Jamacho Day Hike is all about visiting Jamacho Monastery located at a hilltop in Shivapuri Nargarjun National Park (SNNP). Jamacho Day Hike spreads the vibe of spirituality and natural beauty. Hikers are able to explore the area of SNNP and encounter the flora and fauna of the national parks. Additionally, Jamacho Day Hike is an escape from the crowd and pollution of Kathmandu city. Especially for travelers to Nepal who have a spare day and want to explore nearby hilly areas of Kathmandu, Jamacho Day Hike is the perfect hike package.
Jamacho Day Hike allows visitors to pay their regards to Nagarjuna Buddha set at Jamacho Monastery. Jamacho Day Hike is one of the less steep hikes from the Nepal Adventure Team’s list of hiking options. You can also look for other hiking options at Hiking in Nepal. Besides, Shivapuri Day Hike and Sundarijal Day Hike are the other options to explore the Shivapuri National Park area.
Jamacho Gumba (Monastery)
Jamacho Gumba is located at an elevation above 1500m/4921 ft inside Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park around the Nagarjuna hillside. Nagarjuna hill is also known as Vindya Mountain which is one of the popular pilgrimage sites for Hindus as well as Buddhists. The statue of Nagarjuna Buddha is placed at Jamacho Monastery.
Additionally, on the east side of the stupa, there are two rows of Buddhist gods and goddesses. In the first row, Mahakala is in meditation pose, the second row is highlighted by white Tara, Padmapani Green Tara, and Vajrapani whereas the third row is for Vasundhara. The environment is just perfect for meditation and relaxation.
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, SNNP
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) is situated on the north side of Kathmandu Valley with two islands of forests; Shivapuri and Nagarjun. It claims part of 4 districts: Kathmandu, Nuwakot, Dhading, and Shindupalchowk. It focuses on Biodiversity conservation, watershed management, environmental sustainability, and drinking water supply.
SNNP lies in a transition zone between subtropical and temperate climates. The vegetation consists of a variety of natural forest types including pine, oak, rhododendron, etc, depending on altitude and environment. Mammalian species such as Himalayan Black bears, leopards, jungle cats, and rhesus monkeys have recorded wildlife in the park. The park is home to 177 species of birds, including at least 9 endangered species, 102 species of butterflies with a number of rare and endangered species, and 129 species of mushrooms.
Guide for Jamacho Day Hike
The guide will lead you to Jamacho Day Hike. The number of guides depends on the number of individuals registered for the Jamacho Day Hike. Each group of 4-5 pax is assigned one guide.
The guide with a Nepal Government-certified license is only assigned to lead the Jamacho Day hike. Additionally, the guide is also trained in first aid and eco-tourism. Usually, an English-speaking guide is available but on request Chinese and other language-speaking guides can be made available. A guide will lead as well as inform you about the locality, culture, rules, and importance. Overall, the guide will have the feature of friendliness, leadership, communication expertise, and jolly nature.
Transportation at Jamacho Day Hike
Early morning after you have your breakfast, the guide assigned by the Nepal Adventure team will come to pick you up for the hike. You will have a short drive to and from your pick-up point to the Pulbari Gate, a checkpoint of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. A private vehicle will be used for your transportation which may be a car or van as per the group size.
Food and drinks on Jamacho Day Hike
Lunch will be provided during Jamacho Day Hike. Basically, lunch includes Momo or typical Nepali food: Dhaal(lentil soup), Bhat (Rice), Tarkari (Vegetable/Chicken curry), and pickle
A Mineral water bottle is handed to you prior to the hike.
Starting point: Pulbari Gate, Balaju Bypass, Kathmandu
Ending point: Pulbari Gate, Balaju Bypass, Kathmandu