Shivapuri National Park Day Hiking

Drive a short distance from Kathmandu to Budhanilkantha, home to a colossal reclining Vishnu statue in a stone pond.

Pass through a Nepal Army checkpoint at the park entrance, a reminder that Shivapuri is a protected watershed, not just a hiking trail.

Climb through forest layered with pine, oak, rhododendron and bamboo as elevation builds.

Visit Nagi Gompa, a working Buddhist nunnery on the hillside, if your route includes it.

Reach Bagdwar, the stone spout marking the source of the Bagmati river, Kathmandu Valley's defining waterway.

Stand at Shivapuri Peak (2,732 m) for a wide view over Kathmandu Valley.

Spot langurs, deer and some of the park's 177 recorded bird species along the trail.

Eat a packed lunch at a viewpoint overlooking the surrounding hills.

Return to Kathmandu the same day with no overnight gear needed.