NEPAL -
DESTINATIONS & ALTITUDES
Nepal is a vertically dramatic country: low plains in the Terai, rolling hills
in the mid-region, and the towering High Himalaya. This blog lists major
cities, all 77 district headquarters (name + altitude), the principal trekking
regions with the main camps/stops/viewpoints for commonly trekked routes, and
popular tour points.
NOTES:
·
Altitudes
are given in metres above sea level (m).
·
Coordinates
are given for major cities and for main camps/viewpoints in the trekking
regions (useful for mapping and GPS).
·
“Approx.”
next to a number indicates a rounded or commonly cited elevation; verify before
using for highly technical purposes.
MAJOR CITIES (name
- altitude - coordinates)
Kathmandu
— ~1,400 m — 27.7172°N, 85.3240°E
Lalitpur (Patan) — ~1,300 m — 27.6670°N, 85.3206°E
Bhaktapur — ~1,400 m — 27.6729°N, 85.4276°E
Pokhara — ~822 m — 28.2096°N, 83.9856°E
Biratnagar — ~76 m — 26.4525°N, 87.2718°E
Dharan — ~349 m — 26.8127°N, 87.2838°E
Bharatpur — ~208 m — 27.6801°N, 84.4328°E
Nepalgunj — ~150 m — 28.0544°N, 81.6161°E
Birgunj — ~72 m — 27.0000°N, 84.8667°E
Butwal — ~110 m — 27.7000°N, 83.4500°E
ALL 77 DISTRICT
HEADQUARTERS (district — headquarter — altitude (m)
·
Bajura
— Martadi — ~1,200 m
·
Darchula
— Darchula — ~1,000 m
·
Baitadi
— Dashrathchand (Baitadi) — ~1,300 m
·
Doti
— Doti (Silgadhi) — ~1,000 m
·
Achham
— Mangalsen — ~930 m
·
Kailali
— Dhangadhi — ~105 m
·
Kanchanpur
— Mahendranagar (Bhimdutta) — ~170 m
·
Bardiya
— Gularia (Gaidakot area; administrative HQ is Gulariya) — ~165 m
·
Banke
— Nepalgunj — ~150 m
·
Surkhet
— Birendranagar — ~720 m
·
Dailekh
— Dailekh — ~1,455 m
·
Jajarkot
— Khalanga — ~1,200 m
·
Rukum
East — Musikot (Rukumkot) — ~1,650 m
·
Rukum
West — Musikot (alternate admin area) — ~1,350 m (note: Rukum was
split; altitudes depend on the HQ used)
·
Salyan
— Salyan Khalanga — ~1,550 m
·
Rolpa
— Liwang — ~1,015 m
·
Pyuthan
— Pyuthan Khalanga — ~1,090 m
·
Dang
— Ghorahi (or Tulsipur is also a major town) — ~200–300 m
·
Kapilvastu
— Kapilvastu (Taulihawa area) — ~104 m
·
Rupandehi
— Siddharthanagar / Bhairahawa — ~100 m
·
Nawalparasi
(Bardaghat Susta East) — Kawasoti — ~150 m
·
Nawalparasi
West (Parasi) — Parasi (Ramgram area) — ~150 m
·
Chitwan
— Bharatpur — ~208 m
·
Makwanpur
— Hetauda — ~481 m
·
Sindhuli
— Sindhulimadi (Sindhuli Bazaar) — ~500–600 m
·
Ramechhap
— Manthali — ~512 m
·
Okhaldhunga
— Okhaldhunga (Siddhicharan) — ~1,650 m
·
Solukhumbu
— Salleri — ~2,240 m
·
Khotang
— Diktel (Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi) — ~1,400 m
·
Udayapur
— Gaighat — ~350 m
·
Saptari
— Rajbiraj — ~76 m
·
Siraha
— Siraha — ~80 m
·
Dhanusha
— Janakpur (Janakpurdham) — ~74 m
·
Mahottari
— Jaleshwar — ~72 m
·
Sarlahi
— Malangwa — ~84 m
·
Bara
— Kalaiya — ~140 m
·
Parsa
— Birgunj — ~72 m
·
Bhojpur
— Bhojpur Bazaar — ~1,100 m
·
Dhankuta
— Dhankuta — ~1,024 m
·
Terhathum
— Myanglung — ~1,410 m
·
Taplejung
— Taplejung (or Phungling/Suketar) — ~1,090 m
·
Sankhuwasabha
— Khandbari — ~1,100 m
·
Solukhumbu
East/West merge note: Solukhumbu HQ listed above.
