Located on the outskirts of Kathmandu, in the northern part of the valley, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is one beautiful place to escape to and a great destination for a day trip near Kathmandu.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park offers some fine options for outdoor enthusiasts. There are lots of trails inside the National Park, from a simple 2-hour walk to longer routes. But it isn’t all! Shivapuri is also an amazing place for mountain biking, rock climbing, birdwatching, butterfly watching and canyoning.
The National Park was established in 2002 and comprises two parks: the ‘Shivapuri Park’ and the ‘Nagarjun Park’. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park’s most famous hiking trails are:
• Budhanilkantha – Shivapuri Peak via the nunnery Nagi Gompa.
• Sundarijal – Chisapani (which is also the start of the Helambu trek).
• Pani Muhan – Kakani via Shivapuri Peak.
• Jamacho Peak in Nagarjun.
Highest peak: Shivapuri Peak (2,732m), the second highest peak in the Kathmandu Valley (after Phulchowki, 2,795m).
Status: 9th National Park of Nepal (established in 2002).
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the source of the holy Bagmati river. It is also the primary drinking water source of Kathmandu.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park hosts a myriad of wildlife, including clouded leopards, leopard cats, Indian civets, golden jackals, Himalayan black bears, yellow-throated martens, Asian mongooses, Himalayan gorals, barking deer, wild boars, rhesus monkeys, Hanuman langurs, Chinese pangolins, Indian pangolins, and bats.
The National Park is home to 318 species of birds and 106 species of moths and butterflies.
Know that you can choose your guide beforehand and if you choose well (more specifically a birding and wildlife guide), it can increase your chances of seeing wildlife you may not otherwise notice.
Inclusive of VAT