Phulchowki Day Hiking

Phulchowki Hill, at a height of 2,782 m, is one of the best spots for hiking in the Kathmandu area, especially if you are anywhere around Lalitpur’s Patan. The distance from the city is not too far from Phulchowki. The hill is possibly the most scenic route you will find in Kathmandu Valley. You can see the beauty of Annapurna-Manaslu and Ganesh Himal as well as the Langtang and Jugal Himal from Phulchowki. While it seems impossible to witness the beauty of Mount Everest from Kathmandu, you can, to an extent, view the peak from the hill itself. Gauri Shankar Himal can also be seen from Phulchowki's height. Similarly, you can get a perfect view of the entire city of Kathmandu during your Phulchowki hike.

The Phulchowki day hike is all about going through nature to finally stop at a high point. There isn’t a lack of any natural beauty like tall rhododendron-oaks-pines-magnolia and fir trees throughout your hike. Though not reachable, there are also exotic birds and animals like leopards, wild cats, deer, and monkeys. If you are lucky enough, or in a few cases unlucky, there is a mild chance of seeing these animals and wild birds during your day hike. While many people tend to go to Phulchowki as tourists, there are many locals from both Kathmandu and Lalitpur, as well as some from other parts of Nepal, who are looking to find a day off from the hustling and bustling city life. Phulchowki day hike is conveniently accessible for almost anyone who is in and out of Kathmandu Valley, and the refreshing experience is worth spending a day.

Phulchowki day hiking takes you a single day to complete, as the name itself suggests. Your day will start from Patan, Lalitpur, where you will be having your breakfast. You can either choose a hotel in Patan or inside Kathmandu Valley to begin with. Then, you will be going to Godavari, famous for its botanical garden and being a small village in Lalitpur. The drive from Patan to Godavari is not time-consuming, and you will be there within an hour or two when you start in Patan. Then, you will finally get off at your stop in Godavari and walk through the 4-5 hours of trail to Phulchowki Hill from here.

Phulchowki gives you a perfect view of the city that you left behind, though not so far from the hill itself. After you enjoy your time at the peak, it is about the right time to finally get off the hill and return to Godavari. It is completely up to you, as a visitor, to decide whether you want to go to the botanical garden or not, given you have plenty more time left in hand. If not, you return from the same route to your hotel as you did during your arrival.