Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is connected with the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. It is located in The northern part of the Kathmandu Valley rises to the sprawling forests of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park.
This protected area of capital city was upgraded to national park status in 2002 to protect the Kathmandu valley’s main water source. National park also protects as well as 177 species of birds and numerous rare orchids.
This is one of the last areas of primary woodland left in the valley, and the forest is alive with monkeys, leopards and bears.
The Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is formed with two distinct zones by the roads running north from Kathmandu. The bulk of the park lies immediately north of Buddhanilkantha, on the trekking route to Helambu, but there’s a second forested zone, the erstwhile Rani Ban, uphill from Balaju on the road towards Trisuli Bazaar, encircling 2095m Nagarjun Hill.
The park area is surrounded by a heavy sub-urban population. The Buffer Zone (BZ) of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park was declared in 2016AD. The objectives of BZ is to conserve and manage forests to fulfill the daily basic needs of the local community residing in the periphery of the Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. It covers an area of 118.61 km2, which covers part of Kathmandu, Nuwakot Sindhupalchok and Dhading districts.
There are 14,558 households with a population of 79,776 residing in the BZ. The National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973 BS has made a provision of plowing back 30-50% of the Park’s revenue into community development and conservation of the buffer zone.
Table of Contents
Highlights of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
- ->An important biological corridor that links north-south corridors
- ->Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA)
- ->A major source of freshwater for the Kathmandu valley and buffer zone, fulfilling about 50 percent surface water demand.
- ->One of the major tourist destinations near the capital city
- ->A potential area for research and exploration
- ->A site for conservation education for students and researchers
- ->A sink for the air pollution generated by the Kathmandu Valley
- ->Watershed conservation of Bagmati, Bishnumati, Trishuli and Indrabati river
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Major Attractions of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
The major attractions of the park are a scenic view, biodiversity, forest environment, wilderness, fauna, spirituals fitness, religious sites, trekking, and hiking.
Shivapuri peak is a holy place for both Hindus and Buddhists and the source of holy rivers Bagmati and Bishnumati. There is lots of major attraction in shivapuri national park with scenic view of natural attraction where many visitors and tourist hike and does multi day camping trek.
Nagi Monastery, temple at Bishnu Dwar and Bagdwar are emblem of religious harmony existed in the national park.
Not only natural attraction , Shivapuri national park has important pilgrimage destinations including Bagdwar, Bishnudwar, Jamacho, Buddha Gupha as well as Manichud Mahadev, Kageshwori, Sundarimai, Baudeshwor, Tarkeshowr, Pachali Bhairav, and Nagi Gumba.
All these destination inside the national park that provides opportunities for recreation, hiking, spiritual fitness, and wilderness. Nepalgram tour/trek operators conduct regular tourism activities like a day-hike to Shivapuri Peak, Bagdwar hike, Bishnudwars-Shivapuri peak-Sundarijal circuit hike.
The other popular activities within the national park are bird watching, jungle walks, cycling, hiking, and trekking.
Weather in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
The national park lies in a transition zone between subtropical and medium temperature climate. The annual precipitation of about 1,400mm (55 in) falls mostly from May to September, with 80% during monsoon.
Temperatures vary from 2–17 °C (36–63 °F) during the winter season, rising to 19–30 °C (66–86 °F) during the summer season. National park is famous for hiking near Kathmandu. Multi day trek or one day hike can be chosen by visitor according to their time frame.
Getting to Shivapuri National Park
The cheapest way to get from Kathmandu to Muhanpokhari is to drive which costs $20 – $25 and takes 22 min. The distance between Kathmandu and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is 12 km. The road distance is 17.2 km.
Muhan pokhari is the Shivapuri national park main entrance gate. Entrance and the entire perimeter is under Nepal army’s protection.
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