Major cities

Kathmandu


Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is the largest city in the country. Nepal capital city is in shape of Khukuri knife and its glorious history dates back to two thousand years. Located in the bowl shaped Kathmandu Valley, the city is the cultural hub of the country and probably the most sought after tourist destination. The home town of Newaras is the meeting point of various ethnic groups.

Kathmandu city is the conjecture to the major routes within and outside the country. Most of the trekking expeditions and tours start from Kathmandu. The city itself is home to the historical monuments, cultural groups, architectural wonders and exotic tourist destinations. The famous durbar squares of Kathmandu are world famous and the Kathmandu valley is a Cultural World Heritage site listed by UNESCO in 1979.
Pokhara

Pokhara, the city of lakes, is blessed with extreme natural beauty. It is located at an altitude of 827m, 200 km west to Kathmandu valley. The city is famous for the adventure opportunities it offers that include sightseeing, white water rafting, kayaking and mountaineering.

Fast Facts


Location West to Kathmandu Valley
Importance The Third largest city in Nepal
Famous For Lakes
Temperature Max- 35°C Min- 15°C
Nearby Cities Kathmandu, Bhaktapur

Places to Visit
The Fewa (or Phewa) Lake
Phewa Lake, majestic in stretch and beauty, is the second largest lake of Nepal. Foremost attraction in the lake is the pagoda style temple which holds the shrine of Barahi or Water Goddess. Another attraction is the amazing image of Mt. Machhapuchhre and Annapurna in the clear water of the lake. One is advised to view the south-eastern side of Phewa lake for it has the best views. Tourists can also indulge in activities like fishing and canoeing. Several varities of fish can be found in the lake. Nearby forest is the residence of numerous animals and birds.

Begnas Lake
Begnas Lake, the second largest lake of Pokhara Valley, is 13 km away from Pokhara. The lake is a nice destination for the tourists who want to pass some time in seclusion. They can indulge in activities like boating and fishing.Nearby jungle is the residence of more than 150 dpecies of birds. Water fowls can be observed from the northern part of the lake.

Gupteshwar Cave
Gupteshwar Cave or Gupreswar Gupha, considered sacrosanct by the locals, is 2 km from Pokhara airport. The 3km long cave has some large hall-like rooms and some passages where one is forced to crawl. A Shivalinga, phallic symbol if Hindu Lord Shiva, is preserved in the cave.

Davis Fall
One of the most famous tourist attractions in Pokhara is Davis Falls. Source of water in Davis Fall or Patale Chango (in Nepali) is Phewa Lake. The Fall looks very impressive specially during the rainy season. There is also a cave near the falls.

Mahendra Cave
A popular Pokhara tourist destination, Mahendra Cave has been named after the late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev. The cave has been fitted with lighting system for convenience of the tourists. Mahendra Cave is known for its rock types and stones that glitter when a beam of light hits them.

Around Pokhara
Many popular trekking routes in the region start and end in Pokhara. Longer treks, which stretch for one to three week, like Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Sanctuary and Jomsom Trek commence in Pokhara.
Biratanagar

The second largest city of Nepal, Biratnagar is situated in the Koshi Zone about 200km east of the Janakpur turnoff. The city has some of the largest industrial undertakings in the country. There are a couple of pilgrimage spots in Dharan and Barahachhetra nearby the city. Biratnagar is linked with Kathmandu by air and road.
A few kilometres from the main city of Biratnagar, Barahachhetra, the holy place of Hindu pilgrimage, lies at the confluence of the two rivers the Saptakoshi and Kokaha. There is the temple of Lord Baraha, the boar incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Historians have traced the existence of this image from the twelfth century.

The Jogbani border crossing, 5km south of town, is closed to foreigners. You still see ox carts hauling raw jute to the mills near the border, but modern Biratnagar is probably best exemplified by the prosaic zipper factory north of town.