Timal Trek

Detail Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Kathmandu (1350m)

Our representative will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. He will brief you on the immediate arrangements and escort you to your hotel. The trip leader will hold a short briefing in the hotel regarding trek arrangements and general orientation to Kathmandu.

Day 2: Sightseeing around Kathmandu Valley

Today, we visit the most historical and Spiritual attractions in Kathmandu which are also listed in world heritage sites. We visit Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Monkey temple), Bouddhanath, which is one of the largest Stupa in the world and the sacred Hindu temple of Pashupatinath.

Day 3: Drive to Jarsing Pauwa (1802m), Trek to Nagarkot (1940m / 6.5 km / 2-3 hrs)

From Kathmandu, we drive through Bouddha, Sankhu, Lapsi Phedi and then drive up to Jarsing Pauwa. It is very scenic drive for 1 hr 30 min. When we reach at Jarsing Pauwa, we have magnificent panorama views of the mountains and green rolling hills. Here is a small market with many shops and local hotels. It is situated on top of the ridge, very good place for Mountain View. This is popular destination for picnic. From here we start our trek.

From Jarsing Pauwa, we follow the small rough road, walk through small market for a while. The route is mostly flat, little descent and ascent. All the time, follow small road and walk along the ridge passing many beautiful villages (Bodeni / 1762m) and interesting terraces fields. The views of the mountains and hill villages are superb. After little bit more than 1 hr walk from Jarsing Pauwa, we arrive in Kartike Bhanjyang (1725m / 4.19 km), here is a small market. From here it start climb up to the beginning of Nagakot (some houses, 1875m, 30-40 min). We walk through beautiful pine forest and take short cut old path in many places. After the first house, gently ascend and flat route passing several nice hotels and rich at last top before descend down to main Nagarkot market. We stay on top at the best hotel before main market. From where we have fantastic Mountain views around just in front.

Nagarkot

Nagarkot is a village located about 32 km east of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is located on the northeastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley at an elevation about 2100m above sea level. It is one of the most scenic spots in the region, renowned for its sunrise and sunset views of the Himalayas.  You can pick Mount Everest out with its snow-topped peaks on a clear day as there is an observation tower at the top of the village’s hills. Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu Valley. The scenic beauty of the place makes it a very popular hiking route for tourists. Nagarkot commands one of the broadest views of the Himalayas in the Kathmandu valley. 

Situated in a strategic location, Nagarkot was an ancient fort of the Kathmandu valley built to monitor the external activities of other kingdoms. Later, it became a summer retreat for the royal family before becoming popular as an international hill station..

Day 4: Drive to Dhulikhel (1 hr 20 min), Trek to Namo Buddha (1750m / 11. 5 km / 4 hrs)

After visit the view tower and see the Sun rise view, we back to hotel and have breakfast then drive to Dhulikhel. Leaving Nagarkot, we drive back to Bhaktapur and drive through many small market areas and Banepa then arrive in Dhulikhel. During the drive we see very nice sceneries and many brick factories.

Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel is administrative centre of Kavrepalanchowk District. Two major highway B.P. Highway and Arniko highway passes through Dhulikhel. Araniko highway connects Kathmandu, Nepal's capital city with Tibet's border town of Kodari. Dhulikhel is located at the Eastern rim of Kathmandu Valley, south of the Himalayas at 1552m and is situated 30 km southeast of Kathmandu.  

The Mountain views from Dhuklikhel are fantastic. When a blue haze covers the lower portion of the mountains, they seem to be floating in the air. Green inviting hills of which still virgin and some turned into beautifully carved agricultural terraces cater to the beholders' pleasure.

Geographically, the plains rise gradually up to the green mountains and further into the snow-capped Himalayas

In Dhulikhel, We walk through many government offices, shops, hotels and few temples. After few minutes, we arrive at end of the town. From here we climb steep up through beautiful forest, it is very enjoyable walk. There are many stairs from beginning to the top. There is a huge statue of Buddha and a small garden on the way (15 min). From here, it is just 10-15 min walk to the top (1713m). There is a Kali Temple and view tower but this tower is not in use because it had damaged by earthquake. It offers panoramic views of the mountains, many hill villages and green rolling hills from here. This place is also popular destination for picnic. Here are some nice restaurants.

