General

Combining the best of nature with some typical local life, gorgeous Himalayan views, captivating sunset and ethereal sunrise from Chisapani and Nagarkot, this hike makes for an ideal vacation in a matter of three days. The trip starts with a short drive to Sundarijal, a popular hangout and busy picnic spot in the north of Kathmandu. Falling inside the boundaries of Shivapuri National Park, this is a place of cool shades, tall trees, beautiful streams and serene atmosphere — all in striking contrast to the noise and crowd of the city.

Leaving aside a few settlements on the way, the hike trail passes through forest to Chisapani, the destination of the first day. Chisapani is a mixed settlement of Brahmins, Gurungs, and Sherpas. The village also commands a beautiful view of the large section of the Himalayan range, which emits an ethereal glow in the setting sunlight.

All along the forest through Shivapuri National Park with only occasional settlements, we reach Nagarkot, the most popular vantage point to the east of Kathmandu. In clear weather, an extended portion of the Himalayas, starting from the Dhaulagiri in the west to Mt Everest and Kanchanjunga in the far east glue your eyes to them. Wake up early in the morning to view the sunrise. Only now do you feel the full force of the charming glow the Himalayan range exudes, when the fresh rays of the rising sun strike it. Finally, you can either choose to take a hike to Changunarayan and drive from there to Kathmandu. Or you can also drive directly from there, ending a memorable journey of your life.

Day 1: Drive to Sundarijal and Hike to Chisapani; 5 hours’ hike  After having breakfast a bit early in the morning, we drive to Sundarijal. It is a busy picnic spot of the valley-dwellers on public holidays. Lush greenery, sources of water and serene environment greet us as soon as we reach there. From here, our hike to Chisapani starts. Walking through a few settlements and a lot of forest with variety of birds and chances of sighting animals, we arrive at Chisapani. There is an added fun of having packed lunch on the way. The total duration of the hike is nearly five hours. Chisapani is a Sherpa village, offering grand views of the mountains. Relieve yourself in the evening by watching a picturesque sunset from the village, and retire to a teahouse to spend the night. Day 2: Hike to Nagarkot from Chisapani; 7 hours’ hike  We get up in the morning, have our breakfast and head towards Nagarkot from Chisapani. This is a relatively demanding day that requires you to walk for about 7 hours. But the trail passes mostly through dense forest of the national park, making you forget the tiredness. We pause our hike for a while in Chauki Bhanjyang or Jhule to have lunch and take a short rest. Then we continue along the idyllic countryside to Nagarkot, a hilltop to the east of Kathmandu offers unmatched scenery of innumerable peaks along a large section of the Himalayas. Surely the setting sun fires your spirit and inspires your imagination with the shades of colour it leaves on the Himalayas. In the evening, stay in a good hotel of the area. Day 3: Hike from Nagarkot to Changunarayan and Drive to Kathmandu  Or Direct Drive to Kathmandu from Nagarkot Wake up early in the morning today to welcome once-in-a-lifetime sunrise view. Before the fresh morning rays reach your eye, they hit the tip of the peaks and majestically descend downwards. The shine of rays and the glimmer of snow-clad tops and slopes of mountains completely mesmerize your senses. After having breakfast, you can choose to hike to Changunarayan, a UNESCO world heritage site. We take lunch in Telkot. En route lie pleasant views of farm terraces and of Kathmandu valley. Or you can drive straight to Kathmandu from Nagarkot, and have your lunch in a fine restaurant in Kathmandu and explore the city during the rest of the day.

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