Nagarkot Changunarayan Day Hike

• About Nagarkot 

Nagarkot Changunarayan Day Hike 

Nagarkot is located at an altitude of 2164m which is 32km east of Kathmandu. It is extremely popular view point and sunrise/sunset point from where 360-degree views can observe from the lookout Tower. The Panoramic views from Dhaulagiri in the west to Mt Everest and Kanchenjunga in the east, along with Ganesh Himal (7406m), Langtang Lirung (7246m), Shisha Pangma (8012m), Dorje Lakpa (6975m) and Gauri Shankar (7146m) and many more.

Beside above the beautiful valley view is another attraction of Nagarkot. Also Kathmandu valley view can be seen from there. Nagarkot is also popular picnic spot and music videos shooting spot. The green hill forest is beautiful attraction where public picnic takes place.

Getting in to Nagarkot is by private transport which is the most reliable. For the sunrise view 4 or 4:30am (as per season) is the best time to start from Kathmandu which is only 1:30 hour drive. 

• About Changunarayan 

Changunarayan is Situated four kilometers from Bhaktapur,  Changu Narayan preserver of creation to Hindus. His temple near Changu village is often described as the most ancient temple in the Kathmandu Valley. A fifth century stone inscription, the oldest to be discovered in Nepal, is located in the temple compound and it tells of the victorious King Mandev. The temple now covers sixteen hundred years of Nepalese art history. The temple, built around the third century, is decorated by some of the best samples of stone, wood, and metal craft in the Valley. In the words of one tourist guide, "When you look upon Changu Narayan, you observe the complete cultural development of the Valley."

On the struts of the two-tiered Changu Narayan Temple, are the ten incarnations in which Narayan destroyed evil-doers. A sixth-century stone statue shows the cosmic form of Vishnu, while another statue recalls his dwarf incarnation when he crushed the evil king Bali. Vishnu as Narsingha disemboweling a demon is particularly stunning. The western bronze doors sparkle in the evening sunlight, dragons decorate the bells, and handsome devas stare from the walls. Garuda, half man and half bird, is the steed of Vishnu, and his life-sized statue kneels before the temple. The favourite of many tourists is the statue of Vishnu sitting astride his steed.

• Nagarkot Changunarayan Day Hike

Early morning drive to Nagarkot ( 2164m)for Sunrise and we had a breakfast in Nagarkot with beautiful mountain view , after breakfast we walk down to Changunarayan passes beautiful village traces and pine forest one of the best day hike around Kathmandu Valley.