Day Hike Through Shivapuri National Park

Day Hike through Shivapuri National Park is a fabulous choice for travelers wishing to pack together an extra day not very far away from Kathmandu. This one-day trip is an excellent opportunity to visit the second-highest point lying within the Kathmandu valley. Lying at an elevation of 2563m, Shivapuri is the second highest peak among other hills that are present in the valley capital city. On this excellent trip, you will be able to witness the natural beauty of the area’s verdant neighborhood. Hiking up to Shivapuri is a short and easy adventure near the capital town. The National Park at Shivapuri is the closest one from the capital and it offers superb Himalayan views of Rolwaling, Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Dorje Lakpa and others.

The spectacular day hike through Shivapuri National Park begins with a short drive of 30 minutes from your hotel to Budhanilkantha. A temple in Budhanilkantha is very famous for the pond with a huge statue of Lord Vishnu in the sleeping posture. From here, the vehicle will drop you nearby the premises of the gates of Shivapuri National Park. After purchasing entrance tickets at the gate, you will begin hiking through the forested area climbing the stone steps. Nagi Gumpa, where only nuns practice Buddhism, is a place to stop and relax for a while. Some foreigners can be seen meditating here at the monastery.

Continuing on a steep trail after spending some time at the monastery, you will reach Baghdwar before finally reaching the Shivapuri peak. Baghdwar is believed to be the source of the holy Bagmati River. From the peak, hikers can enjoy the beauty of the snowy Himalayas namely Ganesh Himal and Langtang peaks. The easy hike also involves passing through the Shivapuri Conservation Area which is a fortunate thing for nature lovers. The day hike through Shivapuri National Park comes to an end after a downhill hike to Sundarijal. From here travelers will be driven on a private vehicle to Kathmandu.

Trip Highlights

Shivapuri National Park is the country’s 9th national park established in the year 2002. It was actually upgraded to the status of a national park in order to protect the valley’s main source of water as well as the numerous of bird species and rare orchids. Comprising two islands of forests namely Shivapuri and Nagarjun, the park is also known as the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. The majority area of the park lies towards of Budhanilkantha, on the trekking route to Helambu. Likewise, the second forested smaller area is the former Rani Ban, uphill from Balaju, on the road towards Trishuli.
Portions of the national park fall in the four districts of the country namely Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Sindhupalchowk. The headquarters of the park is situated in the Kathmandu district at Pani Muhan village. The other three sector offices are situated in Manichaur in Helambu, Dhakalchaur and Nagarjun in Kathmandu. Shivapuri National Park area is an important water catchment area that supplies water to the entire Kathmandu valley.

Located at around 10 km from the center of Kathmandu, is the Budhanilkantha statue of the Hindu god Lord Vishnu. The Hindu temple, also known as the Narayanthan Temple, lies at the foothill of the Shivapuri Hill. The statue of Budhanilkantha is the largest and most beautiful stone carving in the entire country. The statue is 5 meters long and lies in the center of a pond. Lord Vishnu is seen to be resting on a bed of snakes in a pond that resembles a cosmic sea. This popular temple is considered a sacred place by the Hindu devotees but equally revered by the Buddhist followers.
An interesting mythology states that the king Pratap Malla had a farsighted vision that made him believe that the kings who visited the temple would perish. Hence, no kings of Nepal after Pratap Malla ever visited the temple fearing the prediction of death.

Sitting on a mountainside high above the Kathmandu valley is a small nunnery hermitage – the Happy Mind, known by the name Nagi Gumpa. The Nagi Gumpa has now been renamed as Tsungon Nangkyi Gompa, very aptly named reflecting the stress-free faces of women who live there. The monastery is home to around 100 nuns associated with Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Kathmandu. The monastery is almost 50 years old and lies in a quiet and peaceful location inside the Shivapuri National Park.
Nuns have come from different places of the Himalayan territory as far as Tibet, despite their caste or creed. At the monastery, the nuns are trained in classical Buddhist philosophy, as well as the ritual arts and meditational practices. One can even see several foreigners meditating in this serene location.

Bagdwar is a pilgrimage site located within the Shivapuri National Park on the border between Gokarneshwar and Budhanilkantha municipalities in Kathmandu. It is the origin of the sacred Bagmati River from where the water comes out of a tiger-shaped spout. Hindu devotees are usually seen flocking to this place on the Nepali New Year day as a religious fair takes place here every year on this day. Locals believe that taking a holy bath at Bagdwar on New Year washes a person’s sins and grants blessings. From Bagdwar, visitors can enjoy the scenic views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung, Jugal Himal, and Mt. Manaslu.

Sundarijal is located at about 18 km northeast of Kathmandu. It is a small village and the gateway to Shivapuri National Park along the Kathmandu valley trekking route. The name Sundarijal is derived from the words ‘Sundari’ meaning beautiful and ‘Jal’ meaning water. For public dwellers, it is a favorite picnic spot with lush greenery and serene environment. There is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Sundarimai – the Sundarimai temple at the side of the river. During major Hindu festivals, devotees walk all the way from Pashupatinath to collect the holy waters from here barefooted. The collected water is then offered to the Shiva Linga with a belief that all the previous sins of a devotee will be forgiven.
Tourism is a large industry in Sundarijal. It has been developed as a destination for canyoning. Tourists throng to this cool village to see the pristine waterfalls, natural environment, and the rivers. BP museum is also located in Sundarijal, which is one of the historical sites in Nepal. Initially, it was the Army General Quarter; it was changed to Rajbandigriha – where prisoners were kept. It was then transformed into Gaida Gasti which again was changed into Sundarijal Military Camp. During the 1960s leaders like BP Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, KP Bhattarai and others were held here without trial for 8 years, hence it was changed in BP Museum.