Places to visit in

Nepal

Asan Bazaar (Ason) is one of Kathmandu's oldest and most important traditional market squares. It has been a central trading hub in the Kathmandu Valley for centuries and remains vital to local commerce, especially for spices, dried goods, textiles and ceremonial items. The bazaar is also a living center of Newar culture—its narrow lanes, wooden-fronted shops and small courtyards (bahals) preserve traditional urban patterns and everyday rituals.

Thamel is the primary tourist neighborhood of Kathmandu and the practical gateway for international visitors to Nepal. Established as a hub for travelers since the 1960s, it evolved from a local commercial quarter into the country’s center for trekking logistics, mountaineering outfitters, guide agencies, and global backpacker culture. Thamel connects visitors to Nepal’s cultural heritage (nearby Durbar Square and Buddhist stupas), the Himalayan trekking economy, and a lively urban experience in the Kathmandu Valley.

Lakeside (Pokhara) sits on the shores of Phewa (Fewa) Lake and is the main tourist hub of Pokhara, Nepal. It is renowned as a gateway to the Annapurna mountain range and as a base for trekking, adventure sports, and sightseeing. The area combines natural beauty (calm lake, Himalayan panoramas, caves and waterfalls nearby) with a lively cultural scene, traditional Gurung and Magar influences, lakeside temples and the Tal Barahi island shrine. Lakeside's relaxed waterfront atmosphere and close proximity to trekking routes make it both a cultural and natural high-value destination.

Mangal Bazaar (also spelled Mangol Bazar) is a traditional market area located in the town of Tansen (Palpa District) or in some contexts used to refer to market areas across Nepal; for this guide, we focus on Mangal Bazaar in Tansen, Palpa. It is historically significant as a longstanding local trading hub connecting hill communities with lowland plains, serving as a center for commerce, social exchange, and cultural continuity. The bazaar reflects traditional Nepali marketplace architecture and livelihoods, including small-scale artisans, textile sellers, and food vendors. It contributes to preserving local crafts and everyday social customs of the region.

Hanuman Dhoka is a historic palace complex located in Kathmandu Durbar Square. It served as the royal palace of the Malla kings and later the Shah dynasty, and is a central site in Nepal’s political and cultural history. The complex contains royal residences, courtyards, royal temples, and coronation halls and is a fine example of Newar architecture and craftsmanship. It is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation for Kathmandu Valley.

Kumari Ghar (House of the Living Goddess) in Kathmandu, Nepal, is the traditional residence of the Kumari — a pre-pubescent girl revered as the living embodiment of the Hindu goddess Taleju (a form of Durga). The institution blends Hindu and Buddhist traditions and dates back centuries, with the royal Kumari historically venerated by kings and commoners alike. The Kumari plays a central role in Kathmandu Valley religious life, participating in major festivals and daily blessings. The Kumari Ghar is also architecturally significant; it is a multi-tiered Newari palace located on Durbar Square, showcasing intricate woodcarving, brickwork, and traditional Nepalese Newar architecture. The role of the Kumari and her residence symbolize Nepal's syncretic faith traditions, royal history, and cultural continuity.

Sarangkot is a hilltop village and viewpoint above Pokhara in Kaski District, famed for panoramic views of the Annapurna range (including Machapuchare/Fishtail), Dhaulagiri, and the Pokhara Valley with Phewa Lake. It functions as an accessible natural vantage point that draws photographers, trekkers, and paragliders. Culturally, the area is part of the greater Gandaki region, home to Gurung and other communities; visitors can experience village life, homestays and local traditions. Naturally, Sarangkot's forests, terraced farmland and birdlife contribute to the scenic and biodiversity value of the mid-hill landscape.

Poon Hill (Poon Danda, ~3,210 m) is one of Nepal's most famous short-trek viewpoints, located in the Annapurna Conservation Area. It offers a natural vantage point for panoramic views of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himalayan ranges and showcases the region's rich natural biodiversity (rhododendron forests, alpine meadows) and living Gurung culture in nearby villages such as Ghorepani. The site is important for outdoor tourism, nature photography, and community-based trekking that supports local lodges and guides.

Chandragiri Hills overlooks the Kathmandu Valley and offers sweeping panoramic views of the Himalaya, making it an important natural vantage point. The hill is home to the Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, a Hindu shrine with long-standing cultural and religious significance for local communities. Historically, Chandragiri is associated with the expansion of the Gorkha kingdom; it is said that Prithvi Narayan Shah observed the Kathmandu Valley from nearby heights while planning the unification of Nepal. Today the site blends natural beauty, religious pilgrimage and modern recreational infrastructure.

