Looking for a peaceful and calm spot near Kathmandu for a short ride or drive this weekend? If so, Siltanki should be at the top of your list this Saturday!
From the scenic drive along the Tokha–Bidur road to the waters that soothe your eyes, Siltanki is a great destination for nature lovers.
I recently included this trip as part of my weekend getaway at one of the resorts in Galchi. And based on my experience, I’d suggest a similar approach.
There are plenty of landmarks near Siltanki that you can visit first, and then make this your side trip. After all, you’ll be riding for almost two hours to get there, so visiting multiple locations on the same day sounds like a much better idea, right?
In this article, I’ll guide you in detail on how to reach Siltanki Nuwakot, along with the things to do in the area. Let’s get started…
Key Facts About Siltanki Nuwakot
| Location | Trishuli Bazaar, Bidur, Nuwakot, Bagmati Province |
| Mode of Transportation | Private / Public Vehicle + Hike |
| Distance (from Tokha) | 50 km approx. |
| Time to reach | 2 hours |
| Best Time to Visit | All seasons |
How to Reach Siltanki in Nuwakot?
For anyone in Kathmandu looking for a short yet slightly adventurous ride close to the city, Nuwakot is always the best choice. Yes, it’s even MY FAVORITE!
The road condition to Siltanki is in excellent shape, and it’s a great fit even during the monsoon season. However, there might be certain sections affected by landslides, but still, alternative routes make it worthwhile.
To reach Siltanki Park, here’s the best route:
- Use the Tokha–Bidur road and continue onward to Trishuli Bazaar, connecting to the Trishuli Highway.
- Take a left, which leads you to the New Trishuli Bridge.
- From here, it’s a slightly uphill section that takes you to the Trishuli Hydropower Dam.
- Continue on the narrow path to first reach Trishuli Park, and then head towards Siltanki Park.
There are alternative routes too:
- Get to Kakani first via Macchapokhari and continue onwards to Belkot, then to Pipaltar. Once you connect to the Trishuli Highway, follow the same route as mentioned earlier.
- Reach up to Galchi and connect with the Trishuli Highway instead of continuing on the Prithvi Highway. This is applicable for those of you coming from outside the Kathmandu Valley.
Even I, along with my partner, had taken the Galchi route. Not because we wanted to travel the dusty path, but because we were on our way for a weekend getaway at one of the resorts there.
It felt like a mistake choosing the Prithvi Highway, considering the road conditions at that time. If I could go back in time, I’d easily choose the extra 20–25 km ride via Tokha to reach Galchi.
For those of you planning to come here by public bus, you’ll need to get on a bus or Hiace heading toward Trishuli Bazaar. These buses should be available from Gongabu Buspark and usually take the Kakani route.
Also, there are electric vans that head to Trishuli Bazaar these days via the Tokha-Bidur road. I highly suggest you go for that, as the route is much quicker.
Once you reach the destination, try to see if you can find any local transport, or simply opt for a hike, which should take no longer than an hour.
Major Attractions of Siltanki
Siltanki is a hidden gem in the Nuwakot District that has become a popular spot among residents of Kathmandu for a picnic getaway.
For me, it was more about the scenic motorcycle ride to escape the heat in Kathmandu. Turns out, the spot was even hotter than the city itself! Or maybe I was just feeling hot that day? God knows.
Since I had seen Siltanki all over social media, I wanted to just pay a quick visit. That’s the reason I couldn’t explore more of the place. Perhaps next time?
But even after a short ride, it was enough for me to analyze how good it actually is:
- Riding through Siltanki Park with the reservoir beside us was truly a refreshing experience.
- There’s a small doorway in the middle of the park that takes you close to the dam. So, keep an eye out for that!
- Even at the entrance, there’s a photo shoot location you might want to visit. We personally skipped it!
- We also didn’t go further up to the Siltanki Picnic Spot, as we hadn’t planned for one. Turns out, the place is a little more scenic than we thought. We might’ve missed out. Mistakes happen.
- Along with a picnic, you can even dip your feet in both the dam and the nearby Trishuli River.
One disheartening thing we noticed was that people had thrown litter all around the area. Kindly take your garbage home with you. People should understand that the impression of such places gets ruined when litter is left behind.
On your way back, don’t forget to visit the Nuwakot Durbar Square, which is still under reconstruction after being devastatingly destroyed by the 2015 Nepal Earthquake.
It’s been 10 years, and you can clearly see the progress in our poor little country. All thanks to the wonderful politicians we have!
While you can’t go inside the museum, you can still visit the nearby Shree Bhairabi Temple.
Also, if you’re heading here during the monsoon season, remember that Nuwakot offers a plethora of waterfalls. One of the most popular ones along the way is Lauke Waterfall.
When’s the Right Time to Visit Siltanki?
Siltanki Park in Trishuli Bazar, Nuwakot, is great to visit during all seasons. But personally, I wouldn’t recommend spending your time in just one location when you’re in the area.
It’s best to either combine multiple landmarks or simply stop by for a short picnic on your way home from other major trips.
These are the ideas I have, and I’m pretty sure you’ll understand the gist of what I’m trying to say:
- Add Siltanki as a side trip after a night out at one of the riverside resorts (just like we did!)
- Combine it with the Lauke Waterfall and Nuwakot Durbar Square (as mentioned earlier). But do keep in mind that to enjoy the most time here, you need to start early, and time management is crucial.
- Plan a similar outing by combining it with Mailung or Bhange Waterfall.
- Or, if you’ve chosen to go for the Langtang Valley or Gosaikunda Trek on a motorcycle, you can visit here on your return trip.
Of course, if your plan is to spend quality time in Siltanki with a proper picnic and a big group, then just adding Siltanki alone would be a great choice too.
Basically, there are two types of travel—fast and slow. So this totally depends on your preference.
Budget for Siltanki Trip
Your major expenses when visiting Siltanki, Nuwakot should be your fuel and the dry snacks for your picnic.
But if you’re willing to sit by the Trishuli River and enjoy a healthier meal, there are definitely resorts nearby that you can check out.
In our case, we only spent about NPR 200 to 300 on refreshing drinks and spent more at the resort where we had stayed the night before. It was a budget trip with no additional costs at all.
Based on that, this is a trip that can easily be completed under a budget of NPR 1000 only.
Final Words
Siltanki Park in Nuwakot is a spot worth visiting with your friends and family for a whole-day picnic.
But for those of you looking to explore more places, I’d suggest adding this as a side trip when visiting the major attractions nearby.
How would you like to plan your Siltanki trip? Don’t forget to tell us in the comments below!
Happy travelling to Nuwakot!
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