Town or village · 1,800 m
Chitlang
A historic Newar farming valley behind the Chandragiri ridge, on the old foot route between Kathmandu and the plains.
Kathmandu Valleyमकवानपुर
Makwanpur
Mahabharat hills just over the south-west rim of the Kathmandu Valley: a Newar valley, a hydropower lake and a high viewpoint on the old Rajpath.
This page covers the northern hills of Makwanpur District just south-west of Kathmandu (Chitlang, Markhu, Kulekhani, Daman), not the district headquarters Hetauda in the plains.
- Altitude
- -*
- Best months
- Oct-Apr
- Type
- Valley or region
- District
- Makwanpur, Bagmati
- Permit
- None needed
Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep), road blockages (Jun-Sep).
Why go
The northern part of Makwanpur District lies in the Mahabharat range directly behind Chandragiri, the hill that closes the Kathmandu Valley to the south-west. It is close enough for a weekend from Kathmandu but feels rural: terraced valleys, pine and rhododendron forest, a long reservoir and winding roads. This page is the hub for four places covered separately.
Chitlang is a historic farming valley of Newar, Tamang and other communities with homestays, goat-cheese making and old trade-route remains. Markhu is the lakeside village on the Indra Sarowar reservoir, known for boating and fresh fish. Kulekhani is the dam and reservoir itself, Nepal's main storage hydropower scheme. Daman, higher up on the Tribhuvan Rajpath, is a ridge-top viewpoint at about 2,320 m with a wide Himalayan panorama.
A popular two or three day loop links them: walk or drive over the ridge from Thankot or Chandragiri to Chitlang, continue down to Markhu and the Kulekhani lakeshore, and return to Kathmandu by road, or carry on south-west to Daman. Roads are steep and partly unpaved, so allow more time than the distances suggest.
Places in Makwanpur
Viewpoint · 2,322 m
Daman
A ridge-top stop on the old Tribhuvan Rajpath with a wide Himalayan panorama and rhododendron forest.
Town or village · 1,550 m
Markhu
A lakeside village on the Indra Sarowar reservoir, the base for boating and fish lunches at Kulekhani.
Lake · 1,530 m
Kulekhani (Indra Sarowar)
A long hydropower reservoir in the Makwanpur hills south-west of Kathmandu, with boating, lakeside villages and forested shores.
History and culture
Before the Tribhuvan Rajpath and later highways, the main foot route between the Kathmandu Valley and the Terai and India passed through this area, via Chitlang and the Chandragiri pass. Rulers, traders and porters used it for centuries, and visitors to Kathmandu in the Rana era were carried over these hills. Licchavi-era inscriptions found in Chitlang show settlement here for well over a thousand years.
The Kulekhani dam, built from the late 1970s and commissioned in 1982, flooded part of the valley to create the Indra Sarowar reservoir and changed local life, bringing roads and new livelihoods such as boating and fish farming. The population is mixed, with Newar villages in Chitlang, Tamang settlements on the hills, and Brahmin and Chhetri families across the area.
Things to do in Makwanpur
Chitlang to Markhu walk
Walk or cycle from Chitlang down to the Markhu lakeshore in a few hours, past fields and small settlements.
Weekend loop from Kathmandu
Combine Chitlang, Markhu and Kulekhani over two days, with a homestay night in Chitlang.
Daman viewpoint
Drive up the Tribhuvan Rajpath to Daman for a sunrise view of the Himalaya from the ridge.
Weather and the best time to visit Makwanpur
Weather in Markhu
Forecast for 1,550 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Oct-Apr
- Good month: Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Good month: Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are dry and clear, with harvest in the valleys and the best mountain views from Daman.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- Cold nights, frost and occasional snow at Daman and on the higher ridges; days are often clear.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- Rhododendron flowers in the forests around Daman and Chitlang; haze increases by May.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- Heavy rain, landslides on hill roads and poor views; the reservoir is at its fullest.
Where to stay
HomestaysResortsHotelsGuesthouses
Community and family homestays in Chitlang, lakeside hotels and resorts at Markhu, and hotels and lodges at Daman.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
The area is reached from Kathmandu over the Chandragiri ridge to Chitlang and Markhu, or via the Tribhuvan Rajpath to Daman.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- roadKathmandu to Chitlang via Thankot and the ridge road, roughly 25-35 km and 1.5-3 hours depending on road condition.
- roadKathmandu to Markhu and Kulekhani via Pharping and the Dakshinkali road or via Chitlang, about 2-3 hours.
- roadKathmandu to Daman on the Tribhuvan Rajpath via Naubise, about 75-80 km and 3-4 hours.
