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Shivapuri Trek (Budhanilkantha - Nagarkot)
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Shivapuri,
popular for the watershed and wild life area, is the
second highest hill surrounding the Kathmandu valley
rim. This trek is to commence at Budhanilkantha with the
purpose to be amazed with pleasant views of the central
and eastern mountain ranges, heavenly views of sunrise
and sunset and is good introduction to Nepalese rural
life. The end point of the trek appears with two options
either at Nagarkot or Dhulikhel. It is an excellent trip
for those who wish to avoid a long strenuous trek or
only have time for a short and easy trek. This trek can
be done throughout the year as each season adds beauty
and majesty to this trek. The view points at Nagarkot
offers a long lasting experience that has many different
options to enjoy the magic of mountains. The village of
Nagarkot is on the edge of the valley and offers superb
views of the mountains as well as Kathmandu valley.
Facts of the Trek
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Duration: 04 Days & 05
Days
Trek type: Tea House
Max Altitude: 1440 m.
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Minimum Pax: 1 +
Mode of travel: land
Grade: Easy
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Itinerary: 01 in Detail
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Day 01 : |
Drive from Kathmandu to Budhanilkantha (Narayanthan)
which takes about 25 minutes and trek from
Budhanilkantha to Shivapuri Lekh (Bagdwar) and
it takes approximately four and half hours.
Drive from Kathmandu. to Budhanilikantha, site
of a huge monolithic statue of Lord Vishnu, one
of the valley's most photographed sites.
Budhanilkantha is a remarkable, colossal, statue
of the Lord Vishnu, reclining on the coil of the
snake King "Seshang". This fifth century statue
is in the middle of small pond and seems to
float on water. It is a famous place of
pilgrimage, though the reigning King of Nepal
may not visit this spot From here trail ascents
into the Shivpuri hills. Shivapuri situated at
an elevation of 2563m north of Kathmandu is the
second highest hill around Kathmandu valley.
Bagdwar, source of holy river Bagmati, is
located near Shivapuri. After breakfast at
hotel, you trek to Muhan Pani - 10 km north of
Kathmandu for about 30 minutes drive. After
checking the formalities at the Shivapuri
entrance gate, you enter Shivapuri watershed and
wildlife area. You commence your hike from the
southern boundary of the area where the army
check-post is located. The trail goes along the
rugged motor-able road through pine and cherry
forest up to Nagi Gompa within one and half
hours, where a nunnery monastery is located.
Beyond the monastery, the trail goes steep
uphill through the oak, rhododendron and bamboo
forest for another 03 hours. From the top one
can enjoy the sight of snowy mountains such as
Ganesh Himal, Langtang - Lirung and Dorje Lakpa.
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Day 02 : |
Trek from Shivapuri Lekh to Dhap via Chisapani
which takes about five hours. Today you will
have to prepare early morning because today
trail is little long. You start your trek on
plain trail about 1 hour, the mountains
greetings from you northern side (left side) you
and hike slowly to gain the height. On the top
of hill the fascinating sight welcome and you
will have your lunch here. From here the forest
and 3 hours flat trail lead to you Chisapani
trek. The route you follow is quite smooth and
you can enjoy the numerous green and villages at
some distance. Moreover, you head along the path
through forests where you can enjoy the chirping
of birds. Dhap is an uncultivated field
surrounded by beautiful forests.
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Day 03 : |
Trek from Dhap to Nagarkot and it takes
approximately five and half hours. Morning the
northern mountain views attract you. You trek
start to Chauki Bhanjag, which takes about 2 and
half hours, you will stop here for an hour for
your lunch. You continue the charming trails
lead 3 hours toward Nagarkot. (Walking 5/6 hrs)
Nagarkot, (2175m) is by far the most popular. In
the clear weather the Himalaya range, stretching
from Dhaulagiri in the west all the way past
Everest to Kanchenjunga in the east, emerges
from the darkness to greet the happy visitor
with its awe inspiring majesty and beauty. An
interesting trail takes you to the hill retreat
of Nagarkot, perched on a ridge 32 km east of
Kathmandu. It commands sweeping views of the
Himalayas. Five of the world's ten highest
peaks, Everest, Lhotse, Choyu, Makalu and
Manaslu are visible from here. Nagarkot is also
a popular spot to watch sunrise and sunset. The
snow peaks look especially gorgeous during
sunset and sunrise. Nagarkot, surrounded by
terraced hillsides and picturesque farm houses,
the hilltop resort is the epitome of an idyllic
escape - with only the wind and the sound of
rustling leaves to disturb you. Bird watching is
a joy in the forests here.
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Day 04 : |
Trek from Nagarkot to Changunarayan which takes
approximately three and half hours and drive
from Changunarayan to Kathmandu and it takes
about one and half hours. The most popular walk
leads down from Nagarkot along a ridge to the
temple of Changu Narayan-with views of Sankhu
village to the right and Bhaktapur to the left.
Changunarayan is situated at the end of a long
ridge which runs well into the valley, it is
said to have been built in 323 AD by King Hari
Datta Varma. The temple is richly decorated with
sculptures and carvings. It is said to be the
oldest temple in the valley
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Services
Included
National Park entry permit, Trekking permit,
Land transportation to and fro, Accommodation in
lodges during the trek, Food: three meals a day,
A guide & required number of porter(s),
Essential equipment.
Services
Excluded
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency
evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative
transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide,
strike, road blockade etc.
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Itinerary: 02 in Detail
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Day 01 : |
Drive from Kathmandu to Budhanilkantha (Narayanthan)
which takes about 25 minutes and trek from
Budhanilkantha to Shivapuri Lekh (Bagdwar) and
it takes approximately four and half hours.
