How to Get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot by Bus
Nagarkot is famous for its sunrise views over the Himalayas, and it is a popular destination near Kathmandu for a short trip. I love Nagarkot for a quick getaway from Kathmandu, but I have found that many times it’s cloudy and the view of Himalayas is not always guaranteed.
Nagarkot is close to Kathmandu and you can get there by taking a local bus or taxi. I have taken both the local bus and taxi from Kathmandu to Nagarkot, and both are good options to get there.
The public bus is an affordable way to get to Nagarkot, while the taxi is best if you want a quick and comfortable journey.
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🏠 Where to Stay in Nagarkot: Hotel Mystic Mountain
🌄 Guided Tour: Nagarkot Sunrise View & Hike
How to Get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot by Bus
Nagarkot is 30 km from Kathmandu and can be reached by public buses or taxis. The bus takes around 3-4 hours in total, while it takes just 1.5 hours by taxi. The road to Nagarkot is pretty good (considering the road conditions in Nepal), and it’s concrete all the way.
The bus takes longer than the taxi mostly because you have to change buses in Bhaktapur. The bus leaves frequently from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, but once you are in Bhaktapur, the bus goes only once an hour to Nagarkot, so you may have to wait for some time.
Step 1: Take the Bus from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur
The bus to Bhaktapur leaves from the Bhaktapur Bus Park (Bagbazaar) in Kathmandu. The Bhaktapur Bus Park is close to Thamel, so if you are staying there, you can even walk to the Bhaktapur Bus Park in 10-15 minutes.
The bus journey from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and once you get to Bhaktapur, the bus will drop you around Siddha Pokhari (pond).
The buses can get crowded, so it is best if you have a seat for the journey. The buses from Kathmandu leave frequently, and most likely, you can get a seat on the bus to Bhaktapur. If you get to the bus stop and the bus is full, you can wait for the next one and get a seat, as the buses leave every 10-15 minutes.
Step 2: Take the Bus from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot
Once you arrive in Bhaktapur, walk over to the Nagarkot Bus Park. The buses go to Nagarkot from here. The bus trip from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot takes around 1 hour.
The bus from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot goes less frequently (once an hour), it gets very crowded, and it’s more difficult to get a seat on this bus. Because the buses go less frequently, I recommend taking the bus even if there is no seat, and try to bear the crowd during the trip.
Bus Fare
The bus fare from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur is Rs. 40, while the bus fare from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot is Rs. 75. So, in total, it costs Rs. 115 (USD 0.80) to go from Kathmandu to Nagarkot by public bus. It’s pretty cheap!
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Kathmandu to Nagarkot by Taxi
If you want to save time, getting a taxi to Nagarkot is also an option. The taxi takes around 1.5 hours to get there, and it is a fast and comfortable option.
Pathao (one of the taxi apps in Nepal) has now started operating taxis to places near Kathmandu, and you can now also book a taxi from Kathmandu to Nagarkot through their app.
I recently visited Nagarkot, and I wanted to take a taxi. I logged into Pathao and could see that now you can also order a taxi to go from Kathmandu to Nagarkot. I was surprised because it was not available previously. The taxis are called “intercity” taxis, rather than the regular taxis that operate only within Kathmandu.
Being able to book a taxi to Nagarkot through Pathao is really great. Beforehand, you had to negotiate the price with the taxi drivers. The drivers refused to go on the meter, and so you had to overpay, especially if you are a foreigner in Nepal. Now the price to Nagarkot is fixed based on the fare Pathao has set.
I think taxi apps in Nepal are improving their services as the market is becoming more competitive. Recently, Uber also started to operate in Nepal, so the taxi apps could now be rolling out new features to beat their competitors.
Taxi Fare
The price of the taxi from Kathmandu to Nagarkot costs between Rs. 2,000-4,000 (USD 13-26). You get way better prices if you book the taxi through the Pathao taxi app, than if you hail a regular taxi. Most of the taxi drivers don’t want to go on the meter, so unless you book it through a taxi app, you’ll likely pay more.
When you book through the Pathao app, it only costs around Rs. 2,000 (USD 13), but if you hail a regular taxi, they’ll charge around Rs. 4,000 (USD 26). It’s cheaper with Pathao as it has a fixed rate, and they only calculate the fare one-way.
Many times, when you hail a regular taxi, they ask double the price because they calculate in the fare that maybe they’ll have to drive back to Kathmandu without a passenger. When the driver drops you, they usually also ask if you would like to book them for a return trip. You can take their number, just in case, though there are many other taxis in Nagarkot.
For your return trip, there are also buses every hour that go to Bhaktapur, from there, you can take another bus back to Kathmandu.
Hotels in Nagarkot
There are many hotels in Nagarkot and there are many options for all budgets. It’s best to pre-book the accommodation in Nagarkot, especially if you plan to visit on the weekend as the best hotels can get sold out.
I recommend booking a place one or two days ahead (at least) to secure your preferred hotel. Here are my top 3 recommendations:
📍Budget Hotel: Hotel Village View Nagarkot
📍Mid-Range Hotel: Everest Manla Resort
📍High-End Hotel: Hotel Mystic Mountain
Things to Do in Nagarkot
Nagarkot is one of the most popular places near Kathmandu for a short trip and to see the sunrise over the Himalayas. The sunrise view is a hit and miss, but in addition, it’s also a nice place to spend some time in nature, go on a short hike, or just relax. I used to come to Nagarkot a lot for short hikes, recently, I just come here to swim and relax at one of the hotels.
The best places to visit in Nagarkot include the Nagarkot Geodic Survey Tower/View Tower, and the Nagarkot Panoramic Sunrise View Point for the sunrise views. The Nature Walk, Panoramic Hiking Trail, and the Tudhi Jharna (waterfall) are great for short hikes. There is also a small Buddhist site in Nagarkot, the Buddha Peace Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to get from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
There are two options to reach Nagarkot from Kathmandu: you can either take a local bus or go by taxi. The taxi is a faster, more comfortable way to travel and gets you to Nagarkot in about 1.5 hours.
If you take the bus, first you have to take a bus from Kathmandu to Bhaktapur, and change to another bus there to Nagarkot.
How much is the taxi fare from Kathmandu to Nagarkot?
The taxi fare from Kathmandu to Nagarkot is between Rs. 2,000-4,000 (USD 13-26). You get the better price Rs. 2,000 if you book a taxi through the Pathao app. If you just hail a regular taxi, then the driver tend to ask around Rs. 4,000.
My Final Tips on How to Get to Nagarkot
Nagarkot is a popular destination near Kathmandu for the sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas. Nagarkot is 30 km east of Kathmandu and you can get there by taking a local bus or taxi.
If you are planning to spend a few days in Nagarkot, then taking the local bus is a good option. It takes around 3-4 hours to get there by bus, so it’s only worth it if you stay there for a few days. For a short day trip, it is easier to book a taxi. It’s faster and will give you more time to explore Nagarkot.
I have taken the bus to Nagarkot a few times before. It can get crowded, but it’s safe. On my last trip to Nagarkot, I found out that now you can also book Pathao taxi from Kathmandu to Nagarkot (it was not an option until recently). Pathao has fixed prices, so it works out cheaper if you book a taxi on their app, than if you hail a regular taxi.
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