Trekking · Kathmandu
Godavari Forest & Gardens Walk
Botanical garden paths plus the forested lower slopes of Phulchowki, the valley's richest birding hill.
The Godavari forest and gardens walk is the valley's most varied easy nature outing — a pairing of landscaped botanical garden paths with the shaded lower forest of Phulchowki, the highest hill ringing the Kathmandu Valley and its single best birding ground. At the green southeastern corner of the valley, it lets you combine cultivated calm and wild woodland in one relaxed half-day.
The short answer
Drive about an hour southeast of central Kathmandu, through Lalitpur, to Godavari at the foot of Phulchowki. Stroll the flat paths and glasshouses of the National Botanical Garden, then walk into the forested lower slopes for birdsong and shade. Go early with binoculars, and keep to the lower woods for an easy day or push higher for a longer climb.
What to expect
The walk has two distinct halves. The Botanical Garden is gentle and ornamental — manicured beds, ponds, a fernery and stands of mature trees, ideal for a slow wander. Step beyond it and the Phulchowki forest takes over: dense, layered woodland climbing the valley's tallest hill, famous for its birdlife and, in spring, blooming rhododendron higher up. Most visitors enjoy the gardens and the first stretch of forest; fitter walkers can follow the road and trail much further toward the 2,782-metre summit and its sweeping view.
Good to know
- Getting there: About an hour by taxi southeast of the city, via Lalitpur.
- Entry: Small fee for the Botanical Garden; bring rupees in cash.
- Effort: Easy in the gardens and lower forest; long and steep to the summit.
- Best time: Dry-season mornings; spring for rhododendron and breeding birds.
- Bring: Binoculars, water and layers — the forest is cool and shaded.
How it fits your trip
Godavari rewards anyone who wants nature with a little structure — gardens to ease into, forest to explore at your own pace. For the full detail on the grounds, see the guide to the National Botanical Garden at Godavari. It complements the still-water birding of the Taudaha lake nature walk on the valley's south side and the denser climb of the Nagarjun forest hike to the northwest. It is part of the wider forest and nature walks around Kathmandu collection, and the national guide to the best day hikes near Kathmandu shows how a full Phulchowki ascent fits the bigger walking picture.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Godavari forest and gardens walk?+
It combines a stroll through Nepal's National Botanical Garden at Godavari with a walk into the forested lower slopes of Phulchowki, the valley's highest hill. Together they offer landscaped grounds, glasshouses and native woodland, all at the southeastern edge of the Kathmandu Valley.
Where is Godavari and how do I get there?+
Godavari sits at the foot of Phulchowki, about an hour southeast of central Kathmandu by taxi via Lalitpur. The Botanical Garden and the forest trailheads are close together, making it easy to combine the gardens and a forest walk in one outing.
Is Godavari good for birdwatching?+
Yes, it is one of the best birding areas near Kathmandu. The forested slopes of Phulchowki above Godavari are renowned among birdwatchers for their variety of species, and even the lower trails and garden edges reward an early-morning visit with binoculars.
How hard is the walk at Godavari?+
The Botanical Garden paths are flat and very easy. Walking into the lower Phulchowki forest is gentle to moderate depending on how far you go, and climbing all the way to the summit is a long, steeper day. Most visitors keep to the gardens and lower woods for an easy half-day.
