Chisapani Nagarkot Hiking

The Chisapani Nagarkot Hiking is a great way to get yourself close to the mountains while still staying relatively close to the capital. It is an ideal trekking option for travelers who would love to rejoice in the natural beauty of the environment close to the city without having to travel long distances. This amazing hike is a great way to get away from the chaos of the bustling city and to immerse yourself in the serenity of the natural environment. Also, the changing of the urban setting into a natural one with forests, hills, and waterfalls as one gets farther away from Kathmandu is a compelling way to enjoy the country’s diverse terrain in a relatively close-knit parameter.

Walk along rough trails that enter through the Shivapuri National Park via a watershed and lose your worries to the sound of bird’s melodies filling up the ambiance. Also, the woodlands surrounding the hiking path offers a beautiful experience of being close to nature and the park’s biodiversity is also a prominent notable feature. Walking up the stone-carved path, the acreage opens up to snow-covered mountains towering in the distance.

The breathtaking views of the Himalayan peaks stay to provide a beautiful foreground to the green terrain as the hiking trail descends down to Chisapani. Trekkers are presented with the experience of viewing the mountain peaks in a most comfortable setting while hiking to Chisapani. Not to mention, the way to Nagarkot is even more riddled with the abundance of green foliage and panoramic views of the mountain peaks. Encountering animals in their natural habitat, the hike to Nagarkot is one of the pleasantries and natural beauties.

There are many vibrant villages along the way as well, making for a short respite and offering an insight into the cultural and traditional aspect of the people’s lives. The rolling hills and the forests that cover the terrain are the main highlights of the hike, along with amazing panoramic views of the Himalayan peaks. It is a rejuvenating hike that really restores the mind to its peaceful form. The muddling busyness of the city-life melts away on the hike, as the only urban setting that occurs throughout the trip is the gaping view of the valley from the vantage point at Nagarkot. The panorama of the mountain, the natural environments and the small villages along the hike make the Chisapani Nagarkot Hiking perfect short getaway!

Detailed Itinerary

Drive to Sundarijal and Trek to Chisapani (2150m) Duration: 5 hrs

An early morning drive to Sundarijal is a wonderful way to really take in the fleeting glimpses of Nepal’s countryside. The drive goes through the city of Bhaktapur, where the red bricks of the temples and the houses provide a lovely setting for the journey. Along the way, amazing view of the Ganesh Himal can be seen. The drive to Sundarijal consists of large forested moulds and a road that winds along hills. Upon reaching Sundarijal, the upward ascend through a stone-paved path leads to the entrance of the Shivapuri National Park. The village of Sundarijal is named after the Hindu Goddess- Sundarimai and even has a temple dedicated to the deity. The Bagmati River also flows through the village, where it is joined by the Shyalmati and the Nagmati Rivers. Largely hilly in its terrain, Sundarijal has few flat areas and is generally covered by forests. The village is also famous for Canyoning. As the path continues from Sundarijal to the Shivapuri National Park, the natural beauty of the hike becomes more vibrant. The hike further on out presents wide open views of the mountains as the clearings offer a classic hilly topography. The Ninth National Park in Nepal, the Shivapuri National Park was named after the Shivapuri Peak and covers an area of 159 kilometer square. The hike to Chisapani through the park is a journey that is filled with subtropical Himalayan woods and several species of both vascular and endemic species of flora. The faunal diversity of the national park includes animals such as Leopards, Jungle Cats, Himalayan Black Bears and Pangolins. Reaching Chisapani is a glorious journey that is made even more enchanting by the mountains. The view of the Annapurna Panorama, the Ganesh Himal, the Gaurishankar Range and many other peaks from Chisapani is a wonderful sight. Overnight stay at the guesthouse at Chisapani, lunch and dinner included.

Sundarijal

Nagarkot

Chisapani – Nagarkot (2195m) Duration: 5-6 hrs

The hike from Chisapani to Nagarkot is an amazing journey of mountain views and beautiful hilly scenery. Leaving Chisapani, the path furthers out to dense forests. Massive woodlands, an army camp and other small villages come across the path along the way to Nagarkot. The trail winds up and down quite a bit and the lush vegetation of the area provides a beguiling setting for a hike. Nagarkot is thickly covered in forests, and is located in a lush green valley with many villages dotting its acreage. It is also called the premier Hill Station of the Kathmandu Valley and is situated above the valley towards the north of the city. Nagarkot is famous for its sunrise view amidst the Himalayas. The view of Mount Everest, along with many other peaks of eastern Nepal can be seen from the vantage point of Nagarkot. It also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley and the Shivapuri National Park. Because of its strategic location, Nagarkot was an ancient fort of the Kathmandu valley built to monitor the external activities of other kingdoms in ancient times. Later, it became a retreat for the royal family before becoming popular as an international hill station. It commands one of the broadest views of the Himalayas in the valley- 8 Himalayan ranges of Nepal out of 13 can be seen from here. The Himalayan range include the Annapurna range, the Manaslu range, the Ganesh Himal range, the Langtang range, the Jugal range, the Rolwaling range, the Everest range and the Number range, earning the hill station the top spot for enjoying Himalayan views from the comfort of hotel balconies. Overnight stay at the hotel in Nagarkot, Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included.

Nagarkot – Kathmandu (1337m) Duration: 3 hrs walk

In the morning, waking up early and heading towards the View-Tower in Nagarkot is an experience that is filled with the glory of watching the sunrise amidst the cerulean mountain ranges. After spending some time at the tower taking pictures, returning back to the hotel for breakfast commences the journey back to Kathmandu. The hiking trail leads down to Changunarayan, from where transfer back to Kathmandu is a journey that is a combination of changing terrains as one gets closer to the city and fading mountain views. At Changunarayan, the temple’s artistic congeniality and its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site can be briefly enjoyed. Breakfast included.

Kathmandu

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