Overview
This Tarebhir Bishnudwar Dadagaon hike links three of the best short walks on the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley into one easy-paced trip with two nights out of the city. You start at Jagdol and walk up through pine forest to the Tarebhir cliff, where you spend the night at a camp already set up above the valley lights. Next day you cross to Budhanilkantha and its reclining stone Vishnu, then climb into Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to Bishnudwar, the spring where the Bishnumati river begins, and on to the Tamang village of Dadagaon for the night. On the third morning you head back to your hotel. It suits families, first-time multi-day walkers and anyone who wants forest, village life and wide views without a long trek.
The itinerary
- Pickup from your hotel and a short drive to Jagdol, near Gokarna on the north-east side of the valley
- Walk up through pine forest and prayer flags, about one and a half hours at an easy pace
- Final short, steep climb to the open top of the Tarebhir cliff
- Dinner and overnight at the camp already set up on the cliff, watching the lights of Kathmandu come on below
- Morning views over the valley and, on clear days, the Ganesh, Langtang and Jugal ranges
- Cross to Budhanilkantha to see the five-metre stone Vishnu lying in its temple pond
- Enter Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park and climb through forest to Bishnudwar, source of the Bishnumati
- Continue to Dadagaon, a Tamang hill village, for a simple village stay overnight
- Wake to wide views over the valley from the village
- Slow breakfast and time to walk around Dadagaon
- Short drive down past Budhanilkantha
- Back at your hotel in Kathmandu, where the hike ends
What the price covers
Standard | |
|---|---|
| Private drop at Jagdol and pickup from Dadagaon | ✓ Included |
| Licensed guide on all three days | ✓ Included |
| Night at the Tarebhir cliff camp, dinner and breakfast | ✓ Included |
| One night in a village homestay in Dadagaon, with breakfast | ✓ Included |
| Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park entry | ✓ Included |
| Lunches, dinner in Dadagaon and drinks | ✕ Not included |
| Travel insurance | ✕ Not included |
| Tips and personal expenses | ✕ Not included |
Things to carry
- Walking shoes with good grip for forest paths
- Warm layer for the camp night and village evening
- Head torch
- Light rain jacket
- Refillable water bottle
Good to know
Complete guide
The Tarebhir Bishnudwar Dadagaon hike strings together three short walks on the northern hills of the Kathmandu Valley: a cliff-top camp, a forest climb to a sacred spring and a night in a Tamang village. None of the days is long, and you are never far from the city, but for three days it feels a long way from Thamel.
What the Tarebhir Bishnudwar Dadagaon hike covers
Day one starts with a short drive to Jagdol, near Gokarna, and an easy walk of about an hour and a half up through pine forest and prayer flags to the Tarebhir cliff, finishing with a short steep pull. You spend the night at the camp already set up on the open top, so there are no tents to pitch, and watch the valley light up. On day two you cross to Budhanilkantha, see the reclining Vishnu and climb into Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park to Bishnudwar, which usually takes two to three hours. From there you continue to Dadagaon for the night. Day three is a slow morning in the village and a short drive back to your hotel.
If you want the forest and the village without the camp night, our 2-day Bishnudwar and Dadagaon hike starts at Budhanilkantha and does exactly that. This version adds Tarebhir and a second night out.
Tarebhir, Budhanilkantha and Bishnudwar
Tarebhir is a cliff just outside the national park, known as a family walk and one of the closest camping spots to the city. On a clear morning the Ganesh, Langtang and Jugal ranges show to the north. If one day is all you have, the Boudhanath and Tarebhir viewpoint hike covers it in a single outing.
Budhanilkantha holds the largest stone image of Vishnu in Nepal, five metres long and carved from a single rock, lying on a bed of serpents in a pond. Hindu worshippers come to pray and make offerings, and you watch quietly from around the pond. Bishnudwar, the gate of Vishnu, is where the Bishnumati river begins as cold spring water beside a small cave shrine. It is a quiet, green place, and the walk to it through the forest is the heart of this trip.
A night in Dadagaon
Dadagaon, also written Danda Gaun, sits on the hillside in Budhanilkantha at the edge of the national park. It is a Tamang village, and the stay is simple: a homestay-style room, home-cooked Tamang food and a view over the valley. Evenings are quiet, and the morning view is the reward for the second day's climb. On clear days you can see Ganesh Himal, Langtang Lirung and Dorje Lakpa. It is not a hotel, and the honest trade is comfort for a real evening in a village where people farm and live.
Who it suits, permits and season
The walking is easy to moderate, and families with children who like the outdoors do well. The longest day is the second one, so we keep the pace relaxed. The honest limits are the tent on night one and the simple village room on night two. If either is a problem for you, tell us before you book.
What to bring is simple: walking shoes with good grip for forest paths, a warm layer for two cool evenings on the hills, a head torch for the camp and a light rain jacket. Carry your passport on day two for the park gate.
Tarebhir needs no permit. Bishnudwar lies inside Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, which charges foreign visitors an entry ticket; we arrange it at the gate. The park is home to barking deer, wild boar, monkeys and, rarely seen, leopards and black bears, so we always walk it with a guide. September to May is the season. June to August brings heavy rain, slippery trails and cloud over the mountains. Send us your dates and group, and we will tell you straight whether this or a shorter version suits you.
