Near Kathmandu, there are many unique and less-explored places you can visit in their natural settings in Nepal. Bored of sitting home from a mundane lifestyle or busy work schedule, take time to plan hiking activities with your friends or family members.
Chisapani Hike, Jamacho Hiking, Namo Buddha Hiking (from Dhulikhel or Panauti), and Pulchowki Hiking are some known trails, so here we have something beyond that. Let us plan an exciting hiking destination with comprehensive details of the top 5 hiking routes near Kathmandu.
Ranikot hiking is a popular emerging destination, which is about 6 km away from Suryabinayak Bhaktapur. There are numerous routes through which you can hike to Ranikot; starting from Dadikot, Bhaktapur begins the adventure. Also, from Kathmandu World School, you can hike for about 2 hours, which is 5 km, to reach Ranikot.
The Ranikot village can be a popular picnic spot, with the presence of Mata Rani temple. Located in a scenic environment, the temple is a major attraction for visitors. The southern hill station of Bhaktapur has an ambiance that satisfies you.
Shree Bagh Bhairav Mandirmandir is a few kilometers away from the Suryabinayak Temple in Ganesh, and this place has both historic and cultural significance. One can hike to Ranikot Fort to see it built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah. In addition, the Chuchay Dhunga viewpoint is a recent place where visitors can have fun.
From Ranikot Road, Bhaktapur Yoyo Zipline is about 1 km away. With a short walk, you reach there and can opt for various cycling and zipline packages ranging from Rs. 1500 to Rs. 4000. Let’s see what you can enroll in at the very destination of Ranikot village.
Gundu Chour is yet another hiking destination near Ranikot, offering a rewarding experience. If you continue the trek, you can visit the Temple of Ganesh through green hills.
Likha Narayan Temple is just a km away from Gundu Chaur, making it a suitable destination to explore. Also, you can have side trails to an old plane crash area named Gundu Dummy Plane. Here, you can also savor the famous chat pat and pani puri prepared by locals in that area.
A day at Ranikot hiking the side trail to Ghyampe Danda and Pilot Baba with your friends and loved ones can give you an amazing experience. From Kali Suryabinayak Forest, it is within a 2 km radius to reach the Pilot Baba Ashram. This ashram is named after a spiritual guru from the Indian Air Force who landed aircraft safely in the Sino-Indian War in 1962.
Ghyampe Danda picnic spot is more or less on trend, with a quick hideout and fun spot near Suryabinayak Chowk of Bhaktapur in Anantalingeshwar municipality. Plan your itinerary accordingly, looking at the maps of Gundu and Ranikot. Cycling around this area can also make your day more entertaining, as you can hike and have fun by blending these two adventures.
Shiva Puri Nagi Gumba is the most popular hiking route near Kathmandu. The journey starts at the foothills of Shivapuri National Park. It takes around 2 hours to reach Nagi Gumba, which is around 6 km from the ISKCON Radha Krishna temple.
Nagi Gompa hikes take you to the monastery where classical Buddhist nuns—around 10—meditate. A small bell, known as a bajra, a statue of Karunamaya, Sakyamuini, and avatars of Buddha are located. The spiritual sanctuary looks beautiful with the prayer flags swirling along the chill wind.
A one-day hike to Bagdwar takes a different route. Starting from Jhor Waterfall, you can also continue to the hiking destination of Bagdwar. You can climb up to Panimuhan from Budhanilkantha, which is about 1.6 km in distance. Or, you can take a private vehicle inside with the tickets.
Ticket prices may vary as your vehicle charges may vary, and the Army check post asks for your entry ticket, so make sure you do not take prohibited goods inside Shivapuri National Park. After a short walk through the rest of the hour, you reach the helipad.
You continue through the Laligurans forest to Bhoteni and Deurali. From there, the hiking trip leads you to the stair path of Bagdwar. It takes about 3 to 4 hours of walking to reach Bagdwar from Budhanilkantha.
The Bishnudwar hiking route takes you from Shivapuri Nagarjuna National Park for about 5–6 hours. Alternatively, you can hike from Sundarijal for about 4 hours to reach Bishnudwar. Entrants aiming to hike in the Shivapuri NP region will be charged Rs 100 per person for Nepali citizens. If you are a foreigner, Rs. 600 for SAARC nationals and Rs. 1000 for others will be charged accordingly.
Dhap Dam hiking from Sundarijal (11 km) is also another alternative hiking adventure you can sign up for. From Mulkharka, after exploring the Tamang settlement area and local lunch, you can hike to Haibung, among the Shivapuri Forest, and reach Dhap Dam within 3 hours of walking.
Jamchen stupa hike is also a holy trail, which one can remember with quick refreshments with a group of friends. Jamacho hiking from Bypass in the Nagarjun forest is another exciting hike near Kathmandu.
Tarebhir Hiking is a popular hiking destination near Kathmandu. It is around a 3-hour round trip for Tarebhir hiking, approximately 5 kilometers from Krishna Mandir (in Jagdol, Gokarneshwor), on the northeastern side of Kathmandu.
Nagarkot, located 23 kilometers from Kathmandu, is a popular hill station renowned for its magnificent sunrise viewpoint. Starting your drive from Sali Nadi, following the Kamalakshi river, where Hindus revere the sacred site, you can drive for around 1 hour to reach Nagarkot.
After a brief visit to Swasthani Mata Mandir at Sankhu, you can continue your drive to Nagarkot in the Kageshwori Manohara Municipality. There are several alternative routes for Nagarkot hiking; let’s look at what they are.
