Godawari Botanical Garden: Travel Guide (2025)
Planning a trip to the Godawari Botanical Garden?
You’ve come to the right place! Despite living in Nepal, it took me a long time before I finally visited the Godawari Botanical Garden. Although I did not go in the Spring when most flowers are in bloom, the botanical garden is still nice to visit any time of the year.
Godawari is 18 km south of Kathmandu and can be easily visited from Kathmandu. There are public buses and minivans going frequently from the Lagankhel Bus Stand in Lalitpur to Godawari or you can also take a taxi.
Godawari is most popular for visiting the botanical garden or hiking to the nearby Phulchowki Hill.
The Godawari Botanical Garden is a peaceful getaway to spend time in nature and fresh air. There are also a couple of temples nearby, and some trout fish farms if you get hungry.
So, here is all the information you need on planning a day trip from Kathmandu to Godawari.
How to Get to Godawari
Kathmandu City Centre to Godawari Taxi
The taxi from Kathmandu city centre to Godawari costs around Rs. 1,300 and takes 1 hour to get there.
Patan to Godawari Taxi
If you stay around Patan, taking a taxi from Patan to Godawari costs around Rs. 500-600 and takes 20 minutes to get there.
Kathmandu to Godawari Public Bus
To get from central Kathmandu to Godawari by public bus, you will have to take 2 buses. The first bus you will have to take from Ratna Park to the Lagankhel Bus Stand in Lalitpur.
Once you get to the Lagankhel Bus Stand, you can find the buses/minivans going to Godawari.
Information on Visiting the Godawari Botanical Garden
- Best Time to Visit the Godawari Botanical Garden: Spring (March-April) which is when the flowers are in bloom
- Godawari Botanical Garden Opening Times: Monday – Sunday: 9 am – 5 pm
- Godawari Botanical Garden Ticket Price: Rs. 500 (foreigners), Rs. 50 (Nepali citizens)
Godawari Botanical Garden
The Godawari Botanical Garden (also called as the National Botanical Garden) was established in 1962 and is the oldest and largest botanical garden in Nepal.
The garden covers 82 hectares and is the centre for plant conservation, research and education.
It has 30 different thematic gardens and over 1,100 plant species. The thematic gardens include the japanese garden, rock garden, seasonal plants garden, fern garden, orchid house, bonsai house and a garden for endangered plants.
The Godawari Botanical Garden is open all year round, however, the best time to visit the garden is in the spring (March-April). This is the time when most of flowers are in bloom, so the garden is much more special.
Godawari Botanical Garden Thematic Gardens
Japanese Garden
Rock Garden
Orchid House
Other Activities in Godawari
Apart from the Godawari Botanical Garden, there are a couple of other activities worth checking out in Godawari. There are many temples and hiking routes in Godawari.
There are also a couple of trout fish farms in Godawari, so if you like fish, Godawari is a great place to stop for lunch and have some fish.
Phulchowki Hill Hike
If you spend the weekend in Godawari, going for a day hike to the Phulchowki Hill can be a great plan.
The Phulchowki Hill (2,782 m) is the highest hill in the Kathmandu Valley and if the weather is clear, you get nice views of Kathmandu Valley. In Nepali, ’phul’ means ‘flower‘, so Phulchowki Hill actually means ’hill of flowers’.
If you plan to hike the Phulchowki Hill it is best to start early morning and plan that it will take about 7 hours in total. It takes about 4 hours to hike up to the top and 3 hours to come back down.
If you decide to hike the Phulchowki Hill, it is best if you take snacks/packed lunch and plenty of water with you. There is a canteen at the top but there is no other teahouse where you can buy food or water.
Godawari Marble Danda Hike
The Godawari Marble Danda is a short 30-minutes hike from the Godawari bus park. If the weather is clear, there is a really nice view from the top.
It can be perfect if you are short on time but you would still like to do some hiking and get some views of the valley. Apart from the hike up there, it is also possible to get up there by motorbike.
Godawari Temple
The Godawari Temple is a Hindu temple near the main entrance of the Godawari Botanical Garden.
