I flew to Nepal one way from India on Air India. The flight was roughly an hour and had some great views. I landed just after 3:00 pm in the afternoon. I saved 20 minutes by doing my Visa ahead of time but there is really no need to do that.
My car was outside to take me to the Hyatt Katmandu. The hotel is vast and impressive and is really close to the airport. The first day was spent at the hotel, the bar, pool, and outdoor area are really impressive. The food is world-class and it might be on my list of my favorite hotels I've stayed in. I actually signed up and now I'm a member.
The next day I went on a city tour of a few world heritage sites located in the city. I made stops at the Swayambhunath Temple. The site starts at a wishing well and works its way up to the temple.
The Next stop was Durbar Square. Along with being a great place to see the history and the architecture of the city, it's a packed place with locals and tourists alike. I took the time to spend a few hours at the Tribhuvan, Mahendra, and Birendra Museums.
I then found the Katmandua Aviation Museum and had to see it. Started by a local pilot with outside funding to convert a damaged aircraft was a great story. I really had a great time here and hope it's on your list of places to visit while in the city.
I then went to the Boudhanath Stupa. This is in the center of the center and a great place to buy souvenirs, eat and do almost anything in Katmandu. You can also buy Northface gear here if you forgot something for a hike.
The next morning I left at 4:00 am for a roughly 2-hour care ride to Nagorkat Panoramic Hiking Trail. I set out to see one of the most magnificent sunrises ever. Afterward, I hiked down through a local village to take in some of the Nepalese countryside.
After such an eventful morning I was out for the count and actually slept until the next day when I had to fly to Bhutan. When I returned from Bhutan I stayed overnight in Nepal at the Mulberry Hotel. The location is further away from the airport but a nice budget option while in the city.
A hike to Everest Basecamp is on my list and until then, Nepal will be on my mind. It is a great country and a place we all should visit.
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