Kakani Shivapuri trek route is yet another short and diverse trekking trail available in Kathmandu Valley. This is a quiet and more pristine destination ideally suitable for short trekking holiday with family, friends and children. The trek starts at Kakani reached with a pleasant drive about 25 kilometers northwest of Kathmandu.
The Shivapuri trek offers excellent mountain views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Gaurishankar, Manaslu and the Annapurna from Suryachaur. This lush green trek is an extension of Sundarijal Nagarkot trek which is undertaken mostly within Nepal’s latest Shivapuri National Park. Kakani hiking is a popular day trip available among many short trails within the park.
Brief Itinerary:
| Day | Route | Altitude | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Drive to Kakani and trek to Aaledanda | 1,982m/6,502ft | Trek: 4-5 hours |
| 02 | Trek Aalendanda to Shivapuri | 2,732m/8,963ft | Trek: 5-6 hours |
| 03 | Trek Shivapuri to Chisapani | 2,215m/7,267ft | Trek: 5-6 hours |
| 04 | Trek Chisapani to Nagarkot | 2,195m/7,201ft | Trek: 4-5 hours |
| 05 | Trek to Banepa and drive back to Kathmandu | 1,350m/4,430ft | Trek: 4-5 hours |
This is the only national park located in the capital city in less than 20 kilometers from the international airport. The park is a famous watershed area and the biggest resources of Kathmandu’s drinking water supply. Likewise, the trek offers beautiful landscape and great views of over 30 snowy peaks including lifestyles, history, culture, religion and traditions of different people living nearby the Kathmandu Valley.
The Kakani Shivapuri trek is also a blend of wilderness, great scenery of Kathmandu Valley, traditional villages and farming lands. Finally, the ultimate section of the trek takes us through Nagarkot to Banepa. Nagarkot offers the spectacular views of the Himalayas in a clear weather. Hence Nagarkot refers to as a hill station and popular among the visitors to Nepal.
Park Highlights
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) lies towards the north of Kathmandu Valley covering an area of 159 sq. km and established in 2002 AD. SNNP has two islands of forests namely Shivapuri and Nagarjun. Heavy sub-urban population has surrounded the park area. Its elevation expands from 1,350 meters to 2,732 meters from sea level.
Among the 12 national parks, the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is a lonely park to represent mid-hill ecosystem of Nepal. It is mainly famous for globally threatened wildlife, birds and butterflies. The park has subtropical to lower temperate forests and associated vegetation. People living around the park follow Hindu and Buddhist religion with a mixed type of Aryan and Mongolian culture.
The park has some important pilgrimage destinations including Nagi Gumba, Bagdwar, Bishnudwar, Jamacho, Manichud Mahadev, Kageshwori, Sundarimai, Tarkeshwor and Pachali Bhairav. It is also famous for short hiking, camping, picnic as well as adventure activities such as; rock climbing, canyoning, mountain biking through the lush and ancient village trails.
Best Time for Kakani Shivapuri Trek
Trekking around Kathmandu Valley is actually possible throughout the year. There are two main seasons popular as the best time for trekking in the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park.
High Season: March to May and September to November are the high seasons for Kakani Shivapuri trek. The spring is a blooming time and the autumn has a clear sky just after the monsoon. Both seasons offer the spectacular views of the mountains, landscapes, villages and the Kathmandu Valley of course.
Low Season: The other months are regarded as low seasons and it is possible to trek during summer and winter through the park. Days in summer can be very hot while it can be very cold at night in winter for a couple of nights. A good sleeping bag and some warm gears are enough for the winter trek though.
Overview
- Mixed culture of Tamang, Newar, Kshetri and Brahmin societies
- Bird’s eye view of Kathmandu Valley
- The panoramic views of Langtang, Ganesh and Jugal Himal
- The great countryside, terrace farming and beautiful landscapes
- The diversity of flora and fauna including some rare bird species
- The best sunrise and sunset views
