Mountain Botanical Gardens

The Terai & Mahabharat Range


The Mountain Botanical Gardens span 15 hectares of forest. To the nonbotanist this is more of a woodland walk than anything else, and guides are available. February to March is the best time to visit, when the rhododendrons (the national flower of Nepal) are in full bloom, forming a nice contrast with the Himalaya backdrop. It's just up the hill from the Daman Mountain Resort Viewing Tower, on the left.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby The Terai & Mahabharat Range attractions

1. Daman Mountain Resort View Tower

0.14 MILES

Some of the best views of the Himalaya in Nepal can be had from the concrete viewing tower inside the Daman Mountain Resort. Unfortunately, the resort has…

2. Shree Rikheshwar Mahadev Mandir

0.97 MILES

About 1km south of the village, a narrow trail leads west through the forest to this tiny Shiva temple. On the way, you can drop into a gorgeous little…

3. Drölma Lhakhang

10.2 MILES

This shrine is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, who identify Saraswati as Tara. It’s accessed via a set of steps to the west of Sakya Tharig Gompa.

4. Rigzu Phodrang Gompa

10.2 MILES

Adjacent to the Drölma Lhakhang is the Rigzu Phodrang Gompa, worth visiting for its impressive frieze of statues, with Guru Rinpoche surrounded by his…

5. Ralo Gompa

10.21 MILES

The large white Ralo Gompa has a brightly painted chörten. It’s located up the hill, past the line of Tibetan restaurants, towards the Drölma Lhakhang.

6. Guru Rinpoche Cave

10.23 MILES

Climb the steps behind the Drölma Lhakhang, passing a rocky fissure jammed full of tsha tsha (stupa-shaped clay offerings) and cracks stuffed with little…

7. Sakya Tharig Gompa

10.29 MILES

This monastery features an enormous and brightly painted chörten – step inside to see hundreds of miniature chörten and statues of Guru Rinpoche set into…

8. Vajra Yogini Temple

10.33 MILES

This sacred 17th-century Newari-style temple is devoted to the Tantric goddess Vajrayogini. One of the few female deities in Buddhist mythology,…

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