- Pokhara Valley
Pokhara, an enchanting city nestled in the tranquil valley (827 m), is the starting point for many of Nepal's most popular trekking and rafting destinations.
The serenity of Phewa Lake and the magnificence of the fish-tail summit of Machchhapuchhre (6,977m) rising behind it create an ambience of peace and magic.
The valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, clear lakes and the world famous views of the Himalaya. Situated 200 km west of Kathmandu, Pokhara is connected by air as well as by road from Kathmandu and Bhairawa, a border town near India.
- Gorkha
is the birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great, the founder of modern Nepal. Situated on a hill overlooking the snowy peaks of the Himalaya is a beautiful old palace known as Gorkha Durbar.
There are two attractive temples of Gorakhanth and Kali inside the palace precinct. Gorkha can be reached in about six hours by road from Kathmandu and four hours from Pokhara. A side trip to Manakamana temple on the way to Gorkha is very enjoyable and interesting.
- Bandipur
Located on a 1,000m ridge in Tanahu district some 140km from Kathmandu, Bandipur's hallmark is its beautiful scenery. At the eastern part of the town is the pagoda-roofed Bindabasini temple which houses goddess Durga, Bandipur's guardian deity. The rich wooden carvings and detailed brass-work that adorn the temple are replicas of those found in the many old pagoda structures of the Kathmandu Valley.
The other important temples and shrines in the vicinity include the Mahalaxmi temple with its exquisite woodwork and the Khadga Devi temple which comes alive once a year during the Dasain festival.
- Tanhu
Tanhu village has many attractions like natural beauty, farmlands and forests, great views of the Himalayan peaks such as Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Machhapuchhare.
- Lumbini
the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya prince and the ultimate Buddha, the Enlightened One, is the pilgrimage destination of the world's millions of people faithful to all schools of Buddhism. This nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka's comme-morative pillar is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The main attraction at the Lumbini remains the Sacred Garden spread over 8sq km and possessing all the treasures of the historic area.
The Mayadevi temple is the main attraction for pilgrims and archaeolo-gists alike. Standing west to the Mayadevi shrine is the oldest monument of Nepal, the Ashokan Pillar. The pillar was erected by by Emperor Ashoka in 249BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the sacred site. To the south of the pillar, we find the sacred pond, Puskarni, where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to the Buddha.
- Muktinath and Jomson
It is believed that all miseries/sorrows are relieved once you visit the temple of Lord Muktinath (Mukti=Nirvana, Nath=God). The famous temple of Lord Muktinath lies in the district of Mustang and is situated about 18km northeast of Jomsom at an altitude of about 3,749m.
The main shrine is a pagoda shaped temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Set into the wall around it are 108 water spouts from which pour holy water. The temple is situated on a high mountain range and is visited during fair weather.
There are two ways to get to Muktinath from Kathmandu. Either take a direct flight from Kathmandu via Pokhara to Jomsom and hike for a 7-8 hours via Kagbeni or to trek all the way from Pokhara which takes 7-8 days. It is believed that one should visit this temple after competing pilgrimages of four Dhams in India. This temple held sacred by Hindus as well as Buddhists.
The Jwala Mai temple nearby contains a spring and an eternal flame fed by natural gas underground. Jomsom is a major center in the Annapurna region. There is a world-class accommodation facility in Jomsom from one can enjoy remarkable natural beauty.
- Sirubari
Sirubari is a small village nestled on the southern slopes of a ridge at 1,700m above sea level. The height and aspect ensure a comfortable climate regardless of any season of the year. Pokhara, about 20km to the northeast, is the nearest major center. The travel time for the average group to reach the village from Pokhara is about 5 hours, an experience in itself.
The village which is inhabited entirely by the Gurung people, is small and compact with neat and clean trails connecting the mainly stone and slate built houses. Sirubari offers attractive valley views stretching away towards the Terai.
A short walk above the village gives visitors a spectacular Himalayan panorama that is hard to rival from any viewpoint in the region. The living culture and tradition of the Gurungs blended with their rich hospitality make for an unforgettable experience for any one who visits Sirubari. Sirubari is the winner of PATA Gold Award 2001 in Heritage and Culture - Heritage category.
- Tansen
Situated at an altitude of 1,343m, Tansen is the most popular summer resort in western Nepal on account of its position and climate. It has the most extensive views of the country's chief attraction, the Himalaya from Dhaulagiri in the west to Gaurishankar in the northeast.
It takes just seven hours by bus from Pokhara to reach Tansen.
- Khaptad
The Khaptad National Park covers 225 sq km of grassland and forested plateau. Khaptad Baba, a Hindu guru, lived here for many years. A 5km area in the park has been reserved for meditation and tranquility, where butchering, alcohol and tobacco are forbidden. The habitat at the park provides good cover for bear, leopard, common langur, musk deer as well as many species of birds. Herbs with medicinal properties and wild flowers grow in this national park.
