Nagarjuna Hill Excursion
Nagarjuna Hill, covered with the protected forest, is rich in fauna and flora, and one may sight spotted leopard, wild boar, deer and many birds. The Park is dense, with a middle hill forest of 1,000 to 1,800 metres above sea level.
The Nagarjuna Hill is one of the nearest hiking points in Kathmandu Valley, into the Shivapuri-Nagarjuna National Park. The Park was established in 1976 and gazetted as the ninth National Park of Nepal in 2002. Nagarjuna Hill, covered with the protected forest, is rich in fauna and flora, and one may sight spotted leopard, wild boar, deer and many birds. The Park is dense, with a middle hill forest of 1,000 to 1,800 metres above sea level. It consists of the subtropical broadleaf forests of evergreen species in the lower parts and upper subtropical forest with Chir pine, wild Himalayan cherry, oak and laurel families mixed with rhododendron species. The Park area, recorded with 129 mushrooms and 2,122 floral species, is the watershed for most evergreen water springs that feed the densely inhabited Kathmandu Valley.
The hiking starting point is just 3 kilometres away from the centre of Thamel, Kathmandu. This beautiful day excursion takes 3 hours of easy hiking from the checking point entrance at Balaju. Nagarjuna is a special place for local Buddhist communities, and it is fabled far and wide in Tibet and Bhutan. The name of the mountain Nagarjuna comes after one of the most prominent Buddhist philosophers, Nagarjuna, founder of the Madhyamika school of Mahayana Buddhism and the head of the Nalanda University. The Newari people of Kathmandu Valley know the hill by the name Jamacho, and the Sherpas and the Tibetans know the hill as Langda Lungda. This sacred hill is also known as Vindya Hill, the tallest hill. The mountain top has a Buddhist monastery and a Stupa. The site is not to miss if one visits Kathmandu for all Buddhist flowers and nature lovers. The belief is that if one cannot reach Nagarjuna Hill, there is a stupa, at Bhagwan Bahal, at the heart of Thamel, and visiting it equals visiting Nagarjuna Hill. From the top of Nagarjuna, there is an excellent view of Kathmandu with Swayambunath Stupa and the mountain sceneries of Langtang, Jugal and Ganesh.
Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, your guide and driver reach your hotel. Take a drive of 4 kilometres to the northeast of Kathmandu. Reach the national park entry point at Balaju in 20 minutes. We leave the vehicle and get checked into the National Park Area, registering our names and paying the entry permit fees. From the beginning, the hiking goes through the hill ridge with a lush forest area offering beautiful views of Kathmandu Valley.
In about 2 ½ to 3 hours of walking in nature, we reach the top of the Nagarjuna, decorated with colourful prayer flags by Buddhist devotees. There is also a view-finding tower on the top, with 360-degree views. Those unwilling to walk up or down or both ways can enjoy a jeep ride.
We stop for a packed lunch, enjoy the magnificent views around with the flattering sound of the prayer flags, and walk down to Balaju. Arrive at your hotel and be free on your own.
