One Day in Nuwakot

How many of us recall history that of King Prithvi Narayan Shah having had conquered Nuwakot, as in initiation to the modern Nepal?

Fairly, a lot of us.

How many of us have actually visited Nuwakot?

Very few.

So this weekend, why not pack a bag and head over to this gem of a place of Nepal. Granted that the 2015 earthquake has shed some damages to this historical place, it still deserves a visit.

Do you know where Nuwakot got its name from? Nuwakot comprises of two words: Nuwa and kot. Nuwa as in 9 and kot as in religious sites. Nuwakot is said to have 9 hills with sacred religious sites that protect the place. Hence, the name Nuwakot, or the city of 9 hills.

Interesting, eh?

Here is how you can spend a day in Nuwakot.

Durbar View Hotel, Battar

Grab some breakfast at Durbar View Hotel before you set off.

Hike to the durbar

Of course, you can take a ride up the hill; I would not judge, but the hike up to the durbar would be an adventure in itself. The ride should be about 20 mins up to the durbar.

Taleju Ghar

The 35m-high temple was built in 1564 by Mahendra Malla and dedicated to the Goddess Taleju. This temple might be mistaken for the fortress itself, however it is not so. It may not even look like a temple at first glance, but is sacred nonetheless. Like the Taleju temple in the Kathmandu Durbar Square, no one is allowed to enter the temple with the exception of a single day during the Dashain festival.

Nuwakot saat talle durbar

The Nuwakot saat talle durbar is situated on the top of a hill. And hear me out when I say, the trip is definitely worth it. The view is to die for! You can either hike, or hitch a ride to the entrance, whichever way pleases you best. This palace was built during the reign of King Prithvi Narayan Shah. The 7 floored durbar will leave you in awe recreating history every floor you pass and giving you an aerial view from the top floor. I mean, you’re on top of 7 storied palace on top of a hill. Could it get any better?

 Bhairabhi temple

The Bhairabhi temple is about 5 mins walking distance from the Nuwakot durbar and is a significant temple here. The Bhairabhi festival is celebrated here every other year. And did I tell you about the awesome scenery from here?

Rangamahal

The Rangamahal stands glamorously opposite the saat talle durbar. Since Nuwakot was jointly ruled by the Malla kings of the Kathmandu valley, Rangamahal was built for the purpose of a pleasurable spot for the three kings of the valley. It was used to host formal events, ceremonial occasions and for performing arts. Rangamahal is made of beautiful oily bricks with fine wooden carvings.

Garadhghar

This building used to be the army barracks. It is set behind a peaceful and still scenic garden area. Although it’s hard to tell now but the building used to have four floors plus a slanted roof. Today it’s been reduced to only two floors. It will have to be completely rebuilt.

It is situated facing the Seven Story palace and is believed that the King Prithvi Narayan Shah built it in 1762 as a Tilingaghar (Store of weapons).

Nuwakot ViewPoint

A short distance from the Nuwakot durbar is the Nuwakot viewpoint near the Kalika temple. It should be around 1 km from the durbar. This viewpoint will not disappoint you; displaying a range of the Langtang range, it depends on clear weather, though!

The Famous Farm of Nuwakot

The ancient decors take you back to the gone by times and you get transcended to those times. From here, you also get an eagle’s eye view of the Nuwakot Durbar, which happens to be about 8-10 minute walk from here. It is a living paradise for anyone who loves peace and tranquility. If you want, you could stay here.

Trishuli Bazar

Stroll around the Trishuli bazar. Trust me, this bazar is one of the most fascinating places I have been to. The bazar has been built on top of a hill. The ups and downs of the alleys and the lanes, make shopping and eating out all the more interesting.

And this is how you could spend an awesome day in Nuwakot. However, do not think this is all there is to Nuwakot. If you have got the time, please do travel to Kakani, Nuwakot to taste trout fish and if you have the time to invest and if it is the right timing of the year, you might just catch a glimpse of the Nuwakot Kumari during the Sindure festival. Nuwakot is one of the four cities that pride in Kumari: the living goddess. And Sindure festival is one of the main festivals here in Nuwakot that takes place during the Maghe Sankranti. The Sindure festival is celebrated upto 12 days. Nuwakot also happens to be home to the only bull fighting competition in Nepal. Like I said, this is not all there is to Nuwakot.

Go ahead: explore this gem of a place of Nepal.