Chisapani to Nagarkot is a short scenic hike of 3 days. You can get a bus or a taxi to reach Sundarijal from Kathmandu. We got a bus to Jorpati and changed to another bus that drives to Sundarijal. The hiking starts from Sundarijal. As the hiking trail is in Shivapuri National Park, you should buy a ticket from a counter, get the bag checked, and provide your original name and phone number. Following the hiking trail from Sundarijal to Chisapani, you can see the mystic view of the mountain range. Unfortunately, as seen in the picture, we could not see the Himalayan range because it was rainy and foggy. The most recommendable season for hiking is October – November and we went there at the end of August. If you want to avoid leeches, I do not recommend you walk during monsoon. If you are a slow walker, I would not recommend walking during cold seasons because of the short daytime. So, the best season would be spring and autumn.
We were looking for a massed area filled with houses and hotels in Chisapani. After reaching there, the residents said that the hotels in Chisapani were destroyed because of the 2015 earthquake. Therefore, most of the origins relocated to other places while very few rebuilt the hotels and are staying there. It took us 5 hours to reach Chisapani. If you prefer not to walk, you can also ride or drive to Chisapani. We spent a chill and relaxing evening at Chisapani with a good companion of local Kodo ko rakshi and sukute, which was unimaginably tasty.
The next day, after having breakfast in Chisapani, we headed toward Nagarkot. It takes 7-8 hours to reach Nagarkot on an average walker. Do not miss to see Dhap Dam while leaving Chisapani as it lies on the way. The midway between Chisapani and Nagarkot are Jhule and Jarsingpauwa. We had lunch at Jhule and continued the journey. There is no particular walking trail for the hikers. We have to walk off the vehicle road. There is more forest walk on the way to Nagarkot from Jarsing Pauwa. After crossing the forest, you can see more scenic Himalayas ranges before reaching Nagarkot hill station. As sunset and sunrise are stunning to see from Nagarkot, aim to arrive at Nagarkot before sunset and stay there for a night. The next morning, wake up early for the breathtaking sunrise to start your incredible day. Remember to choose your stay that faces towards the east.
If you want to continue hiking on day 3, there is a trail of 4 hours from Nagarkot to Changu Narayan Temple. From there, you can drive to Kathmandu. If you want to end your hike, you can get a drive from Nagarkot to Kathmandu via Bhaktapur. We got on a bus from Nagarkot to Bhaktapur and Bhaktapur to Kathmandu. The total duration of the hiking is three days with a moderate walk.