Phulchowki Hiking: Views Are Awaiting

Phulchowki Dada means hill of flowers and is a famous hiking spot near Kathmandu Valley, 14 km southeast. Known for its greenery and bird watching, the trail is tough but the views from the top is worth it to be in nature. The journey starts with an hour drive to Godawari and then few hours hike to Phulchowki. While in Godawari don’t miss to visit the Royal Botanical Garden which has varieties of flowers, berries, trees and herbs.

The Phulchowki trail has various landscapes, subtropical forests, rhododendron forests (white and red) and oak forests. The difficult trek is worth it to see the greenery and the birds like Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Yellow-browed Tit, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Black-winged Cuckoo-shrike and more. On clear days you can see Gaurishankar Himal, Langtang Himal, Ganesh Himal and Annapurna range to the east.

Phulchowki Dada has cultural importance as well, it’s a pilgrimage site for Hindus. At the top there is a shrine of Phulchowki Mai with prayer flags. For Kathmandu people looking for a nearby place to see snow, Phulchowki is the closest. Keep your hiking gear ready as soon as you hear the news of snow.