It’s February, the temperature is still cold, and it is the perfect time to get out of your house and head to some place that has a warm sunny atmosphere. Bumpy rides, ever rising air pollution, and embarrassing traffic congestion are common parts of our daily lives in Kathmandu. So, it is certainly rejuvenating to spend some time at a beautiful place without having to get involved in a hectic schedule.

During this time of the year, we can catch many of our friends and families setting out for picnics, trekking and hiking trips. We all have our own favorite travel destinations. Similarly, celebrities also take some time out of their busy schedules to escape winter blues.

Aditya Neupane of My City asked some celebrities of K-Town about their favorite winter getaway destination. 

Bijay Baral
As a theater artist, travelling for me is a way of learning different lifestyles, cultures and meeting new people. It gives me peace of mind. But I have been unable to visit any place this winter due to my busy schedule. Pokhara and Mustang are my favorite winter vacation destinations because these places are perfect to get out of this crowded city. I want to visit Rara, Mugu and upper Mustang region to learn and understand the lifestyle as well as culture of those rural areas. Whenever I am travelling, I make sure to visit religious sites like gumbas, mashjids and temples to understand Nepali society. The knowledge and experience I gain while travelling, I believe, make a matured and refined actor.

Salon Basnet
I generally visit Daman as my winter getaway destination. But I have not been able to go anywhere this year due to my hectic schedule. Pokhara and Daman are my favorite vacation destinations. As the mountains look splendid clad in white due to the snowfall, I mostly travel to hilly and mountainous regions with my friends during winter. We have camp fire, play guitar and singing classic songs whenever we are out. For me traveling is a way of stimulating, which is very necessary for an artist as it provides a chance to learn new cultures and traditions. For my next vacation I am planning to go trekking to Annapurna Base Camp.

Karishma Manandhar
I don’t like winter and winter vacations, so I prefer summer vacations. I love long driving and spending some time in nature, so I often visit Pokhara with my families and friends to spend some time in nature. I mostly like to visit Pokhara because of its impeccable natural beauty. Similarly, the place is clean with good hospitality. I love to explore nature, so hiking is my another favorite hobby that’s why it is my dream to reach Rara Lake on foot. For me traveling is a way to learn good and bad culture, tradition and lifestyle of different regions. Traveling also provides me an opportunity to really understand our country as its diverse population. Nepal is like a piece of heaven and all the places here are rich in natural beauty, so for quick rides I visit Nagarkot, Dhulikhel and Sukuti Beach.

Sweta Khadka
I love to visit different places especially during the winter season. I like to go to places that have snowfall. We don’t get snowfall in Kathmandu, so getting to play with snow is the best part about travelling in winter. Pokhara, Bhairahawa and Lumbini are my favorite winter vacation destinations. Among these, Pokhara is my all time favorite due to its natural beauty and hospitality of the local people. Where ever I go, I interact with the locals in order to understand their lifestyle and food culture. You could do research or study about places in the world, but experiencing and seeing things with your own eyes definitely make a difference.