Ranibari Community Forest

Ranibari Community Forest is a 63-hectare patch of mixed forest in northern Kathmandu, maintained by the local ward community and open to visitors for a small fee. It is the most accessible natural space within the city and a remarkable counterpoint to the built environment a few hundred metres away.

The forest is one of the best birdwatching sites in the valley without leaving Kathmandu — over 100 species have been recorded, including several kingfisher species, owls, woodpeckers, and migrating raptors. Walking the forest paths in the early morning is peaceful and the contrast with the city's standard chaos is striking. Take the ring road north from Thamel and follow the signage for the forest entrance.

things to do park wildlife
A story
Ranibari is one of the last forests within the city limits of Kathmandu, maintained by the local community rather than the government. The community forest system, established under Nepal's 1993 Forest Act, gave local groups formal rights to manage and benefit from specific forest areas — Ranibari is one of the success stories. The bird count here exceeds 100 species within a patch of urban woodland, including raptors that would not survive in most cities of comparable density.