Hotels from Nagarkot to Ranikot fill with tourists for New Year celebrations

BHAKTAPUR: Today is the first day of the New Year 2026. Hotels from Nagarkot to Ranikot, considered the major tourist destinations of Bhaktapur, are filled with domestic tourists who have come to celebrate New Year’s Day, organisers and hoteliers said, leaving local tourism and hotel entrepreneurs excited.

Not only foreigners but also a large number of domestic tourists have encouraged local tourism entrepreneurs.

In recent years, Gundu, Suryabinayak Municipality-7 and Sipadol, Suryabinayak-8 have developed into tourist destinations, and all the hotels at the confluence of the historic Ranikot and Ghyampedanda are filled with domestic visitors.

Tourism entrepreneur and proprietor of Village Highland Resort, Ramsundar Bake, said crowds of domestic tourists had arrived at his place to celebrate the New Year, with joyful dancing and singing throughout the night.

From Ranikot, located at an altitude of 2,000 metres above sea level in Suryabinayak and on the border of Panauti Municipality in Kavre, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur city and various snow‑clad mountains.

Bake said, “Along with the scintillating sunrise, you can see eight mountains over 8,000 metres in height, including Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, Manaslu, Annapurna, Machhapuchchhre, Gaurishankar, Dhaulagiri and Langtang from Ranikot. Recently, Ranikot has turned into a tourist destination. During the New Year, domestic tourists have fully occupied the hotels here, and the entrepreneurs are excited.”

Travel to Ranikot is becoming easier for tourists because of the Suryabinayak–Ranikot–Aashapuri and Suryabinayak–Ranikot–Phulchoki trekking routes, as well as the short road from Suryabinayak to Panauti via Ranikot.

Bake added, “This area, named Ranikot, is historically significant as it was the fort built before Prithvi Narayan Shah attacked Bhaktapur, and later the Malla kings built a palace for the queen. It is also a suitable place for scenic views. The mountains and sunrise seen from here have been attracting visitors throughout the year, and during the New Yea,r it becomes even more crowded.”

Rajendra Pyatha, operator of Ghyampedanda Resort, said the influx of domestic tourists had boosted enthusiasm in the hotel business and that his hotel was packed during the New Year.

Narayan Shrestha, operator of Ranikot Resort, said, “It has become difficult to get rooms here not only during the New Year but also on holidays. The number of domestic tourists has been increasing, including families coming for a one‑night stay, picnics, gatherings and various organisational events.”

In Nagarkot, the main tourist destination of Bhaktapur, local and foreign tourists have filled hotels to welcome the first sunrise of the New Year. Hotelier and operator of Hotel Chautari, Badri Maka, said domestic and international tourists had further increased Nagarkot’s attraction as a place to bid farewell to 2025, witness the first sunrise of 2026 and enjoy Himalayan views.

“The number of foreign tourists has also increased, and the pressure of domestic tourists is the same. During the New Year, about 50 per cent of foreign tourists and 50 per cent of domestic tourists occupied the hotels here,” he added.

Nagarkot, which has hotels ranging from ordinary to five‑star, has seen business owners express optimism as the influx of domestic tourists increases during the New Year. The trend of opening more hotels there is also ongoing.

Ramshankar Dhwaju, owner of Hotel Peaceful, Nagarkot, said he was very happy to see a large number of tourists coming to enjoy the New Year celebrations and sunrise even on cold nights, and that arrivals had increased compared with last year.

Gokul Lamichhane, owner of Hotel Marigold in Nagarkot, said, “I have been working in the hotel business for 25 years. After the Covid19 pandemic, I thought the hotel business might never recover, but hotels have been booked a month in advance for both the Nepali and English New Year. There has also been an increase in domestic tourists. This has boosted our enthusiasm and given hope that things will improve.”

By RSS