Nagarkot, Peaceful Cottage & Cafe Du'mont

It was beautiful. It was relaxing. It was unforgettable.

Nagarkot is indeed a fort situated to the east from Kathamandu valley. According to the legend, Kathmandu valley was a lake, Manjushree, one of the Gods of Mahayana and Bajrayana Buddhism had the first glance of the lake from Mahamandap Giri, the Himalayan foothill of Nagarkot. He then cut open and drained the lake in the south of the valley at Chobar gorge (the gorge is still there). Then, he built Swayambhunath Stupa in the lap of the Mt. Nagarjuna. In every spring there is a festival to celebrate the arrival of Lord Manjushree at Bageshoree Temple in Kathmandu.

Clouds and mist slowly encroached on the hill, shrouding the surroundings into memory. I sat there reminiscing about the last couple of days I'd spent in Nagarkot.

Nagarkot is famed for it's spectacular panoramic view of the Himalayas - Dhaulagiri on the far west, a hint of Everest in the center and Kanchanchunga in the far east.

Unfortunately, with the clouds and the mist the view has been elusive. Despite the clouds and mist making the view elusive, my time here has been unforgettable. My two friends and I had been relaxing in the tranquil atmosphere of Peaceful cottage, Nagarkot, Nepal. Spending endless hours laying on the chair, savouring the beauty of mountains and laughing, chatting and just enjoying each other's company in Nagarkot was a wonderful experience in itself. This traditional 12-room resort-type hotel perched on a hill makes a peaceful winter hideaway. The Mont Dorje Lakpa views over breakfast terrace are superb, rooms are spacious and self-pampering facilities accommodate most whims. And, there's no Internet access, which gives you the perfect excuse to lie back and lap up the luxury instead. Continental breakfasts are available, pets are welcome, and the service is all you'd expect and more.

The hotel is opened throughout the year and the hotel take reservations

from 1-7 days or more. They also give special discounts to people who are students, and for those who want to stay for longer periods at the hotel. To confirm your reservation for a room, notify them 48 hours prior to your arrival.

You have to contact them directly as they do not have a link through agents.

website:http://kyaron.tripod.com/nagarkot/

Clothing Recommendation

Winter (December - February) is generally cold and windy in the evening and warm clothes, jackets and pullovers are recommended. During Spring and Summer, warm cotton clothing or a light jacket can come in handy. A sturdy pair of walking shoes, thick socks for hikes and day treks are recommended.

There are three basic reasons that people stay in places like Nagarkot:-

1. The location.

2. The price.

3. Other backpackers.

4. Peaceful cottage.

Nagarkot scores a bull's-eye on all counts. During our visit to Nagarkot, I went to Peaceful Cottage, and it is a great place for a one-night stint. We stayed in a deluxe room, which was very plush, with good views over the Himalayas from its private balconies. It's a decent hotel in an A1 location.

There are parking problems, and it is quite difficult to find the hotel. There are not quite enough deluxe rooms in the hotel, as there are only 7 deluxe rooms available.

Open year-round, it's a small hotel with only 12 rooms, and it has efficient, friendly and helpful staff. There's a wide range of accommodation to choose from, ranging from reasonably priced hardboard partitioned cell rooms with great views (common bathroom with a bucket of hot water) for $5/7, to deluxe rooms with private balconies that offer you the breathtaking views, and 24 hour hot and cold running water for $20/30. It's a popular spot with tourists, which means it can get really busy at peak times of the year, and the best rooms get booked up quickly, which is something that's well worth considering if you're planning your trip in advance.