THE ROAD TO LANGTANG

A tarmac road heads northwest out of Kathmandu for 23km to Kakani,perched on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley with spectacular views of the Ganesh Himal,and continues to Trisuli Bazaar.Beyond here the road to Dhunche deteriorates to very rough gravel,and is travelled only by mountain bikers and trekkers headed for the Langtang region.

Just before Malekhu,on the Kathmandu Pokhara Hwy,there`s a bridge over the Trisuli and the turn-off for the new road to Trisli Bazaar.It makes an interesting circular bicycle ride a possibilitiy,taking in Kakani,Tursuli Bazaar,Dhadng and Malekhu.

Kakani

Stabding at 2073m on a ridge northwest of Kathmandu,Kakani is nowhere near as popular as Nagarkot,but it does offer magnificent views of the Ganesh Himal and the cebtral and weatern Himalaya.The 24km road to Kakani also offers a great buke ride from the capital.

Apart from staring open-mouthed at the view,there`s not much to do.The century-old summer villa used by the British embassy.large police training college and army posts crowd out the views somewhat.

The peaceful Thai Memorial Park commemorates the 113 victims of a 1992 Thai Airlines crash.The Shiva shrine across the road offers wider Himalayan views.The government is constructing an International Mountaineer Memoraial Park below the hillside.

The fairly basic Kakani Gues House and Waiba Guest House were both closed in 2005 but are expected to reopen soon.The former Tara Gaon Hotel is currently occupied by the army.

GETTING THERE&AWAY

Kakani is an hour by car or motorcycle from Kathmandu,and is a long ,though rewarding,bicycle trip.There are a number of restaurants along the route.The road is sealed almost all the way and it is a fairly gentle climb-downhill all the way home!

Kakani is 3.5km off the main Dhunche road;turn right at the crest of the hill,before the Kaulithana police checkpoint.For Kakani,catch a Trisuli Bazaar or Dhunche bus from counter 30 of the Kathamndu bus station,get off at Kaulithana and wal the 3km uphill to Kakani.