Nagarkot

Located just over an hour's drive from central Kathmandu, Nagarkot is a peaceful village set on a ridge to the east of the city with panoramic views of the Himalayas on a clear day which include Annapurna in the West and Everest to the east. Some of the first visitors to the area were a group of Punjabi soldiers who established a fort here to fight against Prithvi Narayan's troops in the 18th Century. The village is set at an altitude of 1950m which makes it cooler and fresher than the city below, which made it a popular retreat for Nepal's Royal Family to escape the scorching summer heat. The main attraction of the area is to enjoy the rural scenery of terraced rice fields, green pastures and great sunrises and sunsets. More active pursuits in the area include some fine hiking and mountain biking to the ancient temple complex of Changu Narayan, and longer trips continuing to the historic city of Bhaktapur further down the valley.