Nagarkot to Nala Hike

The Nagarkot to Nala hike is the quiet alternative to the busy Changu Narayan trail — a forested descent off the southern flank of the ridge to Nala, a small, traditional Newar village in Kavrepalanchok with its own temples and an unhurried, lived-in feel. It is a fine choice if you want a walk with a cultural pay-off and few other tourists.

The short answer

Walk downhill southwest off the Nagarkot ridge to Nala village — roughly 9 to 11 kilometres over three to four hours through forest and farmland. It is easy to moderate, mostly descending, and ends in an old Newar settlement from where a short ride to Banepa on the Araniko Highway connects you back toward Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, or on to Dhulikhel and Panauti.

The route

Leaving the ridge, the trail drops through pine forest and terraced farmland, passing scattered hamlets where life moves slowly. The path is quieter and less obviously marked than the main Changu Narayan route, so it rewards walkers who are comfortable following tracks with a map app or asking directions in the villages. As you lose height the Himalaya slip behind you and the green, temple-dotted Kavre valley opens ahead. The final approach brings you into the old core of Nala.

Nala village

Nala is the highlight at the end of the walk. Its central square holds the Bhagwati temple, a multi-tiered Newar shrine, while a short way off sits the Karunamaya (Lokeshwar) temple — an important Buddhist sanctuary set beside a pond, linked in tradition to the Rato Machhindranath of the Kathmandu Valley. The village retains old brick houses, narrow lanes and a strong Newar character, making it a genuine cultural finish rather than just a trailhead.

Good to know

• Start early to allow for route-finding and afternoon haze.
• Carry water, snacks and cash; shops are limited and there are no tourist facilities en route.
• A map app or local directions is worth having, as the trail is less travelled than nearby routes.
• Arrange onward transport from Nala or Banepa, or plan to continue to a nearby hill town.

For a busier, better-signposted descent, compare this with the classic Nagarkot to Changu Narayan hike; for a longer high-level walk, see the Nagarkot to Dhulikhel ridge hike; and for a short forest stroll instead, try the Nagarkot nature trail. This route sits within our wider Nagarkot hikes and viewpoints collection and among the region's other walks in the best day hikes near Kathmandu guide. For the full overview of the area, start at the Nagarkot travel guide.