Nagi Gompa day hiking

Nagi Gompa is a Buddhist monastery located in the hills north of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is a popular destination for day hikes due to its beautiful scenery, cultural significance, and accessibility from the city.

The hike to Nagi Gompa starts from the town of Shivapuri and takes around 3-4 hours to complete. The trail is well-maintained and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains and forests. Along the way, hikers may encounter local villagers and wildlife such as monkeys and deer.

Once you arrive at Nagi Gompa, you can explore the monastery and its surrounding grounds. The monastery is home to a community of nuns and offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. Visitors can learn about Tibetan Buddhism and participate in meditation sessions.

After visiting the monastery, hikers can either return to Shivapuri or continue on to other nearby attractions such as the village of Kapan or the Buddhist stupa at Boudhanath.

The best time to do Shivapuri Nagi Gompa Day Hike

Shivapuri is a short and easy climb near Kathmandu that can be done at any time of year. As a result, walking to Shivapuri can be planned at any time of year. However, the greatest season to hike Shivapuri is from September to early June.

The weather and temperatures are pleasant; the scenery is breathtaking, and the skies are mainly clear. Throughout the trekking trail in the spring (March to May), you will be greeted by rhododendron and other seasonal flower blossoms.

During the rainy months, particularly July and August, you may encounter slick stone steps but the hike is possible. Winter is also a great time to hike to Shivapuri Hill to experience the snowfall around the Kathmandu Valley.
Since day hikes are single-day trips, it doesn’t require accommodations so it is not included in the package.

However, we offer 3-star category accommodation with breakfast on a twin/double sharing basis. But the accommodation can be modified as per the traveler’s interest, budget and availability. Luxurious resorts, standard hotels to comfortable guesthouses, lodges, and homestays are available in Kathmandu.

Nagi Gompa Hike Difficulty Level

The Shivapuri Nagi Gumba Hike is a short day climb in Kathmandu and is rated as an easy hike within the Shivapuri-Nagarjun national park. The trail is well-established, well-maintained, and comfortable. Stairs are located throughout the hiking path to assist you in walking even if the terrain is treacherous.
Hikers with a moderate degree of fitness and a strong mental drive can easily accomplish this hike. Throughout the route, the hiker should walk gently uphill and downhill for over 6 hours.

Note: Hiking alone inside a national park is strictly prohibited; you must be accompanied by a guide (Tour/Nature). But, if you are walking alone, It is a must hike with a Guide, But Hiring a Guide on the Spot will cost unusually expensive.

Meals During the Hike to Shivapuri Nagi Gumba

Generally, if the location we are hiking towards consists of restaurants or cafes then we will have our meals and tea/coffee in those local restaurants/cafes. But if the destination doesn’t have any restaurants then our guide will take a packed lunchbox both veg and non-veg as per travelers’ choice, and a water bottle with him/her. We will enjoy the hygienically packed lunch overlooking the mesmerizing scenery seen from the hilltop.

What to Expect

Start your day with morning pickup by your guide and a scenic drive to the village of Budanilakantha. Located in the Shivapuri foothills, Budanilakantha contains the most sacred Hindu shrine for Hindu followers in Nepal. The shrine holds a Narayan (Lord Vishnu) statue that measures 16 feet (5 meters) and was carved from a single stone more than 1,000 years ago. From there, begin hiking through thick forest of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, passing waterfalls and typical villages. Keep an eye out for wildlife including a variety of birds. When you arrive at the convent of Nagi Ghompa, enjoy time to soak in the views and learn about the daily life of the nuns. Then trek down to the Budanilakantha and visit a local temple. At the end of your trek, your vehicle meets you to take you back to your Kathmandu hotel.

Hiking Time

This hike takes about 1.5 – 2 hours up and back. It is beautiful at the top and I recommend having a snack or picnic there. I’d plan to leave an extra hour for hanging out near the monastery.

Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by beautiful hill stations around its perimeter. So it is of no surprise that Kathmandu is really popular for day hikes. Phulchowki is the highest hill surrounding Kathmandu Valley located at an altitude of 2750 meters above sea level. To help you pack efficiently, we have prepared a gear list for Phulchowki Hike based on seasons. Nepal has four primary seasons:-

Winter: Winter in Nepal falls in January and February. It starts getting cooler after Christmas. The temperature is usually 0-4°C in the morning, 10-12°C at noon, and -1 to 0°C at night. So if you are planning to hike here any time after Christmas to the end of February then we suggest you wear long-sleeved t-shirts, hoodies or sweater/fleece, windproof and preferably waterproof jackets because Phulchowki has temporary snowfall during winter. Similarly, we suggest wearing beanies/hats, gloves, trousers, sports shoes/hiking hoots, and thermals if you prefer an extra layer of warmth. Carrying a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hiking poles would be ideal.

Spring: March to May are spring in Nepal. The temperature in these months during the morning ranges from 10-12°C, 22-24°C at noon, and 14-16°C at night. Since the weather is pleasant during spring, apart from the basic essentials mentioned below, all you need is some casual shirts, shorts or trousers, a couple of long sleeves, sports shoes/hiking boots, a water bottle, sunscreen, sun hat/cap, sunglasses, and an overall/light jacket because it might get a bit chilly at the top.

Summer/Monsoon: June, July, August, and September are summer months in Nepal. But we have a summer monsoon that occurs from Mid-June to Mid-September. The temperature of Kathmandu ranges from 18-20 °C in the morning, 28-32°C at noon, and 16-18°C at night. We do not suggest you hike while raining but apart that that, Summer Hiking in Phulchowki is ideal too. So, besides the regular items mentioned below, casual cotton wears, sunglasses, a sun hat/cap, an umbrella, or a raincoat are some essentials for the summer. Because this hike takes place in a lush forest, there might be some leeches if it rains the previous night. These leeches aren’t harmful but might cause nuisance so the trick is to carry salt and if leeches try and stick to your body then you could sprinkle salt.

Autumn/Fall: October, November, and December are autumn in Nepal. It is the best time for the Phulchowki hike due to the delightful weather and visibility of beautiful vistas seen along the way and from the hilltop.

The temperature during fall ranges from 8-10 °C in the morning, 22-25°C at noon, and 5-7°C at night. December is comparatively cooler than the other two months.

While hiking around Kathmandu during fall, you would be good to go with fleece/sweater or hoodies, hat/beanie, shawl/scarf, trousers, long-sleeved shirts, light jackets, or overalls, a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hiking boots or sports shoes.