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.
Makwanpurमार्खु
Markhu
A lakeside village on the Indra Sarowar reservoir, the base for boating and fish lunches at Kulekhani.
- Altitude
- 1,550 m*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Makwanpur, Bagmati
- Permit
- None needed
Higher seasonal exposure: landslides (Jun-Sep), road blockages (Jun-Sep).
Why go
Markhu is a village in Indrasarowar Rural Municipality on the northern shore of the Kulekhani reservoir, in the Makwanpur hills south-west of Kathmandu. It is where most visitors meet the lake: a strip of hotels, restaurants and boat jetties lines the shore, and the water stretches away between pine-covered slopes.
Day-trippers come from Kathmandu for boating, fried lake fish and a change of air, and some stay overnight to see the lake in the quiet early morning. Markhu also makes a natural stop between Chitlang, a short walk up the valley, and the Kulekhani dam at the other end of the reservoir. The road along the shore makes for an easy stroll, and the far side of the lake is lined with pine forest, quiet even when the jetties are busy.
History and culture
Markhu was a farming village development committee before Nepal's 2017 local government restructuring merged it into Indrasarowar Rural Municipality; the 1991 census counted about 3,100 people here. The creation of the Kulekhani reservoir in the late 1970s and early 1980s flooded low farmland, and the village gradually turned towards the lake for income, through fish farming, boating and food.
The surrounding hills are home to Tamang, Newar, Brahmin and Chhetri families, and the village keeps the pattern of farm terraces and small shrines common in the Mahabharat range. Dashain and Tihar in October-November and the Tamang festival of Sonam Lhosar in late winter are the busiest times in the villages, when families return from Kathmandu. Visitors are welcome to watch, but should ask before joining rituals or photographing them.
Things to do in Markhu
Boat on the lake
Rowing and pedal boats are hired from the shore for 30 minutes to an hour.
Lakeside lunch
Try fried fish from the reservoir at the lakeshore restaurants.
Walk to Chitlang
Follow the road or trail up to Chitlang in about 2-3 hours for a homestay night.
Weather and the best time to visit Markhu
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
Feb-Apr, Oct-Dec
- 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)
- Clear skies and a full lake after the rains make October and November the most pleasant time.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- Crisp, sunny days and cold nights; morning mist on the water is common.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- Warm days for boating; the reservoir level drops before the monsoon.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- Rain, slippery roads and occasional landslides on the approach roads.
Where to stay
HotelsResortsHomestays
Lakeside hotels and small resorts along the shore, with homestays in nearby villages and in Chitlang.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Markhu is about 2-3 hours by road from Kathmandu, via Pharping or via Thankot and Chitlang.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- roadKathmandu to Markhu via Pharping and the Dakshinkali road, about 40-50 km and 2-3 hours.
- roadKathmandu to Markhu via Thankot and Chitlang, about 2-3 hours on a steep hill road.
- walkChitlang to Markhu on foot in about 2-3 hours.
Getting to Markhu, by mode
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By car or jeepfrom Kathmanduabout 2-3 h
About 40 to 50 km via Pharping and the Dakshinkali road, or a similar time over Thankot and Chitlang on a steeper route.
Road: Sealed for much of the way with rough hill sections on both approaches; a jeep is the safer choice in the monsoon.
When to set off: leave Kathmandu by 08:00 for a comfortable day trip
By motorbikefrom Kathmanduabout 2-3 hModerate riding
A long hill ride on narrow roads with broken and loose sections, best in the dry months.
Road: Narrow hill roads, part sealed and part rough, slippery in the monsoon.
On footfrom Chitlangabout 2-3 h2-3 h from Chitlang down to the Markhu shore
Down from the Chitlang valley to the reservoir shore.
Where people go next
- Kulekhani (Indra Sarowar)on foot, about 0.2-0.5 hThe reservoir itself, right at the village.
- Chitlangon foot, about 2-3 hBack up the hill to the valley.
- Damanby car or jeep, about 1.5-2.5 hWest on rural roads to the Rajpath.
- Pharpingby car or jeep, about 1-1.8 hNorth-east back towards the valley.
Permits and fees
None needed
No permit is needed. Boat hire is paid locally.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Markhu (Wikipedia).
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Markhu
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
At about 1,550 m December to February mornings are cold with mist on the water, and lakeside rooms and tents are unheated.
Otherlow in a typical yearJun-Sep
Lake outings are weather-dependent in the monsoon, when storms and poor visibility interrupt boating.
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
- Wear a life jacket when boating and avoid swimming in the reservoir.
- Carry cash; card payment is limited and the nearest reliable ATMs are in Kathmandu or Hetauda.
- Weekends are busy with day-trippers; weekdays are quieter.
- Mobile data is generally available along the shore.
Questions about Markhu
How do I get to Markhu from Kathmandu?
By road via Pharping or via Thankot and Chitlang; both take about 2-3 hours.
What is Markhu known for?
Boating on the Kulekhani reservoir (Indra Sarowar) and lakeside fish restaurants.
Can I stay overnight in Markhu?
Yes, there are lakeside hotels and small resorts, and homestays nearby.
More in Makwanpur
All of Makwanpur
Viewpoint · 2,322 m
Daman
A ridge-top stop on the old Tribhuvan Rajpath with a wide Himalayan panorama and rhododendron forest.
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.
Nearby
Valley or region
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.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Markhu (Wikipedia), Kulekhani Reservoir (Wikipedia), Markhu Village photo with location (Wikimedia Commons)