Markhu & Chitlang Day Tour is the nearest destination to rural Nepal, within just a 1-2 hour drive across the southern rim of Kathmandu. This one-day short circuit brings all ethnic culture, traditional architecture, high rolling mid‑hill, reservoir shoreline, spiritual experience, and a forest waterfall with minimal travel time.
It is the nearest window into Nepal’s hill country. Within a compact 27 km arc, it links Chitlang’s organic farms and historic springs with the engineered water of Indra Sarovar, a big, quiet lake, forest trails, and hidden Mohini waterfall, and back again in a single day.
Did you know? On a clear day, the Langtang Himal range appears along the northern skyline.
Makwanpur district holds this valley. Rural lifestyle, traditional Newari and Tamang culture, varied terrain, and lakeside quiet all appear in sequence before the return to the city. No fitness level is required. It is perfect for travelers hungry for nature and who don’t have enough time.
Satdhara comes first on the route, which stands as the cultural crown with the oldest working water system in the Chitlang valley. Malla dynasty masons carved this system sometime between 1400 and 1700 CE.
Chitlang organic farm spreads up the hillside behind the old village. Walking through Chitlang village and local homestay puts you directly inside daily rural life, alive with organic farming without chemical sprays.
Indra Sarovar spreads calm and wide, wrapped by hills on every angle. The Government dammed the Kulekhani River back in the eighties. Mirror reflections on the lake double the surrounding lush hills.
After Indrasarovar, behind the lake, the jungle trail heads toward Mohani waterfall. Boating across the reservoir remains optional, but skipping it means missing the best part of the whole circuit, honestly.
The motorboats wait at Markhu shore. The Mohini waterfall trail begins from this southern lake edge and follows a clear, cold stream that cuts between rocks and tree roots under a canopy of bamboo and broadleaf species. Langtang Himal appears on the northern skyline on clear days.
The Mohini Waterfall drops twenty-two meters in two tiers over resistant quartzite rock that formed
millions of years ago during Himalayan tectonic activity
Homestay lunch along the return route runs on a clay stove in a family kitchen, where you eat foods cooked in a traditional way. We suggest you try local traditional foods.
This loop is perfect for families hauling small children and old people foo. Culture seekers get the Newari heritage and the Tamang tradition in a single journey.
It works for couples wanting meaningful anniversary backdrops and business travelers with limited time. It works for adventure junkies and anyone hungry for nature but crushed by tight schedules.
We, Info Nepal Treks an expedition Pvt .ltd run private and group hikes around Markhu and Chitlang.
You can also extend the one-day spiritual trip with a homestay to join local families and learn ethnic traditions.