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At 2732m, Shivapuri (or Sheopuri ) is the second-highest point on the valley rim. It offers excellent views of the Himalaya off to the west, from Jugal and Ganesh Himal out to Himalchuli, and eastwards from Langtang Lirung to Dorje Lakpa, not to mention intense rhododendron blossoms in March and April. The summit can be reached in about four hours by one of at least two trails from Budhanilkantha. You'll need to pack a lunch and sufficient water, and the vertical gain, nearly 1200m, shouldn't be taken lightly. You can camp on the flat, grassy summit to catch the best views first thing in the morning; clouds often move in by lunchtime. Shivapuri and the Shivapuri Lek (the ridge that forms the northern rim of the Kathmandu Valley) lie within the Shivapuri Watershed and Wildlife Reserve , a huge walled area set aside to protect the valley's water supply and critical forest. As with several other parks and reserves in Nepal, this one was initially created without much regard for the needs of local people, who were summarily prohibited from gathering wood and other forest products. More recently, the government and foreign aid agencies have recognized the need to add social programmes to their original environmental agenda, but the residents of some villages are still irate that the reserve is preventing them from getting road access. The road past Budhanilkantha continues steeply upwards for another 2km to the watershed gate, where you have to pay a Rs250 admission charge . From there, follow the dirt road to the right, contouring around and up the ridge to the east. Where the road finally rounds this ridge, take a trail up to Nagi Gompa , a former Tamang monastery now run by the renowned lama Urgyen Rinpoche, and continue along the ridge to Shivapuri (when in doubt, bear left). Near the top is the hermitage of Swami Chandresh, a Hindu sage who is following in the tradition of the celebrated Shivapuri Baba, who established the site in the early twentieth century and, it's said, lived to be 137. It's also possible to hike to Shivapuri from Gokarna or by a more direct route from Budhanilkantha - see Kathmandu Valley Bikes & Hikes.
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