If you feel that watching the ball drop in Times Square on New Year is passé, you’re not the only one. More and more people are choosing to celebrate an idyllic New Year in Nepal, surrounded by craggy mountains, lush greens, and many cultural gems. Nepal is gradually but steadily emerging as the world’s hottest party destination, beating the likes of Paris and London. All the more reason for you to book a plane ticket and ring in your New Year party in Nepal this year! Find below all the exciting places and things you can do when planning for an offbeat celebration of the New Year in Nepal!
Celebrate New Year In Nepal At These Places
We have compiled a list of the 14 best ways to unwind in the New Year celebration in Nepal. Luckily for you, the country has something in store for everyone. From satiating the thirst of thrill seekers to helping you restore your inner peace, Nepal never disappoints. Check out the list below and kick start the new year in style.
1. Annapurna Mountain Range
Celebrate New Year events in Kathmandu, Nepal, by trekking one of the country’s most iconic mountain ranges. Annapurna consists of numerous peaks of varying heights. Of these, Annapurna I and Annapurna II are the tallest at 8000 meters, providing awe-inspiring, snow-capped panoramic views of the Himalayas. So go ahead and add a dose of adventure to your Nepal New Year celebrations by scaling Annapurna and witnessing the terrain change within every 5 km.
Trek duration: 10 days
Timings: During the day
Best for: Adventure
Where To Stay: Ashish Aama Homestay, Excellent View Top Lodge, Annapurna Lodge, Hotel Adam, Himalayan Front Hotel
How to Reach: After reaching Pokhara, one can take a taxi to Kande. Kande is the starting point of the trek to the peak of Annapurna mountain.
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2. Sarangkot
If a 10-day intensive trek is not cut out for you, don’t fret. Instead, go on a half-day hike from Pokhara to Sarangkot. Sarangkot offers magnificent views of the Dhaulagiri range, Fewa Lake and the Pokhara Valley. You can ring in your Nepali New Year by watching the sun rise over the Sarangkot hill or go paragliding to get stunning aerial views of the Himalayas. Aren’t you spoilt for choice?!
Trek duration: 5-6 hours
Timings: During the day
Best for: Sunrise viewing and paragliding
Where To Stay: Panoramic View Guesthouse, Hotel Pristine Himalaya, Jurassic Resort & Villas, Alfanzoo Resort
How to Reach: After reaching Pokhara, there are paths to reach Sarangkhot by foot and road. If you wish to engage in hiking, you can go by foot from the lakeside. One can hire a bicycle, a taxi, or board a local bus to go by road.
3. Pashupatinath Temple
Offer New Year wishes in Nepal to the deities of Pashupatinath. Pashupatinath Temple is a sacred Hindu temple situated on the banks of the Bagmati River. It has received the attention of worshippers for approximately fifteen hundred years. The complex includes a sixth-century statue of Buddha, an eighth-century statue of Brahma, and other magnificent temples dedicated to various deities.
Trek duration: N/A
Timings: 12 AM – 11:59 PM
Best for: Prayer
Where To Stay: Hotel Moonlight, Hyatt Regency Kathmandu, Summit Regency, Hotel Travel Inn, Hotel Bagmati, Hotel Everest Regency
How to Reach: After reaching Kathmandu, one can cover the distance between the two via roadways. One can board one of the many local buses from City Bus Station to Goshala Bus Station. The temple is located a walking distance from the station. Travellers can also hire a taxi to cover the distance.
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4. Boudhanath Stupa
Your Nepal New Year celebrations will only get bigger with a visit to Boudhanath Stupa, the largest stupa in Nepal. The world heritage site lies 2 km north of Pashupatinath Temple. It is considered to be the epicentre of Tibetan culture in Nepal. The stupa comes alive during New Year in Nepal with the Tibetan community getting together to dance and make merry on the outskirts of the site.
Timings: 12 AM – 11:59 PM
Best for: Worship
Where To Stay: Shambaling Boutique Hotel, Hotel Tibet International, The Boudha Inn, Hotel Mudita, Sabila Boutique Hotel
How To Reach: After reaching the Tribhuvan Airport, one can easily hire a taxi to cover the distance between the airport and the Stupa. It takes only 15 minutes to reach the destination.
