The middle hills and Lower Himalaya form the largest part of the country and also has the largest population. Occupying 68% of the country, it enjoys a temperate climate and the land here is far more fertile than in the upper Himalayan region. At the high end, the Mahabharat range reaches an altitude of around 4000m above sea level while the Churia range is lower in comparison. In this region lies the capital, Kathmandu and some of the popular tourist destinations such as Pokhara and Tansen.
Kathmandu lies cradled in a valley tucked in by lush forested hills and is by far the biggest city in Nepal. A twenty minute drive in any direction from the valley leads to various viewpoints, traditional Newari villages and hidden temples that are linked by trail-heads, make their way from one destination to the other. The Kathmandu Valley is the historic heart of Nepal and has a wealth of lesser known sights: Nagarkot and Dhulikhel offer fine panoramic mountain views.
