Brisk weather coupled with scenic ambience is the perfect setting to indulge in a beautiful hike. The Kathmandu valley has numerous destinations featuring such chemistry, where one can rekindle their spirit in nature and experience serenity. These hikes range between three to six hours and can be coupled with your existing itinerary to enhance the experience.
In part I of this article, we explore the destination of Champadevi one of the highest viewpoints in Kathmandu Valley along with a hike from Nagarkot to Changu Narayan Temple in Bhaktapur.
Champadevi Hill
Altitude: 2,285 metres
Duration: 3 to 6 hours depending upon the trail taken
Highlights: Scenic pine forests, religious monuments such as stupas and monasteries, panoramic mountain views
Situated in the south-eastern corner of Kathmandu Valley, parts of this hill lie in the district of Makwanpur. Reaching the summit of Champadevi has several routes, but the most popular is through the Dollu Valley. A natural pine forest with grassy ridges creates a great ambience along with brisk weather even during peak summer.
Simple hiking gear with amenities of snacks, bottled water is recommended for this trip. During the monsoon, hikers must be cautious of leeches, if not protected correctly they can cause hinderance.
The route begins from Haatiban; the well-trodden trail makes it easy to follow. This route takes around three hours to Champadevi and back. Averaging 2,285 metres in altitude a day with perfect weather allows majestic panoramic views of Mt. Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Lantang Himal, Jugal Himal along with the Gaurishanker mountain range.
Another route to Champadevi begins from an outskirt town called Pharping which is 14.7 kilometres from the city of Lalitpur. The hike from Pharping to the summit of Champadevi also averages a total of three hours.
The summit is also reachable from the roads near Taudaha Lake. This route isn’t the most popular as one has to hike dirt roads until they reach the forest area. The trail from here is steep and leads to the point of Hattiban. Totalling 4 to 6 hours, it is best one begins the hike from Haatiban itself rather than Taudaha.
To reach the starting destination of this hike one can take the bus which leaves from Old Bus Park near Thamel. One should search for the bus that heads to Dakshinkali; get a ticket and disembark at points of either Haatiban, Pharping or Taudaha.
Nagarkot to Changu Narayan Temple
Altitude: 2,175 metres
Duration: 4 to 5 Hours
Highlights: Nagarkot Panoramic Hiking Trail, Sunrise & Sunset view, Changu Narayan Temple, Buddhist and Hindu monuments, mountain views
Nagarkot has gained popularity amongst the citizens of Kathmandu valley to being a quick and easy destination to escape the city life. Thirty-two kilometres from Kathmandu valley, the drive to Nagarkot is close to an hour. Nagarkot itself has multiple hiking trails one can experience, with the Nagarkot Panoramic Hiking Trail being the most popular. Famous for offering a vista; magnificent sunrise and sunset and panoramic views of the snow-capped Himalayas. The ranges of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Lantang, Jugal, Rolwaling, Mahalangur and Numbur are sightable along with the Kathmandu valley given proper weather conditions.
Enthusiasts, however, can hike from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur via Changu Narayan to spice up the trip.
After experiencing what Nagarkot has to offer and a nights rest, one may begin the hike to Changu Narayan in the morning. Taking up to four or five hours, the trail from Nagarkot is well-trodden and mostly downhill. Offering picturesque views of mountains, hills that surround Kathmandu Valley; Himalayan mountain ranges; scenic villages; ancient temples and Kathmandu valley this hike comes to an end at the Changu Narayan Temple.
Dating back to the 4th century, Changu Narayan Temple is one of the oldest temples within the Kathmandu valley and holds the utmost significance. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, regarded as the preserver in the Hindu triad (Trimurti). The principal shrine dates back to 325 AD. The premises also features the oldest stone slab dating back to the 5th century featuring inscriptions from the Licchavi Era of Nepal Mandala.
Four kilometres from the city of Bhaktapur, one can savour traditional Newari cuisine overlooking the architectural marvels at Bhaktapur Durbar Square post-hike. One can easily catch a bus back to Kathmandu from various bus stops around Bhaktapur.
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