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Trip Duration
1 Day
Destination
Nepal
Max. Altitude
2,732 m.
Trip Difficulty
Easy
Group Size
1-12
Transportation
Private Vehicle
Accommodation
Hotel
Activity
Hiking
Meals
Breakfast, Lunch
Start / End
Kathmandu
Region
Bagmati
Best Season
Spring & Autumn
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+977 9764792172If you currently live in Kathmandu or you are planning to come to Nepal soon, there is no doubt that you have heard about Shivapuri Hike from one of your friends. It is located very close to the city, right in its northern part and being there feels like visiting another world.
From dense forests, serene trails to the refreshing mountain air, everything is an instant replacement from the hustle -bustle city life and dusty environments of the valley. Many people consider the hike to be the most convenient method to step out of the city life in Kathmandu Valley.
What truly make this hiking trail unique is its accessibility. No week of planning and expensive gear is required. You only need to spend a short drive from Kathmandu and then go along the Shivapuri Hiking Route which will be comfortable for both beginner and experienced hikers.
Shivapuri Hike directly takes you to the Shivapuri National Park, an area that houses many unique species of flora and fauna. The area is rich in oak and rhododendron forest. If you are a bird lover, then Shivapuri will not disappoint you with its rare species of birds.
The Shivapuri Hiking Route offers a variety of options. There are parts of the way that are quite comfortable, where you can relax and walk and there are other parts where the hiking route involves climbing and some physical effort. But both routes give an amazing panoramic view from the top.
From the top, you will see the entire Kathmandu Valley in a single sight, including some Himalayan peaks if the weather is very clear. It’s the kind of views that makes every tiring step feel worth it. Locals usually visit this place during weekends just to take a break and relax, and the foreign tourist enjoy this trail as a preparation for the trekking journey deeper into the Himalayas.
Whatever the reason is you will definitely enjoy this trail without going far from your home. This place offers a combination of nature, culture, and some physical effort in one day.
There is no shortage of hiking trails in Kathmandu. What make this trail difference that other hike is simply how little effort you have to put for the amazing experience you will receive. And you will have multiple routes for this hike, which you can choose how you want to complete the hike.
You don’t have to waste your entire day in order to get to the start of this hiking trail. Just 30 to 40 min of travel and you will be at the starting point. Once you step into the Shivapuri National Park, all the city noise will instantly disappear. Most of the trekking path will be under the shade of tall tree, which make the walk cool and comfortable even in the mid-day heat.
And don’t forget to pay attention to your surroundings. Langur monkeys can be seen swinging on branches above your head, while deers can be found grazing near the side of the route. And if you enjoy watching birds, then you might be pleased to know that there are over 300 species of bird living in this forest.
Another reason for choosing this hike is that this trail doesn’t matter whether you are fit enough. Even if you are new to hiking, with slow pace and enjoying the beautiful views, you will complete this trek without any difficulties.
No complex permit is required and no need to plan everything for several days in advance. The Shivapuri Hike take place within just one day and believe me, that’s exactly the reason why everyone comes back for more. No matter if you are going alone or with the whole family, the route is always clear and easy to find. You don’t even need a guide here unless you want to learn more about the paces while moving forward.
You Shivapuri Hike starts very early in the morning, between 6:00 to 6:30. This is the time when a private vehicle will pick up from your hotel in Kathmandu and bring you to Budhanilkantha, which is the beginning of the entire journey. The drive journey itself takes around 30 to 40 minutes, and you can expect to be at Budhanilkantha by 6:45 AM.
Leaving early in the morning is important as it helps you to avoid the mid-day heat and gives you plenty of time to reach the summit and get back to city before dark.
After having short breakfast, you will reach the entrance gate around 7:00 AM. You pay for your entry fee on the entrance gate, and you will now begin your hike. The route to the Shivapuri National Park starts gradually. First, it goes through wide dirt road, which turn into a narrow forest path around 7:30 AM.
After that, Shivapuri Hiking Route goes uphill through the forest. There are many oak, pine and rhododendron trees that provide shade and coolness despite of the rising sun. Between 8:30 AM and 9:00 AM, there will be some opening and water sources along the path. It is ideal and natural place where you can rest for a while, breathe and admire the surrounding.
