Daman

Daman sits at around 2,300 metres on the Tribhuvan highway, the old and now largely bypassed road between Kathmandu and the Indian border, and the claim made for it is a Himalayan view running some four hundred kilometres from Dhaulagiri in the west through Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang to Everest and beyond, which on a genuinely clear winter morning it delivers more completely than the better-known valley viewpoints. A view tower with mounted telescopes stands at the pass. Because the highway was superseded, very few people stop here and the handful of lodges are quiet. Rhododendron forest covers the slopes and flowers in spring. It is cold at this altitude and the road is slow and winding.

What to look for

• The full range - Dhaulagiri to Everest on a clear winter morning.
• The view tower - the platform and telescopes at the pass.
• Rhododendron forest - the slopes flowering in March and April.
• The old highway - the bypassed Tribhuvan road and its hairpins.

When to go

October to February for the clearest air, with December and January giving the sharpest views. Spring brings rhododendrons but hazier mountains. Staying overnight is necessary for the dawn view.

Practical notes

The road is winding and slow, several hours from Kathmandu, and buses are infrequent since the highway was bypassed. It is cold and the lodges are basic with limited heating. Views depend entirely on clarity and are absent for much of the year.

Nearby

Hetauda lies south; Kathmandu is northeast.