Phulchowki Hiking

Situated in the southern part of Kathmandu at an elevation of 2782m, Phulchowki is the highest hill surrounding the Kathmandu Valley. Therefore, it provides one of the best views of the valley and the faraway mountain ranges. Since it is only 14 km away from Kathmandu Valley, it makes for one of the perfect destinations to do a short hiking near the valley.

Phulchowki translates as “the area of flowers,” and indeed this area is filled with rhododendrons (known as Laligurans in Nepal) of various colours, which is the national flower of Nepal. The hill is also home to various kinds of birds, such as Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Tit, Red-billed Leiothrix, Whiskered Yuhina, Racket-tailed Drongos, Grey-headed Woodpecker, Nepal Cutia, and the Black-winged Cuckoo Shrike, to name a few. Therefore, this hike also offers you an excellent opportunity to do some birdwatching.

Your trip begins with about half an hour’s drive to Godavari (a place teeming with flowers (in fact, it has a botanical garden) and which is very popular among the locals for going to picnics. From Godavari onwards, your hike begins. It generally takes about four to five hours to reach to the summit of the Phulchowki hill. At the top, you will also get to visit a very famous shrine of the Hindu goddess Phulchowki Mai. If you hike through this hill during spring, summer, or autumn, you will be greeted with colourful flowers and greenery all around, but if you hike during the winter, you will most likely get an opportunity to experience snowfall, since this is the only place around Kathmandu Valley where it tends to snow during the winter.