Upper Rispana Gorge Circuit

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Geological Significance · Views · Waterfall · Wildflowers · Wildlife

This is a circuit that follows the upper catchment of the Rispana river, ascending by the Rajpur-Jharipani Hiking Trail/Kipling Trail and descending by the narrow and steep Rispana River Gorge.

As with the Rajpur-Jharipani Hiking Trail/Kipling Trail parking is at Rajpur-Shahenshahi Ashram. While there is no parking fee, this is a shared public area with residential buildings, so please park sensibly. There are several teashops, cafes and restaurants in Rajpur village that one can visit. There are no restrooms in the area, but one can ask at the restaurants and cafes to use one.
While on the trail and practice Leave No Trace principles.

The first part of the trail follows the regular Rajpur-Jharipani Hiking Trail/Kipling Trail uphill, until that turns diverges to the northwest. There is a wide path that continues downward through beautiful hill forest until it emerges into a steep-sided valley with limestone formations and scant vegetation, with the Rispana River flowing through it.

From here, the path follows the Rispana upstream and one can cross it at a concrete bridge and carry on to Talainigad village via a very steep and broken path. However, there is a small, steep, gravelly, and narrow trail that descends to the river, about 200m before the bridge. This trail descends steeply down the narrow Rispana gorge, criss-crossing the river at four points via concrete bridges. There are numerous pretty cascades and waterfalls alongside the path. The path is very steep and narrow and broken in some sections.

There is a section missing below the second bridge, which is extremely tricky to negotiate and extreme caution is advised. The trail continues steeply downhill via several switchbacks, following the river course, until it merges with the path to Shikhar Waterfalls, a popular tourist spot. From here, one can run about 800m to the start of the Rajpur-Jharipani Hiking Trail/Kipling Trail.

The trail is steep in sections with loose gravel, particularly in the latter half where it descends through the gorge. Sturdy shoes and trekking poles are highly recommended.

The latter half of the trail passes through some of the richest hill forests in the region, with and abundance of birds and wildlflowers. Common trees in this area include Sapium insigne, Bauhinia retusa, Toona ciliata and Boehmeria spp. Shrubs are dominated by Rubus spp., Woodfordia fruticosa and Holmskioldia sanguinea, although there is evidence of the increasing influx of the exotic Lantana camara and Ageratina adenophorum. Flowers are dependent on season, but in the winter Strobilanthes atropurpurea, Rumex hastata and Inula cuspidata are common. Didymocarpus spp., Begonia spp. are found in the monsoon, among plenty others.
The diversity of birds here is immense and this region is recognized local hotspot for bird diversity. Mountain Bulbuls, Long-tailed Broadbills, Nepal Cupwing and Chestnut-bellied Tesia are some interesting species that may be encountered.
The area has Leopard, Muntjak, Goral and Yellow-throated Marten, and Himalayan Black Bear has been reported.