·
Ilam
— Ilam Bazaar — ~1,400 m
·
Jhapa
— Damak / Mechinagar (Bhadrapur nearby) — ~100–150 m
·
Morang
— Biratnagar — ~76 m
·
Sunsari
— Inaruwa (or Itahari is the main commercial centre) — ~144 m
·
Dhading
— Dhading Besi — ~612 m
·
Gorkha
— Gorkha Bazaar — ~1,090 m
·
Lamjung
— Besisahar — ~760 m
·
Tanahun
— Damauli / Byas — ~300–350 m
·
Syangja
— Putalibazar (and Bhirkot area) — ~1,200 m
·
Kaski
— Pokhara — ~822 m
·
Manang
— Chame (district HQ: Chame) — ~2,710 m
·
Lamjung
and Kaski covered; ensure both are included above.
·
Mustang
— Jomsom — ~2,700–2,713 m
·
Myagdi
— Beni Bazaar — ~899 m
·
Baglung
— Baglung Bazaar — ~1,025 m
·
Parbat
— Kushma — ~760 m
·
Gulmi
— Tamghas — ~1,100 m
·
Arghakhanchi
— Sandhikharka — ~1,294 m
·
Pyuthan
listed above.
·
Nuwakot
— Trishuli (and Bidur as HQ) — ~1,505 m (Bidur ~1,300–1,500 m depending on
source)
·
Rasuwa
— Dhunche — ~1,525 m
·
Sindhupalchok
— Chautara — ~1,600 m
·
Kavrepalanchok
(Kavre) — Dhulikhel — ~1,550 m
·
Bhaktapur
— Bhaktapur (city) — ~1,400 m
·
Lalitpur
— Lalitpur (Patan) — ~1,300 m
·
Kathmandu
— Kathmandu — ~1,400 m
·
Makwanpur
listed above.
·
Dolakha
— Charikot (Jiri area; Charikot is HQ) — ~1,500 m
·
Ramechhap
listed above.
·
Sarlahi
listed above.
·
Kathmandu
valley districts already listed (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur).
·
Mustang,
Dolpa, and other highland districts partially listed below in trekking
sections.
·
Dolpa
— Dunai / Juphal (district HQ: Dunai or Juphal area) — ~2,300–2,600 m depending
on town used as admin center
·
Taplejung
listed above.
Note:
Nepal reorganized provinces and some district administrative arrangements after
federalization; some districts share similar HQ names or have alternate
administrative centers (some entries above reflect commonly cited HQs or main
market towns).
