TOP 5 local getaway destinations in Nepal

Apart from the religious and cultural importance of Dashain and Tihar, the festive season is a great time to travel and take a vacation. Here are five popular places in Nepal that are leading holiday destinations. Bon Voyage!

POKHARA
Pokhara, my personal favourite, is a city that has it all to make your getaway a perfect one. Drive to Sarangkot early in the morning to be awestruck by the sunrise view. It will be worth the few hours of sleep that you have to sacrifice.

From the top, you also have a beautiful view of the city, further beautified with a chain of mountain that crowns her. Feeling lazy?Hire a boat and go for a boat ride in Phewa Tal and get tanned absolutely free. Or awaken the spiritual side with a visit to Bindyabashini or Tal Barahi temple. For the adventurous, zip down the world's most extreme zipline (bookings: 61-466349) or soar in the sky like a bird with paragliding or take on the ultralight flight (bookings: 61-463338). When the sun goes down, take a stroll down the beautifully lit streets of Lake Side, go window shopping and you might just find something interesting or hang out with tourists in the cafés and hot spots.

Attractions:
Davis Falls, Peace Pagoda and Gupteshwor cave Getting there: Take one of the daily flights to Pokhara Airport or a bus from Kathmandu

BANDIPUR
Nestled atop a hill 3,500 ft above sea level, Bandipur is an old laidback Newar town. The centuries old temples and houses in the town resemble a living museum and stand as testament to its once glorious and important history. Pristine natural surroundings with great views of the Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh and Langtang Himal, Bandipur make it an ideal escape for a quick getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. There are plenty of hiking options around this old town as well.

Attractions:
Siddha Gufa, Patali Dwar, historical fort at Gadhi, Mukundeshwori and Bindyabashini temple Getting there: Drive from Pokhara or Kathmandu to Dumre, from where it is another half-an-hour bus ride

CHITWAN
With the oldest of the country's national parks, Chitwan's steaming jungle host one of the largest population of the rare Bengal tigers, along with the one-horned rhinos and wild elephants that are best viewed on elephant-back safaris. If you are lover of wildlife this is the place to go. There are plenty of options to explore the jungle as per your liking -jungle walk, elephant safari and jeep safari. Explore the river with river safari on a canoe in Rapti river or Narayani river and you might spot ghairals, crocodiles and various wildlife. After a day of hectic jungle activity, get a drink and relax on the bank of the Rapti river in Sauraha and watch the sunset.

Attractions:
Wildlife, wildlife and more wildlife Getting there: Take one of the daily flights to Bharatpur Airport or a bus from Kathmandu

LUMBINI
The birthplace of Buddha is the reason scores of Buddhists travel from all over the world to Nepal.The best time to visit is from late autumn to spring to escape the scorching heat of the plains. To add to the whole religious significance of the place and the spiritual vibe, there are number of beautiful monasteries built by various Buddhism following countries. The Royal Thai Monastery, Myanmar Monastery, Dhamma Janani Meditation Centre (Nepal) and Sri Lankan Monastery are some definitely worth visiting.

Attractions:
Mayadevi temple, Marker Stone and Puskarini -the holy pond Getting there: Take one of the daily flights to Bhairahawa Airport or a bus from Kathmandu

NAGARKOT
With breathtaking mountain views, sunrise and sunset and beautiful trekking trails through villages and beautiful landscapes, Nagarkot is perhaps the most popular overnight destination for valley denizens. Hike or drive to Nagarkot View Tower for the best view of sunrise, sunset and the surrounding mountains.

Few hotels and tour operators have come up with interesting village walks, so do remember to pack your hiking shoes. Up there, the air is crisper and the temperature too drops down by few degrees compared to Kathmandu. Hence, make sure you have a pair or two of warm clothes.

Attractions:
Sunrise and sunset, panoramic mountain views and trekking Getting there: You can take a public transportation from Kathmandu or hire a vehicle

source: Tsering Ngodup Lama,The Himalayan Times,20 Sep 2013