Kathmandu Hiking information:
Kathmandu is not only famous for being the capital city of Nepal but also for various cultural and traditional monuments. It is located in the center of the country surrounded by hills and mountains with breathtaking sights. Camping in the Kathmandu Valley | 10 Best Short Hikes Around Kathmandu Valley.
We can get the opportunities to explore the natural beauty, lifestyle, and culture of Nepalese people along with the green hills with amazing shapes and sizes, wildlife, and, birds which are the major attractions of the city.
The hills surrounding the valley are accessible within a short period from any part of the city. Day trips or hiking are the best options to enjoy the sites and natural beauty of the city, if you don’t have much time or, could not get holidays for traveling. In the article, we are listing the top 10 places for hiking around Kathmandu Valley.
Camping in the Kathmandu Valley |10 Best Short Hikes Around Kathmandu Valley:
1. Nagarkot Hiking.
2. Phulchowki Hiking.
3. Namo Buddha Hiking.
4. Chandragiri Hiking.
5. Sundarijal Hiking.
6. Shivapuri and NagiGumba Day Hike.
7. Amitabha Monastery Hiking.
8. Kakani Hiking.
9. Champadevi Hike.
10. Bajrabarahi – Godavari Day Hike.
1. Nagarkot hiking:
The village of Nagarkot, located in the mountains above the Kathmandu Valley, 30 kilometers from the capital, is the best place in Nepal where travelers can enjoy panoramic views of the Himalayas. Nagarkot is famous for its stunning natural beauty and is very popular with tourists.
That is why in recent years a lot of hotels and guest houses have been built in the village. Visitors who come here can enjoy the local natural beauty right from their balconies. The views of Mount Everest from here are truly breathtaking, especially at sunrise. From this place, 8 of the 13 Himalayan ranges, the Kathmandu Valley, the Shivapuri National Park, and the Number Forest are visible.
Nagarkot hiking is one of the short and easy hiking routes in Nepal. Nagarkot is popular as a mountain viewpoint located around 32 km away from Kathmandu Valley. One can see the panorama of the Himalayas ranging from the Dhaulagiri in the west to Kanchenjunga in the east including Mt Everest (you will get a more clear view of Mt Everest through binoculars.
The other ranges you will see are the Langtang, Dorje Lakpa, and Gaurishankar ranges. The sunrise and sunset on the Himalayas which can be viewed from this hill can be the most mesmerizing thing you have ever seen.
Day hike from Changunarayan to Nagarkot is very Popular among different routes of day hiking around Nagarkot.
2. Phulchowki Hiking:
Phulchowki is one of the highest hills around, situated in the south of Kathmandu valley. The hill is famous for the flowers during the summer season where the name itself says ‘ Hill of Flowers. During the winter season, the hill is filled with making it the only place in the valley to experience snowfall.
Phulochowki Hiking begins from the Godavari with a breathtaking view of the city on the way and the snow-laden mountain ranges like Annapurna and Gaurishankar in the background.
3. Namo Buddha Hiking:
Namo Buddha is one of the important religious sites for Buddhists in Nepal and has its charm. Namo Buddha Hiking starts from the small village of Panauti. The way to name Buddha leads through small villages and rice fields. Depending on the season, we can get the view of planting, harvesting, other crops, and lifestyles of people in villages along the way.
We can get a breathtaking view of the monastery and stupas sparkling in the sun along with the hundreds of religious flags hanging on the way to the monastery which helps to increase the beauty of the place.
4. Chandragiri Hiking:
Chandragiri hiking is one of the best hiking around Kathmandu Valley. The clean environment and view from the way help to relax your mind and offer great peace inside.
Hiking is suitable for all aged people as it is less challenging and the cable car is also available to make your trip more luxurious. Chandragiri Day hike is popular because of its Temple and Cable Car.
From Chandragiri Hill, you can observe spectacular mountains view west to east including Mt. API, Saipal to Everest, Makalu, Kanchenjunga Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang Himal, Dorje Lakpa, and Gaurishankar mountains range.
5. Sundarijal Hiking:
Kathmandu being a small city surrounded by mountains and hills provides various places for hiking around it. Among them, one of the famous is Sundarijal Hiking. One of the main attractions of Sundari Jal is the man-made reservoir in the middle of the forest and an incredible waterfall.
Sundarijal is also known as a gateway for the Langtang-Gosaikunda trek. The hike becomes more memorable due to its green forest on the way where we can encounter various species of birds, animals, and insects, and pass through beautiful sounds and scenes of the Bagmati river.
6. Nagarjuna Hiking:
Shivapuri situated at an altitude of 2563m north of Kathmandu is famous for the hiking and mesmerizing scenes seen from the top of the hill. Budhanilkantha temple with the biggest statue of Lord Vishnu sleeping in the ocean bed also lies on the way to Shivapuri.
This is a government-reserved forest where more than 500 species can be found. Nagigumba, where various foreigners come for mediation and nuns, practice Buddhism and also lies in Shivapuri. Shivapuri and NagiGumba Day hikes can be started from the southern boundary of the area where the army post is located.
Interest in a one-day Hike during your Kathmandu Holiday? Book our one-day Nagarjuna Day Hike.
7. Amitabha Monastery Hiking:
Amitabha Monastery also known as SetoGumba in Nepali is located in the southern part of Kathmandu valley. We can start the Amitabha Monastery hiking from the Swayambhu. The architecture of the gumba and the peaceful environment up there simply attracts everyone.
The eye-catching paintings on the walls of the Gumba are marvelous. The cool breeze on the top and the view of Kathmandu Valley from there is so relaxing that people will forget all the tiredness from hiking.
8. Kakani Hiking:
Kakani Hiking is one of the best hiking places around Kathmandu Valley for excellent Himalayan viewpoints. Kakani is also famous for its strawberry farming which surely provides a great view. Hiking leads you through green paddy fields where you can view the rural life of people.
Once we reach the top of Kakani hill, we can enjoy the breathtaking view of snow-capped mountain ranges. We can also see various small monarchies built by Korean monks on the way. Kakani is a naturally beautiful place filled with pine forest trees from where we can see a fantastic view of Kathmandu city.
9. Champadevi Hike:
Champadevi which lies at a 2300m high peak acts as a border separating the valley from the Makwanpur district. Champadevi hike starts from Pharping which leads to the Buddhist stupa that people visit especially on the day of a full moon to pay homage to the lord.
The way to the stupa is covered by a pine forest that provides a relaxing environment and the top of the hills offers a great view of the Himalayan range, especially Langtang and Annapurna.
10. Bajrabarahi And Godavari Day Hike:
Bajrabarahi- Godavari is one of the short and interesting hikes around Kathmandu Valley. We can start hiking from the Bajrbarahi temple in Patan. On the way from Patan to the Godavari, we need to pass through the village which has its charm through traditional life and farming. we go, we can see a beautiful forest surrounded by high mountains, Langtang Lirung, the Ganesh Himal range, and Phulchowki Hill. We can stop at the highest point at Badikhel to enjoy the view and take photographs.
Birendra Duwadi by profession a trekking and tourist guide and an enterpreur whose passion is trekking in the himalayas. Started Mission Himalaya Treks in 2015 with a new vision to introduce Nepal's Himlayas to the world. His vision is to explore and documentation new trekking routes . Birendra leads Mission Himalaya, a company that change the qualities of trekking in Nepal.