It is somewhat small but I wanted to check it out as it is near the Botanical Garden. If you follow the Hindu religion, it can be a good place for pujas and rituals.
Pulchoki Bhawani Naudhara and Bhairab Temple
The Pulchoki Bhawani Naudhara and Bhairab Temple is located next to the starting point of the hiking trail to Phulchowki Hill.
‘Naudhara’ means ‘9 taps‘ and it got its name from the 9 water taps built by the temple.
It was commissioned by Juddha Shamsher, former prime minister of Nepal, and was built to be a place of his relaxation during the summer heat.
The Bhairab Temple, dedicated to Bhairab, is next to Naudhara.
Where to Eat in Godawari
Godawari has a couple of trout fish farms so it is a great place to have fish.
Village Trout Mini Resort
The Village Trout Mini Resort serves really great trout fish in Godawari. The restaurant is located in a quiet, peaceful environment away form the main road. It is a great place for lunch or dinner with friends and family.
📍 Location: The Village Trout Mini Resort is a bit further away from the Godawari Botanical Garden. If you don’t have your own transportation, you can take a minivan from the botanical garden to Taukhel Pipalbot and walk from there.
Tulip De’ Restaurant
The Tulip De’ Restaurant is located by the main entrance of the Godawari Garden, and is a great stop for lunch while visiting the Godawari Botanical Garden.
The prices are budget-friendly and you can choose from a range of dishes including momos, thupka, pizza or burger.
Hotels in Godawari
If you stay for a night or the weekend in Godawari, you will have to decide if you want to stay near the entrance of the Botanical Garden or close to the town centre.
If you don’t have your own vehicle, staying near the Botanical Garden makes it easier to check out the botanical garden and the other amenities (temples and hiking routes). At the same time, there are buses and minivans connecting the botanical garden with the town so it is easy to get around.
Here is my top recommendation on where to stay in Godawari:
📍 Mid-Range Hotel: Godavari Village Resort
Day Trips from Kathmandu
Looking for some inspiration for other day trips near Kathmandu? There are so many places to visit near Kathmandu including waterfalls, hiking trails, or heritage sites.
Here are some of the best day trips from Kathmandu that can be also extended to 2-3 days, if you have more time:
- Bhaktapur
- Chandragiri Hills Cable Car
- Kakani
- Nagarkot
- Sundarijal
- Changu Narayan
🌸 For more places near Kathmandu, check out the best day trips from Kathmandu!
FAQs: Godawari Botanical Garden
What is Godawari famous for?
Godawari is most famous for the Godawari Botanical Garden and hiking route to the Phulchowki Hill.
Which is the largest botanical garden in Nepal?
The Godawari Botanical Garden is the largest and oldest botanical garden in Nepal. The garden covers 82 hectares and was established in 1962.
What is the opening time of the Godawari Botanical Garden?
The opening times of the Godawari Botanical Garden is from 9 am – 5 pm Monday – Sunday.
What is the ticket price for the Godawari Botanical Garden?
The ticket price is Rs. 500 for foreigners and Rs. 50 for Nepalese citizens.
When to visit the Godawari Botanical Garden?
The Godawari Botanical Garden can be visit all year round as there are always some plants that are in bloom.
However, the best time to visit it is during the Spring Season in Nepal, which is when most of the flowers are in bloom.
Why should we visit Godawari?
You should visit Godawari if you are looking for a day trip from Kathmandu where you can spend some time in nature and flowers. Godawari can be reached from Kathmandu in about 1 hour and apart from the botanical garden, there are also some hiking routes and temples to explore.
Conclusion
In conclusion, visiting Godawari is a perfect day trip from Kathmandu to spend some time in the nature. It is close to Kathmandu so it is easy to get there.
The Godawari Botanical Garden is open and can be visited all year round but has most of the flowers blooming in the spring time (March-April). Thus, it is the best to visit it during the Spring.
Apart from the Godawari Botanical Garden, there are some other activities you can do in Godawari. Godawari has some hiking trails, the most popular to the Phulchowki Hill or to the Marble Danda.
The Phulchowki Hill is a full day hike while the hike to the Marble Danda is a short 30-minute hike. Both hikes give nice views of the Kathmandu Valley.