5. Namche Bazaar
There is no better place to celebrate New Year in Nepal than Namche Bazaar. There are plenty of bars and nightclubs here where you can get a drink. The non-drinkers can indulge in a cup of decadent coffee at one of the affordably priced cafes. You’ll get everything you want at Namche Bazaar – from furnishing and trekking gear to quirky t-shirts and souvenirs; this flourishing market town is a shopaholic’s dream.
Timing: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Best for: Shopping
Where To Stay: Yeti Mountain Home, Himalayan Lodge, Namche Hilltop Lodge, Shangri-La Guest House, Hotel Khangri, Hotel Tibet
How To Reach: When in Kathmandu, take a taxi to reach Manthali’s Ramchhap airport and take a flight to Lukla. From Lukla, the only way to get to the Bazaar is by trekking to the Everest Base Camp/the Bazaar.
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6. Old Blues Bar
If you want to attend a New Year party in Nepal, Old Blues Bar is the place to be. It is the oldest and most reputed bar in Pokhara. Trekkers from all over the world descend here to listen to live music, grab a drink, play pool, and simply unwind. Old Blues bar has in the past hosted several rock and metal concerts to a sold-out audience.
Timings: 6:00 pm to 11:30 pm
Best for: Concerts and live music scenes
Where To Stay: Dahlia Boutique Hotel, Hotel Barahi, Glacier Hotel & Spa
How To Reach: One can easily reach the Bar when in Pokhara. They can hire a taxi and get to the bar.
7. Buddha Bar
Tucked away in a side alley in Thamel, Buddha bar is the perfect place to enjoy New Year eve in Nepal. It has everything you would ask for in a bar – great drinks and food menu, cozy dance floor, high-energy crowd, and an amazing electronic music collection. Their signature dish, honey chili potatoes, is a hit among locals and tourists alike. Buddha Bar is one of the few bars in Nepal that remain open even after midnight and is quite popular among travellers for the Nepal New Year celebration.
Timings: 7:00 pm to 2:00 am
Best for: Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
Where To Stay: Hotel Nirvana by Luxury, Hotel Mystic Buddha, Hotel Buddha
How To Reach: One can hire a cab
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8. Marshyangdi
Why take a bus when you can raft and reach your destination? Commemorating New Year in Nepal is incomplete without ticking off whitewater rafting in the Marshyangdi River from your bucket list. This extreme water sport is highly recommended for those who seek thrill and adventure. Most of the tour packages arrange for lunch in the middle of rafting. It definitely cannot get any better than this!
Trek duration: N/A
Timings: Throughout the day
Best for: Adventure
Where To Stay: Hotel Marshyangdi
How To Reach: Book a cab to reach the spot
9. Mandala Studio Yoga & Spa
Mandala Studio Yoga & Spa is located in the heart of Nepal. Their professionally trained staff for Spa services and world-class yoga facilities will guarantee that you make the most out of your New Year. They offer plenty of packages for short and long stays, apart from exciting customer reward programs.
Trek duration: N/A
Timings: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Best for: Spa and yoga facilities
Where To Stay: Kathmandu Eco Hotel, Acme Guest House, Hotel Thamel, Kathmandu Resort Hotel
How To Reach: One can hire a taxi from the hotel to reach the studio
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10. Taumadhi Square
Taumadhi Square is located in the heart of Bhaktapur, the cultural capital of Nepal. On New Year in Nepal, the place is bustling with activity as the locals don their traditional dresses and gather in the square to ring in the celebrations. Food stalls are known to serve the most delicious authentic meals. A range of places of worship lie within the square, Nyatapola Temple being the most prominent one.
Trek duration: N/A
Best for: Mix with the locals
Where To Stay: Siddhi Home, Nepa: Guest House, Cozy Guest House, Nyatapola Guest House
How to Reach: After reaching Thamel, take a taxi or a local bus to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. From there, Taumadhi Square is within walking distance.
Things To Do On New Year In Nepal
There is no shortage of things to do in the new year in Nepal. Look at this list of all the experiences you can embrace this year!
