1. Chitwan National Park
Chitwan park is the place to come back to experience a unique side of Nepal, aside from the hiking and therefore the intrigue of Kathmandu. This is the place for wildlife views and a safari-type environment. At an altitude of only 100 meters in some areas, much less than Kathmandu at 1400 meters, this area features a tropical monsoon climate, usually quite different from what most people expect to find in Nepal.
Visitors come here primarily to see wildlife. Tours from the lodges take visitants out into the park, either on foot or mostly on elephants for close-up views of the animals. The park is home to rhinos, Bengal tigers, leopards, sloth bears, gaur (buffalo) deer, and lots of other critters. Freshwater dolphins and crocodiles populate the rivers and streams but are unusually seen. More than five hundred species of birds make Chitwan National Park a paradise for ornithologists.
2. Trekking in the Langtang Region
It is a pleasant area for hiking, great views, old monasteries, and delightful mountain scenery with rhododendron forests that bloom during the spring hiking season. It is underdeveloped than a number of the other popular trekking areas in Nepal and usually less busy on the trails, despite its proximity to Kathmandu. There are villages with guesthouses and food right along the route, although somewhat more opened up than in other trekking regions.
3. Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
Set on a hill to the west of Kathmandu, Swayambhunath is that the second most vital memorial within the Kathmandu Valley after Boudhanath. Due to the resident monkeys that inhabit parts of the temple, it's more affectionately referred to as the Monkey Temple. The Swayambhu Stupa, painted with the eyes of the omnipresent God, forms the centrepiece of the temple complex. It was originally an ancient religious site, but the temple complex dates to the 5th century. Swayambhu plays a serious part within the lives of the Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, but especially of the Newari Buddhists of the Kathmandu Valley.
4. Everest and the Trek to Base Camp
The summit of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain on the planet, reaches 8,848 meters (29,028 feet) high. Trekking within the Everest area became popular following the now legendary first ascent of the height in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary from New Zealand and therefore the Sherpa Tensing Norgay. Since that point, more have summited the mountain, but much more trek the route to Everest Base Camp simply for a glimpse of the peak far above.
The Everest Region is usually not considered the foremost scenic region within the country for trekking, but the allure of Everest draws climbers in large numbers. There are various routes to access the base camp and a number of other options for organizing a trip. The main hiking seasons are within the spring and fall, from March to May and September to December.
For those not looking to trek to Mount Everest but still eager to see the mountain, it's possible to ascertain it on clear days from the Hilltown of Nagarkot near Kathmandu.
5. Lumbini
Lumbini is known for being the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, the historic Buddha, referred to as Buddha Shakyamuni. Situated off the most traveller track, almost 250 km from Kathmandu, Lumbini may be a worthwhile road on the route from Pokhara to the Chitwan national park. In this pilgrimage town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there's a sense of tranquillity. Most of the visitors are Buddhist pilgrims from around the world, retracing Buddha's footsteps through the stations of his life. The Maya Devi Temple, dedicated to Buddha's mother, is believed to be the spot where Buddha was born. It contains ancient stone maintenance from the 2nd century AD depicting Buddha's birth.
