Bajrabarahi to Godavari Day Hike

Bajrabarahi Godavari Day Hike is a short hike nearby Kathmandu city. It is a short and easy walk ideal for those looking for a short yet new hiking experience. For example, it is perfect for those with a short vacation, looking for a family trip, weekend gateway, diplomats, or ex-pats. The walk gives the hikers with uniqueness along with nature, culture, and traditional insight. 

We start the hiking after a short drive of 30 minutes from Kathmandu city to the Bajra Barahi Temple of Patan. The temple - BajraBarahi is very a famous Hindu temple. Some fascinating architecture can be seen here. It is believed that there was a pond where the temple stands today. One interesting fact about this temple is that it does not have a pinnacle which is uncommon for a temple in Nepal, especially in Kathmandu. Another interesting thing is that the Kapali (an ancient Newari community) people still perform cremation around the Bajrabarahi temple. Also, the temple is not just religiously significant, but also has ecological and environmental significance.

From the temple, we start the hiking journey along the paved road. For the first half or till Bode Gaun, we will be walking on the concrete road due to the development. Though the roads may not be appealing, the panoramic views of the Himalayas from the Manaslu range to the Langtang range and the green vegetation will keep us going and make us want more. More than half of our walking trail goes through pine, rhododendron, and wildflowers forest. The farms are filled with crops accordingly to the season for example the fields filled with yellow mustard flowers in the summertime are unmatchable. 

We will explore the Santaneshwor Mahadev Temple, one of Nepal’s most prominent Hindu Temples on the way to Godawari. According to Hindu mythology, couples with barren laps are able to bear children after praying in this temple of Lord Shiva. The story is also mentioned in the "Shree Swasthani Brata Katha," a Hindu holy book. Aside from its religious and spiritual significance for Hindus, the temple and its surroundings are best to unwind. The surroundings are clean, serene, and green with lush woodland where we can hear the soft whispers of beautiful birds. During the Hindu holidays of "Ekadasi," "Maha Shivaratri," "Teej," "Bada Dashain," and others, large crowds of Hindu devotees can be seen. People visit the Temple, notably on Mondays and Saturdays.

Once we pray to the Lord Mahadev in the temple, we will continue our walk through the walking trail till we reach the Godawari Botanical Garden on the lap of the highest hill, Phulchowki. Then, we proceed to explore the Botanical Park and get insight into different species of vegetation. Royal Botanical Gardens is another name for it. The park is known for its picnic places, but it also has a large variety of flora and animals to watch and experience. The garden, which opened in 1962, now has over 500 varieties of plants, including 115 orchids, 66 ferns, and 77 cacti. It also features about 200 plants and shrubs, some of which are uncommon and endangered. Around 256 kinds of birds and more than 200 species of butterflies live on these 72 hectares of land. This magnificent garden provides you with the opportunity to interact directly with nature.

After a good relaxing time in the garden, we drive back to Kathmandu. 

The Highlights of the Bajrabarahi to Godavari Day hike

• Picturesque landscapes of Paddy Fields 
• Amazing View of the Langtang Lirung, Ganesh Himal, and Manaslu peaks on a clear day
• Explore pine woodlands, Rhododendron bushes, and a variety of wildflowers
• Visiting the Godawari Botanical Garden which houses different species of native plants and flowers

Best Time to do Bajrabarahi Godavari Day Hike 

Bajrabarahi Godavari Day Hike can be done throughout the year. However, the spring and autumn months are the optimum times for hiking journeys in Nepal. The days are warm and clear, the weather is stable, the trails are dry and easy, and the natural vistas are spectacular during these periods. Winter is also considered a great time to do this short easy hike as winter in Kathmandu and its surroundings have warm, sunny and clear days. 

If there is to avoid a time to do this hike, it would be the core monsoon season that begins in June and lasts till early September. However, the monsoon in Nepal especially occurs during the mornings and evenings, so this short 3 hours hike is possible. Hikers can actually view nature at its best during the wet season.