Kavre Palanchowk an alternative hill station - 0 Days

Two of the more well-known places to visit around the Kathmandu Valley are the hilltop settlements of Nagarkot and Dhulikhel. These places are famous for offering spectacular views of the Himalayan range.

The downside of both of these destinations is that they can become very crowded, especially during the main tourist seasons of Spring and Autumn.

What most people are not aware of is that there is an alternative destination that has equally great views and has the added bonus of being a far more tranquil place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.

This place is the hilltop village of Kavre Palanchowk.

It is an easy two hour drive to Palanchowk from the centre of Kathmandu. This will soon be even faster when the current road widening project is complete.

The village is set in a ridge top overlooking the Sunkoshi river giving spectacular views of the snow-capped Himalayas, dominated by the high peaks of the Langtang range to the north. The centrepiece of the village is the Palanchowk Bhagwati Temple, a significant pilgrimage site for Hindu worshipers. The village is surrounded by mixed farming settlements populated mainly by Tamang and Brahmin people.

There are a few accommodation options available the nicest of which is the locally owned Sunkoshi Adventure Retreat, located a few hundred metres before the temple. This property is set in a parklike environment with bungalow style rooms dotted throughout the grounds. Meals are prepared on site using locally grown produce which may include pheasant from the property’s own farm and locally reared fish from one of the nearby fish farms.

Activities around Palanchowk can include hikes around the local villages, rafting on the Sunkoshi or mountain biking along some of the local trails. In the evenings culture programmes given by the villagers can be arranged. Alternatively it is just a great place to relax and enjoy the serene surroundings.