After Kali temple, we descend down passing some villages and many fields. We can see Nepali typical houses, different kinds of crops, vegetables and real village life in this area. We walk along the small rough road all the way to Kavre Bhanjyang (1517m / 30-40 min). At Kavre Bhanjyang, we join with B.P. Highway. Here are several local hotels and shops.

From Kavre Bhanjyang, we leave highway and climb up towards Namo Buddha. There is also a road which road leads to Namo Buddha but we take short cut old path and walk through dense pine forest. Few min later join with road, there is a rest place. We don't follow the road and continue to climb up by short cut trail to small shrine (15-20 min), here is a nice flat ground on the top. We have really wonderful views of the mountains, many nice terraces and hills. After this shrine, we gentle ascend along the small ridge line passing some houses (Faskot area), fields and arrive at Stupa, here is also a primary school (25 min). From this Stupa, we turn left side and gradually ascend to the small top. Here we join with Namo Buddha road. Here are some expensive hotels and resorts. This is the best place to spend night. From here it offers wonderful views of the mountains, villages and the hills.

From here, it is very easy and enjoyable 20-25 min walk to Namo Buddha. Leaving this place, we follow the road for a while, walk along the ridge line through beautiful pine forest which is very popular picnic spot and scenic place and then descend down to Namo Buddha.

Namo Buddha

Namo Buddha is about 40 km away from the heart of Kathmandu city. It is in Kavre District in the southeast of the valley. Namo Buddha is a place of pilgrimage highly esteemed by people from all over the world, East and West. Most of the local people in this area are Buddhist.

It is a small village which is one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal and one of the holiest in the world. It is known as the place where the Buddha, in a previous life as a prince, gave his body to a starving tigress and her cubs.

Namo Buddha is a beautiful place surrounded by forest. The place is very quiet, its environment is very clean, with no pollution, and the natural air is so fresh, cool and healthy. It is also the right place for meditation and practice. In the morning when you wake up, you can see a beautiful sunrise and in the evening wonderful sunset view. You can enjoy snow-covered Himalayan ranges which look so amazing. Namo Buddha is one of the most important religious sites in Nepal.

According to history, in the distant past, there lived a king named Great Charioteer (Shingta Chenpo) who ruled over a small kingdom. Due to the king’s accumulation of merit, all his subjects enjoyed happiness and well being; rains came at the right time while crops and livestock flourished. The king had three sons: the oldest was named Great Sound (Dra Chenpo), the middle Great Deity (Lha Chenpo), and the youngest Great Being (Semchen Chenpo). Powerful in the martial arts and radiating confidence, the two elder sons always helped the king in governing the kingdom. From his earliest years, the youngest son, Great Being, was very bright and endowed with spontaneous kindness and compassion

Prince Great Being (Semchen / Ngingdui Tshenpo Mahasatwo), found a tigress lying in a cave at the top of the hill, overlooking the jungle. Very quickly, he realized that she was going to die. Her five cubs were still little and their survival depended on their mother. Ngingdui Tshenpo he decided to give his life to the tigress in a bust of love and compassion. The tigress refused. When the tigress refused to eat him, he decided to cut his arm to feed his warm blood to the tigress. The taste of blood gave the tigress an appetite and finally she accepted the sacrifice from the prince. The tigress left only the bare bones of the prince which were brought back in the village and buried in a tomb which became the actual stupa of Namo Buddha. Some 3500 years later, the Gautam Buddha came to the village of Sange da Fyafulsa; he went around the Stupa three times and declared that he was the reincarnation of Prince Ngingdui Tshenpo. It was that moment that Gautam Buddha renamed this village and henceforth the name of Namo Buddha which means First Buddha

Day 5: Drive to Yangbel (1950 / 3 hrs), visit Ghelung Cave, Trek to Pokhari (1903m / 2 hrs)

Descending down from Namo Buddha, we drive down to Kavre Bhanjyang or direct down to Bakunde besi. It is very nice, interesting drive through many hill villages and can see wonderful views of the mountains and nice terraces. Bakunde besi is fast growing small commercial center of these area, here are many shops and local hotels.