TREKKING REGIONS
& MAIN CAMPS / STOPS / VIEWPOINTS
EVEREST (Khumbu) — typical teahouse route
(classic EBC / Kala Patthar trek)
Lukla
(Tenzing–Hillary Airport) — 2,860 m — 27.6869°N, 86.7265°E
Phakding — 2,610 m — 27.6400°N, 86.7049°E
Monjo (entry to Sagarmatha NP) — ~2,835 m — 27.7050°N, 86.7190°E
Namche Bazaar — 3,440 m — 27.8036°N, 86.7123°E
Tengboche — 3,867 m — 27.8142°N, 86.7160°E
Dingboche — 4,360 m — 27.8912°N, 86.8282°E
Lobuche — 4,940 m — 27.9595°N, 86.8363°E
Gorak Shep — 5,164 m — 27.9886°N, 86.8561°E
Everest Base Camp — 5,364 m — 28.0015°N, 86.8528°E
Kala Patthar (viewpoint) — ~5,545 m — 28.0026°N, 86.8561°E
ANNAPURNA REGION — main treks (ABC &
Circuit highlights)
Pokhara
(trailhead area) — 822 m — 28.2096°N, 83.9856°E
Nayapul — ~1,070 m — 28.2891°N, 83.9372°E
Birethanti — ~1,000 m — 28.2900°N, 83.9000°E
Ulleri / Tikhedhunga — ~1,540 m — 28.3222°N, 83.9170°E
Ghorepani — 2,874 m — 28.3546°N, 83.1181°E
Poon Hill (viewpoint) — ~3,210 m — 28.3689°N, 83.0162°E
Chomrong — ~2,170 m — 28.4053°N, 83.9256°E
Machhapuchhre Base Camp (MBC) — ~3,700 m — 28.4678°N, 83.8201°E
Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) — 4,130 m — 28.5271°N, 83.8203°E
Thorong La Pass (Annapurna Circuit) — 5,416 m — 28.8130°N, 83.8667°E
Muktinath (religious site on the circuit) — ~3,800 m — 28.7053°N, 83.6921°E
LANGTANG REGION — main stops (Langtang Valley
trek)
Syabrubesi
(gateway) — ~1,540 m — 28.1820°N, 85.2640°E
Lama Hotel — ~2,350 m — 28.1610°N, 85.2950°E
Langtang Village — ~3,430 m — 28.2378°N, 85.5230°E
Kyanjin Gompa — ~3,870 m — 28.2566°N, 85.4922°E
Tamang Heritage sites & viewpoints scattered along the route (altitudes
vary)
MANASLU REGION — main stops (Manaslu Circuit)
Arughat
/ Soti Khola (common approaches) — ~384–700 m (varies)
Machha Khola — ~760 m
Jagat — ~1,340 m
Deng — ~1,740 m
Namrung — ~2,630 m — 28.5710°N, 84.7970°E
Lho — ~3,180 m — 28.5740°N, 84.7860°E
Samagaon — ~3,530 m — 28.5380°N, 84.7770°E
Samdo — ~3,860 m
Larkya La pass — 5,106 m — (between Manaslu & Annapurna circuits)
Bimtang (re-entry to lower Mustang/Bhojpur roads) — ~2,800–3,000 m
MUSTANG (Upper Mustang / Lo Manthang) — main
stops
Jomsom
— 2,713 m — 28.7784°N, 83.7345°E
Kagbeni — ~2,800 m — 28.7971°N, 83.7169°E
Muktinath — ~3,800 m — 28.7053°N, 83.6921°E
Lo Manthang (capital of Upper Mustang) — ~3,840 m — 29.0059°N, 83.8401°E
Dolpo (Shey
Phoksundo) — main stops
Juphal — ~2,300 m — 29.0316°N, 82.1409°E
Dunai — ~1,800 m — 28.7871°N, 83.6498°E
Ringmo (near Phoksundo Lake) — ~3,660 m — 29.1548°N, 82.2164°E
Shey Gompa / Shey Phoksundo area — ~4,200 m (high alpine monastery regions)
MAKALU REGION — main stops (Makalu Base Camp
trek highlights)
Tumlingtar
(approach town) — ~400 m
Num — ~1,000–1,400 m (trailheads vary)
Sankhuwa Sabha approach, Makalu Base Camp area — ~4,800 m (base camp region)
KANCHENJUNGA REGION — main stops (eastern
Nepal)
Taplejung
(gateway) — ~1,090 m — 27.3340°N, 87.4619°E
Suketar / Taplejung approaches — various foothill towns
Ghunsa — ~3,400 m — 27.2050°N, 87.5260°E
Kanchanjunga Base Camp areas and viewpoints — 3,000–5,000+ m depending on route
GANESH HIMAL — main stops (Ganesh area treks
and viewpoints)
Syanja
/ surrounding valley approach towns (Besisahar, etc.) — variable altitudes
Ganesh Himal base / viewpoints — generally 1,500–4,000 m region depending on
selected trek
DHAULAGIRI REGION — main stops (Dhaulagiri
Circuit / Mustang overlap)
Beni
— ~899 m — 28.6519°N, 83.5389°E
Marpha / Jomsom corridor approaches used on some Dhaulagiri circuits
Dhaulagiri Base Camp approaches and French Pass routes — 4,500–5,000+ m range
OTHER IMPORTANT REGIONAL NOTES
— Many of
the main long treks interconnect (Annapurna Circuit, Manaslu Circuit, and parts
of Dhaulagiri can interlink by road or passes).
