Does it Snow in Nepal? +5 Best Snowfall Places in Nepal

Are you wondering “does it snow in Nepal”?

I live in Nepal and here is all you need to know about snow in Nepal and the best snowfall places!

You might ask, “does it snow in Nepal”? The short answer is that yes, it does snow in Nepal in the winter. However, there no permanent snow in the Hilly region. You can only find permanent snow if you go trekking above 3,000 metres in the winter (December-February) in Nepal.

This means that if you are in Kathmandu, you might be able to catch some snow in nearby hill stations, such as Chandragiri or Phulchowki Hill. However, the times it snows is very short and it is difficult to predict.

Trekking in Nepal in the winter is very cold but as it is low season with fewer trekkers, a lot of people prefer to trek in Nepal in the winter. If you go trekking during the winter, you will find snow above 3,000 metres.

Does it Snow in Nepal?

Yes, it does snow in Nepal but to see permanent snow, you will have to be higher than 3,000 metres. This means, that you are most likely to experience snowfall if you are trekking in Nepal in the winter.

You also have a chance to catch snowfall in hill stations around Kathmandu although for this the chance is very slim. Some places like Chandragiri, Kakani or Phulchowki Hill might receive some snowfall around February but usually it only snows a little and it melts away quickly.

Does it Snow in Kathmandu?

In general, it doesn’t snow in Kathmandu. The last snowfall that lasted for a few days in Kathmandu was in 1945. Since then, there was light snowfall only two times: once in 2007 and once in 2019.

If you are visiting Kathmandu in the winter, it would be a very rare occasion to experience snowfall.

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Does it Snow in Pokhara?

No, it does not snow in Pokhara. Pokhara lies at an elevation of 822 metres and at that elevation, Nepal usually does not receive snowfall.

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Does it Snow on Trekking Routes in Nepal?

Yes, it does but only if you are trekking above 3,000 metres between December-March. You have to be careful when trekking in the winter as the snow can cover the trekking trails and it makes it difficult to navigate.

If you are trekking in winter in Nepal it is good to trek in groups or with a guide for safety reasons.

What to Pack for Trekking in Nepal in Winter:

• Crampons: for trekking safely on snowy and icy trails
• Nalgene water bottle: you can fill the bottle with hot water, put it inside your sleeping at night and it will work like a heater
• Thermal layers
• Down jacket
• Sleeping bag

Winter in Nepal

Winter in Nepal typically runs from December to February.

During this time, the weather remains sunny during the day in the hilly region of Nepal (including Kathmandu and Pokhara) and it only gets cold in the evenings.

As the weather is sunny during the day, the winters in Nepal are moderate and not so cold. It is only at nights that it becomes cold. There is no central heating in Nepal, so you will feel the cold at nights.

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Most people in Nepal use an electric heater at home to keep warm. If you get cold at nights, some of the better hotels have rooms with AC so you can use that a heater in the evenings.

Does it Snow in Nepal in December

December is the beginning of the winter season in Nepal. Usually, there is no snow yet in the hilly region in December.

You can expect snow from the second half of December in the mountainous region above 3,000 metres. Usually, it starts to snow on the trekking routes in the second half of December, so if you are trekking during this time, it is good to trek in groups for safety reasons.

Make sure to pack microspikes if trekking in the winter as it will help you keep balanced when crossing icy trails.

Does it Snow in Nepal in January

January is peak winter season in Nepal. It is one of the coldest months of the year.

By January, there is a chance of snow in the hilly region of Nepal. It does not snow in Kathmandu, but there is a chance that it will snow in the hills around Kathmandu. Chandragiri, Kakani and Phulshowki Hill are some of the places that may experience light snowfall.

If you are trekking in January, you will find permanent snow above 3,000 metres. Make sure to be careful as the snow makes navigation difficult. At this time of the year, it is good to trek in groups or with a guide.

Does it Snow in Nepal in February

The first two weeks of February is still winter in Nepal. Slowly, from the second half of February, the weather starts to get warmer.

In the hilly areas near Kathmandu (Chandragiri, Kakani), there is a high chance of snow in February and March. Still, it usually only snows a little and it melts away very quickly.

If you are trekking in February or even March, you will still find snow above 3,000 metres. Navigation of the trekking trails can still be difficult if it snows, so it is good to be careful.

How Many Seasons are There in Nepal?

Did you know that Nepal has 6 seasons? Yes, that’s right, Nepal has 6 seasons, each lasting 2 months.

To make it easier for people travelling to Nepal, the 6 seasons can be sum up to 4 seasons:

• Spring: March to May
• Summer monsoon: June-August
• Autumn: September-November
• Winter: December-February

When is the Best Time to Travel to Nepal?

The best time to travel to Nepal is between October-November or March-April. These are the most popular times to travel to Nepal and are peak tourist seasons.

The weather is the best for trekking in October-November and March-April, thus, the popularity if those times.

5 Best Snowfall Places in Nepal

You will easily find snow on trekking routes if you are trekking above 3,000 metres from late December – March in Nepal.

You might ask, where else can I see snow if I don’t plan on trekking in the winter? The chance is very slim but you may be able to catch snowfall in one of the towns in the hilly region around Kathmandu.

