Gorkha and Rural Nepal

A visit to Nepal’s rural Western Highlands provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to travel off the beaten track, experience rural life, and embark on scenic day hikes. Kurintar, Bandipur and Gorkha are also ideal stopover destinations between Kathmandu and Pokhara.

Kurintar is a quaint village on the banks of the Trishuli River and is popular amongst nature lovers and cultural enthusiasts. While at Kurintar, you can enjoy guided bird-watching tours or white-water rafting on the Trishuli River. You can also take the cable car to Manakamana Temple, where animal sacrifices are common. Kurintar is around three hours from Kathmandu and is conveniently located en route to Chitwan and Pokhara.

To the northwest, Bandipur is a beautifully preserved Newari village. Perched on a hilltop, this small village has a rich history dating back to the 18th century. At Bandipur, exploring the cobbled streets with medieval houses built in the traditional Newari style is like stepping into a living museum. Whilst here, savour authentic Newari cuisine and set off on stimulating hikes through the surrounding countryside that offer breathtaking views of the Annapurna range on a clear day.

Further east, the village of Gorkha is an excellent base for day hikes that offer outstanding views of the soaring peaks of the Annapurna, Manaslu, and Ganesh Himal. The 16th-century Gorkha Durbar – a fort, a palace, and a temple all in one, is regarded as the crowning glory of Newari architecture. Gorkha also holds special significance, as it is renowned as the land of the Gorkha soldiers who continue to serve the British Army today.

Just outside the Kathmandu Valley lies the tranquil village of Nuwakot. Once an important trading post along the trade route between India and Tibet, Nuwakot offers a superb introduction to rural Nepal. Day hikes offer panoramic views of the Trisuli Valley and distant peaks of the Langtang National Park. The seven-tiered Nuwakot Palace still stands despite damage from the 2015 earthquake, and a guided village walk will give you insight into the local lifestyle.