Drive from Kathmandu. to Budhanilikantha, site
of a huge monolithic statue of Lord Vishnu, one
of the valley's most photographed sites.
Budhanilkantha is a remarkable, colossal, statue
of the Lord Vishnu, reclining on the coil of the
snake King "Seshang". This fifth century statue
is in the middle of small pond and seems to
float on water. It is a famous place of
pilgrimage, though the reigning King of Nepal
may not visit this spot From here trail ascents
into the Shivpuri hills. Shivapuri situated at
an elevation of 2563m north of Kathmandu is the
second highest hill around Kathmandu valley.
Bagdwar, source of holy river Bagmati, is
located near Shivapuri. After breakfast at
hotel, you trek to Muhan Pani - 10 km north of
Kathmandu for about 30 minutes drive. After
checking the formalities at the Shivapuri
entrance gate, you enter Shivapuri watershed and
wildlife area. You commence your hike from the
southern boundary of the area where the army
check-post is located. The trail goes along the
rugged motor-able road through pine and cherry
forest up to Nagi Gompa within one and half
hours, where a nunnery monastery is located.
Beyond the monastery, the trail goes steep
uphill through the oak, rhododendron and bamboo
forest for another 03 hours. From the top one
can enjoy the sight of snowy mountains such as
Ganesh Himal, Langtang - Lirung and Dorje Lakpa.
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|
Day 02 : |
Trek from Shivapuri Lekh to Dhap via Chisapani
which takes about five hours. Today you will
have to prepare early morning because today
trail is little long. You start your trek on
plain trail about 1 hour, the mountains
greetings from you northern side (left side) you
and hike slowly to gain the height. On the top
of hill the fascinating sight welcome and you
will have your lunch here. From here the forest
and 3 hours flat trail lead to you Chisapani
trek. The route you follow is quite smooth and
you can enjoy the numerous green and villages at
some distance. Moreover, you head along the path
through forests where you can enjoy the chirping
of birds. Dhap is an uncultivated field
surrounded by beautiful forests.
|
|
Day 03 : |
Trek from Dhap to Nagarkot and it takes
approximately five and half hours. Morning the
northern mountain views attract you. You trek
start to Chauki Bhanjag, which takes about 2 and
half hours, you will stop here for an hour for
your lunch. You continue the charming trails
lead 3 hours toward Nagarkot. (Walking 5/6 hrs)
Nagarkot, (2175m) is by far the most popular. In
the clear weather the Himalaya range, stretching
from Dhaulagiri in the west all the way past
Everest to Kanchenjunga in the east, emerges
from the darkness to greet the happy visitor
with its awe inspiring majesty and beauty. An
interesting trail takes you to the hill retreat
of Nagarkot, perched on a ridge 32 km east of
Kathmandu. It commands sweeping views of the
Himalayas. Five of the world's ten highest
peaks, Everest, Lhotse, Choyu, Makalu and
Manaslu are visible from here. Nagarkot is also
a popular spot to watch sunrise and sunset. The
snow peaks look especially gorgeous during
sunset and sunrise. Nagarkot, surrounded by
terraced hillsides and picturesque farm houses,
the hilltop resort is the epitome of an idyllic
escape - with only the wind and the sound of
rustling leaves to disturb you. Bird watching is
a joy in the forests here.
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Day 04 : |
Trek from Nagarkot to Dhulikhel which takes
about six hours. After you have your share of
experiencing the magic of Nagarkot, you are
guided along the hiking trails to Dhulikhel. As
you approach Dhulikhel, a plethora of cultural
diversities, interesting traditional practices,
lush vegetation and rich birdlife unfolds before
you. Dhulikhel (1440m.) is a small town with a
long history. Records show that it has been
around for more than 500 years. The artistic
skill and urban ethos of its Newar inhabitants
have created a place of charm and beauty.
Streets lined with bare-brick houses, carved
wooden windows, sloping title roofs, pagoda
temples and sacred statues everywhere. The major
places of worship here are the Narayan and
Harisiddhi temples which are adored with profuse
wood carvings. The Gokhureswar Mahadev temple, a
30 minutes walk to the eastern part of town, is
a peaceful and scenic spot. The Bhagawati temple
is situated at a height in the western part of
Dhulikhel and dominates the skyline. From here,
you can get a beautiful vista of the town and
surrounding areas.
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Day 05 : |
Trek from Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha-Panauti and
it takes approximately four and half hours and
drive from Panauti to Kathmandu which takes
about one and half hours. From Dhulikhel, the
trail climbs up to the Kali Mandir, a temple
dedicated to Goddess Kali. From there the trail
drops down to the village of Kavre and past a
line of shops and tea houses. It then climbs
again through pine woods past Phulbari and up
and down a couple of more hills before you reach
the hill of NamoBuddha. Namobouddha situated at
an elevation of 1750m is very important Buddhist
Pilgrimage located in Kavre District about 38 km
east of Kathmandu. The Stupa and shrines built
in this lovely little hill mark a very ancient
holy site significantly enough where a legendary
prince named Mahasattva offered himself to a
starving Tigress with its several underfed cubs.
This legendary episode is depicted in a very
nice stone slab and placed right next to a holy
Stupa.
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Services
Included
National Park entry permit, Trekking permit,
Land transportation to and fro, Accommodation in
lodges during the trek, Food: three meals a day,
A guide & required number of porter(s),
Essential equipment.
Services
Excluded
Personal expenses, Insurance, Tips, Emergency
evacuation by Helicopter, Alternative
transportation in case of heavy rain, landslide,
strike, road blockade etc.
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