AttractionMakwanpur
An ancient Newar farm village two hours from the city — the easy weekend homestay escape.
About this place
Summary
An ancient Newar village over the southern rim of the Kathmandu Valley, known for organic farms, a goat-cheese dairy, stone-paved lanes, and easy homestays — a classic low-effort weekend escape from the city.
Why we picked it
It delivers a real village-and-farm overnight close to Kathmandu, and pairs naturally with the Kulekhani reservoir for a full weekend loop.
Good for
Homestays, families, couples, slow weekends, food lovers, and easy rural hikes.
Skip if
Skip if you want city comforts or are unwilling to travel a rough hill road.
Editorial guide
Chitlang sits just over the hills southwest of Kathmandu, reached on the old Thankot–Godam road in about two hours by jeep or car. Despite the short distance, it feels like a different, slower world: a centuries-old Newar settlement of terraced fields, brick-and-stone houses, and quiet temples.
It is one of the easiest places near Kathmandu to swap traffic and concrete for farm air, village hospitality, and a genuine overnight homestay — without committing to a long trek.
The hill road is rough in patches — a local driver or jeep handles it best. Most travelers stay one night to enjoy an evening barbecue and village quiet, then hike or drive to Markhu and Kulekhani the next morning.
Best for
Good in
Details
Appears in
An easy one- to two-night escape over the southern rim of the valley: a Newar village homestay in Chitlang, boating on the Kulekhani reservoir, and an optional sunrise detour to Daman's Himalayan view tower.
“It is the most accessible "real getaway" from Kathmandu — village, lake, and big mountains in one short, flexible loop.”
