Nagarkot and Ranikot See Surge in Tourists Welcoming New Year 2083

Bhaktapur: With the arrival of the New Year 2083, Nagarkot is witnessing a massive influx of domestic and international tourists eager to welcome the first sunrise. Hotels from Nagarkot to Ranikot, considered key tourist destinations in Bhaktapur, are packed with domestic visitors, leaving tourism and hotel entrepreneurs feeling optimistic.

Entrepreneurs are encouraged by the growing pressure of not just foreign, but also domestic tourist arrivals. The arrival of the New Year 2083 has filled tourist areas from Nagarkot to Ranikot with visitors.

Hotel operators report that hotels in Nagarkot are fully booked with domestic and international tourists arriving to welcome the first sunrise of the New Year. Badri Mak, a hotel entrepreneur and operator of Hotel Chautari, stated that domestic and international tourists have increased the appeal of Nagarkot as they bid farewell to 2082 and gather to view the first sunrise of 2083 and the mountain vistas.

Noting that the tourist surge during the New Year has boosted morale, Mak said, “The influx of foreign tourists has increased, and the pressure of domestic tourists has risen significantly. During the New Year, hotels here are filled with approximately 50 percent foreign and 50 percent domestic tourists.”

Anup KC, operator of Nagarkot Basecamp, mentioned that with the rise in domestic tourists during the New Year in Nagarkot, which hosts everything from standard to five-star hotels, entrepreneurs are encouraged to add more hotels and rooms. He noted that the trend of opening new hotels in Nagarkot continues, and despite the cold nights, tourist arrivals have increased to enjoy the New Year celebrations and the sunrise.

Another tourism entrepreneur and operator of Hotel 'Peaceful' Nagarkot, Ramshankar Dhaju, stated that the New Year has added enthusiasm to the tourism sector, noting that tourist arrivals this year are higher compared to previous years.

Gokul Lamichhane, an entrepreneur and operator of Hotel Marigold Nagarkot, mentioned that hotels in Nagarkot are filled more by domestic tourists than foreign ones. He said, “I have been working in the hotel sector for 27 years. The business, which was devastated by COVID-19 in recent years, has recovered, and new hotels are being added.”

Nabin Lama, Chairman of the Nagarkot Naldum Tourism Entrepreneurs Committee, informed that hotels ranging from standard to star-rated are in operation in Nagarkot. He believes the 'Nagarkot Visit Year 2082' has also contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals.

In recent years, all hotels in the historic Ranikot and Ghyampedanda, located at the confluence of Suryabinayak Municipality-7 Gundu and Ward No. 8 Sipadol, are filled with domestic tourists for the New Year.

Ramsundar Bake, a tourism entrepreneur in Ranikot and operator of Village Highland Resort, said that domestic tourists have flocked here to view the beautiful mountain scenery in the morning and celebrate the New Year with music and dance throughout the night.

Located at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level, Ranikot, on the border of Bhaktapur's Suryabinayak and Kavre's Panauti Municipality, offers views not only of the Kathmandu Valley and Bhaktapur city but also of various mountain ranges.

Tourism entrepreneur Bake said, “From Ranikot, along with the sunrise, one can view eight mountains over 8,000 meters high, including Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest, Cho Oyu, Shishapangma, Manaslu, Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, Gauri Shankar, Dhaulagiri, and Langtang. Recently, Ranikot has started becoming a tourist destination. Hotels here are filled with domestic tourists for the New Year, and entrepreneurs are excited as Ranikot begins to be a preferred choice for tourists.”

Mentioning the easy paved roads, the Suryabinayak-Ranikot-Ashapuri and Suryabinayak-Ranikot-Phulchowki trekking routes, and the short-distance road from Suryabinayak to Panauti via Ranikot, he said that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the influx of so many domestic tourists has left all hotels here packed.

Stating that the New Year crowd has added energy and enthusiasm to tourism entrepreneurs, Bake said, “This area, named Ranikot after King Prithvi Narayan Shah built a fort before attacking Bhaktapur and later Malla kings built a palace for the queen, is not only historically significant but also an ideal place for beautiful sightseeing. It has started to become a tourist attraction for all 12 months.”

He mentioned that his hotel was booked seven days before the New Year and that visitors can also explore historic tourist areas like the Ranikot Fort and Bagh Bhairav. With the increase in tourist arrivals in this area, which can be reached from Suryabinayak via Ghyampedanda, more than a dozen new hotels have been added.

Rajendra Pyath, operator of 'Ghyampedanda Resort', said that the pressure of domestic tourists has added enthusiasm to the hotel business here. Stating that the hotel, built at the highest cost in Ghyampedanda so far, has been hosting foreign and domestic tourists, he mentioned that the hotel was packed for the New Year.