Bagdwar Waterfall Forest Hike

Follow the Bagmati upstream through one of Kathmandu's finest forest corridors. Enter Shivapuri NP at the Budhanilkantha gate and hike 3.5 km through dense oak, rhododendron, and bamboo forest to Bagdwar — the source spring of the Bagmati River. The trail climbs steadily but is well-marked, shaded, and alive with birdsong. At Bagdwar you'll find a stone shrine at the river's origin, a small waterfall, and an atmosphere that feels completely removed from the valley below. The forest on this route is old-growth, and on clear days the trail opens to views of Shivapuri ridge above. Many hikers combine this with a visit to Nagi Gumba monastery on the return leg. Altitude at trailhead: 1,475 m. Altitude at Bagdwar: ~2,100 m. Pure hiking — there is no vehicle access beyond the park gate. Entry permit: Shivapuri-Nagarjun National Park fee — NPR 100 Nepali / NPR 600 SAARC / NPR 1,000 foreign, paid at the main gate. No TIMS required.