Nepal

Places in Nepal

• Baitadi

  Baitadi (or Baitadi Khalanga) is a town in Nepal. It is 30 km along the road from the Indian border to the west at Kanari, Uttarkhanda, across the Mahakali River.

  Atlas entry

• Bandipur

  Bandipur is a compact hilltop town where Himalayan viewpoints, walkable lanes, and local temple traditions come together. Use it as a slow Middle Hills stop for scenery, heritage, and a change of pace from the highways below.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$26

  Best months

  Oct–May

• Bardiya National Park

  Bardiya National Park is Nepal's largest and most remote lowland park, offering wildlife experiences without the crowds of Chitwan. The park shelters Bengal tigers, one-horned rhinos, elephants, and over 250 bird species.

  Atlas entry

• Bhaktapur

  Bhaktapur offers a medieval ambiance shaped by its temples and Newari traditions. The city showcases Newari art and festivals in a UNESCO World Heritage setting.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$29

  Best months

  Oct–May

• Bharatpur

  Bharatpur serves as the primary gateway to Chitwan National Park, Nepal's most famous wildlife sanctuary. The city is the district headquarters of Chitwan district in central-south Nepal and includes the former community of Narayangarh.

  Atlas entry

• Biratnagar

  Biratnagar is Nepal's second largest city and a major industrial center in the Eastern Terai, making it a practical stop for overland travelers crossing the border with India. The city offers a more authentic Nepali urban experience than tourist-heavy destinations, with local markets, affordable food, and decent accommodation options.

  Atlas entry

• Birgunj

  Birgunj is Nepal's busiest border crossing with India, serving as the main port of entry for goods from Kolkata and a key transit point for travelers heading to or from Kathmandu. While not a tourist destination in its own right, the city offers affordable accommodation (NPR 800-5000 for hotels), local transport connections, and serves as a gateway to Parsa Wildlife Reserve.

  Atlas entry

• Birtamod

  Birtamod is a small but bustling town in Jhapa District, Eastern Tarai, Nepal, situated along the east-west highway. It serves as a commercial hub with markets, restaurants, and cultural diversity, making it a convenient stop for travelers exploring eastern Nepal.

  Atlas entry

• Bungmati

  Bungmati (also spelled Bungamati) is an ancient Newari village that dates back to the 7th century and once served as an autonomous province within the Kathmandu Valley. The village has remained largely untouched by modern life and globalized living, preserving its traditional Newari dress, lifestyle, and architecture.

  Atlas entry

• Chitwan National Park

  Chitwan combines lowland jungle wildlife with one-horned rhinoceros sightings and adjacent Tharu village culture. Its hot, humid subtropical forests also support crocodiles, sloth bears, and more than 500 bird species.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$47

  Best months

  Oct–Apr

• Chomrong

  Chomrong is the last major settlement before the Annapurna Sanctuary and a popular overnight stop on the Annapurna trek. The village sits on a hillside with panoramic views of Annapurna South, Hiunchuli, and the distinctive fishtail peak of Machupachare.

  Atlas entry

• Dharan

  Dharan serves as the gateway to Nepal's eastern hill stations, positioned between the Tarai plains and the Mahabharat range foothills. The city is nicknamed mini-Brazil for its football obsession and offers a relaxed atmosphere with mild weather year-round.

  Atlas entry

• Dhulikhel

  Dhulikhel offers Himalayan views from a real Newari town rather than a heavily resorted hill station. Walk its temple-lined square, climb toward Namo Buddha, and use it as a quiet valley stop.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$43

  Best months

  Mar–May, Oct–Nov

• Gorkha

  Gorkha combines royal history, hilltop viewpoints, Manakamana access, and a gateway to the less-developed Manaslu trail. Its walkable bazaar keeps the visit grounded in local food, crafts, and mountain-town life.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$24

  Best months

  Mar–May, Sep–Nov

• Janakpur

  Janakpur is a major pilgrimage city in Nepal's Eastern Terai region, revered as the birthplace of Goddess Sita and the capital of the ancient Mithila Kingdom. The city draws Hindu pilgrims from Nepal and India year-round, with surges during festivals.

  Atlas entry

• Jiri

  Jiri serves as the nearest roadhead for trekkers heading to Everest Base Camp, located in the Central Himalayas region of Nepal. While it has no outstanding attractions, many trekkers pass through because buses from Kathmandu typically arrive in the early evening, requiring an overnight stay before setting out at sunrise.

  Atlas entry

• Kakarbhitta

  Kakarbhitta is a practical eastern Nepal border stop for travelers moving between Nepal and India. Immigration, buses, money exchange, and basic overnight rooms make it useful for completing a crossing before continuing toward Darjeeling or the wider region.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$17

  Best months

  Oct–Apr

• Kathmandu

  Nepal's gateway to the Himalayas draws trekkers, spiritual seekers, and cultural enthusiasts. The city works as both a high-energy base and a launch point for longer mountain journeys.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$19

  Best months

  Feb–May, Oct–Nov

• Kirtipur

  Kirtipur is one of the oldest settlements in the Kathmandu Valley, perched on a rocky hill between 1,300-1,500 m elevation. Once the ancient capital of Nepal, it preserves a more authentic Newari character than tourist-saturated Kathmandu or Patan.

  Atlas entry

• Langtang National Park

  Langtang National Park is Nepal's first Himalayan national park, established in 1976, spanning 1,710 km² of the Central Himalayas just 32 km from Kathmandu Valley. It offers three main trekking routes through vegetation ranging from tropical forests below 1,000m altitude to alpine scrub and perennial ice, with the highest peak Langtang Lirung at 7,245m.