At 9:30 AM, the second part of the hike being. The trail becomes considerably steep, but the route is easy to navigate. By the late morning, somewhere between 10:00 AM and 11:00 AM, you come across the army checkpoint situated near the inner park border. It is the shady and secluded place where most tourists like to have their last stop before reaching the summit.
After leaving checkpoint, you continue to follow the narrower path through thin forest to reach the summit. Be careful as you proceed because of loose rocks along the trail that will pose difficulty in certain places.
At 11:00 AM, you will finally reach the peak of Shivapuri which stands at 2,732 meters. If the weather is clear, you will see the panoramic views of Langtang and Ganesh himal.
Take your time here, have some lunch looking at the views and then start descending. Your return journey begins by 11:30 AM when you will start going back via the same path to Budhanilkantha. Descending is a bit easier for your lungs, but your tired legs still have to be careful while walking on the stony parts.
You will get to Budhanilkantha by 1:30 PM and complete the whole hike in about 5-7 hours. There will be a lot of time left after the hike for you to return back to Kathmandu by car.
Activity: Hiking (5 to 7 hours)
Max. Altitude: 2732m./8,963ft. (Shivapuri National Park)
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: 3 Star Hotel
If you are traveling in a private group, we can arrange a fully customized trip based on your preferences, group size, and travel dates, available any day you choose.
Shivapuri is located very close to the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley, which is tucked inside Shivapuri National Park. It is much closer than most people expect it to be.
Getting to Shivapuri from places like Thamel or center of Kathmandu is only about 12 to 15 km drive which might take 40 to 45 by car or public transport depending on how bad the traffic is that day. The park is actually divided into two parts of Kathmandu: Nuwakot and Sindhupalchok. But for people, the main entrance gate lies near Budhanilkantha, which is probably the most used and popular entrance in the while area.
The advantage of the location here is the change that it offers. One moment you might be in city traffic and the other you can find yourself standing in the gate of a peaceful forest. The highest peak during the hike is the Shivapuri Peak, standing at a height of 2,732 meter, which is quite tall enough to offer some serious altitude gain without needing day descend back to starting point.
Since the park is located very close to the valley, many people also use it as an easy morning trip. If you start the trek early, you may have time to come back in the evening to the city. Close location to the valley is one of the reasons why the Shivapuri Hiking Route is loved so much.
There are several hiking routes for this hike and that what make it fun. The location where you choose to start determines the entire experience of the hike.
This one is the popular route among hikers, and it is easy to understand why it is so popular. It begins close to the Budhanilkantha temple and lead through dense forest up to the peak. It takes quite a few hours to get there due to some steep section during the ascent to the top. So, you can expect a good workout from the hike, lasting 4 to 5 hours on average.
For a more cultural hiking experience, go for this route. It passes through a Buddhist monastery known as Nagi Gumba, which is located in the pine forests. It is longer than the other one, but the presence of the monastery makes every step worth it. Many people come to relax at the monastery for some tea before continuing to climb up.
If you wish for a longer and adventurous trek experience, then you have to follow this route which starts from Sundarijal and passes through tiny villages and forest areas before linking up to the main path towards the top.
While it is certainly true that it would take more time and energy to traverse compared to the two paths above, the feeling of achievement is just more than other two route.
In any case, whatever path you choose, it all leads to the larger network of the Shivapuri Hiking Routes.
The difficulty level of Shivapuri hiking route depend on the trail you choose and the pace of you. But for the usual path from Budhanilkantha, this trek falls somewhere easy to moderate category for most people. It doesn’t require any past experience but a certain of physical fitness is necessary.
Even beginners will have no trouble completing this trail – that much is certain. The Budhanilkantha trail is easy to navigate and requires no technical skills whatsoever, just some stamina. Most families with older kids won’t have a problem completing this hike, but young children might experience some trouble with the uphill part of the trail closer to the top.
The experienced hikers would find the trail very easy compared to other Himalayan hikes, but many of them still use this trail as training for other hikes anyway.
The toughest part of this hike is at the peak, where elevation changes quite fast. It is where your legs start to hurt ever more after that long hour walk. Also, weather may affect the level of difficulty. During monsoon, the rain makes the trail very slippery, and the leeches will crawl for the entire time which make it more complicate, whereas the winter provide the most comfortable hiking condition with no rain and no leeches.
If you have stamina and physicality to walk for 4 to 6 hours with uphill climbs, you will do very well in this hike. You can take break whenever you need, there’s no need to rush to reach the top. This is the combination of accessibility and difficulty that makes people like this Shivapuri Hike.
