.
Explore 03Gorkha Durbar: Where the Unification of Nepal Began
Gorkha Durbar, the hilltop palace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, who began the unification of Nepal in the 18th century: history, the climb, Gorkha Museum, views and how to get...
Explore 04Tansen: Newar Charm, Dhaka Weaving and Rani Mahal in Palpa
Tansen, the hill town of Palpa: Newar lanes and temples, Palpali Dhaka weaving, Shreenagar hill views, Rani Mahal palace on the Kali Gandaki, and how to get there between...
Explore 05Daman: A Panoramic Himalayan Viewpoint on the Old Rajpath
Daman in Makwanpur district, at about 2,300 m on the old Tribhuvan Rajpath: one of the widest Himalayan panoramas in Nepal, its view tower, forest walks and how to get th...
Explore 06Chitlang: A Quiet Valley of Homestays, Cheese and History
Chitlang, a quiet valley in Makwanpur on the old trade route to Kathmandu: village homestays, goat cheese, Kulekhani (Indrasarovar) lake nearby, hikes and how to get ther...
Explore 07Barpak: A Gurung Village Reborn after the 2015 Earthquake
Barpak in Gorkha district: a large Gurung village near the epicentre of the 2015 earthquake, rebuilt with homestays and views of the Manaslu range, the home of Gurkha Vic...
Explore 08Nuwakot Durbar: Prithvi Narayan Shah's Seven-Storey Palace
Nuwakot Durbar, the hilltop palace complex of Prithvi Narayan Shah north-west of Kathmandu: its seven-storey tower, Bhairavi temple, history, earthquake restoration and h...
Explore 09Sirubari: Nepal's First Model Homestay Village
Sirubari, a Gurung village in Syangja that pioneered village tourism and homestays in Nepal in the late 1990s, with cultural welcomes, hill views and short walks.
Explore 10Ridi Bazaar: Pilgrimage Town on the Kali Gandaki
Ridi Bazaar, a historic pilgrimage town on the Kali Gandaki where Gulmi, Palpa and Syangja meet, with the Rishikesh temple and a large fair at Maghe Sankranti.
Explore 11Siddha Cave: One of Nepal's Largest Caves, below Bandipur
Siddha Cave (Siddha Gufa), near Bimalnagar below Bandipur, one of the largest caves in Nepal with huge chambers and stalactites, reached on foot from the highway or Bandi...
Explore 12Rani Mahal: The "Taj Mahal of Nepal" on the Kali Gandaki
Rani Mahal, a palace on the banks of the Kali Gandaki in Palpa built in 1893 by Khadga Shumsher Rana in memory of his wife, known as the "Taj Mahal of Nepal".
Explore 13Kushma: Bungee, Long Bridges and the Kali Gandaki Gorge
Kushma, the headquarters of Parbat about 1.5–2 hours from Pokhara, is known for long suspension bridges over the Kali Gandaki and Modi gorges and one of the world's highe...
Explore 14Indra Sarobar: Kulekhani Reservoir in the Mahabharat Hills
Indra Sarobar, the Kulekhani reservoir in Makwanpur, a lake formed by a hydropower dam in the Mahabharat hills, popular for boating and lakeside stays near Chitlang and D...
Explore 15Dolakha Bhimeshwor: The Roofless Temple of Bhimsen
Dolakha Bhimeshwor, a revered roofless temple of Bhimsen in old Dolakha bazaar, whose idol is said to sweat before national events, near Charikot and the road to Kalincho...
Explore 16Beni: Where the Kali Gandaki Meets the Myagdi
Beni, the headquarters of Myagdi at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and Myagdi Khola, is the gateway to the Dhaulagiri Circuit, Khopra and the road to Mustang.
Explore 17Galeshwor Dham: Shiva Temple on the Kali Gandaki
Galeshwor Dham, an important Shiva temple on the banks of the Kali Gandaki near Beni in Myagdi, visited by pilgrims on the way to Muktinath.
Explore 18Besisahar: Start of the Annapurna Circuit
Besisahar, the headquarters of Lamjung at about 760 m on the Marsyangdi, is the traditional starting point of the Annapurna Circuit, with jeeps further up the valley.