From Bakunde besi, we leave B.P. highway and drive up to the Khardar Patti, Kanpur and then join with main Timal Ridge line at Kot Timal (1745m / 11.36 km from Bakunde). Kot Timal is settlement of Tamangs with a slight mix of other ethnic groups of Bahun Chhetris and Magars. The Tamangs here are considered to be the descents of Hrinjen Dorje. Kot Timal is considered to be the seat of Tamang Kingdom and mostly referred to the famous King Hrinjen Dorje.  

After Kot Timal, we drive little bit further up through beautiful pine forest to beginning of Yangbel village. This village is situated on the top and offers beautiful mountain views, many hills, villages and 2 Rivers (Sunkoshi and Roshi). From last part of the village, we descend down to Ghelung Cave. There is very nice cement stairs all the way to the Cave (15 min). It is in very steep cliff, there are lots of prayer flags everywhere. Ghelung Cave (1811m) and Tongsum Kunda are the first two significant places where Guru Remporche had meditated many years before he went to Tibet. These ancient caves are also mentioned in Buddhist Holy Scriptures. There is a Guru Remporche's shoe (Leg) in the beginning. The cave is very narrow. The cave has been lit up with a bulb which makes it easier for one to study the various religious images that have been carved on the walls inside including that of elephant, Bajra, drum, shell, sacred text etc. Crawling through an opening above will ultimately lead you to the top of the hill but very difficult. There is also a place to lit butter lamp where there are foot and hand print of Guru Remporche. Visitors from Tibet, India and Buddhists from all over Nepal come here to pay pray.

The Tongsum Kunda is in little bit further where Guru Padma Remporche is said to have drawn water from during his stay. According to local belief, when Guru became thirsty, he is said to have pierced with his stick through tantric power and thus sprang a spring of water.

From Ghelung Cave, we retrace to Yangbel, follow the rough road for a while and then take old trail which was used by local people before the road. We ascend gently through nice pine forest and arrive at small top. From here we descend down passing small monastery and Mani wall and then arrive at huge ground of Pokhari (1885m). This place is main center of Timal area and administrate center of Narayan Sthan Village Development Committee. Here are several government offices, Higher Secondary School, local health post, some local shops, simple lodge and tea shops. Little bit further from here, there is another huge ground (1902m) surrounded by beautiful forest at the bottom of Narayanthan temple. There are some Stupas dedicated to Namo Buddha, Bouddhanath and Swayambhunath. This is very good place to make camp.

Day 6: Trek to Mechchhe Pauwa (1510m / 5 - 6 hrs)

Leaving camp, we climb for a while to Narayanthan Temple (1933m / 5 min), the most famous and auspicious religious temple of Timal region. The temple consists of statue of Lord Vishnu as well as Guru Rimpoche, it is beautiful place and surrounded by community forest. According to local belief, the king of Kathmandu once ordered to bring the statue of Narayan to his palace at any cost. On their way back the porters settled exactly where the temple is today for a night's rest. The next morning Narayan told them that he liked the place and refused to go and since porters could not dare to return empty handed lest the King became angry, Narayan agreed to allow porters to cut his nose, left arm and the toes of his right feet and to hand them over to the King. Narayanthan Temple in Kathmandu is said to have been built afterwards using the same organs. Every year during the full moon of August, a huge festival takes place dedicated to God Narayan. Majority of Tamang and other ethnic groups gather in the Temple from Kavre and surrounding districts to pay respect to the God and fulfill their wishes. They make noses by cow's ghee and make wishes. Jhankris, predominantly of Tamang origin, will be an interesting sight to watch as they perform their rare dances and rituals and offer their ultimate respect to Narayan.

From temple, we descend down for 20 min to Yari Nag (Rhorsaiba / 1853m). Yari Naag is third most important sacred site of Guru Remporche in Kavre, Timal region. According to Buddhist scripture, this place has been recognized as the place where Guru Remporche had battled with demon called "Yaksha Nagbo (black demon). Recently a big statue of Guru Rimporche has been built here. There is also a shallow ground where believed that there was a pond and lived a Nag. The pond is said to have dried and after then Nag left the water. This is beautiful place, here are some local tea shops, a small monastery and many Stupas.  

