Shivapuri Bird Watching

‘Exciting bird-watching tour around Kathmandu valley rim hills’

Shivapuri National Park Bird Watching is also one of the major bird watching destination in Nepal like Phulchwoki bird watching. This program takes you to leisure scenic hike north of Kathmandu of less than hour drive to reach the Park entrance of Shivapuri. Then drive leads past Budhanilkanta a temple with pond of sleeping Vishnu, worth a visit on route.

After getting inside the park premises, the hike leads within pristine natural surrounding covered by serene forest of rhododendron-pines-fir-magnolia and oak trees. We climb for few hours in the cool shade of alpine woodland with views of Kathmandu city and the valley.

As walk progress, finally we reach the Shivapuri Hill top which is located at an altitude 2,540 m above the sea level. This high hill top offers panorama of mountains from Ganesh-Langtang to Jugal Himal range with views of Kathmandu valley down below.

Shivapuri is a very nice and tranquil place nearby Kathmandu valley. The place is perfect for peaceful day hiking in search of exotic bird life. Here one can observe Laughing Thrush, Crested Serpent Eagle, Little Pied Fly Catchers, Ruby-Throats and Babblers. And also the Pheasants, Magpies and Sunbird with other various species of bird-life in its natural habitats.

Morning after breakfast with packed lunch box where short drive leads to Buddhanilkanta or Narayanthan. It’s a Hindu temple with impressive statue of Lord Vishnu lying on a bed of serpent in a pond, located north of Kathmandu. On visiting this temple for short while, then we head further to the entrance of Shivapuri National Park. It is situated about 11 k.m. away from the city.

Shivapuri National Park also serves as Watershed, where climb leads towards higher slopes within forest. While on our walk , we take time to observe birds. Many bird-life seen here are White-capped and Plumbeous Water Redstart near its stream, Spotted Fork-Tail, Orange-flanked Bush-robin and Yellow-billed Blue Magpie.

As walk progress towards hill top, we reach the highest top at 2,540 m high. The hill top offers a good chances to witness male Blue-fronted Redstart and a Scaly Thrush, Chestnut-crowned, Whistler’s, Grey-cheeked and Grey-hooded Warblers. Also the White-throated Laughing Thrush, Streak-breasted Scimitar-babbler, Grey Tree pie, Black-throated, Green-backed and Black-colored Tit. Nevertheless, the Flycatcher, Orange-bellied Leaf, White-bellied Yuhina, Grey-chinned and unidentified other Minivets, Grey-throated Babbler, Booted Eagle and Mountain Hawk-Eagle are also seen here.

After an exciting moments around Shivapuri with fantastic and interesting Bird-Watching tour, we return back to the Entrance gate of Shivapuri National park. In this way, we end up our wonderful day and return back to hotel.