Shivapuri Hill Day Hike: A Scenic Trek Near Kathmandu

The Shivapuri Hill day hike begins at the Budhanilkantha temple, a Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The trail then enters Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, a protected area that is home to a variety of flora and fauna. The trail initially climbs through a forest of pine and oak trees. After about an hour, you will reach Nagi Gompa, a Buddhist monastery for nuns. From here, the trail continues to climb through the forest, becoming steeper as you get closer to the summit. After about two hours of hiking, you will reach the top of Shivapuri Hill. The summit offers stunning views of the Kathmandu Valley, the Langtang mountain range, and Mount Manaslu. You can also see the Bagmati River winding its way through the valley below. After enjoying the views, you can begin your descent back to Budhanilkantha. The descent is mostly downhill, but there are a few sections of uphill walking. The hike down takes about 1.5-2 hours.