The Kuri Kalinchowk trip has gained immense popularity, not just among Nepalese tourists but also among foreigners, particularly Indian nationals.
Even on my not-so-growing Instagram reel, I’ve received a few comments asking for details, with some even sliding into my DMs.
“Is it snowing in Kuri village?” is the one question I’ve been frequently asked. I’d like to address this question via this blog itself. While weather predictions can be made, we never truly know when it might snow, even during prime winter.
The main culprit? Global warming for sure. Kuri and Kalinchowk haven’t been experiencing the same amount of snowfall as they used to in previous years.
Nonetheless, it has become a must-visit destination in Nepal, according to many. But is it really? Let’s find out.
Key Facts About Kuri-Kalinchowk Short Trip
| Location | Kalinchowk, Dolakha, Gaurisankhar Conservation Area, Bagmati province |
| Max. Altitude | 3,842 m (source) |
| Distance (Kathmandu – Kuri) | 145 km approx. |
| Distance (Charikot – Kuri) | 17 km approx. |
| Distance (Kuri – Kalinchowk) | 2 km approx. |
| Time to Reach (Kuri) | 6-7 hours (from Kathmandu), 1-2 hour (from Charikot) |
| Time to Reach (Kalinchowk) | 30 minutes to 1 hour (from Kuri) |
| Mode of transportation | Private vehicle / Public bus + Reserved jeep |
| Trip Duration | 2 days |
| Hike Duration | 45 minutes to 1 hour |
| Best Time to Visit | December – March (during Snow) |
How to Reach Kuri Village?
Personally speaking, I went to Kuri with three of my friends on a public bus, followed by booking a Bolero jeep.
We were expecting to find a local bus to Kuri but didn’t have any luck. So, if you come across other travelers, you can negotiate with them and collectively reserve the vehicle (which is exactly what we did).
Here’s the complete breakdown based on our approach:
- Get a bus to Charikot from Jadibuti, Kathmandu.
- You can even book your ticket online using your preferred digital wallet.
- The bus stops at Mude for lunch. Don’t forget to try the fried fish here.
- Within 5 hours, you should reach Charikot.
- At Satdobato Chowk itself, you’ll find multiple Bolero jeeps ready to take you to Kalinchowk.
- If you’re in a group, you’re good to go. But if you’re only 3-4 members, it’s best to find another group of 2-3 travelers to share the ride and costs.
- Within an hour and a half, you’ll reach the beautiful Kuri village.
- Make sure you hop onto the rear cargo bed during the final moments to catch better glimpses of the village. Don’t forget to dance along as you enjoy the ride!
After my recent visit to Sailung, I can confirm that it’s best to visit Kuri in your own private vehicle to reduce extra costs.
Here’s the route you can take:
Start from Kathmandu, head towards Bhaktapur, followed by Dhulikhel > Panchkhal > Dolalghat > Sukute > Khadichaur > Mude > Charikot > Kalinchowk.
There’s also a shorter route that takes you directly to Kalinchowk. I’ll share more details about that in my next guide.
Keep in mind that the road conditions are slightly off-road but still easily manageable. Nevertheless, ride or drive safely!
The Best Time to Visit Kuri Kalinchowk
One question that has probably popped into your head is: which season would be the best time to visit, right?
Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve been asked about this a lot. And my answer is going to be pretty straightforward—the best time to visit Kuri Kalinchowk is when it has snowed!
Seriously, if you visit Kuri during the off-season or when there’s no snowfall, the view isn’t as breathtaking as what we see in pictures.
In fact, the temperature here often drops below 5 degrees. So, in that kind of cold, if you don’t get to play with snow, it might feel a bit disappointing. This isn’t just my suggestion—my friends feel the same way.
We actually visited Kuri village right after a light snowfall, but even that didn’t quite meet our expectations.
Booking Your Stay In Kuri Village
Once you’ve arrived in Kuri, make sure to check in at your desired hotel. Do note that during peak seasons, the prices can skyrocket.
One mistake we made was booking the hotel beforehand. Honestly, you don’t really need to do that, as there are plenty of local and even luxury hotels in Kuri these days.
But still, isn’t it considered good practice to book in advance to avoid accommodation issues? While that’s generally true, it doesn’t necessarily apply to Kuri village.
In our case, the hotel didn’t treat us well. The owners weren’t even present on the premises, we almost got into an argument with one of the staff members, had to witness other groups fighting, and the entire night was filled with noise.
