Chitlang Hike

Chitlang is about 22 kilometers southwest from the capital city of Kathmandu. Before the Tribhuvan Rajpath, the first highway linking India and Kathmandu, was constructed in the 1950s, Chitlang was the only route for people of the capital to reach the neighboring country in the south. Apart from being the passage for business trades, it was also the only route on which the then royals and rulers of Nepal used to have their cars hauled to the capital by hiring porters to carry them on their backs and shoulders.[break]





Getting there

You can take a public bus from Old Bus Park or Ratna Park in the city. It’ll take around one hour from there to reach Thankot and Godamchaur. If you choose private a vehicle, you’ll need to follow the same route till Thankot. From there, the hike will take around three hours to Chitlang.



Hike highlights

Located at the top of Makwanpur District, Chitlang is 2,280 meters above sea level (masl). It’s located very close, around only seven kilometers on this side, from the Kulekhani Lake.



Chitlang is rich in landscape and natural beauty, with the largest grazing land for goat farms. This village is surrounded by beautiful green forest, which consists of more than 160 species of fauna and flora. The large green fields are added attraction of Chitlang.



It’s regarded as one of the ancient Newar settlements, with inscriptions dating back to the Lichchhavi era. Though there’s a motorway to Chitlang now, you can choose to take the village trail in order to see the natural vegetation and the real lifestyle and the simple nature of the residents of Chitlang.



You can also visit the orchard with more than one thousand apple trees. There are a few cottages that have been constructed recently in the garden and are open to tourists. You can also choose to stay overnight as homestay visitor or at the Chitlang Organic Village Resort.



This is an easy-to-moderate hike. But the walk can be a bit demanding at times due to steep uphill and downhill topography at certain places.



Bare essentials

A day bag

Water bottle

Sunglasses

Sun-block cream

Hat/cap

Reasonable walking

shoes

Light warm jacket

Windcheater

Light snacks

Packed lunch

Hike level



Weather

The weather is similar to that of Kathmandu, though evenings can be windy on the hilltops. The ideal time for the hiking to Chitlang is either during April-May or in September-October.



Information courtesy

socialtours, Tridevi Marg, Thamel

For details, call 4412508, or email at info@socialtours.com

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