Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel has what Nagarkot lacks: a town. It was a Newar trading settlement on the route to Tibet long before it became a viewpoint, and the old quarter has brick houses with carved windows, temples and a square still in daily use, while the ridge above carries hotels facing the Himalaya. The mountain panorama runs from Annapurna to Everest on clear mornings, and a walk up to the Kali shrine on the eastern hill gives it without a hotel window. Trails run from here to Namobuddha in three or four hours and on to Panauti, one of the pleasant day walks in the valley. Kathmandu University sits below the town, which gives it a younger population than most hill towns.

History

The name comes from the Nepal Bhasa dhali khela, "yogurt field", and the town is said to descend from the Licchavi-era Dhawalasrotapura. Dhulikhel was the eastern border of ancient Nepal Mandala, part of the Bhaktapur kingdom, and among the last places to join the growing kingdom of Gorkha in the 18th century (Wikipedia, Dhulikhel).

What's there

• The old Newar quarter - carved windows and temples around a working square.
• The Himalayan panorama - the range from the ridge on clear mornings.
• The Kali shrine walk - a short climb to the eastern viewpoint.
• The Namobuddha trail - the walk south through villages and terraces.

When to go

October to December for the clearest mountain views; October and November are the peak. The old town is worth walking at any time of year. Monsoon months from June to September remove the view entirely.

Practical notes

Mountain views depend entirely on air clarity and are absent for much of the year. The highway through town is busy and noisy. Earthquake repairs are ongoing in the old quarter. Hotel quality on the ridge varies widely.

Nearby

Namobuddha lies south; Panauti is southwest.

Key facts