From the bustling cities of Kathmandu to hill stations just a few hours’ drive away, Nepal has many stunning views to offer. There are plenty of opportunities to practice street and landscape photography.
The terai offers breathtaking views, beautiful forest trails, and quaint villages, while the mountainous regions offer breathtaking views, beautiful forest trails, and quaint villages.
Nepal is a fantastic destination to visit whether you are a seasoned photographer or a novice seeking to try out your camera for the first time. Make sure to include a few of these destinations in your itinerary when planning your next trip to Nepal.
Residents refer to Kathmandu Durbar Square as Basantapur. It is a well-known culturally significant portion of the city where both visitors and locals reside.
Kathmandu Durbar Square:
One may spend hours roaming the brick-paved streets, admiring temples, watching children play, young people on dates, and vendors offering a variety of local street cuisine.
Pigeons and people taking interesting shots abound in public spaces such as Kathmandu Durbar Square. In addition, big cultural events like as feats and jatras are hosted in the area on a regular basis, which are really intriguing to photograph.
People are frequently dressed in bright traditional garb, and during Holi, one can see people having a good time while painting each other with vibrant hues.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
The next Durbar Square in Kathmandu’s valley is one not to be missed. Although Bhaktapur is only 16 kilometers east of Basantapur, it feels like a planet apart.
Bhaktapur’s Newari architecture and culture are unlike any other, with historic buildings, temples, and phokharis (small ponds) to photograph. On a clear day, there are numerous wonderful roofs to perch on throughout the city, offering spectacular views of the surrounding hills and snow-capped mountains.
The pottery square, where hundreds of pots, piggy banks, and other clay things dry in the sun on bright days, may be found as you travel through the city. Check around the nearby buildings to see how the clay is being shaped into whatever you can think of.
Patan Durbar Square:
Patan Durbar Square, the final of the three kingdoms, is a popular gathering area for friends, dates, and people looking for good street food.
Cultural festivals are held frequently in the area. Take a look at the historic waterspouts where inhabitants can shower or wash their clothing. The Golden Temple, among other temples, is a photographer’s dream.
On any given day, it is bustling with people, priests singing, people applying tika (red markings on the forehead that symbolise blessings), and groups of people reading from Hindu scriptures. Aside from the numerous temples and statues.
In addition to handicrafts, the alleys are lined with street food carts, antique water taps, places to peep into tiny temples, and artwork. Patan is an excellent site to spend a morning photographing aspects of local life and beliefs because of the combination of temples, people, and street cuisine. There are a variety of tours available in Patan, including food tours where you can sample local street dishes and take some beautiful photographs.
Swambhunath Stupa:
Swambhunath Stupa, often known as the Monkey Temple, is set on a hill just a few minutes’ walk from Thamel. You can take in 360-degree vistas of the city while also learning about Buddhist and Hindu civilizations.
In all civilizations, this is an important spot, and many people visit it on pilgrimages. On a beautiful day or as the sun sets, the white dome, golden pinnacle, and multicolored prayer flags billowing in the breeze make for stunning photographs.
There are little temples, statues, and prayer wheels around every corner. Furthermore, a priest can almost always be found chanting as they circle the stupa. The stupa’s nickname refers to the fact that it’s a great site to photograph monkeys.
Just keep an eye on your camera and other valuables to avoid being snatched by the swift and cunning animals. Swambhunath is a wonderful site to spend a day wandering, photographing people, watching the sky change above the city, and enjoying as baby monkeys play together on the stupa.
Boudhanath Stupa:
Most people who have spent any amount of time visiting Boudhanath Stupa will agree that it is a magical location. The white dome is encircled by buildings, creating a world apart from the bustling streets just across the street.
Stores offering souvenirs, literature, jewelry, crystals, and prayer flags can be heard chanting Buddhist chants. Monks circling the stupa and turning the prayer wheels is common in a monastery within a circle of structures. You can go to the monastery to speak with monks and get a closer view of the stupa. For coffee, tea, or lunch, I would recommend going to one of the area’s rooftop restaurants. In the evenings, little oil lamps can be seen around the stupa, and it remains busy until late.
Boudhanath, like many other destinations in Nepal, is a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and people from all over the world to pray and worship. Tibetan ladies wear long multicolored skirts and carry prayer wheels as they circle the stupa, chanting prayers. Boudhanath’s colors, people, and atmosphere are all unique to Kathmandu and must be photographed while in the city.
Nagarkot for Mountain Landscape:
Locals and tourists equally come to Nagarkot because it is one of the best spots to see the Himalayas from your hotel room.
It is around 32 kilometers from Kathmandu and provides beautiful hiking opportunities as well as opportunity to rest while taking in the breathtaking views.
On clear days, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, and even Everest may be seen from this vantage point.
Landscape photographers should get up early in the morning to catch the sunrise from the view tower. There are also numerous hikes to and from Nagarkot that allow you to walk through the hills and spend the day admiring the breathtaking mountain vistas.
Bandipur, local village, and mountain landscape:
Bandipur is 140 kilometers west of Kathmandu, and the drive will take you through the hills, with vistas of little villages and rest stations along the way.
Because of its location on the trading route between India and Tibet, another Newari settlement, Bandipur, was founded. With pagoda-style rooftops, lattice windows, and intricate doors, it’s a one-of-a-kind village that’ll make for great images.
The Himalayas and the magnificent green landscapes may also be seen from the village. You may take a walk through the village to see additional temples and rice fields. Caves, Hindu shrines, and numerous festivals are also available. This is yet another lovely spot to go out of the city and enjoy some landscape photography from a breathtaking vantage point.
Chitwan National Park:
Chitwan National Park awaits wildlife photographers in the Terai, where the ground begins to stretch out and flatten. Jungle excursions by Jeep or on foot allow you to get up and personal with wild animals.
The one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Asian elephant, four-horned antelope, pangolin, and golden monitor lizard, to name a few, may all be found in the park.
The Rapti River and sunsets are also spectacular, and any photographer would love to picture them. Bis Hazari Lake is also a lovely spot to visit. In the evenings, there are various cultural activities in Chitwan to learn about Tharu culture and dancing.
Sarangkot for Sunrise and Sunset:
Sarangkot is a well-known and popular site for sunrise treks and spectacular views of the Annapurna Mountain range. Crowds of people gather at the top of the hill every morning, waiting for the sun to rise and spread golden rays of light across the snow-capped mountains.
While the hike or drive up the hill requires getting up early, it is certainly worth it! As the sun gently rises over the hills, the views improve; yet, it is also lovely on a clear day. There are also beautiful vistas of little settlements north of Pokhara and rivers flowing out of the mountains when looking down.
It will be a dreamy morning for those who enjoy landscape photography. While there are numerous ways to reach the summit, trips can be organized to ensure that you don’t miss the sunrise.