Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
The green wall on Kathmandu's northern rim — a forested watershed park of day hikes, birdlife and viewpoints reachable within an hour of the city.
- Altitude
- 2,732 m
- Coordinates
- 27.817°, 85.383°
Current Weather
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park forms the forested northern rim of the Kathmandu Valley, the only national park within reach of a city day-trip. Shivapuri was protected as a watershed reserve from 2002 and upgraded to a national park in 2009, with the Nagarjun forest block added soon after, bringing the total to 159 square kilometres.
The park is the valley's principal water source, its mid-hill forest of oak, pine and rhododendron feeding the springs and rivers that supply Kathmandu. Despite its proximity to the capital it shelters genuine wildlife — leopard, Himalayan black bear, jungle cat and more than 300 species of bird, making it one of the best birding sites near Kathmandu.
Shivapuri peak (2,732m) offers a clear-day panorama of the Ganesh, Langtang and even Annapurna ranges, while the slopes hold sites of spiritual significance: the Bagdwar source of the Bagmati River, the Nagi Gompa nunnery, and forest meditation centres.
Entry points at Budhanilkantha, Pani Muhan and the Nagarjun gate near Balaju put the park within an hour of central Kathmandu, making it the city's favourite escape for hiking, trail running and birdwatching. It is walkable year-round, with the clearest mountain views from October to March.
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