Kahun Danda is one of the major hill stations in Pokhara, Nepal. It is situated at an altitude of 1445 meters above sea level. It is about 7 kilometers away from Mahendra Pool, Pokhara.
In general, the main attraction of Kahun Danda is Kahun Darahara (view tower), which was built in the year 2026 B.S. Lots of tourists visit Kahun Danda every year.
Moreover, it is also a hiking destination. The ticket fee to enter Kahun Darahara costs Rs. 20 per person. From the viewing tower, you can have a magnificent view of Mt. Manaslu, Mt. Annapurna, Mt. Dhaulagiri, Mt. Machhapuchhre, and the Pokhara Valley.
Kahun Danda lies in the Kahun Danda Village Committee of the Kaski district. There is a beautiful Gurung village in the southern part of Kahundanda and the rest is covered with dense forest. The village, in general, is named after Kahundada.
Moreover, there is a temple called Kahun Kot Deurali at the top of Kahun Danda, which is just a few meters away from the view tower. The Kahun Kot Deurali temple is of great importance to the local villagers, and the villagers have been rebuilding it from time to time. The temple was last rebuilt in 2062 B.S.
Hiking destination
The starting point of the road to Kahun Danda is Phulbari, a few meters away from Manipal Teaching Hospital. It is a 15-minute ride from Phulbari to Kahun Danda. However, most people prefer to walk, which takes about 2 and a half hours. The hiking trail passes through the typical Gurung village and the beautiful rhododendron forest.
During the trip, one can experience the lifestyle of the Gurung caste and their traditional culture. The locals have been providing many homestay facilities in the village. In addition, there are many lodges in Kahun Danda, and many more are under construction.
Attraction
In general, Kahun Danda is also popular for the sunrise view, and the night view as well. Therefore, many people spend the night in lodges and homestays to enjoy the night view as well as, the mind-blowing scenery of the sunrise.
Apart from this, you can have a panoramic view of the Pokhara valley from Lekhnath city to Hemja Village Development Committee, including both airports, domestic and international. The city of Lekhnath is located south of Pokhara on the Prithvi Highway. Similarly, Hemja VDC falls on the Baglung Highway to the north.
There are two restaurants at the top of Kahun Danda, next to the View Tower. The restaurants are crowded with visitors most of the day. Along with tea and coffee, various Nepali dishes are also available in restaurants.
In addition, there are a few rhododendron trees around the area, which are protected by the local villagers. And, picking Rhododendron flowers is strictly forbidden; otherwise, you will have to pay a fine.
From the restaurants, you can enjoy panoramic views of the landscape and the surrounding villages like Garlang, Armalakot, Atighar, Dada Gaun, Vijaypur, Kahun Khola, and many more. However, the view of Phewa Lake cannot be seen from the area.
Buddha Statue in Kahun Danda
Recently, an organization called Dharmakaya Buddha Mandala Development and Management Committee has launched a new project in Kahun Danda. The organization is constructing a Big Buddha statue in Kahun Danda to promote tourism.
In the future, they are planning a tour package, which will include Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, and the currently under-construction, Big Buddha.
This is the dream project of Ven Sangpa Vinpoche, a resident of the Dolpa district, Nepal, and a member of the Dharmakaya Buddha Mandala. Sangpa Vinpoche had planned this 10 years ago.
The Big Buddha statue is being constructed next to the Kahun Darahara. It will be the second Buddha Statue after the World Peace Pagoda, which is situated in Raniban. The World Peace Pagoda and the Lord Shiva Statue can also be seen from Kahun Danda.