Nepal – Kathmandu, Nagarkot, Bandipur, Pokhara & Chitwan

Our first visit to Nepal was in 2004 and we wanted to revisit it to see how much had changed in 20 years. This time, we were accompanied by some of Becky’s Vietnamese relatives so it was an adventure for the 5 of us. Our bespoke itinerary coincided with Dashain which is Nepal’s biggest festival. Luckily, none of the tourist venues were impacted by the 15 day festival and we were able to do everything we wanted. Nepal offers visas on arrival so there was no stress about obtaining one in advance. Our trip started off in Kathmandu where we had coordinated a full day tour to include the Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanāth Stupa, Swayambhunath Monkey Temple and Patan Durbar square (one of three Durbar squares in Kathmandu Valley). After leaving Kathmandu, we visited the 143 foot tall Kailashnath Mahadev Statue (one of the tallest Shiva statues in the world), Namobuddha Buddhist monastery and temple, Bakhtapur Durbar Square and the colorful Changu Narayan Temple before staying at the hillside town of Nagarkot. Under optimal conditions, we would have had Mount Everest views but unfortunately it was too hazy. From here, we drove to the cute town of Bandipur, a hidden gem with cobblestone streets and perfectly preserved historic houses. Then it was onward to Pokhara where we stayed near Phewa Lake. The weather didn’t cooperate with us but we still managed to enjoy an afternoon aarti ceremony, full body massages (Malama Spa is the best), and a full day of sightseeing to include Devi’s Fall, Gupteswar Cave, Pumdikot Shiva Statue, Pokhara World Peace Pagoda and Sarangkot Tower. Pokhara was as fun as we remembered it to be over 20 years ago with good food, good vibes and friendly locals so after three nights here, it was difficult to tear ourselves away but we still had Chitwan National Park to visit. In Chitwan we enjoyed seeing a traditional Tharu dance performance and organized a full day jeep safari tour. Our private guide was great and we saw two species of monkeys (Nepal Gray langur and a macaque), two different species of deer (sambar and chital), three rhinos, gharial crocodiles, and lots of bird life. Then it was back to Kathmandu to enjoy the Thamel District for one more night before our departure flight. Nepal enthralled us just as much as our first trip did decades ago and we would love to return here again. Our next trip would most likely be a trekking trip to Everest base camp.

Nitty gritty:

Tour agency: Transport Hire Nepal (Mr. Binod +977 981 8222342) arranged our tour and provided a 14 pax van with our own private driver for the duration of the trip. Best price and Mr. Binod went above and beyond to ensure our happiness from greeting us at the airport with flowers to a free welcome dinner and presenting us with a red scarf upon our departure for good luck.

Hotels: The below hotels were fantastic in every way (price, location, services) and we would be happy to stay with any of them again.

Kathmandu: Daali Hotel & Apartment (the best place to stay in Kathmandu’s Thamel District, this hotel’s staff bends backwards to please. Breakfast buffet is incredible and the rooms are classy and spacious. Such a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city)

Bandipur: Bandipur Kaushi Inn (smack dab in the middle of the pedestrian only zone, this is a quaint hotel that is perfect to explore this hidden gem)

Pokhara: Urban Boutique Hotel Pokhara (excellent location near Pokhara Lakeside) with good views over the lake. Great location within easy walking distance to everything of note.

Chitwan: Hotel National Park (the rooms are basic but you come for the wildlife and this place delivers). They organize all tours/transport/food for a good price. Highly recommend coming during the dry season when the grass has been freshly burned (between Feb to May) as the animals can be easily seen and many of them will gather at watering holes during this time.

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