Nagarkot

Area Code: 290
Among all the places for mountain viewing in the Kathmandu Valley, Nagarkot is usually considered to be the best. The views go from Dhaulagir in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east. On a clear day you can see Mt. Everest (Sagarmatha). You can also see Manaslu (8,463m), Ganesh Himal (7,111m), and Langtang (7,246m). Many people go up to Nagarkot in the afternoon, stay in a hotel in Nagarkot, and then get up at dawn to see the Himalaya Mountains during the sunrise.

Nagarkot is 32 kilometres east of Kathmandu, on the northeast edge of the Valley at an elevation of 2,175m. It is best to view the mountains in the early morning because it is more likely to be clear. There is a viewing tower next to the Club Himalaya Resort, where you get good views that has a coffee shop where you can sit inside. Many of the hotels also have good views.

There is a lookout tower south of the village where you can get a 360º view of the scenery. It is an easy one hour walk from the main hotel area. To get there you have to pass an army checkpoint, and they will only let you past in the morning.
You can go to Nagarkot in the afternoon and stay over night and view the mountain at sun rise.

You can usually get a good view of the mountains between October and March. During the monsoon from June to September it is unlikely to get a view of the mountains. Nagarkot can be much colder than in Kathmandu, especially in the winter.
There are some pleasant walks in the area. There are several good walk to or from Nagarkot. Many people take a bus or taxi up to Nagarkot and then walk down. Some good walks are down to Sankhi, Sundarijal, Changu Narayan, Bhaktapur, or to Banepa.

You have to pass through Bhaktapur to get to Nagarkot, so you could go to Bhaktapur in the early afternoon and go to Nagarkot for the sunset or to stay over-night.
Most people stay here for just one night. The main area of town is just a group of hotels.

Practical Information
You should have a flashlight (torch) with you to get around at night and early in the morning. You can change money at the Himalayan Bank, near the Club Himalaya, but they take a good commission (Sunday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm).

Where to Stay and Eat
If you plan to stay over-night during the high-season, it is best to book your hotel room on arrival or in advance, as they often become full later in the day. In you arrive later in the day you may have to take whatever you can get, which may mean a room without a view. If you arrive before the tourist bus in the afternoon you can get a better selection of rooms. In the off-season you can often get a 50% discount off room rates.
Many of the hotels are booked by agents in Kathmandu, who often charge highly inflated prices. It is best to call to the lodge or hotel directly to book a room.

Budget hotels do not usually have hot water or heating. It can be cold here so you might want to bring a sleeping bag in the winter.

At the bus stop the road makes a sharp turn. If you follow the dirt trail to the left you come to a group of hotels on the hilltop after 250m. These hotels are the best positioned hotels and many of the rooms have excellent views of the mountains. There hotels are near the Mahakali shrine.
For what you get the price is above average

Where to Stay – Budget
Hotel at the End of the Universe (610-874, 290-709), near the Mahakali shrine, has bamboo and mud huts with common bath for Rs 250 up to Rs 1000 with bath and hot water. The rooms do not have views, but the restaurant has good views. It is popular place in the evening. The restaurant shows nightly videos.
Hotel Madhuban (290-709), has bamboo cottages with common bath and brick cottages with bath for Rs 200/250. It has good views. Bucket hot water.
Hotel Mile Stone (290-888; fax 260-024), down the road that forks to the right from the Hotel Snowmen, is a good places with four brick cottages with bath for Rs 250. It is a very good value. It has good views and a good restaurant. Hot water in bucket.
Hotel Green (290-878) has rooms with common bath for Rs 300 and with bath and hot water for Rs 450/650. It has good views.

Where to Stay and Eat – Medium
Peaceful Cottage (Kathmandu office: 290-877), past the Mahakali shrine, has rooms with common bath (bucket hot water) for Rs 250/350 and with bath and hot water for Rs 1200. It has a great view of the mountains. Some rooms have great view, which should be reserved in advance or come early. It has a decent restaurant the Cafe du Mont that has great views.
Galaxy Hotel (290-797, 290-878; fax 259-142), near the Mahakali shrine, has comfortable rooms with bath and hot water for Rs $25/30. Rooms usually have a view. Discounts are often given.
View Point Hotel (417-424), just past the Mahakali shrine, has comfortable rooms with good views, private bath and hot water for $16/22 and $ 28/33. There is fireplace in the restaurant.
Nagarkot Naldum Village Resort (610-963), at the end of the north road, has bamboo cottages with bath for $20. It has outstanding views from the rooms. It has a good restaurant.

Where to Stay and Eat – High
Nagarkot Farmhouse (Kathmandu office: 272-719; email: nfh@mos.com.np), 3km north of the bus stop on the road to Sankhu, is a pleasant, well-maintained, old Newari house with rooms for $35/40 including meals. It has secluded grounds. It is run by the Hotel Vajra in Kathmandu. Recommended.
Hotel Country Villa (Kathmandu office: 228-014, 221-012; fax 290-827; email: nam@wlink.com.np anima@wlink.com.np), a few hundred km on the dirt road past the Mahakali shrine, has good rooms with balconies for Rs $35/45. Some rooms have great views. You can often get a 20% discount.
The Fort (Kathmandu office: 232-829, 290-869; fax 290-749; email: fort@mos.com.np) is a traditional Newari-style place that has a pleasant gardens and comfortable rooms for $64/70. There are great views from the front rooms. Discount in the off-season. It has a good restaurant.
Niva Niwa Lodge (290-797, 259-141; fax 259-142) is modern place with clean rooms for Rs $70/90. There is often a 25% discount. It is overpriced.
Club Himalaya Resort (290-883; fax 290-868; email: club@mos.com.np) is a well-designed luxury place with an indoor pool and jucuzzi (spa). The large comfortable rooms with private balconies with good views are $90/110, including breakfast.
The Tea House, below the Club Himalaya, is a fancy place that serves Indian, Nepali and breakfasts. It is well-designed building with good views. A meal is around Rs 100. Open 6 am to 7 pm. Low to Medium.

Travel
Tourist buses leave from the north end of Kantipath in Thamel at 1.30 pm (2½ hr, Rs 110 one way and Rs 185 return). You can get a ticket at most travel agents. The bus returns to Kathmandu in the mid-morning around 10.30 am.
A round-trip taxi from Kathmandu cost Rs 1200. Grayline (413-188), at the Yak & Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu, has an afternoon tour to Nagarkot. If you book a room in one of the more expensive hotels, they will often arrange transportation from Kathmandu.

Buses depart from the Kamal Binayak bus stop in northeast Bhaktapur (1½ to 2 hr, Rs 18) every hour to Nagarkot. If you ride on the roof there are good views. A taxi from Bhaktapur is around Rs 550 one way and Rs 900 roundtrip.
There are several good walk from Nagarkot. It is a steep bicycle ride from Bhaktapur.