Kaskikot is nestled in a region rich with temples, history, and peaceful, panoramic views of the Himalaya. About 13 kilometres northeast of Pokhara, the village has many hotels and homestays with toilets and bathrooms.
At an elevation of 1,788m the village is part of the Kaski District in the Gandaki Zone of Nepal, neighbored by the Village Development Committees of Sarangkot to the east and Dhikurpokhari to the west.
Attractions and activities
Views from the village include the snowy giant ranges of Machhapuchhre, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Himchuli. To the south of the Kaskikot, visitors can enjoy a beautiful overlook of Pokhara and Nepal’s second largest lake, Phewa Lake.
The Kaskikot area is also identified as a start point of the Shah Dynasty, a reign that weaved a lot of history in Nepal. To this day, remains of the dynasty’s palace atop a local hill at 1400m exist as a recognized Hindu Shrine.
Other nearby temples to visit include Malu, Khadgaukot, Deurali, Guntechour, Chilimdanda, Paharepani, Kaule and Pame. During Dashain, Nepal’s biggest festival of the year (around October-November), various cultural events take place at the palace with people from near and far coming to pay respects at Kaskikot.
Visitors may choose to enjoy Kaskikot’s stunning views, trek the local jungle or paraglide, participate in local life, religion and culture – or try them all!
Local life
The main occupations for residents are in agriculture, government, and business. Some locals go abroad to pursue opportunities. There are primary schools in every ward with only one higher education institute and one private English medium school. A general health post exists in Kaskikot with a few sub-health posts.
The main religions in Kaskikot are Hinduism and Buddhism. Kaskikot has diverse residents including Brahmin, Chhetri, Thakuri, Magar and Dalits. The main festivals throughout the year include Dashain, Tihar, Teej, Janai Purnima, and Buddha Jayanti. Exact dates for these festivals change year to year.
How to get there?
A bus from Pokhara to Kaskikot is available every 3 hours. Alternatively, a taxi from Pokhara to Kaskikot takes about 45 minutes. For the energetic traveller it is also possible to hike to Kaskikot from Pokhara, or Sarangkot, which is much closer.
