Champadevi Hiking Route Cleanup by NMA, RBC, and NepTrek

On May 22, 2023, twenty-five licensed trekking guides participated in Champadevi Hiking Route Cleanup Campaign. All 25 members were from the 39th Trekking Guide Training Batch from Nepal Mountain Academy. Supported by Dakshinkali Municipality, initiated by Asim KC from Rock Beans Coffee and NepTrek, and volunteered by all 25 trek guides, this event successfully collected waste in 20-25 garbage bags.

This is the story of how we got the motivation to participate in this beautiful event.

Trend of Hiking around Kathmandu

Past Covid-19, a new health-conscious trend among Nepali people developed, weekend hiking. Almost all popular cities in Nepal are near beautiful hills and hilltops destinations. Due to this, hiking in Nepal post Covid-19 boomed like never before.

Champadevi Hill, Shivapuri Peak, Chandragiri Hills, and Chisapani Nagarkot sits close to Kathmandu. These places are easy to access by bus and private vehicles. Thus, on Saturdays and public holidays, these best hiking trails around Kathmandu see crowds of hikers.

However, with increased hikes on the nearby hills around Kathmandu, more plastic bottles, wrappers, meal packs, beer bottles and cans, and non-biodegradable stuff became apparent. Champadevi Hill and the pollution on every hiking route around Kathmandu are also becoming severe. People became conscious of their health but ignored the environment’s health. It’s such a pain to see people missing the concept of Leave No Trace.

How Champadevi Day Hike became popular?

The Champadevi Hiking Route starts from Hattiban Resort, 20 km south of the heart of Kathmandu. One can easily access this place on a Dakshinkali local bus that departs from Ratnapark every 30 minutes. Or booking ride-sharing services like Pathao and InDrive takes you to Bhanjyang/Khare quickly.

Well-maintained hiking trails, plenty of resting places, photographic spots, and a splendid view of Kathmandu Valley from the top have made Champadevi Route popular among other day hikes around the city.

Champadevi Day hike is also famous because it offers several hiking route options. Most hikers only hike to Champadevi temple, spend quality time there, and retrace the route back to Bhanjyang or Khare.

But those who want to hike all day can walk to Bhasmasur Danda and Chandragiri Hills.

Due to affluent hike options, it became more and more popular. As more hikers hiked here, the waste started getting deposited over some time. It became so apparent that both sides of the route became the most dumpsite of plastic water bottles.

How we got the inspiration to clean Champadevi Hiking Route?

Everyone who volunteered in this campaign is the Nepal government’s licensed trekking guide. While doing training, there was a lecture on Leave No Trace. However, we were only told not to litter in the mountains and encouraged others not to litter. Everyone was disappointed as there needed to be a practical approach to this.

Everyone in the class needed a practical approach to Leave No Trace. Therefore, we went to Champadevi Hill the next day after giving the license exam. There was one goal: to clean up Champadevi route to some extent.

Only 25/81 people from the training session joined the volunteering act. But those who did do an excellent job collecting the garbage for three hours.

Our sponsor for Champadevi Hiking Route Cleanup Campaign

Dakshinkali Municipality sponsored us for this cleanup campaign. Asim KC, a resident of Pharping-04, Dakshinkali Municipality, also a licensed trek guide from the 39th trekking guide training batch, played a crucial role in managing the sponsorship.

Also, before starting our cleanup campaign, the deputy mayor of the municipality made her presence to motivate us. Also, she thanked every volunteer for taking this voluntary initiative.

Even though the amount of sponsorship was less, we kept the motivation of cleaning Champadevi Trail.

How much waste did we collect from Champadevi Route?

Our initial plan was to collect 50 garbage bags full of plastic water bottles, plastic wrappers, and other non-biodegradable waste. However, we only managed to collect 35 garbage bags of rubbish. Also, a few garbage bags were used as double layers to prevent heavy baggage from getting torn.

Also, we started getting tired when we were at 60% of the trail. Too, we had to return home as it was getting late, we collected what we could.

More than a single initiation is needed to clean all the waste that got layered for several years. We wish that other teams also participate in this volunteering work and make the environment clean and green again.

Certificate of appreciation for volunteers

There’s also a certificate distribution session to encourage the volunteers who dedicated their time and effort for Champadevi Hiking Route cleanup act. As of May 23, we all are waiting for our guiding license exam certificate distribution. And we plan to distribute the certificate of appreciation on the same day for all the volunteers.