There used to be nine Kots(fort)- namely Dhaibungkot, Pyaskot, Bhairamkot, Simalkot, Salyankot, Kalikakot, Belkot, Malakot and Dhuwakot on the hill that were located between Trishuli and Tadi river. Collectively those nine forts were called Nawakot and in course of time, the term- Nawakot got distorted to Nuwakot. According to old people, there were total 9 forts, 9 Maulo(sacrificial place), 9 Pati(resting house) and 9 temples.
Nuwakot lies75km North-west of Kathmandu.
1 place of Historical ‘Nepal-Tibet Treaty’
2 Nuwakot was the Capital of Nepal for 25 years(1801-1825B.S.)
Nuwakot is extended over 1121 sq. km. of an area and accommodates 53169 households with average Household size of 5.43 where 288478 people dwell out of which 142731 are male and 145747 are female. Majority of people living here are Hindus as the data shows 176880 are Hindus while there are 109412 Buddhists, 384 Muslims, 108 Kirats, 10 Jains, 1481 Christians, 13 Sikhs, 4 Bahais and 186 follow other religions.
1Nuwakot Durbar Area: The area was fortified with Gaaradghar, Topkhana(storehouse of Canons) and Baarudkhana(storehouse of guns and bullets).
2 Bhairab Bhairabi Temple : Bhairab Bhairabi are regarded as the ferocious forms of Lord Shiv and goddess Parvati.
3 Devighat : ‘Prithvismarak’ is erected here in memory of Great King ‘Prithvi Narayan Shah’- the one who founded unified Nepal.
4 Sagar Kunda(pond): It is also known as ‘Second Gosaikunda’ as people who have high altitude sickness and cannot climb further worship this pond in the image of Gosaikunda during festival of Janaipurnima( the day of wearing sacred thread). One has to hike for a day starting from Budhanilkantha of kathmandu to reach to SagarKunda.
5 Uttargaya region
6 Trishuli river : One can easily experience the thrilling sensation of flowing together with river currents while rafting in Trishuli river. The starting point for rafting in Trishuli is Charaundi and Simaltal is its finishing point. The river has been graded as third in Rafting and the outward travel time is 3hours.
7 Chisapani : Chisapani is a popular Hiking destination among tourists and it lies 14 km far from Sundarijal. Thus climbing the windy path along thick woods and crossing over Shivpuri Conservation Area and Mulkharka, one can reach Chisapani in 4-5 hours. Alternatively, one can choose the way from among Budhanilkantha or Sankhu or Nagarkot of Bhaktapur.
8 Kakani : Kakani lies 23 km west of Balaju and comes after passing through Nagarjun Hill. It has been popular as Picnic spot and famous for production of strawberry and Rainbow Trout.
9 Dupcheswor Mahadev : Local buses are available to Dhunche. One has to hike to reach Dupche from Dhunche.
10 Trishuli hydropower project
How to reach:-
Buses and Micro Buses are easily available from By-pass near Balaju and it takes about 4 hours to reach Nuwakot palace.
Where To Stay:-
Many hotels and lodges can be found in Trishuli Bazaar which is at 1 km North-west from District Headquarter- ‘Bidur’ and 69 km far from Kathmandu.
Nuwakot is a very small town in Nepal but with great wonders and historical importance which moulded the Nepalese history. For it is here that the Great King Prithvi Narayan Shah set out in 1750 to unify Nepal which at that time was dotted with tiny kingdoms. Nuwakot is a topographical wonder with extreme variation in its vertical limits, like it is just 450m above sea level at the banks of river Trishuli but reaches up to staggering 5144m above sea level at other place. There are nine forts scattered over the Nuwakot region, hence it is also called ‘Nawakotta’, which means nine forts. It is about 75 km from Kathmandu and is a major toursits attraction for people visiting Nepal. This beautiful place can be reached within 3-4 hours by road from Kathmandu. The region has historical variety ranging from temples, statues and stupas or pillars to paintings and ornaments of ancient times. The cultural traditions which were practiced during those long times are still in vogue here, which amuses the tourists all the more.
