The drive to Godavari and Phulchowki (2,762m) can be very rewarding as an excursion. Passing through lush green fields and Newari villages where life goes on as it did a hundred years ago, provides the visitor a glimpse into the past as well as a tryst with nature.

A stop at the Godavari gardens where nature's splendor greets you with all her seductive charms. Beautiful flowers, sparkling brooks, the sound of chirping birds and colorful butterflies flitting by, all add up to the peaceful ambience of the garden.

Drive up towards the Phulchowki mountain- top and get an unforgettable view of the Kathmandu valley sprawled below. The light forest here is a haven for birds and a delight for birdwatchers. As the hillside remains uninhabited, the forest is pristine and the wildlife undisturbed.

Banepa & Panauti

Banepa (29 km from Kathmandu) lies on the old trade route to Tibet and today this highway is known as the Arniko Highway. The road goes on to Dhulikhel and Kodari, the Nepal-Tibet border. The drive to Banepa goes past Bhaktapur through rice fields or mustard fields depending on which time of the year you visit. Banepa is fast modernizing and not really worth a stop but turn right and head for Panauti, a quiet little town in a valley. It is 7 km from Banepa and stands at the junction of the Roshi and Pungamati rivers. This is a town where time stands still. It has many old, interesting temples with beautiful woodcarvings but few visitors head this way leaving the town to grow at its own slow pace. That is what makes the place worth a visit.