Overview
This Sundarijal Chisapani hike is a gentle two-day walk into the forested hills at the head of the Kathmandu Valley, with a night on the ridge and a Himalayan sunrise. You begin at Sundarijal at 1,350 metres, where the valley's water supply spills down in falls, and climb through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park past the settlement of Mulkharka and over the Borlang Bhanjyang pass at around 2,400 metres. Beyond it lies Chisapani at about 2,215 metres, a small ridge village that looks straight out at the Langtang and Ganesh ranges. After a mountain sunrise the next morning, you walk back down through the same forest to the trailhead. It is one of the easiest ways to spend a night in the hills without leaving the edge of the city.
The itinerary
- Drive to Sundarijal at 1,350 m, about an hour from the city, and start walking past the waterfalls into Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
- Climb steadily through shaded forest past the settlement of Mulkharka, then over the Borlang Bhanjyang pass at around 2,400 m
- Descend a short way to the ridge village of Chisapani at about 2,215 m for the night, with a wide mountain skyline at sunset
- Rise early at Chisapani for sunrise over the Langtang and Ganesh Himal ranges
- After breakfast, retrace the trail down through the national park forest, an easier day that is mostly downhill
- Reach Sundarijal in the early afternoon and drive back to your hotel in Kathmandu
Things to carry
- Sturdy walking shoes or boots with grip
- A warm layer and jacket for the ridge evening
- Head torch for the early sunrise
- Sun protection, water and snacks for each day
- A small change of clothes for the night at Chisapani
Good to know
Complete guide
North of Kathmandu the city gives way to the forested hills of Shivapuri, and above them sits a ridge village that catches the first light on the Himalaya. This two-day hike walks up to it from Sundarijal, spends a night at Chisapani for the sunset and sunrise, and comes back down the same forest trail. It is short, close to the city and gentle enough for a first overnight in the Nepali hills, yet it delivers a real teahouse night and a genuine mountain dawn.
What the Sundarijal Chisapani hike covers
The route starts at Sundarijal at 1,350 metres, where the valley's water is drawn, and climbs through Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park past the settlement of Mulkharka to the Borlang Bhanjyang pass at around 2,400 metres. Just beyond lies Chisapani at about 2,215 metres, where you spend the night. The second day retraces the trail down through the forest to Sundarijal, an easier, mostly downhill walk. Your guide handles the park permit and the teahouse and sets a comfortable pace.
The climb through Shivapuri National Park
The walk up is the heart of the trip. From Sundarijal the trail follows the water pipeline into cool, shaded forest, climbing steadily past Mulkharka to the prayer flags of the pass. This is the same protected forest reached by the Shivapuri Peak day hike from the Budhanilkantha side, rich in birdlife and pleasant walking even in the warmer months. Chisapani, whose name means cold water, is a scattered ridge village with lodges that look straight out at the mountains.
A night at Chisapani and the sunrise
The point of staying is the light. At dusk the ridge looks north to a long wall of Himalaya, and at dawn the Langtang and Ganesh ranges catch the first sun before the valley wakes. Evenings are cool and quiet, with simple lodge food and clear skies in season. If you would rather keep it to a single day near the same hills, our Budhanilkantha and Bishnudwar hike reaches a forest spring on a shorter walk.
Best time to go and what to know
October to April is the most reliable window, with clear skies and the best odds of the Himalaya being out from Chisapani. Spring brings rhododendron colour to the forest, while the monsoon, June to September, makes the trail muddy and slippery and often keeps the peaks behind cloud. Wear proper shoes, carry a warm layer for the ridge night, and bring a head torch for the early start. The hike enters a national park, so an entry fee applies, arranged at the gate.
