The word ‘Phulchowki’ translates to ‘Hill of flowers’ since ‘Phool’ translates to ‘flower’ and ‘Chowki’ means ‘Hill’.
The highest hill in and around Kathmandu Valley is famously known as Phulchowki Dada. Hill that rises to a height of 2783 meters/9127 feet above sea level. It is one of the tallest mountains in the valley. As the name suggests, this hill comes with surprises of its own.
It is home to a wide range of flora and fauna as well as several other exotic and rare animals, insects, and birds.
Many things make Phulchowki dada stand out, such as its botanical garden (Godawari), bird watching, and snowy mountain tops. It was only through the help of What Nepal, I was able to gain so many valuable details about the place.
How to get there
These details would have been impossible to find without having been there. I was mildly surprised when our tour guide informed us that we passed through more than 100 varieties of flowers during the hike. To reach this magnificent place, you could book a private vehicle or take the local bus from the Gongabu bus park to Satdobato. Later, you could board a bus to Godawari from Satdobato. It takes about an hour to reach Godawari from Kathmandu, and the hiking will last for 4 hours.
As restaurants are not available on the trail, make sure to eat beforehand or carry snacks and or lunch. Although there is an army canteen that lies almost at the top of the hill. Hiking up the hill had its challenges such as shortness of breath and dehydration. The journey was long and tiresome but we regained our strength after seeing the colorful prayer flags because we knew our destination was near. So we pushed
through the hopelessness till we reached an army check post which we passed after stating our intention and some minor details. Finally, We reached the top of Phulchowki Dada and felt very accomplished.
A visit to Phulchowki Danda at the right time of the season is a must since you will also enjoy a fantastic view of Mt. Manaslu, Mt. Ganesh, Mt. Langtang, and glimpses of many more. People also visit Phulchowki danda for religious purposes due to the presence of the Bhagwati
temple. The months of March and May are the most suitable time to visit this hill since it is the time of the full blossoming of the Rhododendron flower (the national flower of Nepal) and various other flora and faunas. This makes the road and journey more colorful. Snowfall occurs in December and January, attracting many local travelers. It is only a one-day long trip & helps you to clear your mind and get closer to nature.
It is a quick hideout place away from an ever-so-busy city.
