Phulchowki, at an elevation of 2782m, is the highest hill in the south of the Kathmandu Valley. Phulchowki Hill, surrounded by dense forests, is a beautiful hiking trail where we can find various plant, bird, and animal species.
It is one of the most popular hiking destinations near Kathmandu as it offers a magnificent view of the beautiful Himalayas and the entire valley from the top of the hill.
The day hike to Phulchowki Hill begins early in the morning with a drive of around 30 minutes to Godavari, where the Botanical Garden is situated. From Godavari, we start the hike gradually uphill through dense sub-tropical forest for about four hours to Phulchowki Hill.
The hike will be immensely gratifying as it requires less physical caliber and the trail is simply awesome. On the way to the hill, we can see various flora and fauna, which make this hike more fascinating. The shrine of Phulchowki Mai, the guardian goddess of the forest, marks the summit of the hill.
The magnificent view from the eastern part of the Annapurna range to Gaurishanker in the east can be seen from the hill on a clear day. Moreover, the spectacular view of the Kathmandu valley is another glorious prospect of this hike. After lunch and a stroll, we hike down the same trail to Godavari for about 2 hours, then drive back to Kathmandu.