It is still rare for it to snow, and if it does, it snows for 1 day and melts away quickly. If you are waiting for snow, the best thing you can do is to follow the weather updates and if it starts to snow, you have to go the the place of snowfall as the snow might melt away quickly.

1. Kalinchowk

Kalinchowk is a picturesque place in Dolakha District. It can be reached in about 8 hours from Kathmandu so it is the best for at least a 1 night/2 day trip from Kathmandu.

Kalinchowk is known as one of the best places to see snowfall in Nepal and it gets very busy when it snows. It usually snows in Kalinchowk around February or March but only a little. Follow the weather forecast and updates to catch the snow there!

Apart from the snow, Kalinchowk is a great place for sunrise, hiking or taking the Kalinchowk Cable Car to the Kalinchowk Bhagwati Temple.

2. Chandragiri Hills

Chandragiri is about 1 hour from Kathmandu and it a popular place to visit for a day trip. There is a cable car (the Chandragiri Cable Car) that goes up to the Chandragiri Hills. From the top, you have beautiful views of the Himalayas in the autumn and spring seasons.

It is one of the closest places to Kathmandu where there is a chance of snowfall during the winter. The snow is not likely to last long, so if you want to see snow in Chandragiri, you will have to go there the moment it starts snowing.

Be aware that probably there will be crowds of people who will go there during a snowfall.

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3. Phulchowki Hill

The Phulchowki Hill is located 1 hour south of Kathmandu, near the Godawari Botanical Garden.

The Phulchowki Hill is the highest hill in the Kathmandu Valley at 2,700 metres. It is a popular day hike activity to hike up to the Phulchowki Hill.

The hike to Phulchowki Hill usually takes 3-4 hours but if it snows, you may be able to catch the snow without having to hike all the way up.

4. Nagarkot

Nagarkot is one of the most popular places near Kathmandu for sunrise and sunset views. It can be reached in 1.5 hours by taxi or 3-4 hours by bus.

It is rare for it to snow in Nagarkot but it is worth keeping an eye on during the winter in Nepal in the chance that it starts to snow there.

Check out the best things to do in Nagarkot here!

5. Kakani

Kakani is about 1.5 hours north of Kathmandu and can be easily reached by public transport. Kakani is famous for its strawberry and trout fish farming.

It is a popular destination to enjoy nature, quiet and trout fish in Kakani. When the weather is clear, the views of Himalayas is also very nice.

Kakani is also known to have some snowfall in the winters, however, it usually only snows a little and melts away quickly. Follow the weather forecast and updates for any snowfall.

Check out the best things to do in Kakani here!

Nepal: Seasons

• Spring Season in Nepal
• Monsoon Season in Nepal
• Autumn Season in Nepal
• Winter in Nepal

Nepal: Month-by-Month

• Nepal in January
• Nepal in February
• Nepal in March
• Nepal in April
• Nepal in May
• Nepal in June
• Nepal in July
• Nepal in August
• Nepal in September
• Nepal in November
• Nepal in December

FAQs: Does it Snow in Nepal?

When did it last snow in Kathmandu?

The last snowfall that lasted for a few days in Kathmandu was in 1945. Since then, there was light snowfall only two times: once in 2007 and once in 2019.

Which places in Nepal have snowfall?

Generally, you can find permanent snow in the winter in Nepal in the mountains above 3,000 metres. You would most likely see snow while trekking in Nepal in the winter.

Apart from snow in trekking routes, it usually snows a little in the hilly region of Nepal. Some of the places that have a chance of snowfall are Kalinchowk, Chandragiri, Kakani, Phulchowki Hill and Nagarkot.

The snow in the hilly region usually doesn’t last long and melts away quickly. If you want to see some snowfall in the winter in Nepal, it is good to follow the weather forecasts and update.

Which month does it snow in Nepal?

It snows in higher altitudes in Nepal between December-March.

The winter season in Nepal is from December to February, however, on trekking routes above 3,000 metres, there is a chance of snowfall even in March.

You won’t be able to experience snowfall in Kathmandu as historically, it has been very rare for it to snow in Kathmandu. There are some places near Kathmandu, such as Chandragiri and Kakani where you might be able to see snow around January-February.

Does it snow everywhere in Nepal?

No, it does not snow everywhere in Nepal in the winter.

Nepal has 3 regions: Mountainous region, Hilly region and the Tarai (plains) region.

In the Mountainous region, you will find permanent snow above 3,000 metres between December-March, so be careful of snowy and ice trails when trekking in the winter.

In the Hilly region of Nepal, there is a chance of snow but it usually does not snow for long and melts away quickly.

The Tarai (plains) region is located in the south of Nepal. The temperatures in the Tarai is the warmest in the country and it does not receive any snowfall.

Conclusion

Overall, we can see that there is a chance of snowfall in Nepal in the winter however, it is limited to higher altitudes and the hilly region of Nepal.

In the higher altitudes (above 3,000 metres), there will be permanent snow during the winter. You will experience snowfall if you go trekking during the winter. Just be careful that the snow can make navigation of the trekking trails more difficult so it is good to trek in groups during this time.

It also snows a little in the Hilly region of Nepal, although it is usually just a little bit of snow and doesn’t last very long. Follow the weather forecasts for Chandragiri, Kalinchowk, Kakani and Nagarkot and you may be able to catch some snow in the winter in Nepal.