Nepal is a country full of adventure because of its geography. Outdoor recreation activities such as mountaineering, trekking, hiking, rafting, and bungee jumping are common in the country. However, time and money are essential matters in our lives. We are all too busy trying to earn enough to avoid problems at home. Many individuals work from 9 to 5 every day and have no time for themselves.
For those who barely have time for themselves and adventure activities, hiking is the perfect activity they can engage in at their leisure. It is essentially walking for pleasure in nature, typically on trails or paths, and doesn't require much time or money. It is just a matter of 24 hours. Within those 24 hours, anyone has at least 6-8 hours of average time for refreshing themselves in nature.
In such a busy schedule, we can at least make time for a walk-in nature once a month. Doing so can improve our mental health and help us learn more about nature. If you're residing in the Kathmandu Valley, there are several hiking destinations that offer stunning views of the Valley, Langtang mountain range, Rolwaling mountain range, and other hills.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
One of them is Champa Devi hill. It lies in the southern part of the valley, situated at an altitude of 2,180 meters above sea level. It is named after the small temple on the hill that is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists.
Hiking begins from Hattiban Danda (hill), Pharping. It takes approximately 2-3 hours to reach Champa Devi temple and another 1.5-2 hours to return to the starting point. In total, we can estimate the duration of the hike to be around 4 hours.
If you have enough time and energy, you can continue hiking to another nearby hill, Bhasmasur Danda (2,622 m). It takes only 1-1.5 hours more to reach there from the temple. It is close to Chandragiri Hill, and the views of the mountains, including Langtang, Gauri Shankar, Jugal, Dorje Lakpa, and others, are breathtaking. Additionally, it is perfect for camping.
Image Source: Routine of Nepal Banda
Regarding Bhasmasur Danda, it is derived from the name of the demon called Bhasmasur who was a follower of Lord Shiva. One day, Shiva granted him the power to burn down anything into ashes just by placing his palm above anyone's head or anything. Unfortunately, he decided to test his power on his lord before using it anywhere else. However, Shiva couldn't kill his own follower to whom he had granted the power.
Consequently, Shiva ran away from Kailash and went to Lord Vishnu to ask for help. Vishnu disguised himself as a gorgeous lady to trick Bhasmasur, asking him to dance together by following her steps. In the end, Vishnu made him place his palm on his own head as part of the dance step, which caused Bhasmasur to burn to ashes. It is now believed that the remains of ashes are at Bhasmasur Danda.
Image Source: Pang, Kirtipur
As mentioned above, the starting point of the Champa Devi hike is Hattiban, Pharping. To begin our hike, we need to first reach Hattiban from our place of residence. If you own a private vehicle, it's easy for you to visit there.
However, if you don't have a vehicle, public transportation and online ride-sharing are options for you. Speaking of public transportation, it is easily available in the valley from Ratna Park and Lagankhel Bus Park.
There are no tea shops available on the Champa Devi hiking trail. As a result, all the necessary items, such as snacks, chocolate, fruits, water, etc., are supposed to be bought in Hattiban by hikers.
The best times to visit Champa Devi are during all seasons except for the monsoon (June, July, and August). The Kathmandu Valley experiences excessive rainfall during the monsoon, making it difficult to go out into nature for hiking.
Spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and November) are the most preferable seasons. However, hikers can also enjoy hiking in winter (December, January, and February) as snowfall occurs in the hills.