Leaving Rhosaiba, it is very easy and flat route to Chapakhori (1725m / 1 and half - 2 hrs). We walk along the ridge following small road. This is very interesting walk and the surrounding views are wonderful. We can see very nice mountain views and hilly villages. We descend little bit just before Chapakhori. There is a government school, some local tea shops in Chapakhori. The local famous festival of this village is "Bar Berry Festival" or Chutra Jatra, during April full moon when Bar berries is ripe.

From Chapakhori it is a pleasant walk, gently descend and ascend passing some houses, Mani wall and Chorten, leave the road then climb little bit through small forest to the top (1762m). This is beautiful place, here are growing many Buddha Chitta trees. We follow the ridge line for a while and then descend little bit to the road where is a mobile tower. From here, we follow the road, it is flat route passing through small village called "Bhote Patti" then descend down to Mechchhe Pauwa village. This is very interesting walk through picturesque villages dotted with small markets and rows of wooden houses settled mostly by Newars and Tamangs. This area is famous with its economic activities such as milk production, education and development projects. Mechchhe Pauwa is a small settlement with few shops, a government higher secondary school, some local hotels and s new small statue of Buddha under Pipal tree. There are some small grounds below the school for camping.

Day 7: Trek to Nepal Thok (540m / 3-4 hrs), drive to Narke and camp at Gimdi (1000m)

The trek past this village is exciting and more scenic as it offers a close up and personal view of Mahabharat range. There is a steep descent from Mechcche along a sharp ridge overlooking the confluence of three districts Kavre, Ramechhap and Sindhuli. After Mechchhe, we leave the road but there are constructing from down side. The path is very small and little slippery in some places. It is very nice walk along the ridge line passing through fields, some Stupas and village (Singmar Koo). After long steep descend of 3-4 hrs, we arrive at the bottom of Timal hill, we have lunch around here and walk another 30 minutes to Dumja Mahadev Temple (544m). This is another very nice walk through rice fields. Nepal Thok is meeting point between Rosi and Sunkoshi and officially lies in Sindhuli District. The weather becomes a bit hot compared to the hills of Kavre. 

Dumja Mahade Temple lies on the bank of Sun Kosi River and is a holiest shrine for Hindus dedicated to first Adhi Linga. The site, according to Hindu Mythology, was created by Bramha, one of the three supreme lords, during his meditation. The place is a reverential site among Hindus and especially Shiva followers.  

After visit the Mahadev Temple we drive to Narke bazaar (1 hr). It is very interesting and scenic drive along the side of Roshi River. From Narke, we can drive or walk for 30 minutes to Gimdi. Gimdi is divided into 2 parts, Sano Gimdi and Thulo Gimdi. This village is well known, famous of Timal area and very popular for Buddhist Stupa (Jyangchhup Chhorten), one of the oldest monasteries of Timal and ancient Hindu temples. The local people believe that the Bhimsen (powerful Hindu god) and Jyangchhup Chhorten are very powerful and protect the all people from all kinds of dangerous. And also these gods will fulfill all wishes.

The Jyangchhup Chhorten is situated at middle of 2 villages. This Stupa had believed to be built in same time with Namo Buddha. Here is constructing huge statue of Kashyap Buddha. The Hindu temples are also situated in middle of the 2 villages. This place is called Pandhero tole where are famous 3 cow headed taps, government lower secondary school and many Hindu temples. The taps and temples had built by Lichhavi and Malla kings between 6th to 18th centuries.

Day 8: Walk to Narke and drive to Kathmandu (2 and half - 3 hrs)

This is very easy walk or drive to Narke and very interesting scenic drive to Kathmandu. We join with same route at Bakunde besi. We will drive through many small villages, market areas and big towns Dhulikhel, Banepa and Bhaktapur.

In the afternoon we visit Thamel or nearest market for shopping and have farewell dinner at popular Nepali restaurant with Nepali cultural program.

Day 9: Departure from Nepal.  

We will escort you to airport for your departure.