Daman, Nepal

Despite having the vibe of being at the end-of-the-world, reaching Daman is quite easy. It can be driven to from Kathmandu along the Tribhuvan Highway, around 77 kilometres from the capital city, halfway to Hetauda.

The best thing to do in Daman is to explore the town to your heart's content. Not every place in Nepal can be wandered about with as much freedom as Daman offers. There are multiple hiking routes already. And you can find newer ones if you are an adventurer at heart - just keep the map handy since there are not many established places around once get deeper into the woods. There are villagers though, who are very helpful and friendly.

Unless you are carrying a bike of your own, you have to rely on your feet. Take off for the day and explore the lush greens of Daman. Feast your eyes on some of the best Himalayan landscapes and breathe in air free from all the pollution and noise of city life. This is probably why people come to Daman - not to indulge in extensive sightseeing or adventure activities, but to spend a couple of days away from the mundane life and soak in the beauty of the mountains.

For the lovers of everything green, the Mountain Botanical Gardens is a must-visit place in Daman. The lawn of the garden is very well-curated and beautifully maintained. The forested area has a great collection of flora - one that you do not possibly expect in a place so secluded. During springtime, the botanical gardens get decked up in ravishing red blooms of the rhododendron - Himalaya's most exotic blossom.

Shree Rikheshwar Mahadev Temple is a shrine situated atop Daman, dedicated to the Hindu God of Destruction Shiva. The local people consider this temple to be very sacred and awakened, which means their wishes get granted once it is spoken to the lingam here. A common practice in Shivalinga temples is to whisper the prayers and wishes into the ear of the Nandi bull that sits guarding the sanctum.

The reason why this temple is so revered is the legend behind it. People believe that when Lord Shiva was doing his leap of grief, mourning and lamenting his dead wife Goddess Sati, and carrying her corpse all around the universe, he got tired and decided to rest in the place where the temple now stands. To quench his thirst, Lord Shiva hit the rocks of the hills here with his trident and pristine water came flowing out of the earth. The many small jhoras or multiple thin strips of water coming down the mountain rocks are owed to this legend.

The road leading up to the Rikheshwar Mahadev Temple is even more interesting. Visitors need to hike for a short distance of 1 kilometre on a trail covered with dense green woods. In the quaint town of Daman, if you want to find some exciting thing to do,  this is one of the best options.