- walkHike from the Chandragiri ridge or Thankot over the hill to Chitlang in about 3-5 hours.
Getting to Makwanpur, by mode
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By busfrom Kathmanduabout 2.5-5 hLocal buses
Local buses run the Tribhuvan Rajpath towards Daman and Hetauda, and other services reach the Pharping and Markhu side; connections to the smaller villages are by jeep.
When to set off: take early buses: hill services here thin out by mid-afternoon
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 1.5-4 h
Three usual approaches: over the Chandragiri ridge to Chitlang, about 25 to 35 km and 1.5 to 3 hours; via Pharping to Markhu and Kulekhani, about 2 to 3 hours; and the Rajpath to Daman, about 75 to 80 km and 3 to 4 hours.
Road: Sealed highways with long rough hill sections and unsealed rural links; a jeep or 4WD is normally needed off the main roads.
When to set off: leave Kathmandu in the morning so hill sections are driven in daylight
By motorbikefrom Kathmanduabout 1.5-4 hModerate riding
Good riding country in the dry months, with the Rajpath hairpins and rough ridge roads; wet-season surfaces are loose and slippery.
Road: Mixed sealed and rough hill roads, loose and slippery in the monsoon.
On footfrom Chandragiri Hillabout 3-5 h3-5 h over the Chandragiri ridge from Thankot into Chitlang
The old trade path over the hill from the valley rim down into Chitlang.
Where people go next
- Chitlangon foot, about 3-5 hThe homestay valley over the ridge from Thankot.
- Markhuby car or jeep, about 2-3 hThe village on the Kulekhani shore.
- Kulekhani (Indra Sarowar)by car or jeep, about 2-3 hThe reservoir itself.
- Damanby car or jeep, about 3-4 hThe Rajpath viewpoint on the district's northern ridge.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed for Chitlang, Markhu, Kulekhani or Daman. Boating, the botanical garden at Daman and some viewpoints may charge small local fees.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Daman, Nepal (Wikipedia).
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Makwanpur
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Landslideshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
The ridge road over Chandragiri and the rural roads down to the Kulekhani basin are steep and partly unsealed, and monsoon rain typically triggers slips and washouts between June and September.
Road blockageshigh in a typical yearJun-Sep
Hill roads in this corner are the weak link in the monsoon: after heavy rain the Chandragiri ridge road and the Kulekhani approaches are typically rutted and sometimes impassable to cars.
Coldmoderate in a typical yearDec-Feb
December to February brings frost and occasional snow at Daman and on the higher ridges, while the lake basin has cold, misty mornings.
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
From June to August the Himalayan views from Daman and the ridges are usually lost in cloud, and the reservoir is at its fullest.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Hill roads are narrow, steep and partly unpaved; avoid driving after dark and check conditions in monsoon.
- Mobile data works in most villages; ATMs are scarce, so carry cash from Kathmandu.
- Nights are cold at Daman and Chitlang from November to February; bring warm layers.
- Wear life jackets when boating on the reservoir and avoid swimming in it.
Questions about Makwanpur
How far is Chitlang and Kulekhani from Kathmandu?
Chitlang is roughly 25-35 km from Kathmandu over the Chandragiri ridge, and Markhu on the Kulekhani lake is a little further. Expect 1.5-3 hours by road.
Do I need a permit to visit Makwanpur's hill villages?
No permit is needed. Some activities such as boating or garden entry charge small local fees.
Can I visit Chitlang, Markhu and Daman in one trip?
Yes. A two or three day loop is common: Chitlang and Markhu first, then Daman on the Tribhuvan Rajpath, or return to Kathmandu from Markhu.
When is the best time to visit?
October to April is the driest period; autumn and early winter give the clearest mountain views from Daman.
Nearby
Town or village · 1,800 m
Chitlang
A historic Newar farming valley behind the Chandragiri ridge, on the old foot route between Kathmandu and the plains.
Town or village · 1,550 m
Markhu
A lakeside village on the Indra Sarowar reservoir, the base for boating and fish lunches at Kulekhani.
Lake · 1,530 m
Kulekhani (Indra Sarowar)
A long hydropower reservoir in the Makwanpur hills south-west of Kathmandu, with boating, lakeside villages and forested shores.
Viewpoint · 2,322 m
Daman
A ridge-top stop on the old Tribhuvan Rajpath with a wide Himalayan panorama and rhododendron forest.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Kulekhani Reservoir (Wikipedia), Chitlang (Wikipedia), Daman, Nepal (Wikipedia)