Peace Pagoda to Pumdikot along the southern ridge
A Japanese stupa at one end, an enormous Shiva at the other, and a forest ridge between them that most visitors never walk.
By the Lakeshore team · 5 min read · Updated 5 October 2026
Everybody goes to the World Peace Pagoda. Very few people walk on along the ridge it sits on, which carries on south-east with the lake below it the whole way.
At the far end is Pumdikot, a hill with a very large Shiva statue. Nepali visitors have taken to it, but most foreign visitors still haven't heard of it.
So you get two religious sites from completely different traditions, a forest ridge between them, and a view down onto Phewa for most of the way.
The walk
Take a boat across from Lakeside and climb forty minutes through forest to the Peace Pagoda. Then, instead of turning back down, pick up the ridge path heading south-east.
The path rises and falls along the crest through forest and small settlements, with gaps that open onto the lake and the valley. It's two to three hours to Pumdikot at a comfortable pace.
Come back the same way, or drop down to the road and take a taxi home. Most people take the taxi, because their legs have had enough by then.
The two ends
The Peace Pagoda is a Shanti Stupa built by a Japanese Buddhist order, one of a set put up around the world in the years since the Second World War. Around the base are four Buddha statues, gifts from different countries.
Pumdikot is Hindu, recent and enormous: a Shiva statue on a hilltop with a complex around it, built largely with local money and now a big draw for Nepali visitors. Walking between them in an afternoon is a decent short lesson in how comfortably the two religions sit side by side here.
Before you go
The ridge is exposed in places, and there's no water for sale between the two ends, so carry a litre.
The path is clear enough, but there are junctions where local knowledge helps. If you're unsure, it's worth doing with a guide, and it makes a cheap half-day. Ask us and we'll quote it.
In the monsoon the forest section is slippery and full of leeches. It still works, with salt and better shoes.
Walk it with us
Private departures on your dates, guided by the people who wrote this page.
Questions we get asked
Can I drive to Pumdikot?
Yes, there's a road, and plenty of visitors drive up. Walking the ridge is the better way if you have the legs.
How long does the whole thing take?
Four to five hours, including the boat, the pagoda and the ridge walk to Pumdikot. It fits comfortably into half a day.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There are tea shops at both ends and very little in between, so take something with you.
What's the best time of day?
Afternoon, finishing at Pumdikot for sunset. Go in the morning if you want the mountains at their sharpest, though this ridge is really about the lake and the valley.
Still deciding?
Tell us your dates and how much walking you've done, and we'll tell you whether World Peace Pagoda Loop is right for you. If it isn't, we'll say so.
Nothing to pay online. We confirm your dates first.
Or call the office +977 61-457830