Overview
This Shivapuri hike climbs from the edge of the city to one of the highest points on the Kathmandu Valley rim. You start at Budhanilkantha, enter the forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, and follow the trail up past Nagi Gompa, a hillside Buddhist nunnery, to Shivapuri Peak at 2,732 metres. On a clear day the top gives a long line of Himalaya, from Langtang to Ganesh and Manaslu, over the valley below. It is a proper day's walk in the forest, and the second-highest hill around the valley.
The itinerary
- Hotel pickup in the morning
- Drive to the Shivapuri National Park gate at Budhanilkantha, about half an hour from the city
- Register and pick up the park entry permit at the gate
- Begin the climb through the forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
- Pass Nagi Gompa, a hillside Buddhist nunnery and a good place to rest
- Continue up to Shivapuri Peak at 2,732 metres for views over the valley and the Himalaya
- Stop to rest and eat near the top
- Walk back down the trail and drive to your hotel
Things to carry
- Sturdy walking shoes or boots with grip
- Layers and a warm top for the summit
- Sun protection and a hat
- Plenty of water and snacks
- Insect repellent and a light rain layer
Good to know
Up Shivapuri, the valley's second hill
North of Kathmandu the city runs out into forest, and above that forest sits Shivapuri, the second-highest of the hills that ring the valley. This is one of the best full-day hikes you can do straight from the city: a steady climb from Budhanilkantha through the trees of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, past a hillside nunnery, up to a 2,732-metre summit with the Himalaya on the horizon. It asks a bit more of your legs than the shorter valley walks, and it rewards them.
What the Shivapuri hike covers
The day starts at the park gate at Budhanilkantha, about half an hour from the centre, where you register and pick up the entry permit. From there the trail climbs steadily through the forest, passing Nagi Gompa, a Buddhist nunnery about halfway up, before reaching Shivapuri Peak at 2,732 metres. You rest and take in the view at the top, then walk back down the same way to meet the vehicle for the drive home. It is around eighteen to twenty kilometres in all, and your guide sets a pace that suits the group.
The climb through the national park
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park protects the forested hills at the head of the valley, and the walk up is as much about the woods as the summit. The trail runs through dense, shaded forest alive with birds, cool even in warmer months, with the ridge of the hill rising steadily ahead. Near the top lies Bagdwar, held to be the source of the Bagmati, the valley's most sacred river. If you would rather a shorter, gentler walk from the same trailhead, our Budhanilkantha and Bishnudwar hike reaches a forest spring without the long climb.
The view from the top
Shivapuri Peak is the reward for the climb. On a clear day it opens onto the whole Kathmandu Valley on one side and a long line of Himalaya on the other, taking in the Langtang, Ganesh and Manaslu ranges, with Everest sometimes visible far to the east after very clear weather. Mornings are usually clearest, which is why the hike starts early. Nobody can promise a mountain view on any given day, and we will not pretend otherwise, but autumn and winter give the best odds.
Best time to go and what to know
October to April is the most reliable window: clear, dry and pleasant for walking, with the best chance of the peaks being out. The monsoon, June to September, makes the forest lush but the trail muddy and slippery, brings leeches, and often keeps the mountains behind cloud. Wear proper shoes with grip, carry layers for the cooler summit, and bring water and snacks for a long day. The hike sits inside a national park, so an entry permit is needed, arranged at the gate. For an easier day on the other side of the city, our Boudhanath and Tarebhir viewpoint hike pairs a stupa with a short cliff-top climb.