- Witness The Masses In Pokhara
- Enjoy The Street Carnival In Thamel
- Try Mountain Biking In Kathmandu Valley
- Go Bungee Jumping In The Last Resort
11. Pokhara
Giving travellers a chance to celebrate the new year for a couple more days than just the night of the 31st, Pokhara is a destination in Nepal with much to offer. One of the best places to visit the Nepali New Year, those who visit this place during the celebrations can witness the streets free of any sort of vehicles. The streets are adorned with lights, flowers, and other ornaments, and people can witness the partygoers rushing to enjoy this extravagant festivity. Nepalese also believe in mass singalong carols even after the clock strikes midnight, thus celebrating the New Year in Nepal on a large scale!
Best for: Extravagant celebrations and singalong carols
Where to go: Busy Bee Cafe, Moondance Bar, Maya Restaurant
Where To Stay: Hotel Serenity, Hotel Adam, Hotel Middle Path and Spa, Hotel Blossom, Hotel Trekkers Inn, Hotel City Inn, Hotel Himalayan Inn
How To Reach: One can quickly fly to Pokhara from Kathmandu. This is the most feasible and best way to travel to this destination. For budget travellers, they can board a bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara.
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12. Thamel
Thamel is waiting with arms wide open for those seeking to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the most vibrant and hip way. Famed for many bars and clubs, Thamel offers one of the best ways to celebrate the New Year in Nepal. Giving travellers a chance to witness the most lively New Year party in Kathmandu, head to any bar in Thamel, open until long after midnight. If not looking for a party scene, one can enjoy a delicious meal at the makeshift stalls that offer local delicacies and souvenirs for travellers to return home. Since no vehicles are allowed in the streets and the well-dressed revellers can be seen bustling between the well-lit streets, this is nothing less than a street carnival.
Best for: Enjoying the late night parties and indulging in local food
Where To Stay: Kumari Boutique Hotel, Bodhi Boutique Hotel, Oasis Kathmandu Hotel, Hotel Bihani, Hotel Ruza Nepal, Hotel Roadhouse
How to Reach: After reaching the Tribhuvan International Airport, one can easily hire a taxi and drive 20 minutes to Thamel.
13. Kathmandu Valley
If one wishes to spend their New Year in Nepal getting closer to mother nature, embracing their adventurous inner self, and away from the crowds, try mountain biking in Kathmandu Valley. One of the offbeat ways to celebrate the New Year in Kathmandu is an extensive number of trails to try mountain biking in the countryside of this destination. Calling for experienced bikers, the trails can get a little tricky for some. So, those not keen on biking can always trek up the hills in Kathmandu Valley.
Best For: Biking and trekking
Where To Stay: Feel Like Home, Kathmandu Boutique Hotel, Kathmandu Eco Hotel, Kumari Boutique Hotel, Kantipur Temple House, Oasis Hotel
How to Reach: The best way to travel to Kathmandu is by flight. It is well connected to all the significant parts of the country. One can also board a bus from India to reach Kathmandu
Related Post: Offbeat Places In Nepal
14. The Last Resort
Another best place to celebrate New Year in Nepal is Bungee Jumping. The Last Resort in Kathmandu offers this impeccable experience that travellers can boast about in front of their friends and families. The Last Resort is originally a sports complex, so those who are a bit sceptical about jumping down the height can engage in various other sports offered by this destination, such as canyoning, tandem swing, white water rafting, and much more.
Best for: Adventure activities
Where To Stay: Last Resort
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We look forward to celebrating the New Year regardless of how our lives fare throughout the year. After reading this list, we can barely resist packing our bags and heading to Nepal immediately, let alone waiting until New Year. We suggest you plan for an unforgettable New Year in Nepal with your loved ones by planning a trip to Nepal at once. This is one decision you shall never regret.
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Frequently Asked Questions About New Year In Nepal
What day is Nepali New Year?
Just like the rest of the world, Nepali New Year is also celebrated on the 1st of January of every year.
What is Nepali New Year called?
In Nepal, the New Year is also known as Nepal Sambat. It comes at the beginning of every lunar month called Navavarsha.
Which calendar is used in Nepal?
Nepal uses a different calendar. The Nepalese calendar is called Bikram Sambat or the Vikram Sambat.
What happens in the New Year?
Nepalese go out and organize picnics in local parks on Nepali New Year. They travel around to explore different parts of the country.
Why is Nepali calendar different?
Just like other Asian countries, Nepal uses a different calendar. The calendar is based on the Bikram Sambat, the Hindu traditional calendar.
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