Shivapuri National Park

Introducing Shivapuri National Park

The northern part of the Kathmandu Valley forms the Shivapuri National Park (4371644; admission foreigner/SAARC/Nepali Rs 250/25/10, car Rs 75, motorbike Rs 15), upgraded to national park status in 2002 to protect the valley's main water source, as well 177 species of birds, orchids, rhesus monkey and even, it is alleged, leopard and bear.

Several good hikes and mountain-bike routes criss-cross the park. The Scar Rd is one of the best biking routes in the valley and follows the old forestry road through the western part of the park.for details.

The Tibetan nunnery of Nagi Gompa is perched near the Tarebhir cliffs, on the lower slopes of the park, 3km from the main gate above Budhanilkantha. Bodhnath's Ka-Nying Sheldrup Ling Gompa holds retreats here for foreign students every November. It's a very bumpy 20-minute 4WD drive or a 1½ hour hike up to the nunnery, which has lovely views and is home to about 100 nuns.

From the gompa it's possible to hike up about 800 vertical metres (three hours) to Shivapuri peak (2725m), via Baghdwar (where the source of the holy Bagmati River pours out of two tiger mouths), then back down via the Pani Muhan water tank (near the park entrance), for a very long day of around seven hours. This is a serious hike that you shouldn't do alone. Take a map, plenty of water and preferably a guide.

An excellent alternative is to walk downhill from Nagi Gompa to Budhanilkantha, or continue down the ridgeline south to Kopan (three hours) and Bodhnath.

Another good mountain-bike or hiking option from Nagi Gompa is to follow the dirt road east to Mulkarkha and then descend to Sundarijal - a mostly level 11km trip.

Last updated: May 1, 2009