Daman is a popular hill station in Makawanpur District, Bagmati Province, Nepal, valued primarily for its natural importance as a panoramic Himalayan viewpoint. Perched on a ridge at approximately 2,300–2,350 meters above sea level, Daman offers wide, unobstructed views of the high Himalaya and surrounding hill country. It functions as a local retreat for residents of Kathmandu and Hetauda and as a stopover for travelers exploring central-southern Nepal.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park protects the northern watershed of Kathmandu Valley and preserves a mosaic of subtropical to temperate forests, important watershed resources, and biodiversity close to Nepal’s capital. The park supplies essential water sources to Kathmandu (via springs such as Baghdwar and Sundarijal), supports unique urban-edge ecosystems, and conserves culturally important Buddhist and Hindu sites on its ridges (including monasteries and pilgrimage trails).

Chitwan National Park, established in 1973 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, is Nepal's first national park and one of the most important conservation areas in South Asia. It protects the intact alluvial floodplain ecosystem of the Terai lowlands, including sal forests, grasslands and riverine habitats. The park is a stronghold for several globally threatened species — notably the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris), Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) — and supports rich biodiversity, including over 500 recorded bird species. Chitwan is also culturally significant as the traditional homeland of the Tharu people, whose customs and knowledge are closely linked to the landscape.

Bardia National Park is Nepal's largest and least-disturbed protected area in the Terai lowlands, recognized for its extensive alluvial floodplain, riverine forest, sal forests, oxbow lakes and grasslands. Established to conserve lowland wildlife and habitats, Bardia is internationally important for its populations of Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, swamp deer, hog deer, gaur, and the endangered Gharial and Gangetic dolphin in the Karnali River. The park is also a stronghold of biodiversity—supporting a rich mosaic of flora and fauna—and plays a vital role in regional water regulation and floodplain ecology.

Sagarmatha National Park, established in 1976 and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, protects the high Himalayan ecosystems surrounding the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest (Sagarmatha). The park preserves unique alpine landscapes, glaciers, high-altitude lakes, and culturally significant Sherpa settlements. It is a center for mountaineering history, Sherpa culture, and high-mountain biodiversity.

Langtang National Park (established 1976; ~1,710 km²) protects a representative Himalayan landscape north of Kathmandu, including high peaks, glaciers, alpine meadows and richly tiered forests. It is a biodiversity hotspot and an important cultural landscape for Tamang and Tibetan-influenced communities. The park preserves rare wildlife (e.g., snow leopard, red panda, Himalayan black bear, musk deer) and important watershed and glacial systems feeding river basins downstream.

Rara National Park, in Mugu District of Karnali Province, preserves a high‑altitude landscape centered on Rara Lake, the largest lake in Nepal. The park protects fragile alpine and subalpine ecosystems, important freshwater habitat, and the traditional livelihoods and cultures of local mountain communities. It is valued for its scenic isolation, biodiversity, and as a refuge for several high‑altitude plant and animal species.

Natural importance: Shey Phoksundo National Park protects a unique trans-Himalayan environment — deep alpine valleys, high-altitude lakes (notably Phoksundo Lake), waterfalls and glaciated peaks. It is a refuge for high-altitude species such as snow leopard, blue sheep, musk deer and diverse raptors. Cultural importance: The park covers remote Dolpo and Mugu communities with strong Tibetan-Buddhist and Bon influences; monasteries, traditional villages and pilgrimage sites are integral to the area's cultural landscape.

Khaptad National Park is one of Nepal's remote protected areas, established in 1984 to conserve the unique flora, fauna, and high-altitude landscapes of the far-western region. It protects a mosaic of alpine meadows, mixed forests, and high ridges, and is important for preserving regional biodiversity, including endemic plants and threatened species. The park also has spiritual and cultural significance due to the presence of Khaptad Baba's ashram, attracting pilgrims and monastic communities.

Shuklaphanta National Park is a protected area in the far-western Terai of Nepal, covering grasslands, riverine forests, sal forests and wetlands. It is globally important for its extensive floodplain grasslands (also known as savannas) and is one of the few remaining habitats for the endangered Bengal tiger, the swamp deer (Barasingha), and numerous bird species. The park contributes to biodiversity conservation, supports local livelihoods through eco-tourism, and connects to transboundary conservation initiatives with India. It was established as a wildlife reserve in 1976 and upgraded to national park status in 2017, reflecting its growing conservation significance.

Natural importance: Makalu Barun National Park protects one of the most complete altitudinal gradients in the Himalaya—from subtropical river valleys to the 8,485 m summit of Mount Makalu—supporting exceptionally high biodiversity and intact ecosystems. The park and its surrounding conservation area preserve pristine forests, alpine meadows, glaciers and the Barun River system, making it vital for both regional ecology and global conservation.

Cultural importance: The region is home to Sherpa, Rai, and other indigenous communities whose traditional livelihoods, languages and customs are closely linked to the mountain environment. Sacred landscapes, mountain worship and traditional grazing/agriculture practices shape local cultural identity.

Conservation note: Established in the early 1990s, the protected area is internationally recognised for its biological richness and serves as an important site for long‑term ecological research and sustainable community-based conservation.