Nagarkot or Dhulikhel: Which Hill Town Is Better for Himalayan Views Near Kathmandu?

Last updated 7 October 2026.

Choose Nagarkot if the mountain view is your priority, and Dhulikhel if you want an old Newar town with walks to Namobuddha and Panauti. Nagarkot is higher, about 2,175 m, and its ridge gives the wider Himalayan panorama at sunrise. Dhulikhel is lower, at around 1,500 m, and gives you more to do on foot. Many travellers do both, and that is how our 5-day tour is built.

You can see both on our Kathmandu, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel Tour, 5 days, which starts with the great temples of Kathmandu and then spends one night on the Nagarkot ridge and one night in old Dhulikhel.

Nagarkot or Dhulikhel, which is better?

If you have only one night, spend it at Nagarkot for the sunrise. If you have two, add Dhulikhel for the culture. Neither is a place to promise mountains. Clouds and haze are common, and on a cloudy morning you still get the ridge walk and the cool air.

What is Nagarkot like and how high is it?

Nagarkot is a hill station on the eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley, in Bhaktapur District, at about 2,175 m. It was once a lookout post for the valley and later a retreat for the royal family. Today it is a ridge of small hotels with a long view. Our Nagarkot guide names the peaks you can pick out, from Langtang in the north to the Everest range in the east. Everest is a small, distant pyramid, and you should not expect more than that.

The hotels on the ridge are simple and the air is cool, so bring a warm layer. For walkers, our Nagarkot to Chisapani day trek guide and the best day hikes near Kathmandu list longer routes.

What is Dhulikhel like?

Dhulikhel is an old Newar town in Kavrepalanchok District, on the Araniko Highway, the road that runs east to Tibet. It has traditional lanes and temples, and it feels more relaxed than Kathmandu and more lived-in than Nagarkot. Our Dhulikhel guide covers the town, the views and the walks.

Which has the better mountain view?

Nagarkot, because of its height and its open ridge. On a clear morning a wide sweep of the Himalaya shows from there, including the Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Rolwaling and Everest ranges. Dhulikhel also has a long view of snow peaks, but Nagarkot is higher and its ridge is more open. Neither can be promised, so plan to enjoy the place and treat the mountains as a bonus.

What can you do around each?

From Nagarkot you can walk the ridge and visit Changunarayan, a Vishnu temple on a hilltop above the valley in a quiet Newar village. It is one of the oldest temples in the valley, with stone and metal carvings more than a thousand years old. Read our Changunarayan guide for the walk and the history.

From Dhulikhel you can go to Namobuddha, a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the hills of Kavre district. A young prince, in a previous life of the Buddha, is said to have given his body to a starving tigress there, and a monastery stands beside the stupa. Panauti, an old Newar town of temples built where rivers meet, is a short stop on the way back to Kathmandu. Both are on the last day of our 5-day tour.

How do you combine them?

Our 5-day tour does it in a natural order. On day 3 we visit Bhaktapur and drive up to Nagarkot for the evening light. On day 4 we watch the sunrise from the ridge with hot tea, go to Changunarayan and then drive east to Dhulikhel for an evening walk through the old town. On day 5 we visit Namobuddha and Panauti and return to Kathmandu. Days 1 and 2 cover Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Boudhanath.

On Budget you stay in simple, clean hotels on twin share with breakfast. On Standard you have a private room in a 3-star hotel in Kathmandu and the best standard hotels in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, with all meals from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 5. On Luxury the rooms are private with an ensuite bathroom, in a deluxe hotel in Kathmandu and the best hotels in Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, and all non-alcoholic drinks are included. Entrance fees for the sites on the tour are included on all tiers.

When is the best time to go?

September to November and February to May are the best months. October to December usually gives the clearest views of the mountains, and our Dhulikhel guide says the same. Summer is hot and wet, and winter mornings can be cold and hazy.

Group size is 2 to 20, and you can also travel solo. The deposit is 10 per cent and it is non-refundable, with no refund if you cancel. You can reschedule free of charge with at least 72 hours notice to any date within one year. The balance is paid on arrival in Kathmandu in USD or EUR, cash or by card. Card carries 3.5 per cent and cash in Kathmandu carries none. We do not take Nepali rupees from foreign clients. Kathmandu hotel nights before or after the five days are quoted separately.

Questions people ask

Can you see Everest from Nagarkot? Yes, on a clear day, as a small distant peak. Do not expect it to dominate the view.

Is Nagarkot cold? It is cooler than Kathmandu, particularly in the evening and early morning. Bring a warm layer.

How far is Dhulikhel from Nagarkot? Both are about 30 km from Kathmandu. On day 4 of our tour we link them in one morning and afternoon, with Changunarayan on the way.

Can I walk from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel? Longer walking routes link the two. If you want to walk, tell us and we will plan it with you.

Do I need to be fit? No. The tour is sightseeing by private vehicle, with short walks in towns and at temples.

Written by Shreejan Simkhada, CEO of The Everest Holiday, from a family of three generations of family guides. TAAN Member #1586. WhatsApp +977 9810351300.