Legends abound in Kathmandu. From the mythical beginnings of the valley in which, Manjushree, the patron deity of the Kathmandu Valley came upon a lake wherein lay a lotus bloom. Manjushree then struck the southern end of the lake with a sword cleaving the rock and draining the lake to reveal what is today the valley of Kathmandu. The spot where the lotus bloom once stood is marked now by the Stupa of Swoyambhunath, the oldest of its kind in the world and a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site.

But, more than legends it is the stark reality that greets you wherever you go in Nepal in the form of the mighty Himalaya that never fails to inspire and instil a sense of awe in you. And there is perhaps no other city, quite like Pokhara from which to admire the immensity of the western Himalaya which rise out of the valley floor a mere 30 kilometers away! To get even closer to the mountains you will visit Astamkot. From the comfort of your mountain resort, watch the sun set in the evening and again rise the following morning over the iconic “fish tailed” mountain or M.t Macchapucchare (6993 m.) as it is locally known. What Mt. Macchapucchare lacks in height, after all in Himalayan terms it is mid-sized, it more than makes up for in sheer grace and beauty. And that beauty is gloriously revealed from Astamkot from where you can actually see the twin “fish tailed” peaks of one of the world’s most recognizable mountains.