Phulchoki

Phulchoki is the largest peak in the Kathmandu Valley and is situated 20km southeast of Kathmandu. It can be easily reached by taxi in an hour. Before reaching Phulchoki are the Godavari Gardens. The Phulchoki and Godavari forests are famous for different flower and bird species. Godavari is the base of the hill Phulchoki, which is at a height of 2,758m. Hiking up to Phulchoki Hill inside the dense jungle, one can glimpse beautiful birds and cross small natural streams. After the exhilarating one-hour trek, reaching the amazing vantage point is the best part, where a clear day will thrill you with a close-up view of the entire range of snowy mountains from Mt. Everest in the east to Dhaulagiri in the west. The Spiny Babbler, Nepal’s only endemic is found at the foot of Phulchoki. Along the trails in the early morning, it is possible to see 2 species of Tesia, so long as you are first to walk the path. As the track leads up the mountain following the stream, take the small side path along a little valley instead of following the track to the left and look for the Tesias here. Around 265 species of birds have been recorded here.

The places of interest in the area are the Godavari Kunda, Phulchoki Mai Temple, and enjoyable walks to the giant Shanti Ban Buddha or the shrine of Bishankhu Narayan.

The 10km road from the Kathmandu Ring south of Patan passes through the village of Godavari to an open space at the foot of the hills. Here a partially sealed road continues south to Phulchoki Mai Temple and on to Phulchoki Mountain; the main road veers left (northeast) 1km past an ashram to the gardens and Godavari Kunda. The road from Kathmandu passes several large plant nurseries, highlighting the region's botanical importance and commercial viability. One of the hotels has a view tower with great views on clear mornings of the Himalayas, with one of the widest panoramas of any viewpoint. A Tibetan monastery and temple are about a 30-minute walk through lovely mountain scenery. Get directions from one of the restaurants or guesthouses. The activities available here are hiking, cycling, rock climbing, a fishing trip to Kulekhani, a pony ride, etc. There are some guesthouses with rooms for rent, and one place renting out safari-style semi-permanent tents.