Day flat hike Taudaha Lake Khokana Bungmati 1 Days, Easy

Overview

The southern end of the Kathmandu Valley is certainly gifted with destinations of cultural and natural bounties although it mightn’t be the most hyped place here. The journey focuses on some amazing and culturally preserved destinations this region has to offer within a day’s hike. Day flat hike Taudaha Lake Khokana Bungmati with the bliss of nature, this hike gives a time-lapse of places with 6th-century culture and art. The local art of living, trading systems and units, stone and wooden art, flatlands with rice fields, and the family-like people here make your day stuffed with magnificent treats in Kathmandu. With Everest Vacation discover the best-preserved art and traditional lifestyle of Kathmandu Valley.

The hike starts at Taudaha Lake after we pick you up from your hotel and drive you there. Leaving the hustle and bustle behind, take a scenic road to Chovar. Make a brief stop in the 15th-century temple of Adinath Lokeshwar here and enjoy the view of Kathmandu and beyond from here. With both Hindu and Buddhist devotees visiting this temple dedicated to the Rato Macchindranath deity, explore some related local legends here. A short drive from the temple takes us to the starting point of our trek, the Taudaha Lake.

Taudaha Lake locally known as ‘Nagdaha’ translates as ‘the lake of snakes’ and is a small lake with historical and religious significance about 12 km south of Kathmandu. It is locally believed that the original lake was the one which constituted the valley of today and a mythical Buddhist character Manjushree drained the water with his sword to make the land liveable. During this process to prevent the nagas from, leaving the areas as they were the divine creatures protecting it, this lake was created. To respect the nagas and avoid the disruption of water here, you aren’t allowed to swim or fish in the lake.

Apart from religious legends, Taudaha is also an ecological paradise for nature lovers. More than 40 different species of birds are found in the lake and the premises here. The lake is one of the significant places to view over 23 different varieties of Migratory birds some traveling from as far as Mongolia and Siberia in winter.

There is also frequent spotting of Golden Jackal, Grey mongoose, and many different species of rodents here. Checkered keelback snakes and garden lizards are also frequently spotted alongside numerous different species of fish in the lake. The view of the surrounding hills and green fields from the lake is also pristine. You can also feed the fish here in the lake. After a calm time here, we will start the first part of our trek to Khokana.

Khokana village is about one and a half hours of pleasant trek from Taudaha passing by small settlements on the way. Khokana is a lovely settlement of local Newari people with a significant population involved in farming. Also, on the tentative list for the UNESCO World Heritage Site, this village is a living reflection of medieval art and the history of the valley. Witness a unique experience of local mustard oil cultivation here. The fresh air and lovely people are the major reasons to visit the village. The local cuisine and family-like atmosphere make you feel at home.

On the tour of Khokana, discover medieval art, beautiful monuments, traditional lifestyle, and ways of housing. The Rudrayani temple (a place where Rudrayani traditional RudrayaniJatra takes place), De Pukhu (pond), Jitapur Mandap or ‘Gaa-cha,’ Shikali Temple of Sikhil Buddha, and the other small 6 ponds in Khokana are the major attractions here. Head towards Bungamati village after the Khokana visit.

Bungamati is a historical town about an hour’s walk from Khokana and is believed to be the birthplace of the Rato Macchindranath deity. Also called before as Bunga or Amarpur and also Bungapattan in the Malla period of the valley, this village is one of the most sacred communities of the Newari people. Overlooking the holy Bagmati river, each year a chariot carrying the sculpture of Rato Macchindranath is pulled by the locals to Patan named ‘Rato Macchindranath Jatra’ which is one of the most significant occasions in Newari communities.

The only living goddess of the world ‘Kumari’ is also chosen from a community here, and you can visit the home of the present Kumari goddess with the guide here. Alongside numerous shrines and monuments constituting this village, make our way to the Temple of Macchindranath which is a Shikhara-style temple in the center of the village. You can also witness the reconstruction works from the 2015 earthquake here. Exploring the village, we can also try some local cuisine here.

Making yourself here in times of local festivals give you bonus experiences of the culture, traditional dance and music, Jatras, and overall unity of the people living in these areas. After a majestic bliss of tradition and culture here, we drive you back to your hotel in Kathmandu. Prepare to explore the lesser-seen side of Kathmandu Valley with Everest Vacation.