Immediately after landing in Nepal, I headed to Nagarkot, a village approximately 7200 feet above sea level famous for its outstanding sunrise view of the snow-capped mountain of the Himalayas.
The itinerary that I plotted for my Nepal Trip was altered due to the weather forecast. I heard that the best time to visit Nepal is October to December where the mountain is clear. I wasn’t sure if February is fine but I wanted to be sure by checking the weather forecast. The first two days are the only days that the sky is clear and since I really want to see the Himalayas on a clear view, I opted to stay in Nagarkot instead of spending the first two days in Bhaktapur. I hardly check the weather forecast but it was the best decision ever made. I was lucky to see the Himalayas.
To be honest, I didn’t do a lot of research for this trip. I only wanted to see the Himalayas that’s it! Thank God for fellow Pinoy Travel Bloggers Ron and Doc Gelo for giving me some Nepal Tips. I am very grateful!
Stunning Himalayan view
So this is the Himalayas? I asked myself in deep silence. Feeling cold on top of the hill. The view is spectacular, I was speechless and I couldn’t label the feeling, I am contented sitting there watching something amazing that I don’t see on a daily basis – the Himalayas.
Do you have a pen? His British accent swiftly splits me from my thoughts. I smiled and handed him the pen, he look so happy, he paused while climbing midway on the stairs to what looks like an observation tower, he added “The view is so beautiful I need to write this down.”
I couldn’t agree more. I sat there the whole afternoon drinking different variety of Nepalese tea from Milk tea, Honey tea and whatnot. It was so cold I smoked a lot of Surya – a Nepalese Cigarette.
Spacious Room with Veranda
I had a little view of the Himalayas and a forest view from my room. It’s just so good to wake up in the morning with an incredible sight. Birds chirping sound effect so relaxing. Caron wanted me to have the best view, however I was on a tight budget. I am happy with my room, it’s nice, clean and they provided me that red rubber hot water bottle bag to keep me warm during cold nights. The water heater works well too.
The wifi has weak signal in my room though. With the special treatment from them, it is too much to complain about the wifi and besides, I didn’t go all the way to Nagarkot just to be online. The bed was very comfortable. The balcony though is open to public and it’s my favorite place to chill.
Nepalese Food and Everest Beer
The hotel offers delicious food. At that time they had buffet dinner and my favorite is Dal Bhat, Nepal’s Traditional Dish. I wasn’t really alone having my ultimate Nepalese dinner, I was with a new friend Caron based from Bhaktapur, also from Peaceful Cottage as well but is assigned for sales and marketing team. I was touched that he came all the way from Bhaktapur to see me. I like that fact the he admire me for being a solo traveler. He was too nice to provide me a Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu detailed Itinerary.
They also served continental dishes and my favorite is Poulet Grille, a grilled chicken served along with sautéed vegetables, buttered rice and French fries. The free breakfast is delightful too!
I had a bottle of Everest beer and just sat there, stared blankly at how spectacular the view was.
The Hotel Staffs
They are very friendly and accommodating. They make sure your stay is okay. They always wear this smile that is so contagious you can’t help but smile too. One thing I love about the people working there is that they don’t just sit there and work, they go to you and ask you if there is anything you need that they could offer and what’s amazing is that they’ll initiate a conversation with you. In fact, four of the staffs become my friends. It’s amazing how you make friends during travel. One of them toured me around the village and I was able to see how people deal with their everyday lives and even invited me to his house, offered me tea and was able to meet his wife and extended family members. Which actually became one of the highlights of my Nepal vacation.
Sunrise & Sunset View
I spend two days in Peaceful Cottage. In the morning the big ball of fire turned bright pink to red orange until it slowly fades showing the clear view of the Himalayan Mountain and before the skies get dark the fascinating twilight suppresses the valley. It was beyond dramatic. The snow-capped mountain fades to pale in purple and the peak glows in different hues. The photos doesn’t match how wonderful it was!
My Home away from Home
Nagarkot is such a special place for me for so many reasons – the Himalayas, the village, the sunrise, the sunset and most of all the people I met who made it all memorable. It’s just the kind of place where you want to go back. I traveled solo but I didn’t feel alone. I was surrounded by my new family and a new home I set for myself in Nagarkot. The experience I had with Peaceful Cottage was worthwhile. Never felt the kind of special treatment to any other hotels I’ve been.
Special Thanks: I just want to thank the people who make my Nagarkot trip absolutely amazing.
Caron – Thank you for all the help, from taking care of my room to my itinerary. We’ll definitely catch up over a set of Dal Bhat when I go back!
Ram and Shuman – Thank you for making sure that all my needs are met. Expectation exceeded indeed.
Laxman – Laxman the man! Thank you, thank you for everything! For the motorcycle ride around the village, for inviting me to your humble abode, for the food treats and for the free ride to Bhaktapur. We’ll certainly have that tea or coffee and cigarette session overlooking that gorgeous Himalayan view!
From the bottom of my heart… Dhanybhad!
I was looking for blogs about Nepal and I found yours. Just looking at the pictures, surely it’s beautiful and I can’t wait to visit this country. Do you think December-January will be a good time to visit?
Hello Ira! Thanks for dropping by, The best time to visit Nepal would be Oct- Nov, this however depends on the activities you are planning to do. Basically, Dec – Jan are the cold months, I visited Feb, its pretty good at the central valleys but can get pretty cold at night. If you are going to trek, I suggest you may check the weather for good visibility and clear blue skies. Nepal is a very beautiful country. Enjoy Nepal! 🙂