Forest
Gokarna Forest is spread over 700 acres of Forest Reserve. This is the only un-denuded forest of Kathmandu Valley representing what existed over 500 years ago, with trees up to 200 years old. Gokarna is rich in cultural, environmental and biological diversity. 

Traditionally, the forest was the private Royal hunting grounds of the kings of Nepal known as Rajnikunj. Janga Bahadur Rana, the first Rana prime minister of Nepal constructed brick wall around the forest to protect ecology and biodiversity of the forest in 1862 AD. Holly wood movie ‘Little Buddha’ was also filmed in this forest. This movie is a 1993 (Release date 25, May-1994 AD) American movie by director Bernardo Bertolucci, a Tibetan Monk known as lama Norbu (Ruocheng Ying), is the main actor of the movie.

Forest Walk
The Gokarna Forest walk is one of the most important experiences that the resort offers to its guest. Each delivers a different experience. The forest itself is on one of the Unique Selling Point for the resort. Every nature and culture lovers can participate in the forest walk to experience both the nature and the culture where they will be guided by experienced forest guides. Further more; Gokarna Forest Resort has been organizing ‘Academic Eco-Cultural Trip' or 'Academic Educational Trip' especially to the college students of Kathmandu Valley.

Trails
In Gokarna, there are four different types of trail walks and are divided by distance and time that it takes to complete the walk. These trails provide a new experience about Gokarna, its history, legends, art and architecture (Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple, Kantibhairab temple and Taleju temple), kuldevtas (clan deities), a typical Newari village as well as trees, birds and wild animals.

The four types of trail walks are;

• Half hour: Hotel - 9th Tee on the Golf Course - Bandevi shrine (the holiest shrine of the forest) - Hotel
• One hour: Hotel - 9th Tee on the Golf course - Bandevi shrine -Uttarbahini (where the holy Bagmati River flows North) and back to the proshop or 9 tee-Bandevi shrine - 14 tee - back to the hotel through the golf course.
• One and half hour: Hotel - 9th tee on the Golf course - Bandevi shrine - Gokarna Newari village (Here you can see Taleju temple, a chaitya and traditional Newari life, their houses etc) and back to the hotel (on return you come through Uttarbahini (holy Bagmati River flows north).
• Two hours: Hotel - 9 tee on the Golf course - Bandevi shrine – Gokarna Newari village - Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple (Gokarneshwor temple complex known as Uttar Gaya, you can see Gadadhar Narayan temple and Gokarna gorge made by the holy Bagmati River) and back to hotel (on return one can see agriculture field on the bank of the holy Bagmati River - Uttarbahini here, the holy Bagmati River flows north).

Wildlife in the Forest
Gokarna forest is a shelter of different types of birds and animals. One can witness spotted and barking deer, common rhesus Monkeys, wild cat and pangolin in the forest. Gokarna forest is a destination for the sightseeing of different wild animals as well as a homeland of birds and bird watching.

• Type of wild animals that can be encountered in the forest such as common rhesus monkey, deer (spotted and barking deer), wild cat, pangolin etc.

• Types of trees:-
There are around hundred different types of trees in the forest like Anap (Mango), Alaichi (Cardamum), Badakatus (Oak), Bainsh (Indian Willow), Bakaino (White cedar), Falant (Ring cupped oak), Firfiray (Maple), Kalki Phool (Bottlebrush), Kangyo Phool (Silver Oak), Kapur (Camphor), Salla (pine), Pipal (Sacred fig), Lapsi (Hog Plum), Sajiwan (Jatropha), Okhar (Walnut), Rittha (Soap-nut), Utis (Nepalese alder), Chanp (Champak), Kafal (Boxbyrtle), Simal (Cotton tree),Rani Valayo, Shyalfushray etc.

• Types of birds:
Gokarna forest resort is very rich in diversity. We can found more than hundred different species of birds in the forest like Grey-headed Woodpecker, Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Great Barbet, Coppersmith Barbet, White-throated Kingfisher, Eurasian Cuckoo, Rose-ringed Parakeet, House Swift, Rock Pigeon, Spotted Dove, Black Kite, Cattle Egret, Indian Pond Heron, Large-billed Crow, Scarlet Minivet, Black Drongo, Oriental White-eye, Common Tailorbird, Greenish Warbler, White Wagtail, Black Bulbul etc.

Holy shrines and history:

Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple is an oldest and important temple of the Kathmandu Valley, located on the bank of the holy Bagmati River. The three-storied pagoda style temple was built by Manadev in 5th century AD. The Father Day is celebrated by both Hindus and Buddhists in Aug/September. The temple's great interest is the surprisingly varied collection of sculptures and reliefs all around the site featuring a varied collection of gods and goddesses, some dating back more than a thousand years. Gadadhar Narayan temple known as Vishnupaduka is another attraction of Gokarna, built by Janga Bahadur Rana in 1854 AD. Bandevi (the goddess of the forest) is an important shrine located in the midpoint of the forest, is the holiest shrine of the Gokarna forest. Kantibhairab temple is an important temple of Uttarbahini, built by Rajendra Vikram Shah in 1789 AD. Except those shrines, there are some Kuldevtas (clan deities) within forest like Poudel’s kuldevta, Mahat’s kuldevta, Thapa’s kuldevta and Dhungana’s kuldevta etc, are worshipped once in a year.

The Holy Bagmati River:

The holy Bagmati River of Kathmandu Valley comes out from the mouth of a tiger known as ‘Baagdwar’. It flows down to India and merges with the Ganga of India.

The twin snow peak Dorjee Lakpa (6966 m and 6979 m): The refreshing mountain air comes to Gokarna before Kathmandu city directly coming from the Himalayas. The twin snow peak also can be seen from the putting green.

Recommended Times for Forest Walks
• Summer: 06.00 am – 04.30 pm
• Winter  : 07.00 am – 03.30 pm

Cost

Walks from half an hour up to two hours (or longer if wished for) are available. Further details will be available when making a reservation.

Guide / Safety

Caddies of Gokarna Golf Resort have been given a basic training and deputed as forest Guides who are local residents. Forest guides are provided to the guests for their help and safety during their forest walk.
The major duty of a guide is to lead, to direct, to motivate and to advise the guests or visitors. He should be honest, helpful, active, punctual, disciplined as well as good organizer. His main duty is to conduct tour very well and in systematic way with patience. Guide must be in well dress off and gloomy as well. A guide will know the history, culture as well as birds, trees and wild animals of the Gokarna.

For Further information please use the Reservations page.