Kakani, Nepal: Travel Guide
Kakani is one of the best places near Kathmandu to escape the city. It is famous for its trout fish and strawberries, and on a clear day, you also get nice views of the Himalayas. I love trout fish, so it was one of the main reasons for my visit.
Kakani is located 20 km from Kathmandu and it takes around 1.5 hour to get there by bus. If you want to go by bus, the public buses leave from Machhapokhari (near Gongabu Bus Station) to Kakani. We went by motorbike and at that time the road was in a really bad condition, so it is worth checking if the road is in better condition now.
Visiting Kakani is great for a day or weekend trip. As it is close to Kathmandu, you can get there easily to escape the city and be in nature in a peaceful environment.
Some of the best things to do in Kakani are to have trout fish and strawberries, go hiking, visit the Fung Fung Waterfall, relax and see the mountains views.
How to Get from Kathmandu to Kakani
Kathmandu to Kakani Distance
Kakani is located 20 km from Kathmandu in the Nuwakot District of Nepal. The buses leave from Machhapokhari (near Gongabu Bus Station) to Kakani. It takes about 1.5 hours to get from Kathmandu to Kakani by local buses.
Best Time to Visit Kakani, Nepal
The best time to visit Kakani is between October-November or Mid-February to April. You will have the best weather and views of the Himalayan range during these months.
If you visit during the monsoon season, it could still be a nice trip, however, there will be no clear views of the mountains and the hiking trails nearby will be full of leeches.
The Best Things to Do in Kakani, Nepal
1. Relax and Enjoy the Mountain Views
If you are coming to Kakani for a weekend getaway, the best thing you can do is to enjoy the mountain views, eat and relax.
Kathmandu can get busy and dusty, and Kakani can be a great option for a day trip or a weekend trip.
2. Check Out the Kakani View Point
The Kakani View Point is a great spot for panoramic views of the Himalayas. If you are already staying in Kakani, it is easy to walk to the View Point.
If you are coming from Kathmandu, there is even an option to hike to the View Point. In that case, the hike takes about 3 hours from Kathmandu to the Kakani View Point.
3. Visit the Kakani Thai Memorial Park
- Entry Fee: Free entry
There was a Thai Airways plane crash in Nepal in 1992 killing all 113 people on board. The Kakani Memorial Park was built in memory of the passangers who died in the plane crash.
4. Sign up for Adventure Activities
There are lots of adventure activities in Kakani! There are options to go ziplining, rock climbing or mountain biking. If you are interested in adventure activities, check out the Kakani Adventure Camp.
5. Eat Trout Fish or Strawberries
Kakani is well-known for its trout farming and strawberries. The trout fish is available all year round, however, for the strawberries, you will have to go there around December-February.
A lot of people go to Kakani specifically for the trout fish, so even if you are there when it’s not strawberry season, you can always have trout fish. They also sell strawberry liquor in Kakani which is fun to try.
6. Explore the Waterfalls Around Kakani
There are a couple of waterfalls in and around Kakani that can be explored in a couple of hours of hike. If you are interested, make sure to check out the Fung Fung Waterfall or Lauke Waterfall.
Fung Fung Waterfall:
To reach the Fung Fung Waterfall from Kakani, you will first have to get on a bus from Kakani to Ranipauwa. From Ranipauwa, it takes about 1.5 hours of downhill hike to reach the waterfall. It is truly a hidden gem and can be a great day trip activity too from Kathmandu.
7. Hiking around Kakani
There is a hiking route from Kakani to Suryachaur (Shivapuri National Park) which takes you through the Shivapuri National Park.
It can be a great hike on your last day in Kakani and come back to Kathmandu through a hike in Shivapuri.
The hike takes about 3-4 hours from Kakani to Suryachaur. Once you get to Suryachaur, it takes about 1 hours to reach the Jhor Waterfall in Tokha (Kathmandu).
From the Jhor Waterfall, there are many buses that go back to Kathmandu.
Restaurants in Kakani
Rainbow Trout Recreation Centre: great place to have trout fish. The price for trout fish is around Rs. 1,500-2,000 (USD 10-13).
