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Town or village · 1,360 m
Bungamati
A Newar village on a spur above the Bagmati, home of the rain god Rato Machhindranath and known for its woodcarvers.
Patan (Lalitpur)गोदावरी
Godawari
A green corner at the foot of Phulchowki, south-east of Patan, with Nepal's national botanical garden, sacred springs and forest walks.
This is Godawari in Lalitpur district, on the southern edge of the Kathmandu Valley; it is not Godawari Municipality in Kailali district, far-western Nepal, or the Godavari river in India.
- Altitude
- 1,520 m*
- Best months
- Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Type
- Town or village
- District
- Lalitpur, Bagmati
- Permit
- Entry fee
Why go
Godawari lies at the southern end of the Kathmandu Valley, about 10-14 km south-east of Patan, where the valley floor meets the forested slopes of Phulchowki. It is part of Godawari Municipality in Lalitpur district, a mix of villages, schools and farmland that feels noticeably greener and cooler than the city. For visitors it is mainly a day-trip destination for gardens, temples and walks.
The main attraction is the National Botanical Garden, with lawns, ponds, a fern house and orchid and cactus collections, and paths along a stream under large trees. It is popular with families and school groups at weekends and quiet on weekdays. Nearby, Godawari Kunda is a sacred spring-fed pond, and Naudhara, a little further on, is a set of nine stone water spouts at the foot of the hill. Godawari is also the trailhead for the hike up Phulchowki, the highest point on the valley rim.
The forest around Godawari and Phulchowki is one of the best birdwatching areas near Kathmandu, and early mornings along the garden edges and forest tracks reward patient birders. It combines well with the Newar villages of Bungamati and Khokana, or with the Bishankhu Narayan temple on the way back towards Patan.
History and culture
The botanical garden was established in the 1960s under the government's department of plant resources and remains the country's main botanical garden. Godawari Kunda is fed by a spring believed to be connected with the Godavari river of India; every twelve years, when Jupiter enters the sign of Leo, a large mela is held here and pilgrims bathe in the pond. The area also has an old Jesuit-run school and several Christian and Hindu institutions dating from the mid-20th century.
The surrounding municipality, created in 2014 and enlarged in 2017, has a mixed population of Newar, Chhetri, Tamang, Brahmin and other communities. The Phulchowki Mai shrine, to the goddess of the mountain, is the focus of local devotion, and villages around Godawari keep their own Newar festivals.
Things to do in Godawari
Walk the botanical garden
Spend two to three hours along the stream paths, glasshouses and lawns; best on a weekday morning.
Visit Godawari Kunda and Naudhara
Walk a few minutes from the garden to the sacred pond and the nine water spouts.
Go birdwatching
Walk the forest tracks at the foot of Phulchowki early in the morning.
Hike Phulchowki
Start from Godawari for the climb to the 2,782 m summit, a long day hike.
Weather and the best time to visit Godawari
Weather in Godawari
Forecast for 1,520 m. Conditions change fast in the mountains.
Weather data: MET Norway, licensed CC BY 4.0. A forecast, not a guarantee.
Best time to visit
Feb-Apr, Oct-Nov
- Jan
- Good month: Feb
- Good month: Mar
- Good month: Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Good month: Oct
- Good month: Nov
- Dec
- Autumn (Sep-Nov)
- October and November are clear and pleasant, a good time for walks and birding.
- Winter (Dec-Feb)
- December to February is dry and cool; mornings are cold in the shade of the hills.
- Spring (Mar-May)
- February to April is the flowering season, with rhododendrons on the slopes above and blooms in the garden.
- Monsoon (Jun-Aug)
- June to August is lush and wet, with leeches on forest trails and slippery paths.
Where to stay
ResortsHotels
A few resorts and hotels around Godawari; most visitors come on a day trip from Patan or Kathmandu.
No partner stays are listed here yet. List a property.
Getting there
Godawari is about 10-14 km south-east of Patan, at the end of the Godawari road via Lagankhel and Satdobato.
Nearest hub: Kathmandu
- roadTaxi from Patan, about 10-14 km, 30-50 minutes; from Thamel 45-80 minutes depending on traffic.
- roadLocal buses from Lagankhel in Patan to Godawari, about 45-60 minutes.
Getting to Godawari, by mode
Nearest hub: Kathmandu. Times are typical ranges, not schedules, and vary with roadworks, weather and the season.
By busfrom Patan (Lalitpur)about 0.75-1 hLocal buses
Local buses run from the Lagankhel park in Patan via Satdobato to Godawari, ending near the botanical garden road.