Now, don’t get discouraged! We just got unlucky with the hotel, which, by the way, overcharged us too.
Such things happen when you travel often, and it’s completely fine. That’s also why I’ve written this article, so that you, as the next guest in Kuri, know what to expect and how to plan better.
And here’s the main tip: explore your options properly and check out everything before you settle in. Do this even if it’s the peak season.
Don’t worry! Travel Nepal Today will soon bring budget-friendly packages for both Nepalese travelers and tourists to help you plan your trip even better!
Things to Do in Kuri Village
Despite our disastrous hotel experience, we genuinely enjoyed our trip to Kuri Kalinchowk. The main attraction, of course, is the snow, and we played in it the entire afternoon.
We danced, made videos, and even interacted with other tourists. It was an overall fun day, indeed!
I was pretty excited to try skiing or snowboarding, but it wasn’t possible this time. Maybe on my next visit?
Even if you’re unable to do these activities, you can still explore the village, try yak ‘churpi’ (a kind of hard dairy chewing gum), local chocolates, and malpuwa.
Did I miss out on anything? Don’t hesitate to share the things you did during your visit to this heavenly Nepali village. The comment section is right below!
In the evening/nighttime, you can enjoy BBQ (included in the package) and even stroll around the streets of Kuri.
How to Reach Kalinchowk Bhagwati Temple From Kuri?
You’ll be spending the night in Kuri Village, so make sure to wake up early the next morning for the visit to Kalinchowk Bhagwati.
Devotees usually wake up by 5 AM and start their hike or take the cable car. It’s better to follow this routine if you want to get to the temple quickly (which is on top of the hill).
This is especially important during peak season and on weekends (Saturdays), when the place gets overcrowded.
However, our team wasn’t planning to enter the temple but rather to pray from the outside. That’s why we woke up late and chose to hike instead, soaking in the breathtaking mountain and village views.
The hike takes about 45 minutes for regular walkers, but it might take over an hour if you’re not used to walking. Keep in mind that the trail is pretty steep all the way to the top.
Even if you take the cable car, you’ll still need to walk about 10-15 minutes from the station to reach the main temple.
The Kalinchowk Bhagwati Temple sits at an elevation of 3,842 meters. At this height, some of you might experience shortness of breath, though we hope you won’t suffer from altitude sickness.
From the top, you’ll be treated to a panoramic view of the mountain range, with the highlight being Mt. Gaurishankar (7,134 m).
After descending, you can have breakfast at the hotel you’ve stayed in before driving back to Charikot.
Pro Tip: Make sure to keep the driver’s contact information a day prior. This way, you can even negotiate the price further.
Another important tip is to try to reach Charikot as quickly as possible if you’re planning to return to Kathmandu by public bus.
In our case, none of the buses or EV vans had even a single seat available due to the peak season. We had to arrange a taxi to get back home, which ended up costing us extra.
Expected Budget
While Travel Nepal Today is always focused on providing you with budget-friendly trips, this time, we ourselves got a bit unlucky.
Here’s a breakdown of our travel expenses (on a per-person basis). Use this as a reference to organize your finances better:
| Bus ride to Charikot | 600 |
| Lunch at Mude | 250 |
| Jeep Ride to Kalinchowk (with return) | 2500 |
| Kuri Hotel Package (stay + dinner + breakfast) | 2500 |
| Lunch at Charikot | 250 |
| Dolakha Bhimsen Pooja Materials | 150 |
| Taxi Ride to Kathmandu | 1500 |
| Extra | 35 |
| Total | 7,785 |
Note: If you want to hop on the cable car, the price can vary based on whether you choose a one-way or two-way ride. Check the updated ticket prices here.
I agree that our trip turned out to be a bit expensive.
Looking back today, I’d say that the Kuri Kalinchowk trip, including a visit to Dolakha Bhimsen, should ideally be completed within a budget of Rs. 4,000–5,000 (or even less!).
Again, we just got unlucky :(.
Final Words
Two days are all you need for one of the best weekend getaways from Kathmandu. For those traveling from other cities, you’ve likely got a basic idea of how this trip could unfold.
If you’re from Chitwan or Pokhara and need help customizing your trip, let me know in the comments section. I’d be happy to assist!
And if you can spare an extra day, don’t miss the chance to explore Dolakha’s other hidden gems, like Shailung and Jiri.
Happy travelling to Dolakha!
You might like reading: 6-Day Tsho Rolpa Dudhkunda Trek in Dolakha
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