Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Popular as trekking, hiking and recreation area, the park offers the nearest retreat from Kathmandu. The park was established as a Watershed and Wildlife Reserve in 1976 and was declared as a national park in 2002 for the protection of its flora and fauna. It covers an area of 159 sq. km and is a true representation of the mid hills. While there are 13 trekking routes inside the reserve itself, the most popular is the trekking route to Helambu.
Flora and Fauna
Shivapuri Nagarjun National park has a high diversity of forest types (sal, Terai hardwood, mixed hardwood, chir pine and oak). A total of 129 species of mushroom, 150 species of butterfly (many endemic and rare), 177 species of birds and 19 species of mammal have been recorded in the park. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park has been shelter of Himalayan black bear, leopard, barking deer, wild boar, wildcat, rhesus monkey and langur monkey and 9 endangered species of birds.
Highlights
The hike starts from the base of Shivapri Hill near Budanilkhanta. We will drive till the national park entrance. The trail climbs past monastery through the forest to Bagdwar with shrines and hermitages. From there another hour's climb take us to the top with panoramic view of Ganesh Himal, Jugal Himal and Manaslu Range.
Route : Kakani - Shivapuri - Chisopani - Nagarkot
Duration: 3 - 4 days
Grade: Easy
Mode of Trekking : Teahouse / Camping
Himalayas : Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Jugal Himal
Day 01: Drive through Nagarjun to kakani (40 mints / 2,066m) from where we will start trekking. We will enter into National park and follow contour to get to Shivapuri (2,732m).
Day 02: Trek to Chisapani (2,194m).
Day 03: Trek along the ridge to Nagarkot (2,100m).
Day 04: You can either trek to Changunarayan for four hrs or drive back to Kathmandu.
Nagarkot - Changunarayan Hiking could be planned as day hike to couple of days package with overnight in Nagarkot. You can start your day before dawn to get to the Nagarkot tower for sunrise view and then start a hike to Changunarayan after breakfast. For two day's program, you will be driven to Bhaktapur after breakfast at your Hotel in Kathmandu. After half day tour of Bhaktapur, drive for half an hour to Nagarkot. Spend the night in Nagarkot. Nagarkot is overlooking at almost the 400 km stretch of the Himalaya. Start your hiking to Changunarayan after breakfast.