Visiting the Shivapuri Hiking route according to your preferences depend on the season you visit which has its own distinctive characteristics
Spring is considered the best season by many people for the Shivapuri Hike because of the blooming rhododendron and the comfortable weather which allow hiker to walk comfortably. Also, the days are long and provide enough time before you get out of the forest.
Autumn is also another best season because of its clear skies and low humidity. It also means that the visibility becomes very crystal clear. During the hike, the trails almost remain dry which make the hike much easier and from the summit you will be able to see Himalayan peaks.
The winter are cold and chilly, especially at the summit. But the clear skies and clean air provide some amazing scene to enjoy. All you need is to wear more layered clothes, as the temperature falls rapidly as you start gaining altitude.
This season is not really recommended by most of the people. The problem is the constant raining, low visibility, slippery trail and leeches all around the forest which make hiking very annoying. Still some people hike this place which offer vibrant greenery forest full of life.
Overall, most people find spring and autumn the perfect seasons to hike on the Shivapuri Hiking Route.
We try to keep things straightforward on the trek so that you have no other worry other than hiking.
There are limited food options available close to Shivapuri, but all basic needs for a one-day trek are covered. We will make stops at little shops near Budhanilkantha to have tea or snacks, and then proceed.
We prepare lunch boxes for the trek which are included in this Shivapuri Hike package. Sandwiches, eggs, fruits, etc., will suit you as they are easily manageable while on a hike.
Along with lunch boxes, we carry snacks like nuts, energy bars, fruits to give you enough energy during the whole hike. They are easy to carry and can be eaten within a few minutes.
Water is also arranged for, but we suggest carrying 1.5 to 2 liters per person as there is very limited source of water in the hike.
As this package is inclusive of a guide and private transportation, we do all arrangements for the food well in advance. There is really nothing left to plan by you.
Before you start your hike, there’s a small process you need to handle first. All the people who want to hike Shivapuri National Park, there is a small entrance fee which is charged at the gate.
For foreign nationals, entrance fee will cost approximately NPR 1,000, although this may change over time and for SAARC nationals, they get a discount of 400 which total they have to pay NPR 600.
Remember to carry your passport and national identify card just in case because the entrance counter might ask for some identification before issuing you the ticket. Also carry cash since most of the entrance doesn’t rely on card payment.
The Shivapuri Hike doesn’t have to end at the summit. The are quite a few ways of extending this simple hiking route into something more.
The most popular one is the Chisapani. After leaving Shivapuri peak, you can head north and reach Chisapani, a small village famous for the stunning view of the Himalayas. If you decide to stay in Chisapani, one day is added to your journey since you need to rest here overnight, because of the availability of teahouses with simple rooms and hot food in Chisapani.
Another extension option is the hill station of Nagarkot, which is frequently visited by those, who completed their Chisapani hiking journey. This famous place offers excellent mountain vistas and a nice lodging.
On the other hand, Nagi Gompa, which is a Buddhist monastery, offers a shorter extension tour that takes place at the heart of Shivapuri National Park. This is a peaceful little side trip that offers great views of the mountains.
For those interested in more hiking, the combination of Shivapuri and Nagarkot/Chisapani can offer a two-three-day itinerary that would be perfect for those wanting more of the forest experience and culture of the place.
No matter what option is chosen, you will get an opportunity to make additional extension without leaving the main track of your hike.
The Shivapuri Hike is easy to moderate level which most people with basic fitness can easily complete this.
It takes most people around 5 to 7 hours to hike to Shivapuri on the round trip journey.
The best season for Shivapuri Hike is Spring and Autumn, ideal for visiting as the skies are clear and offer good mountain view.
It is about 14 to 16 kilometers in length, one way, depending on where you start from.
You will need to have water, food, hiking shoes, a jacket, sun protection and a rain jacket handy.
You can see monkeys, deer and various species of bird and if you are lucky, you can even see leopard in Shivapuri National Park.
The Shivapuri trek starts at an altitude of about 1,400 meters and then ascends to an altitude of 2,732 meters.
Mobile Network remains good near Budhanilkantha and Chisapani but it becomes weaker in the middle of hike inside the dense forest.
Yes, it connects well with Nagarkot or Chisapani extensions, creating a 2 to 3-day itinerary for deeper exploration.
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+977 9764792172
