Places to Visit in Nepal @ Godavari

Godavari

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It is 14 km from down town Kathmandu it offers a wide range of possibilities for nature walks and hikes.

Santi Ban:

3 km from the hotel, this area offers excellent opportunities for easy walking. On a clear day clients can enjoy a panoramic view of the Himalayas and the Kathmandu Valley to the north. The trail follows a lush green forest offering views of the terraced fields and life style of rural Nepal. A 25ft high Buddha Statue overlooks the area and the area also drives it's name from the symbol of peace - Lord Buddha.

Royal Botanical Gardens:

2.5 km from the hotel and a popular picnic sport, the Royal Botanical Garden is also very popular for bird watching and herbs collection. It makes an ideal walking tour and picnic launch destination.

Naudhara:

20 minutes walk away, on the way to Phulchoki, is Naudhara, the temple of the foot of Phulchoki. The temple complex houses nine stone water taps or Naudhara which is similar to Panchadhara. The water flows from a spring and forms a small pond. There are plenty of interesting stone carvings in the temple complex.

Phulchowki:

The highest point of the Kathmandu Valley at an elevation of 2762 m, this area is ideal for bird watching, animals, insects and various medicinal herbs. An ideal destination for hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts, a full day program is recommended for the hike to Phulchowki. There are few excellent spots along the way to view the Ganesh and Langtang Himalayas.

Hike to Santaneshwor Mahadev (Approximately 2 hours round trip):

A nice way to spend the morning or an afternoon would be to take a short hike to the temple of Santaneshwor Mahadev (a manifestation of Lord Shiva who grants children to those who are barren). From the resort, the trail leads through the picturesque villages of Arroubot and Jharuwarasi to the base of the hill where the temple is located. A short steep climb takes you to the top from where you can get excellent views of the surrounding valleys and the Himalayas. There is also a stone slab in the temple, where it is believed that if you sit on it for an hour, all your diseases will be cured.

Murali Mountain:

The Murali Mountain lies to the north-east of the Resort. As the name suggests, it is not a mountain but a hill covered with pine trees and a thick undergrowth of dried grass, pine needles and pine cones. The hike to Murali Mountain takes approximately 3 hours round trip. The starting point is Godamchaur which is ten minutes drive away from the resort. One can get excellent views of the valley, surrounding villages and the mountain ranges from the top which is crowned with evergreen pine trees. The route back to the resort will take you through paddy fields watered by a small stream and canals bearing crystal clear water.

Vajrabarahi Temple:

An hour's walk away from the resort is the Vajrabarahi Temple. Vajrabarahi is located in the Chapagaon Forest and is an important temple for the Nepalese people. The temple was constructed by Sri Bas Malla and empowered by Guru Viswanath in B.S. 786. Vajrabarahi is one of the nine manifestations of the Goddess Durga (the boar manifestation). In the great earthquake of B.S. 1990, the temple was unharmed although all the surrounding buildings were totally destroyed. Vajrabarahi is also considered sacred by the Buddhists and is an important deity of the Yoga Tantra School. The trail to the temple leads through terraced paddy fields and small villages.

Local Villages

A short easy walk takes you towards the villages on the way to Santaneshwor Mahadev and Vajrabarahi. The villages, Jharuwarasi, Tasim Chowk and Aroubot are typically Brahmin villages where one can observe the daily life styles of these people.

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