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Popular Tourist
Destinations In Nepal |
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Places To See In Central
Nepal |
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Trisuli |
TRISULI (pop. 18,700) is 69 km
north of Kathmandu over a winding mountain road
(three hours’ drive). The town, located at the
bottom of a ravine, is the site of a 21-megawatt
hydro-electric project. (The dam is 13 km
upstream at Tupche.) Nuwakot Durbar, a
palace-fortress-temple complex built in 1762,
sits atop a nearby hill (two-hour hike). In the
old days, large garrisons were kept here because
of its vital location commanding the ways to
Gorkha, Pokhara and Tibet. Dhunche, 48 km to the
north, is the trailhead to Gosaikund (two-day
trek) and Langtang (three days). Most of the
people here are Tamangs.
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Kodari |
KODARI (pop. 3,100) lies on the
Nepal-China border 114 km north-east of
Kathmandu at the end of the Arniko Highway. The
village, situated beside the thundering Bhote
Koshi river, was a stopover on the ancient
trans-Himalayan caravan trail. The Arniko
Highway offers an enjoyable drive, taking you
through magnificent river gorges and mountain
scenery. The Tatopani hot water springs are
situated 3 km before Kodari. Most of the
inhabitants in the area are Tamangs.
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Dolkha |
DOLKHA (pop. 19,300) is 133 km
east of Kathmandu. The hill town is an ancient
Newar settlement known for its shrine of Dolkha
Bhimsen, patron deity of businessmen. It is 4 km
from Charikot on the Lamosangu-Jiri Highway
which branches off from the Arniko Highway.
Dolkha, formerly a stopover on the old Tibet
trail, offers superb views of Mt. Gauri Shanker.
Treks to Rolwaling start here.
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Jiri |
JIRI is 110 km from the turnoff
at Lamosangu on the Arniko Highway to Tibet (or
188 km from Kathmandu). The road winds up and
down mountains passing through Brahmin, Chhetri
and Tamang settlements. Jiri (elev. 1,860 m) is
a picturesque village clinging to a hillside.
The weekly market is held on Saturday. The
people here are Jirels. It lies at the head of
the classic trail to Everest, the route followed
by Himalayan expeditions of old. Jiri to Namche
Bazaar is a nine-day trek. (Temperature -6 to 28
degrees Celsius.)
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Hetauda |
HETAUDA (pop. 54,000) lies 128
km south of Kathmandu on the edge of the
Himalayan foothills. It is linked by the
Tribhuvan Highway, Nepal’s first highway built
in 1956 and popularly known as Byroad. The
scenic route climbs up and down endless hills,
the high point being Sim Bhanjyang Pass (elev.
2,487 m). The Martyrs’ Memorial Park and the
Hetauda Cement Factory are interesting visits.
Makwanpur Gadhi, an historic fort, is 15 km from
Hetauda. Parsa Wildlife Reserve, where you can
go animal-viewing on elephant-back, is 25 km.
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Birgunj |
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BIRGUNJ (pop. 69,000) is a
border town in the plains, 50 km south of
Hetauda. It is an important industrial center
and transit point for trade goods. Places to see
include Vishuwa where Buddha idols are enshrined
atop a wooded mound, the city park with a
boating lake and the Birgunj Sugar Factory.
Kathmandu to Birgunj is 178 km over the
legendary Tribhuvan Highway. The detour via
Bharatpur is 270 km. The nearest airport is
Simara (25 km). |
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