By car or jeepfrom Patan (Lalitpur)about 0.5-0.85 h
About 10 to 14 km south-east of Patan at the end of the Godawari road; from Thamel allow 45 to 80 minutes.
Road: Sealed to the village and the garden gate; the forest roads above are rough.
By motorbikefrom Patan (Lalitpur)about 0.45-0.8 hEasy riding
Easy sealed run to the village; the summit road above is a different proposition.
Road: Sealed and narrow to the garden gate, rough beyond.
On footfrom Phulchowkiabout 2.5-4 h2.5-4 h down from the Phulchowki summit, about 1,250 m of descent
The descent off Phulchowki ends at the Godawari road head, the usual way to finish the hike.
Where people go next
- Phulchowkion foot, about 4-6 hThe long climb to the valley's highest rim point.
- Patan (Lalitpur)by bus, about 0.75-1 hBack to Lagankhel.
- Bungamatiby car or jeep, about 0.5-0.9 hWest across the southern valley.
Permits and fees
Entry fee
The National Botanical Garden charges an entry fee, with different rates for Nepali, SAARC and other foreign visitors. Walking in the wider area is free.
- Botanical garden ticket: Bought at the garden gate; check current amount and opening hours on arrival.
Verify before travel: permit rules and fees change. Checked 2026-10-06 against Godawari, Lalitpur, Wikipedia.
Risks and conditions
Seasonal risks around Godawari
What this place is typically exposed to, and when. These are seasonal patterns, not a report on conditions now.
Othermoderate in a typical yearJun-Sep
Forest trails around Godawari and up Phulchowki are slippery and leech-ridden from June to September.
Othermoderate in a typical yearDec-Apr
Dry-season dust and haze are a normal feature of the Kathmandu valley, where measured PM2.5 has run several times the WHO guideline level. Visitors prone to asthma usually do better on early mornings and after rain.
Landslideslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
The forest roads above the village, including the Phulchowki summit track, slip and wash out in the June to September rains.
Road blockageslow in a typical yearJun-Sep
Monsoon rain typically leaves the upper Godawari and summit roads rutted and slow, and the lower road can be waterlogged.
Coldlow in a typical yearDec-Feb
Valley nights from December to February typically fall to around freezing, with morning fog burning off by mid-morning, and few buildings have heating.
Check current conditions before you travel
Roads, trails, passes and flights change with the weather and with roadworks, and nothing on this page describes conditions today. Before you set off, check the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology for weather and flood warnings, the Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Portal for incidents, and the local authority, police or your licensed operator for road, trail and flight status.
Practical tips
- Weekends are crowded at the botanical garden; go on a weekday for quiet.
- Bring water and snacks; facilities in the garden are limited.
- Leeches appear on forest trails in the monsoon.
- Mobile signal is generally available around the garden but patchy higher up the hill.
Questions about Godawari
How do I get to Godawari from Kathmandu?
Take a taxi via Patan, about 45-80 minutes from Thamel, or a local bus from Lagankhel in Patan, about 45-60 minutes.
Is there an entry fee for Godawari Botanical Garden?
Yes, the National Botanical Garden charges an entry fee. Check the current amount at the gate.
Can I hike Phulchowki from Godawari?
Yes, Godawari is the usual starting point for the long day hike to the 2,782 m summit.
More in Patan (Lalitpur)
All of Patan (Lalitpur)
Town or village · 1,340 m
Khokana
A traditional Newar farming village south of Patan, known for mustard-oil pressing and the Rudrayani temple.
Temple, monastery or heritage site · 1,330 m
Patan Durbar Square
The former royal square of Patan, a row of Malla-era temples facing a palace that now houses one of Nepal's finest museums.
Viewpoint · 2,782 m
Phulchowki
The highest point on the Kathmandu Valley rim, a forested hill above Godawari known for birds, rhododendrons and mountain views.
Nearby
Town or village · 1,350 m
Patan (Lalitpur)
The old Newar city of Lalitpur across the Bagmati from Kathmandu, known for its Durbar Square, Buddhist courtyards and metalwork.
Town or village · 1,400 m
Kathmandu
Nepal's capital, a sprawling valley city wrapped around a medieval Newar core, with major Hindu and Buddhist sites and the country's main airport.
Editorial draft: facts are being checked against the sources below. Last checked 2026-10-06. Sources: Godawari, Lalitpur, Wikipedia, National Botanical Garden entrance, OpenStreetMap