Nagarkot (नगरकोट) is a former Village Development Committee located
32 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal in Bhaktapur
District in Bagmati Province and
as of 2015 part of Nagarkot Municipality. At an elevation of 2,195 meters,
it is considered one of the most scenic spots in Bhaktapur
District. It is known for a sunrise view of the Himalayas including Mount Everest as
well as other peaks of the Himalayan range of
eastern Nepal. Nagarkot also offers views of the Kathmandu Valley.
The scenery of the place makes it a popular hiking route for tourists. It
is located approximately 7000 ft (2000 m) above sea level and 28 km
from Kathmandu International Airport.
Nagarkot commands one of the
broadest views of the Himalayas in the Kathmandu valley (8 Himalayan ranges of
Nepal out of 13 from here). The ranges include Annapurna range, Manaslu range, Ganesh himal range, Langtang range, Jugal
range, Rolwaling range, Mahalangur range (Everest
range) and Numbur range
with views of the Kathmandu
valley and Shivapuri
National Park.
For nature lovers and
outdoor enthusiasts, there are many hiking opportunities in and around
Nagarkot. Among them, Nagarkot eco trail (nature walk) along with Nagarkot panoramic hiking trail is
the most popular ones. It is also possible to do paragliding with Everest
view in Nagarkot.
Situated in a strategic location, Nagarkot was an ancient fort of the Kathmandu valley built to monitor the external activities of other kingdoms. Later, it became a summer retreat for the royal family before becoming popular as an international hill station.