Shivapuri Hike is one 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 the 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 and villages are on this day hike. Shivapuri Peak is the second-highest hill around Kathmandu at 2732m (8963 feet) from 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 (female monks monastery) on the way to the Shivapuri nature hike. Also, wild animals like Himalayan Langur (black-faced monkey), deer, and other wild animals with different colorful birds add charm to this day hike.
Hiking to Shivapuri Hill begins from Budhanilakantha after driving about half an hour from the city center. It is a 6-7 hour walking trip into the untouched nature. You walk around four hours to reach the top and 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 Holi River).
How Difficult is Shivapuri Day Hike?
Shivapuri day hike is a lengthy walking journey inside nature with some steep ascend and descend. It can be difficult for beginners, who are not usual hikers. The hiking trail to Shivapuri Hill begins from an army base in Narayanthan. You will walk on the road after entering from the military gate for about half an hour and take 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.
Descending from the Shivapuri Hill is long and 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, so these circumstances can make it challenging to walk. You won’t get any restaurants and 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 further from 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 have pleasant and constant 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 lots of rainy days. The walking trail will be slippery, and there will be lots of spider nets, 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 issue a national park entry permit. It costs 1000 NPR for the external hikers and 100 NPR for the Nepalese hiker to enter the national park. Register at the national park counter before entering the military gate in Budhanilakantha.
Visitors cannot take weapons, lighters, or speakers to hike to Shivapuri Hill. You must fill out a form at the permit counter you brought and show the daypack to the army 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 and friendly hiking guides and private transport for Shivapuri Hill Hike at the best cost. We operate daily, so you can join the group or go privately with our hiking experts.
