Kavre:dhulikhel

Kavre is located to the west of Ramechhap and Dolakha, to the east of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, to the south of Sindhupalchowk and to the north of Sindhupalchowk and Sindhuli and Makwanpur. The district has a total population of 383,056 with 192,467 (50.25%) males and 190,589 (49.75%) females. Population of this district is rising at an annual rate of 2.06 %. More than 86 % of the population lives in rural areas. Kavre is better placed in terms of all social and economic development. Currently, the birth rate is estimated at 35.4 per thousand and death rate at 11.5 per thousand. Fertility rate is estimated at 4.6 children per women, and is close to a national average. Kavre has the literacy rate of 39.6 %; males have the literacy rate of 56.2 % and females have 23.7 %. Kavre has the health facilities similar to the health facilities available in the Kathmandu valley. The district has three district hospitals (non-governmental), eight private hospitals called Nursing Homes, five Ayurvedic hospitals and 94 health centers and health posts. It indicates that all kinds of health facilities ranging from primary health care to secondary and tertiary health services are available in the district. Nonetheless, large numbers of the rural population are still deprived of the basic health care services. Education facilities available in the district are also not different from the education facilities available in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur districts. The district has two universities, three campuses, 11 secondary schools, 72 lower secondary schools, 336 primary schools, 85 private schools and 32 resources centers. Despite these facilities, about 60 % of the population are still illiterate. Gender discrimination exists in education. Women have literacy rate less than the half of the literacy rate men have.


Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel is a typical Newari town with nearby Tamang villages. It is situated 30 km. east of Kathmandu on the side of Arniko Highway on the way towards Tibet. Dhulikhel is popular for its natural beauty and ancient traditions. The Himalayan ranges from the twin crest of Mt. Langtang in the west to the Mt. Everest in the east can be clearly viewed in a clear day. Dhulikhel is ideal for snow-capped peaks, sunrise, sunset and it is different from any other place. One can say Dhulikhel is where the peaks speak.

Whether it’s a mountain sunrise you’re after, or 400 km of horizon from the Annapurnas in the west to Numbur in the east, the Himalayan skyline dominates Dhulikhel. And unlike that Thamel-on-the-Hill, Nagarkot, Dhulikhel has culture with its old Newari heritage. At 1,500 m it is also milder in winter than Nagarkot.
Dhulikhel was once known by the Buddhist name of Shrikhandapur and still has a few Buddhist stupas in memory of the old days. Namo Buddha is an interesting and pleasant three-hour hike from the town, and has a nice mix of Buddhist flavour and old Hindu temples. Dhulikhel also has several ancient temples dedicated to Sweta Bhairava, Hari Siddhi, Shiva, and Narayana, each with an interesting story related to how they came into being.

There are plenty of other short hikes to undertake from Dhulikhel, but one of the best is the pleasant half-hour uphill from Dhulikhel to the telecommunication tower. Walk through a lush forest echoing with the chattering of racquet tailed drongos and turtle doves to come to a temple dedicated to Kali. If you can manage to wake up early and get up there, it is a sunrise you will remember for years.
And there are more than a dozen hotels to stay for the night if you want to do this, from the upmarket Himalayan Shangrila, which stands at the highest point here and offers the best views to the 28-year-old Nawaranga Restaurant and Guest House, which with its gallery of local art is a backpacker’s dream come true.