Eshita Lal
Hike Report: Shivapuri – Nagi Gumba Adventure
Hike Report by: Sauravi Thapa
Date: 25 May, 2025
Location: Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Destination: Budhanilkantha - Suntakhan
Starting Venue: New building, Deerwalk Complex
Duration: ~2 hours uphill to Nagi Gumba, ~1-2 hour return
We students from Grade 9 and 10 and the teachers started our hike from Deerwalk Complex. There were approximately 80 students, including 5 teachers. Before the hike, there was a quick photo session of all of us. After that, our hike started around 9 a.m.
As we hiked, the roads were muddy and rocky in some places. At first, I was having a great time as I climbed the hill. But soon after, my legs suffered greatly as I climbed the hill. I wondered why I came to hike that day. Even though I was really tired, I was very excited to visit the place. I rested in different places so it would help me.
I was really feeling the heat of the sun and was annoyed. I was drenched in sweat and was exhausted. As I was climbing, I was stunned to look at the boys as they climbed with no signs of being exhausted. Even though there were many shortcuts, I preferred not to take any since they looked a bit risky.
I tried to catch up with the people hiking in front of me when they were resting, and let’s say it worked. The students from Grade 10 were sprinting since they knew the hike route, as they had been there several times. As we hiked, many of them had already reached the top of Nagi Gumba.
Before we reached the Gumba, there was a staircase. So we climbed a long flight of stairs to reach the Nagi Gumba. When we reached, I was astonished by the view and the Gumba itself. I saw monks, and it looked like they were having a picnic or something, as they sat in a circle and enjoyed their food.
Soon, we all sat down at different places to have lunch, as we were starving. I sat with my friends enjoying the delicious food that we brought from home. There was also a shop where we bought things we wanted to eat. Let’s say that day, the shop made good money. After we finished eating, we all took photos in front of the Gumba and soon began to hike downhill.
I was having a great time since I wasn’t hungry anymore and had a lot of energy, even though my legs were about to give up. The path downhill was quite interesting, even though I fell once and sat down. The blazing sun made hiking a bit harder.
As we were returning, we came across a place in the forest where it was cool, peaceful, and we could hear the birds chirping. As I hiked, I clicked a ton of pictures. We were told not to make a lot of noise at this specific place since there were animals, and they could get scared. There was this dog that followed us downhill that made the hike fun. We also saw many domestic animals. The view was startling.
When we reached the bus, the raindrops started falling. As we were going back to school, we were having a lot of fun. We danced, sang, and captured pictures and videos. When we reached the school, it was around 3 p.m. At the school, going to the cafeteria felt like another hike that we had to do. After that, we ate lunch. At the end of the day, we were all tired, we all had different experiences, and I made cherished memories that I’ll remember forever.
Route: Shivapuri-Nagi Gumba
Date: 25 May, 2025
Duration: ~2 hours uphill to Nagi Gumba, ~1-2 hour return
Hike Report by: Shuvee Lamichhane
Location: Shivapuri National Park, Kathmandu
Participants: Students of grade 9 and 10
Before the actual hike started, we left the school at around 8 o’clock. The bus ride to the starting point of our hike was about 45 minutes to 1 hour long. We started our hike from the gate of the Shivapuri National Park. After we arrived at the national park, we were given a briefing of all the rules and regulations. Then our bags were checked, and we started our hike at around 9 o’clock.
I started to walk with my friends, making sure to keep my pace and not fall behind. I’m glad I kept a steady pace and walked somewhere in the middle. Since I had never been here before, it was really exciting to explore such a new environment. The paths at the start were cemented and well made, but the path gradually faded out. I was also very taken aback to see people living inside the national park.
Though it was a very sunny day and the heat was very annoying, the shade of the trees was very refreshing. The air there felt very clean compared to the pollution in Kathmandu. I remember the students of Grade 10 speeding through the hike route since they had been here the year before as well.
But I vividly remember this one particular time when we were walking in the forest and we came to a point where there were so many little black hanging tiny creatures that I at first naively thought were caterpillars — which later I found out were actually leeches. Two landed on me (which I safely took off with some leaves), but still, I think I’ve never been so scared of such a tiny creature in my whole life.
But soon after an exhausting hike, we reached Nagi Gumba and sat down altogether to eat. There was also this shop there that was selling food. I think at the time we all felt the shop made very good money that day. But that aside, if I were to describe the place itself, in simple words, I was so shocked at how clean they had managed to keep it. After a quick photo session there, we packed up and started to make our journey back.
The way downhill was way harder than the way uphill, and by the end of it, my legs were very sore and numb. But fortunately, I didn’t meet those pesky little leeches on my way back. Despite the difficulty, the view from the place was fabulous. There was also this dog that followed us all the way down from Nagi Gumba.
When we reached the bus, it started to rain. But I will say one of the most memorable parts of this hike was definitely the bus ride back. We reached school around 3 p.m. and had our lunch.
Though the leeches were not so delightful, I felt that everyone has different experiences even when you go on the same trip. I think it was truly the people we went with, the encounters with the occasional tiny snakes here and there, and the magnificent views that really made it worth it. I realized that everything in nature is just trying to survive after all, and in the end, I made valuable memories that I will cherish forever.
Hike Report: Shivapuri – Nagi Gumba Adventure
Hike Report by: Eshita Lal
Date: 25 May, 2025
Location: Shivapuri National Park, Kathmandu
Group: School trip
Duration: ~2 hours uphill to Nagi Gumba, ~1-2 hour return
We, all in grade 9 and grade 10, started our journey from the main gate to start our hike. The hike started with a quick photo session with all the teachers who joined us. I think our hike started around 9 am. The hike was steep and continuous.Going round and round around the hill was terrible for my poor legs.
At one point I began to question why I had even come that day. A bit over dramatic as it seems, it’s true. I realised my stamina had hit rock bottom. I have to say, I was last in line. If it weren't for my friends, I would have given up and rolled down the hill. It was my third time there so I wasn’t exactly excited about visiting the same place, rather the thrill of a last trip with my friends. I kept my slow pace, to reach the top.
The pathway wasn’t that bad, although the half-cemented and half-natural roads were really confusing.Half the way up was dirt, and the other half was randomly cemented. Like, what?
The sun might have been scorching, but I honestly didn't feel it on my face as I was usually climbing shortcuts through the trees. As I went up, I noticed the boys from my class were really running the course. They didn't show a hint of exhaustion.
I took that motivation and ran up to them, or at least tried to.When we reached the Nagi Gumba, I was sweating like crazy. The monks there were at rest at the moment, having lunch. So were we. There was a small shop, and the whole group of students rushed in. The shop really had business that day. We all had chatpate, laphing and some juice. We probably stayed there for an hour max, then headed back down.
But not through the same route, we changed our path. I didn't know where we were going, so I just followed whoever was at the front. The view was immaculate. It was a real village area. I made a friend that day—his name was Johnny (I named him), a dog who followed us from Nagi Gumba to the bus. I really enjoyed playing with the dog.
We reached the bus just when the rain started pouring on us. We reached scholl at around 3 pm. We had our lunches and went home.
I realized that no matter how many times I visit, I always find something new to love about the experience and this time, it was the dog, my friends, and the beautiful scenario.