  Atlas entry

• Lumbini

  Lumbini is a sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site marking the birthplace of Sakyamuni Buddha, with the Maya Devi Temple and Ashokan Pillar among its key landmarks. Its contemplative atmosphere suits meditation and reflection, while temples represent Buddhist traditions from Tibet, China, Japan, Myanmar, and Thailand.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$14

  Best months

  Nov–Apr

• Nagarkot

  Nagarkot is a rustic Kathmandu Valley ridge village known for sunrise views, forested hills, and a relaxed pause from the capital. Walk the panoramic loop, visit the lookout, and expect simple services centered on mountain scenery.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$17

  Best months

  Oct–May

• Namche Bazaar

  Namche Bazaar combines high-altitude acclimatization with Sherpa culture, mountain views, bakeries, museums, and well-stocked stores. It is a compact base for walking the Khumbu trails while taking time to adjust before going higher.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$31

  Best months

  Apr–May, Sep–Nov

• Nepalgunj

  Nepalgunj serves as the district headquarters of Banke District in the Bheri region of Mid Western Nepal. The town is a major trading hub with easy access to India via the border crossing at Rupaidiha.

  Atlas entry

• Patan

  Patan offers a slower, more manageable pace across the Bagmati from Kathmandu. Its Durbar Square, museum, and handicraft traditions make it a rewarding base for temple walks and local shopping.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$19

  Best months

  Sep–May

• Pharping

  Pharping is a contemplative valley stop built around Vajrayana Buddhist caves, monasteries, and retreat centers. Its walkable bazaar makes a quiet base for pilgrimage, sacred sites, and simple Tibetan or Nepali meals.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$23

  Best months

  Mar–May, Oct–Nov

• Pokhara

  Pokhara pairs Himalayan scenery with lakeside downtime and easy access to Annapurna treks. Its compact Lakeside area also makes walking, street food, and short adventure outings simple to arrange.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$16

  Best months

  Mar–May, Oct–Nov

• Poon Hill

  Poon Hill is a sunrise-focused trek viewpoint with broad Annapurna and Dhaulagiri panoramas. The experience is simple and footpath-based, with Ghorepani teahouses as the practical base for the pre-dawn climb.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$28

  Best months

  Mar–May, Oct–Dec

• Salleri

  Salleri is the district headquarters of Solu Khumbu, serving as a quieter, less developed alternative to Namche Bazaar for trekkers heading into the Everest region. The town offers access to traditional Himalayan landscapes, local markets, and nearby monasteries without the crowds of more popular trekking hubs.

  Atlas entry

• Sauraha

  Sauraha sits across the Rapti River from Chitwan National Park and is a practical base for jungle safaris and wildlife spotting. Tharu cultural programs and local crafts add a local dimension to time between guided activities.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$34

  Best months

  Oct–Mar

• Shey-Phoksundo National Park

  Shey-Phoksundo is Nepal's largest national park, covering 3,555 km² of pristine Himalayan wilderness in the Mid-Western Region. The park's crown jewel is Phoksundo Lake, a turquoise alpine lake designated a Ramsar wetland site since 2007.

  Atlas entry

• Shuklaphanta National Park

  Shuklaphanta National Park covers 305 km² of open grassland, sal forests, riverbeds, and tropical wetlands in Nepal's Western Tarai. It is said to be among the largest open grasslands in South Asia and is home to populations of swamp deer, tigers, elephants, and one-horned rhinos.

  Atlas entry

• Siddharthanagar

  Siddharthanagar (also Bhairahawa) is a transit city of 70,000 on Nepal's Terai plains, serving as the main gateway to the Buddhist pilgrimage circuit. It sits 265 km west of Kathmandu and just 3 km north of the Indian border at Sunauli, making it a key entry/exit point for overland travelers.

  Atlas entry

• Sri Antu

  Sri Antu is a hill station perched on the eastern border of Nepal, roughly 600 km from Kathmandu. It draws visitors primarily for sunrise observation over expansive tea gardens that carpet the hillsides in a naturally green landscape.

  Atlas entry

• Sunwal

  Sunwal is a small town in Western Tarai district of Nawalparasi, Nepal, historically a jungle area that developed around Nepal's largest sugar factory. The town offers a handful of historical sites including the ancient Lumbini Sugar Mill, the Somnath Temple dedicated to Lord Shiv, and Paani Tanki hill with panoramic city views.

  Atlas entry

• Tansen

  Tansen is an old western Newari city with remarkable Nawari architecture and a rich Palpali culture. Sitting at 1500 m (4600 ft) elevation, it offers cooler temperatures than Kathmandu and stunning Himalayan views.

  Atlas entry

• Taplejung

  Taplejung serves as the administrative seat of Taplejung District in the eastern Middle Hills of Nepal. It is known for being the best place to drink authentic tongba, a mildly alcoholic millet beverage found only in eastern Nepal, Sikkim, and Darjeeling.

  Atlas entry

• Tengboche

  Tengboche centers on a high Sherpa monastery, dawn puja, cultural exhibits, and expansive Himalayan views. It is a compact, foot-only stop where weather, altitude, and limited lodging shape the experience.

  Daily budget (USD)

  ~$30

  Best months

  May, Oct–Nov

• Tukuche

  Tukuche is a small town along the Annapurna Circuit trekking route, serving as a convenient rest stop typically reached on the fourth to sixth day of the Pokhara to Jomsom trek. The town offers comfortable guesthouses with hot showers and decent food after days of challenging mountain walking, making it a welcome respite for trekkers.

  Atlas entry