Explore 19Arughat: Gateway to the Manaslu Circuit
Arughat, a bazaar on the Budhi Gandaki in Gorkha district, is the traditional starting point of the Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley treks, with jeeps further to Soti Khol...
Explore 20Samagaun: Village beneath Manaslu
Samagaun, a Tibetan Buddhist village at about 3,530 m on the Manaslu Circuit, is the acclimatisation stop for hikes to Manaslu Base Camp, Pungyen Gompa and Birendra Tal.
Explore 21Larkya La: The High Pass of the Manaslu Circuit
Larkya La, at about 5,106 m, is the high point of the Manaslu Circuit, crossed in a long day from Dharamsala (Larkya Phedi) to Bimthang with views of Himlung and Cheo Him...
Explore 22Bimthang: Meadows after the Larkya La
Bimthang, a meadow settlement at about 3,720 m on the west side of Larkya La, offers rest and views of Manaslu's west face, Himlung and Cheo Himal on the Manaslu Circuit.
Explore 23Tsum Valley: The Hidden Valley of Happiness
The Tsum Valley, a restricted Buddhist valley north of the Manaslu Circuit, with Mu Gompa (about 3,700 m), Rachen nunnery and Milarepa's cave; opened to trekkers in 2008.
Explore 24Lho: Monastery Village with a Manaslu View
Lho, a Tibetan Buddhist village at about 3,180 m on the Manaslu Circuit, with the Ribung Gompa and one of the finest views of Manaslu.
Explore 25Samdo: Last Village before the Larkya La
Samdo, a village at about 3,875 m near the Tibetan border on the Manaslu Circuit, settled by people of Tibetan origin, is the last village before the Larkya La.
Explore 26Dharapani: Where the Manaslu and Annapurna Trails Meet
Dharapani, a village at about 1,860 m on the Marsyangdi in Manang, is where the Manaslu Circuit joins the Annapurna Circuit road.
Explore 27Sindhuli Gadhi: The Fort that Stopped the East India Company
Sindhuli Gadhi, a hill fort in Sindhuli where Gorkhali forces defeated Captain Kinloch's East India Company expedition in 1767, on the BP Highway between Kathmandu and th...
Explore 28Namrung: Where Tibetan Culture Begins on the Manaslu Circuit
Namrung, a village at about 2,630 m on the Manaslu Circuit, marks the start of Tibetan Buddhist culture in the upper Budhi Gandaki, with views of Siringi Himal and Ganesh...
Explore 29Jagat: Stone-Paved Village and Manaslu Permit Checkpoint
Jagat, a stone-paved village at about 1,340 m on the Budhi Gandaki, is where the Manaslu restricted area begins and permits are checked.
Explore 30Chhekampar: Heart of Upper Tsum
Chhekampar (Chhokangparo), a village at about 3,010 m in upper Tsum Valley, with mani walls, barley fields and views of Ganesh Himal; a base for Mu Gompa and Rachen Gompa...
Explore 31Balthali: Hill Village with Himalayan Views near Panauti
Balthali, a hill village at about 1,730 m in Kavre, south of Panauti, with terraced fields, simple resorts and views from Langtang to the Everest range.
Explore 32Philim: Gurung Village at the Tsum Junction
Philim, a Gurung village at about 1,570 m on the Manaslu Circuit, lies just below the junction where the Tsum Valley trail branches off at Lokpa.
Explore 33Mu Gompa: The Monastery at the Top of Tsum
Mu Gompa, at about 3,700 m near the head of the Tsum Valley, is one of the valley's largest monasteries, close to the Tibetan border.
Explore 34Rachen Gompa: Nunnery of the Tsum Valley
Rachen Gompa, a Buddhist nunnery in the upper Tsum Valley near Chhekampar, home to a community of nuns and a peaceful stop on the Tsum trek.
Explore 35Ruby Valley: Tamang and Gurung Villages beneath Ganesh Himal
The Ruby Valley in northern Dhading, beneath Ganesh Himal, is a quiet trekking area of Tamang and Gurung villages, hot springs and ridges, named for minerals found in its...
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