Shivapuri Day Hike

A Quick Glimpse

• Trip Duration: 6-7 Hours
• Starting Point: Kathmandu
• Ending Point: Kathmandu
• Maximum Elevation: 2,732 meters (8963 feet)
• Difficulty Level: Moderate
• Best Seasons: September to May
• Key Highlights: Mountain views, lush forests, birds, wildlife, religious monuments, views of the Kathmandu Valley, and more
• Mountain Views: Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, Jugal, Gauri Shankar, and more
• Route Customizable: Yes

Shivapuri Hike is a full-day nature hiking trip around Kathmandu. It is the best jungle walking journey for adventure trekkers and nature lovers. It can be the best practice and training for anyone on a long mountain trek in Nepal. A regular hiker may find it easy, but a beginner can struggle and get tired on this route.

Hiking to Shivapuri Hill is a complete nature trip inside the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. You can also see some religious monuments on this trail. Still, no local settlements or villages on this day hike. Shivapuri Peak is the second-highest hill around Kathmandu at 2732m (8963 feet) above sea level. You can see magnificent mountain views of Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and Langtang massifs from the top of Shivapuri Hill.

The whole hiking trail is inside a dense forest, where you can see colorful blooming flowers and a lot of Nepalese national flower rhododendrons. You will pass Nagi Gumba (a female monks' monastery) on the way to the Shivapuri nature hike. Also, wild animals like the Himalayan Langur (black-faced monkey), deer, and other wildlife, along with colorful birds, add charm to this day hike.

Hiking to Shivapuri Hill begins in Budhanilakantha, about half an hour from the city center. It is a 6-7-hour walking trip into untouched nature. You walk for about four hours to reach the top, then descend to the exact spot where the trip starts. You can either use the same route to return or go the other side, making a big loop. You will cross Baghdwar before reaching the peak, the starting point of the Bagmati River (a holy river).

How Difficult is Shivapuri Day Hike?

The Shivapuri day hike is a lengthy walking journey through nature with some steep ascents and descents. It can be difficult for beginners, who are not usual hikers. The hiking trail to Shivapuri Hill begins from an army base in Narayanthan. After entering through the military gate, walk for about half an hour, then take the stone steps to the left by leaving the road to the right. The trail is steep through these stone steps. If you are interested in visiting Nagi Gumba, you must walk another 15 minutes on the road rather than taking those steep stone steps. Also, there are many steps after the monastery. Following the trail through the monastery, you will see the magnificent view of the Kathmandu Valley.

The trail gradually ascends inside the forest for about three hours to Baghdwar. After Baghdwar, it steepens for the final hour to an hour and a half to the summit of Shivapuri Peak, passing oak, pine, and other trees with bamboo bushes.

The descent from Shivapuri Hill is long and has steps in some parts. Here, you see many giant rhododendron trees. If you hike in spring, you see magnificently blooming rhododendrons. If you have a knee problem, climbing to Shivapuri Hill will be easier than descending from the top.

The walking trail will be moist in the morning, with frost in winter and rain in summer, which can make walking challenging. You won’t get any restaurants or shops along the way for the whole day, so you might be hungry and thirsty if you do not bring snacks, pack lunch, or drink water for the Shivapuri nature hike. However, Nepalese hikers can drink regular water from Baghdwar Spring. We suggest taking a water bottle to fill and drink from further along the Baghdwar.

Best Time to Hike Shivapuri Hill

You can hike to Shivapuri Hill any time of the year, but September to May is the best. Autumn in October, November, and December has pleasant, consistent weather with no rain. Visibility is better than in the other months, and you can see bright mountain views at these times.

The forests look fantastic, with blooming rhododendrons in spring, so March to May is also the best time to hike Shivapuri Hill. Summer, from June to August, has many rainy days. The walking trail will be slippery, and there will be lots of spider webs, which will get stuck on your face while walking inside the forest trail.

Permit Cost for Shivapuri National Park

The Shivapuri nature hike is in the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, so visitors must obtain a national park entry permit. It costs 1000 NPR for external hikers and 100 NPR for Nepalese hikers to enter the national park. Register at the national park counter before entering the military gate in Budhanilakantha.

Visitors cannot bring weapons, lighters, or speakers when hiking to Shivapuri Hill. You must fill out the form at the permit counter you brought and show the army the daypack before walking towards nature.

Sidewalks on Shivapuri Trail

There are plenty of sidewalks on the Shivapuri Hiking route, so you may reach different destinations if you follow the wrong path. There is a trail to Tare Bhir, Sundarijal, and other places, so hire a guide with us, who will lead you to the correct destination and bring you back safely. We offer experienced, friendly hiking guides and private transport for the Shivapuri Hill Hike at the best possible price. We operate daily, so you can join the group or go privately with our hiking experts.