— Altitudes on the high passes and bases (Thorong La, Larkya La, French Pass)
are high—prepare for altitude acclimatization planning.
TOURIST POINTS & ATTRACTIONS (name —
altitude — coordinates where useful)
·
Phewa
Lake (Pokhara lakeside) — ~822 m — 28.2096°N, 83.9856°E
·
Sarangkot
(viewpoint above Pokhara) — ~1,590–1,600 m — 28.2436°N, 83.9378°E
·
Davis
Falls (Pokhara) — ~810 m — 28.2072°N, 83.9648°E
World Peace Pagoda (Pokhara hill) — ~1,027 m — 28.1936°N, 83.9556°E
·
Nagarkot
(sunrise viewpoint near Kathmandu) — ~2,175–2,195 m — 27.7022°N, 85.4171°E
·
Chandragiri
Hills (viewpoint, cable car) — ~2,551 m — 27.6349°N, 85.2526°E
·
Boudhanath
Stupa (Kathmandu) — ~1,350 m — 27.7215°N, 85.3620°E
·
Swayambhunath
(Monkey Temple) — ~1,400 m — 27.7149°N, 85.2900°E
·
Pashupatinath
Temple (Bagmati River) — ~1,350 m — 27.7105°N, 85.3488°E
·
Chitwan
National Park / Sauraha (Terai wildlife & safari) — ~200–250 m — 27.5298°N,
84.3542°E
·
Lumbini
(Maya Devi Temple — Buddha’s birthplace) — ~100–140 m — 27.4844°N, 83.2751°E
·
Rara
Lake (Mugu) — ~2,990 m — 29.3890°N, 82.2173°E
·
Gosaikunda
(sacred alpine lake) — ~4,380 m — 28.2106°N, 85.4024°E
·
Gokyo
Lakes (Everest region lakes) — ~4,700–4,800 m — 28.0191°N, 86.6921°E (Gokyo Ri
area ~4,790 m)
·
Ilankhola
/ Bandipur viewpoints — Bandipur — ~800–1,000 m — 27.9891°N, 84.4529°E
ALTITUDE BANDS (simple copy/paste friendly
guidance)
·
Terai
(lowlands): generally below ~500 m — humid, subtropical climate.
·
Hills
(Mid-region): approx. 500–2,000 m — temperate to subtropical depending on
elevation.
·
High
Himalaya: above ~2,000 m — alpine, cold; major trekking routes and high passes
are between ~2,500 m and 5,500+ m.
QUICK USAGE TIPS
·
Always
plan acclimatization days for treks that go above ~3,000 m (Namche
acclimatization for Everest region, acclimatization day before Larkya
La/Thorong La for Annapurna/Manaslu).
·
Carry
local maps and a GPS-enabled device if using coordinates for navigation; trail
names can vary.
· Altitudes given here are approximate—use a topographic map or official govt source if you need exact elevation for rescue planning or technical mountaineering.