Daman
For those seeking the ultimate panoramic Himalayan view, Daman is the place to visit. Located approx 80 km southwest of the Kathmandu valley, Daman (2,400 m) offers the only unimpeded view of the entire Himalayan range – roughly 400 km of Himalayan panorama. Daman is located on the Tribhuvan Highway between Kathmandu and the town of Hetauda. A walk around the surrounding area or a lounging on the one of the resort here is just a different experience in itself. Rock climbing, cycling, hiking are few of the many activities possible here. There are couple of accommodation option for a comfortable stay.
One or two local buses and several shared 4WD jeeps head in both directions between Chitwan and Kathmandu or Pokhara. It's the long way, but worth the effort if you have the time to spend a day or two in a quiet little village.
Get around
The only way to get around is by foot. There are lots of trails leading towards the villages around that offers an opportunity to connect with the local life. Similarly one of the resort here has bicycle on hire which can take one on a very interesting downhill ride to Palung Village.
See
- One of the hotels has a lookout tower with great views on clear mornings of the Himalayas, with one of the widest panoramas of any viewpoint.
- A Tibetan monastery and temple is about a 30 minute walk through lovely mountain scenery. Get directions from one of the restaurants or guesthouses.
Do
The activities available here are hiking, cycling, rock climbing, fishing trip to Kulekhani, pony ride etc.
Buy
Eat
The only option are the couple of dhabas serving dal-bhat a famous dish of Daman.
Drink
Sleep
There are a couple of very basic guesthouses with rooms for rent, and one place renting out safari style semi-permanent tents. The only star hotel in Daman is Everest Panorama Resort, 2.5 km away from the city. Along with this, there's Om Adhyay Resort, in Tistung and Palung, about 22 km from Daman, via Tribhuvan Highway.