Besides, you can opt for the Nagarkot sunrise tour from View Tower with a full-day hiking plan. Adding a side trail to Namo Buddha with your bunch of friends can get even better. After a short walk, one can also extend the plan to visit Pancha Mahalaxmi Mandir, which is around 6 km from Hotel Mystic Mountain via Nagarkot Road.
Maha Manjushree Nagarkot municipality has many unexplored terrains, be it Bojinee Dam, Trishul Danda, Buddha Peace Park, Nagarkot Waterfall, Harihar Temple, or Nagarkot Geodic Survey Tower. Sudal Gumba is yet another beautiful landscape monastery about 8 km from Nagarkot, where people come for meditation. This is a 1-hour hike from Bojinee Dam via the Bageshori-Nagarkot road.
Trishul Danda is located about 6.6 kilometers from Nagarkot. Use Google Maps to effectively navigate this area. If you are planning a night stay in Nagarkot with your partner, make sure you take advantage of the adventure of exploring Nagarkot from a different angle.
An extended trip can also be taken towards Jarsing Pauwa Buddha Stupa, Bhotechaur, and Nayagaun, again based on your preference. The beautiful hill station of Nagarkot provides the immense pleasure of exploration, making it worth it.
Get eye-catching views of the Annapurna, Langtang, Manaslu, Jugal, Maha Langur, and Ganesh Himal range from the hilltops of Nagarkot.
Kalu Pande Dahachowk hiking is located in the north of Kathmandu valley, around 8 km from Kalanki. The hiking destination offers stunning views of the valley, Indra Daha, Kalika Mandir, Manakamana Mandir (Dahachok), and Sim Dhara waterfall.
Kalu Pande Memorial Park is located in the Bad Bhanjyang village of Chandragiri Municipality-1. The cremation area offers a look back at the contributions of warriors. Do you know if you can start the hike from Purano Naikap?
Before reaching Kalu Pandey Chowk, you can also visit Switzerland Park, Bindhyabsini temple at a height with a few staircases, passing an aura of Nava Durga Bhawani, and Navagraha, which is a total of 4 km in distance before reaching Kalu Pandey Chowk. Batase Danda, Sim Dhara, Panchakaniya Devi Mandir, and Patale Jharana are the other main highlights of this region.
Opposite of it is Dhaireni Danda, which is also worth exploring in the spring. Daha Chowk Pani Hill hiking also shares the laughter and fun of togetherness.
Pharping is a hilltop, near Kathmandu Valley, around 17 km, offering unique religious and historical significance. Hiking adventures in Pharping can be worthwhile, as you can access Bhundole Chaur through two different hiking routes (purano Dakshinkali and Sundol, two major entry points) via walk or mountain biking.
Shree Vajrayogini temple is situated within a 2-kilometer radius of Dakchhinkali temple. Devotees can not only learn about the temple but also visit Pharping’s major attractions, Asura Cave, where Buddhist monks meditate, Shesh Narayan Temple, and Purano Dakshinkali Temple.
The locals of Pharping celebrate the Vajrayogini Jatra, which is performed in the Bhadra month of the Nepali calendar, honoring their deity. If you follow Kulekhani, Phakhel, and Pharping Road, your hiking destination, Bhundol, is just 4 km from the Pharping bus stop.
Bhasmasur Danda is a long hike from Pharping if you want to experience snow at a historic and mythical place. It’s around 22 km from Pharping by road, but as you navigate the Kharpa Trail, you can opt for shortcuts and cover the distance within 2 to 3 hours.
From Thankot, if you want to hike to Chandragiri Hills and make Darshan of Bhaleshwor Mahadev, you can hike for around 1 hour to reach there. Besides, you can also hike to Chitlang, alternatively from Thankot, and make the most of your adventure spirit with a like-minded bunch of friends. Mountain biking from Chandragiri to Kulekhani is yet another exciting one you can try, which is around 20 to 30 km on stone paths.
If we have missed some other hiking routes, we would like to give you a bonus hiking area near Kathmandu. Let’s see what they are:
The Lakuri Bhanjyang hike is a moderate hike taking upwards of around 5 km from Sisneri. Getting to the Lakuri Bhanjyang viewpoint is around 1.5 hours of walking. Rest in the Bhanjyang, explore the surroundings, and enjoy yourself with your loved ones. Also, cycling in this area offers exciting adventures.
The Panch Mane Hike is a challenging hike that allows you to explore. Take a bus ride to Tinpiple from NAC, and then hike to the Bhuwaneshowri temple and sunset point. Also, you can include a side trail of Shanti Dham and Tarkeshwor Temple spread over an 8-kilometer radius. Bike rides and exploring this area can also be started.
It takes around 18 km through the Pasang Lhamu Highway to reach Kakani Area. It is a popular picnic spot in Nuwakot, with an opportunity to savor fresh trout fish. On the way, you can also see Osho Tapoban. The serene pine forests for cycling and biking fun away from the bustling capital, Kathmandu, rest at the northwest hill station of Kathmandu. Take a public bus ride from Balaju bus park and reach there.
Nepal is a hiking haven with diverse landscapes, breathtaking mountain scenery, and hill stations. There are a multitude of hiking experiences waiting at different elevations. It leads you through trails with dense pine forests, traditional villages, and cascading waterfalls.
Choose your hiking adventure, as we have presented some top-choice hiking routes near Kathmandu. Do you prefer Nagarkot hiking or Bagdwar hiking? What has been exciting for you for a long time? Leave your insights!
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