World Peace Pagoda Hike
A scenic boat ride across Phewa Lake followed by a forest trail to the gleaming white Shanti Stupa with the best combined view of mountains and lake.
Distance
6 km
Duration
3.5 hours
Elevation Gain
350m
Max Elevation
1,113m
Min Elevation
800m
Highest Point
World Peace Pagoda
Difficulty
Easy
Best Season
October-April
Route Type
Point to Point
This hike combines a scenic boat ride across Phewa Lake with a steep forest trail leading to the World Peace Pagoda (Shanti Stupa), one of 80 peace pagodas worldwide built by the Japanese Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist order. The stupa sits on Anadu Hill and provides arguably the best combined view of the Annapurna range and Phewa Lake in one frame.
The gleaming white stupa features gold Buddha statues on four sides and was inaugurated in 1999. The trail from the boat landing is steep but short, winding through forest before emerging at the pagoda.
The boat ride across Phewa Lake is part of the experience — hire a rowboat from Lakeside and be dropped at the south shore trailhead.