A Day Hike to Chandragiri

About A Day Hike to Chandragiri

One of the newest yet gorgeous day hikes around Kathmandu valley – the Chandragiri hill hike offers you the chance to explore nature and history simultaneously. Situated at the south with the height of 2250 covered by evergreen forest, 14.5 km far from center Thamel, Chandragiri is the perfect view viewpoint where the mountain views are awesome, the hills are look greeneries and refreshed, the trails are quitter where you will get rid of the rustic lifestyles, the birds and wildlife seen enjoying the nature. All in all, this trip is best for those who have a short time but want to fulfill an unlimited thirst for adventure.

A 30-40 minutes short drive west from Kathmandu following Prithivi Highway brings us to the base of Chandragiri hill, which is now quite popular as a cable car station, where our adventure begins. A hiking route near this station serves as your beginning point for making your way through a lush jungle plentiful with exotic plants, animals, and birdlife.

It is somehow steep ascent and takes around three hours to touch Chandragiri hill. So follow your leader, maintain your own pace, drink water frequently, get some nutritious snacks; you definitely make this journey!

Once you reach the top, you will be amazed by the views.  Situated at 2520m above sea level, Chandragiri hill is a perfect combination of natural sceneries, religious values, and cultural aspects. Vivid perspectives of mountains from Mt. Dhaulagiri (7th tallest peak) in the west to Mt. Everest (the tallest peak) in including Mt. Annapurna I (10th tallest peak), Annapurna south, Machhapuchhare, Annapurna II, III, & IV,  Mt. Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Mt. Manaslu (8th tallest peak), Mt. Gauri Shankar, Jugal Himal, and several their neighboring peaks await you.

ON the top of the Chandragiri, a well-known Hindu temple-Bhaleshwor Mahadev, is established. Legends explain that Shiva's first partner, Sati Devi (a popular Hindu goddess), sacrificed her life at Dakshya Prajapati’s Yagya (sacred fireplace) after Daksha(her father) insulted Shiva (her beloved and one of the most popular Hindu gods) in front of other divinities.

Shiva, enraged with his beloved (Sati Devi), carried her dead body on his back and walked across the world in wrath. Shiva is botched to realize that Sati Devi's body was decaying and falling parts at different places, Blinded by his own ferocity. Where there the organs fell, pilgrimages were later established at these sites. Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple tends to be built on the site where Sati Devi's forehead (Bhala) dropped. Thousands of Hindu devotees reach the Bhaleshwor temple each year to pay their respects.

You need not worry about the lunch at this hike as there are some restaurants are built nearby the hill. After exploring the surroundings, capturing the beautiful photogenic scenes, having lunch with the beautiful mountain views, we hike back to the beginning point of the hike and drive back to your hotel.

Chandragiri is facilitated with cable cars since 2016. So first, if you are tired and could not hike back, you can ride a cable car and back to its base (beginning point of the trek) before driving back to the hotel. Next, if you have a problem hiking upward, you can choose a cable ride to the hilltop and hike back to its beginning point. Either way, you choose, I bet this journey will be one of the most beautiful memories throughout your life.