Five Hotels Unite for ‘Rebranding’ Nagarkot

Tourists visiting the popular destination of Nagarkot often come for its sunrise and sunset views over the sweeping Himalayan range. The sight of peaks, including Mt. Everest at dawn and dusk, has become the defining image of Nagarkot.

However, business owners say this is not the only brand identity the hill station should have. They argue that Nagarkot is also a convergence point for many other tourism activities and have started working on its rebranding. Five hotel operators have joined forces under the slogan “Beyond the Sunrise, Sunset and the Himalayas” and have released a video showcasing additional attractions.

How the Rebranding Will Work

Stakeholders have identified several attractions for promotion, including Mahadev Pokhari, Manjushree Cave, Nagarkot View Tower, Rani Jhula, Buddha Peace Park, birdwatching, nature trails, cycling races, morning markets, and an ATV trail.

Tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya, who has been operating Club Himalaya for 37 years, said there is potential for nearly a dozen activities and that it is time to promote them. “It should not only be sunrise, sunset and the Himalayas; other activities in Nagarkot must also be equally highlighted,” he said.

More Hotels, Limited Activities

More than 100 hotels are now operating in Nagarkot, Bhaktapur. While accommodation and services have expanded, tourism entrepreneurs say the lack of new or identified activities has narrowed visitor experiences.

At this juncture, Club Himalaya, Country Villa, Mystic Mountain, Kavya Himalaya, and Soltee Westend Resort Nagarkot have jointly produced a promotional video.

Handover to Tourism Board and Municipalities

The video was handed over to the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and relevant municipalities during an event on Thursday. Present were NTB CEO Deepak Raj Joshi, Mandandeupur Municipality Mayor Tok Bahadur Waiba from Kavrepalanchok, and representatives from Shankharapur, Changunarayan, and Banepa municipalities.

Joshi called Nagarkot a model destination developed through private investment. “Nagarkot already has quality hotels to provide accommodation,” he said. “Now we need to add activities to engage visitors, and work must be done in this area.” Located close to Kathmandu, Nagarkot attracts both domestic and foreign tourists for holidays, conferences, seminars, and other events.

Joint Promotion for Destination Growth

Soltee Nagarkot General Manager Bishwadev Dhungel said that while the hotels compete in service, they have united to promote the destination. He emphasized that Nagarkot has more to offer than just a few activities and that the joint effort aims to promote all of them.

Mandandeupur Municipality Mayor Waiba noted that Nagarkot is a meeting point of four municipalities in Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts and pledged support for its promotion.

Waiba announced “Nagarkot Visit Year 2082” on the first day of the Nepali New Year and praised the hotels’ initiative as timely. The video handover coincides with the Visit Year campaign period.