Experience

Forest Bathing

Lose yourself in the serenity of nature with a 3 to 4 hour hike with our local guides who will take you through historical temples and local villages.

The Gokarna Forest trail winds its way through the pristine 740-acre Reserve Forest. This woodland is the last preserved natural forest (the wall was built around the forest in 1862 AD) of the Kathmandu Valley, representing what existed over 500 years ago, with trees up to 200 years old. On your walk, you may pass some holy sites of worship, such as the Bandevi, Siddhashram Cave, Kanti Bhairav temple, Padamamukteshwor temple, Pingala Yogini, Saptarshi Tirtha, Bhimsen/Saraswati temple, Taleju Bhawani temple, and another Kanti Bhairav temple at an old Gokarna village and the reputed Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple. Gokarna is also a sacred place for the Kathmandu Valley and where our forefathers worshiped. A walk through this bastion of primitive innocence is a powerful and revitalizing experience.

Time: 1 hour approx

USD 10 per person
Route: Starting from Nag Isthan, you climb into the forest from behind the 9th tee and follow a wandering route through canopied hilltops, passing the Bandevi shrine on your way. From here, you have a choice. One is ending up at the 14th tee, descending some old steps that were used by the elephants to get up and down the hill and walk back through the golf course to the clubhouse. The other route takes you behind the 7th tee and walks you back through the golf course to Nag Isthan.

Time: 2 hours approx

USD 15 per person
Route: Starting from the golf clubhouse, you climb into the forest from behind the 9th tee and follow a wandering route through canopied hilltops, passing the Bandevi shrine on your way. From here, you have a choice. One route leads to Uttarbahini via the descending steps of Thapa’s clan deity. The other route takes you behind the 7th tee, where you can slip out of a small door in the wall to see Siddhashram cave and Panchamukhi Hanuman image and visit the Kanti Bhairav temple and Padmamukteshwor temple on the bank of the sacred Bagmati river (where the Bagmati river flows North from the South and is so known as Uttarbahini), just outside Gokarna Forest, and walk back through the golf course to the clubhouse.

Time: 3 hour approx

USD 20 per person
Route: Starting from behind the Hunter’s Lodge, you descend to the 2nd green and you walk towards the 9th tee. From here you have a choice. One route takes you to the historical Gokarna village (you will see temples like Taleju Bhawani and Kanti Bhairav etc) via Bandevi climbing into the forest from behind the 9th tee and follows a wandering route through canopied hilltops, passing the Bandevi shrine on your way. Descending from the village via Bhimsen/Saraswati temple to Saptarshi Tirtha, Pingala Yogini and Uttarbahini you can see Kanti Bhairav and Padmamukteshwor temple on the way, on the banks of the holy Bagmati river. You can slip in of a small door in the wall, Just inside Gokarna Forest, can see Siddhashram cave and Panchamukhi Hanuman sculpture and walk back through the golf course to the Clubhouse or Hunter’s Lodge as per your choice.
The other route takes you towards the Uttarbahini via the golf course from the 9th tee. The walk takes you past Pingala Yogini nearby a school, Saptarshi Tirtha, on the banks of the Bagmati river. From Saptarshi Tirtha you climb to old Gokarna village via Bhimsen/Saraswati temple or from the entrance gate of the village. And come back to The Clubhouse or Hunter Lodge via Bandevi to golf course.

Time: 4 hour approx

USD 25 per person
Route: Starting from the Clubhouse you walk towards the 9th tee. From here you have a choice. One route takes you to the historical Gokarna village where you can see temples like Taleju Bhawani and Kanti Bhairav etc via Bandevi climbing into the forest from behind the 9th tee and follows a wandering route through canopied hilltops, passing the Bandevi shrine on your way. Descending from the village via Bhimsen/Saraswati temple you come to the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, the Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple where you can see many sculptures and other temples like Parbati, Gadadhar Narayan, Shiva Meher Bal Bhakteshwor temple etc, the first gorge of the holy Bagmati river at Gokarna and the combination of three rivers named the holy Bagmati, Suryamati and Chandramati, at the well known Uttar Gaya. Then you come back through Saptarshi Tirtha, Pingala Yogini and Uttarbahinis, where you can see Kanti Bhairav and Padmamukteshwor temples on the banks of the holy Bagmati river. Just inside Gokarna Forest, you can see Siddhashram cave and Panchamukhi Hanuman sculpture and walk back through the golf course to the Clubhouse or Hunter’s Lodge as your wish. The other route takes you towards the Uttarbahini via the 9th tee. The walk takes you to Pingala Yogini nearby a school, Saptarshi Tirtha, on the banks of the Bagmati river. Climb from Saptarshi Tirtha to Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple and come back to the old Gokarna village via Bhimsen/Saraswati temple or from the entrance gate of the village. Return to The Clubhouse or Hunter’s Lodge via Bandevi.

Guide and Safety

For your safety, a guide is required for your walk, and you must follow their instructions. The fee varies based on the package selected. As a popular activity, we recommend booking your forest walk the night before to ensure a fresh early morning start, although guides can also be arranged on short notice. Walkers must give way to golfers and avoid causing any disruption. For payment, please consult the front desk officer.