Hotels in Kakani
There are only a few options for hotels in Kakani and none of them are on booking.com or Agoda. So this means, that you will have to call ahead to make a booking.
Here are some of my recommendations:
📍Kakani Adventure Camp: best for campfire and barbecue at night. Camping (no need to bring your own tent). Call to book: (00977) 9841459861
📍View Himalaya Resort: Call the hotel to book ahead: (00977) 9851047894
📍Hotel Mystic Kakani: Call the hotel to book ahead: (00977) 9843671472
Day Trips from Kathmandu
Not sure about visiting Kakani? Here some of my top recommendations for trips from Kathmandu:
- Chandragiri: cable car ride + awesome views of the Himalayas on a clear day.
- Bhaktapur: one of the world heritage sites in Kathmandu, ancient temples and great food.
- Patan: Short, half-day trip from Kathmandu. Lots of temples.
- Godawari: Botanical Garden close to Kathmandu.
- Nagarkot: Popular place near Kathmandu for a weekend trip. Known for its sunrise views, but it can be cloudy.
- Dhulikhel: The less touristy version of Nagarkot, awesome views if the weather is clear.
Best Things to Do in Kathmandu
Looking for some ideas on things to do in Kathmandu? Here are some of the best places, hiking routes and activities to do in and around Kathmandu:
- Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Boudha Stupa, Swoyambhu Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Changu Narayan Temple
- See a Museum exhibition in Kathmandu
- Day Trips from Kathmandu: Bhaktapur, Patan, Chandragiri, Kirtipur, Godawari, Manakamana, Changu Narayan
- Hiking near Kathmandu: Phulchowki Hill, Jamacho Gumba, Tarebhir, Chandragiri to Chitlang, Sundarijal to Chisapani
- Classes and Workshops: Sound Healing sessions, Thangka Painting Class, Cooking Class
FAQs: Kakani, Nepal: Travel Guide
Why is Kakani famous?
Kakani is most famous for trout and strawberry farming. A lot of people come to Kakani for the day just to have trout fish – it is really good.
For those that have more time, spending the weekend in Kakani is also a great option. You can get panoramic views of mountain ranges, enjoy the nature and go hiking.
Which mountain range can you see from Kakani?
From Kakani, you get panoramic views of the Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu and Ganesh Himal ranges.
What is the altitude of Kakani?
Kakani is at the elevation of 2,030 meters.
Are there waterfalls around Kakani?
Yes, there are some waterfalls around Kakani and the most popular is the Fung Fung Waterfall. To get to the Fung Fung Waterfall, first you will have to go from Kakani to Ranipuwa.
Once you get to Ranipuwa, there is a downhill hike to the Fung Fung Waterfall which takes around 1.5 hours.
Where is the best place to see mountains from Kathmandu?
The best place to see mountains from Kathmandu is from Nagarkot. Nagarkot is a popular place near Kathmandu and is famous for its sunrise views of the Himalayas as well as hiking trails.
Nagarkot can be reached in about 3-4 hours by public bus from Kathmandu, or alternatively, you can also take a taxi. The taxi from Kathmandu to Nagarkot takes 1.5 hours and costs Rs. 3,000 (USD 20).
Apart from Nagarkot, there are some other, less touristy places near Kathmandu from where you can see the Himalayas. If you want to visit a place which is not as touristy as Nagarkot, check out Dhulikhel or Kakani.
Conclusion
Kakani is located 20 km from Kathmandu in the Nuwakot District of Nepal. Kakani is close to Kathmandu and it takes around 1.5 hour to get there by bus. The buses leave from Machhapokhari (near Gongabu Bus Station), Kathmandu to Kakani.
Visiting Kakani is great for a day or weekend trip. As it is close to Kathmandu, you can get there easily to escape the city and be in nature in a peaceful environment.
Kakani is famous for its trout fish and strawberries and it is a popular place to visit even just for a day to have fish.
Some of the best things to do in Kakani are having trout fish and strawberries, going hiking, visiting the Fung Fung Waterfall, relax and see the mountains views.
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