Tikhedhunga

Tikhedhunga (1,480m) sits beside the Modi Khola on the main route between Nayapul and Ghorepani, and is best known as the starting point for the steep, 3,000-plus-step stone staircase climb up to Ulleri.

The road has now been pushed up as far as here, so many parties are driven to Tikhedhunga or a little past it and start walking at the foot of the staircase rather than at Nayapul. The step count gets quoted at anything from 3,200 to 3,700 depending on who is counting; what matters is that it climbs about 500m with almost no flat ground in it. Doing that early or late rather than at midday makes a real difference.