The Nuwakot Durbar
The Nuwakot Palace is a magnificent historical structure that has being in existence in this hilly region with its splendor since ancient times. The palace stands on a garden compound with temples and other buildings surrounding it. A guide can be of great help to you to get acquainted with historical background of the Durbar and it’s other importance features. A hawk-eyed view of the surroundings around the palace from the canopied tower on the top of the palace encapsulates you. The place is very clean and immaculately kept.
Among the many architectures ‘Saat Tale Darbar’ or the seven storey palace is another talked about palace here, the magnetism of whose attract many tourists.. It was built by Prithvi Narayan Shah, the first king of unified Nepal, in 1762. You get the opportunity to visit all the rooms and go back to the times when royalty inhabited it and you can visualize them moving around. You can also visit the turret room on the roof. It also gets its prominence from the fact that King Rana Bahadur Shah met Mr. William Kirkpatric, a British representative here after the war between Nepal and China ended.
Then, nearby is Rangamahal palace, it’s uniqueness being that is it made of oily bricks and was the recreation ground for the Malla Kings who came here for relaxation. There are many cultural activities practiced here which have their origin traced back to the Malla period, and tourists love to get aquainted with them.
The Famous Farm of Nuwakot
This is a fantastic place for the tourists to rest. It is a peaceful place with scerenity written all over it. It’s ancient decors take you back to the gone by times and you get transcended to those times. From here you also get a spectacular view of the Nuwakot Palace and Trishuli River and get mesmerized by it. It is a living paradise for anyone who loves peace and tranquility. Though remotely placed, the place provides all the basic facility for the tourists and the rooms are good and spacious. Food is excellent and having dinner here is something that you may never forget in your lifetime. The candlelit tables in the courtyard make the atmosphere all the more romantic and you relish every moment of it till you have eaten your last morsel. The staff is well adapt in hospitality and make your stay as comfortable as you can expect. They are also walking ‘wikipedias’, that is if you have questions relating to this region, they are all eager to help and prompt in their replies. This hotel is ideal for staying as the bazaar and Nuwakot Palace are at walking distances.
This temple is distinguishable by it’s two pagados, or tiered towers. It is a place which is well frequented by tourists specially during the months of March and April when the annual Bhairabi Festival is celebrated. During this festival the priests are supposedly possessed by devine powers and they drink the blood of animals which are sacrificed here. To renew their powers the blood is consumed straight from the neck of sacrificed animals like goats and buffaloes.
Going to Nuwakot via Galchi, Devighat is more advisable as it offers a picturesque view of the countryside Nepal and is relatively safer. The route via Kakani highway can be too narrow and winding for one’s liking. And yes, helicopter services are another option if you are out of time and need a quick trip.
Other places of interest nearby
After visiting the places in Nuwakot, tourists prefer to visit other attractions which are at a hopping distance from here. Like:
Rara Lake- Situated in Rara National Park, this lake has very scenic beauty.You have got to visit it to feel it’s blissfulness. This lake is situated at a high altitude and is a good spot for trekking. All you require is your camping gear and love for nature.
Rolwaling Valley – It is valley in the Himalayan region in Charikot and very much revered by the local buddhist. It’s steep cliffs make it valley appear as if it has been plouged through and it gives it a very unique look.
Poon Hill – It one of the many attractions in Pokhara and is an ideal place for trekking, with spectacular view of mountians surrounding it specially during the sunrise.
Gosainkunda – Situated in Langtang National Park, this ia another spot good for trekking, with it beautiful surroundings and freshness in the air.
Good hotels in and around Nuwakot
Thodong Lama Lodge, is of the many good places for lodging, this place is run by Swiss-Nepalese pair and is a perfect place for you if you long for immaculate hospitality. They are very nice people and services provided is excellent with good food and clean environment. Apart from this there are good hotels like, The Club Himalaya Resort, is in Nagarkot, Temple Tree Resort & Spa in Pokhara, Hotel at the End of the Universe in Nagarkot, Resort Eco Home again in Nagarkot, then of course the Famous Farm in Nuwakot. The list goes on.
Hence if you have the love for scenic beauty of nature and like exploring the wilderness and still want the comforts of everyday living, then Nepal is the place for you to be and Nuwakot is right up there in the menu.