Sundarijal Dam, Waterfall & Forest Walk

The easiest nature escape from Kathmandu — a 30-minute uphill walk from the Sundarijal road terminus to the dam, waterfall, and forest edge of Shivapuri National Park. Sundarijal sits inside Gokarneshwar Municipality, 15 km northeast of Kathmandu via Gokarna. The trail begins at the bus terminus / vehicle parking where the road ends, and follows stone-paved steps alongside a cascading stream uphill through dense forest. Within 1.5 km you reach the Sundarijal Dam — the historic water supply reservoir that has fed Kathmandu's drinking water network since the 1960s — and the waterfall immediately above it, where the Bishnumati tributary pours down from the Shivapuri forest. The dam wall and reservoir infrastructure create an unexpected industrial backdrop against the forest — photogenic in a way few visitors expect. The waterfall beyond is two-tiered, visible from a stone platform beside the water treatment station. During monsoon the falls thunder; in autumn they run clear and cold. The trail ends at the Shivapuri NP entrance gate (where a separate park ticket is required if you want to continue inside). Most people spend 1.5–2 hours here total — the walk up, time at the dam and falls, and the shorter descent. A perfect add-on to a Gokarna or Boudha visit.