While trekkers heading to Kathmandu tend to look toward Everest or Annapurna, this shorter circuit sits within a day's reach of the valley itself. The route starts at Chitlang village, reached either by a short hike down from Chandragiri Hill or a direct drive via Thankot, and ends at Markhu on the shore of Kulekhani Dam. The walk covers roughly 12 kilometres and takes 2.5 to 4 hours, mostly downhill on village paths through terraced fields and forest, rated easy to moderate and suited to beginners and families.
The hills above Chitlang carry visible traces of the Kathmandu Ropeway, a cargo cable car system built during the Rana era and expanded in the 1960s to move goods into the valley before road access existed. Its iron towers and rust-covered terminal structures still stand along the descent from Chandragiri, near a rhododendron forest that colours the trail on the way down. The route ends at Indra Sarovar, a roughly 7-kilometre reservoir built as a hydroelectric dam and now also used for boating and fishing.
Chitlang itself is an old Newari settlement known for organic pear orchards, the Satdhara (seven stone water spouts), historic stupas, and homestays built around Nepal's first goat cheese factory; some also serve locally made plum wine. Between Chitlang and Markhu lie the Bheda Farm pastures, open grazing land with views over the surrounding hills.
No trekking permit is required for the route, though recreational fishing on the lake needs a local permit costing NPR 200 per day. A common route back to Kathmandu runs via Pharping or Dakshinkali. Near Markhu, the path splits in several places and can be confusing to follow on mapping apps, since new roads are being cut faster than they're mapped; asking locals for directions is worth doing.
Local buses out of Markhu are often crowded and the roads bumpy, so travellers who prefer more comfort may want to pre-book a private jeep. Boats can be hired in Markhu, including a roughly $15 crossing to the Kulekhani Dam picnic spot, from where a further short hike or bus ride continues to Kathmandu.
Carry cash for the fishing permit and any boat hire, and wear footwear suited to a mostly downhill, sometimes muddy trail. Booking a homestay or hotel in Chitlang or Markhu ahead of arrival is advisable, since options are limited and the route is popular with local weekend visitors.
