Trekking · Kathmandu
Nala to Bhagwati Hike
A short cultural walk to the Bhagwati temple in the old Newar village of Nala in the Kavre hills.
The Nala to Bhagwati hike is a quiet, culture-first walk just beyond the eastern valley rim — an unhurried approach to the Bhagwati temple in the old Newar village of Nala, deep in the Kavre hills. It rewards walkers who want a genuine, lived-in destination rather than a crowded viewpoint, and it sits among the most rewarding routes in our eastern valley rim hikes collection.
The short answer
Walk into Nala village in Kavrepalanchok and up to its Bhagwati temple — a half-day of roughly 6 to 10 kilometres over two to four hours, depending on whether you approach over the ridge from Nagarkot or in from Banepa. It is easy to moderate, mostly gentle, and ends at a tiered Newar temple square in one of the valley's most traditional settlements.
The route
Many walkers reach Nala by descending the ridge from Nagarkot, while others come in from the Araniko Highway near Banepa and add a loop through the surrounding farmland. Either way the trail crosses terraced fields and small hamlets, with the green, temple-dotted Kavre valley opening around you. The path is quieter and less signposted than the main Changunarayan route, so a map app or local directions help.
Nala and its Bhagwati temple
Nala keeps its old brick houses, carved windows and narrow lanes, and at its heart stands the Bhagwati temple — a multi-tiered Newar pagoda to the goddess Bhagwati, a form of Durga. A short way off sits the Karunamaya (Lokeshwar) temple, an important Buddhist sanctuary beside a pond, linked in tradition to the Rato Machhindranath of the Kathmandu Valley. The pairing of Hindu and Buddhist shrines in one small village is classic Newar religion.
Good to know
- Visit the temple square in the morning for cool light and active worship.
- Carry water, snacks and cash; there are no tourist facilities in the village.
- Dress modestly at the Bhagwati and Karunamaya shrines.
- Arrange onward transport from Nala or nearby Banepa.
Combine it
Nala pairs naturally with a continuation toward the hill town of Dhulikhel and the Buddhist hilltop on the Dhulikhel to Namobuddha hike. For a busier, classic descent off the ridge instead, see the Nagarkot to Changunarayan hike, and for the wider region browse the best day hikes near Kathmandu.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nala to Bhagwati hike?+
It is a short walk to and around the Bhagwati temple in Nala, an old Newar village in Kavrepalanchok just beyond the eastern Kathmandu Valley rim. The route combines a gentle approach through farmland with a visit to the village's tiered temple square and nearby Karunamaya shrine.
How long is the Nala to Bhagwati walk?+
The temple visit itself is short, but most people combine it with a walk in from the ridge or from Banepa, making a half-day of roughly 6 to 10 kilometres over two to four hours, depending on the approach chosen and how long you linger in the village.
What is the Bhagwati temple in Nala?+
It is a multi-tiered Newar pagoda dedicated to the goddess Bhagwati, a form of Durga, standing in the central square of Nala village. It is an active shrine, busiest during Dashain, set among old brick houses and narrow lanes.
How do you get to Nala?+
Nala lies just off the Araniko Highway near Banepa, about an hour to ninety minutes east of Kathmandu by road. You can drive or bus to the village, or walk in over the ridge from Nagarkot; from Banepa, frequent transport runs back toward Bhaktapur and the city.
