Orchids of Godavari-Phulchoki

The lush forest of Godavari-Phulchoki along the southern rim of Kathmandu Valley has double the annual rainfall compared to the city, and is known for the great diversity of plants, birds, butterflies and other insects.

Soaring steeply from Godavari at 1,500m, Phulchoki Peak at 2,750m is the highest point on the Valley rim. The altitude range is also what gives this temperate broadleaf forest such rich biodiversity with an interlocking mosaic of habitats, allowing a diverse range of species to thrive – especially orchids. 

There is a breathtaking array of orchids, some common, many rare, and others so elusive they have only just been discovered and classified. Even the name Phulchoki means ‘Hill of Flowers’.

The orchid plant has long captivated houseplant owners and botanists alike due to its natural beauty and unique form. But it also serves a vital function in maintaining the forest’s ecosystem.

The small paradise of Godavari-Phulchoki harbours plant species that face mounting threats despite the conservation successes in the watershed. The hill is home to the highest diversity-to-area ratio for orchid species, making it a hotspot because of the threats from increased tourism, poaching, climate breakdown and habitat disturbance. 

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been running the Living Mountain Lab in Godavari as a demonstration site for biodiversity conservation and appropriate technology. The Lab alone has recorded 54 orchid species, and the Godavari-Phulchoki landscape has over 80 species.  

Uniquely, the orchid’s survival depends even more on very specific ecological conditions, requiring the right balance of moisture, humidity and host plants to flourish – conditions that the Godavari-Phulchoki landscape is ideal for. Orchids mostly grow with support from other plants or on rocks, and are called epiphytes.

Orchids have a sophisticated flower that is androgynous with a modified petal, and produces seeds that germinate symbiotically with fungi. 

Read also: Between existence and extinction in Nepal, Sonia Awale 

This means the flowers need their own insect pollinators that are attracted by specialised scents and designs of the labellum that serve as landing pads for insects.

In this ecologically diverse landscape, the orchids stand as a testament to the health of the region’s ecosystem. Healthy orchids indicate a happy forest. 

Hiking through the Phulchoki forest, visitors can easily spot many of the 80 indigenous species in their natural habitat. Others are more difficult to see. 

One of the most common orchids on Phulchoki is the Coelogyne nitida that has white petals and a sun-gold centre. 

The orchid has prominent green pseudobulbs that store water and has abundant seed production, which is what makes it one of the more common species.   

Abu Hang Samuel is a botany student who has independently documented orchids for the past eight years. Last year, while looking into the dark undergrowth on Phulchoki, he discovered the Lecanorchis japonica, a rare species previously found only in China, Japan, and Korea (pictured, below). 

“This rare orchid does not have leaves and mostly stays underground, living off fungi in the soil, which is why it is difficult to find,” Samuel explains. “When the season is right, slender flowers emerge from the forest floor for a few days before disappearing again. I was lucky to be at the right palce at the right time.” 

Orchids and other native plants in the Godavari-Phulchoki landscape face significant threats, including illegal collection and poaching, despite laws prohibiting their extraction from the wild. 

However, the bigger challenge comes from urban expansion and infrastructure projects, which lead to habitat destruction. 

“The Godavari bus park once had many trees covered in orchids,” Samuel notes, “but they were cleared to expand the parking area to accommodate growing numbers of picnickers.” 

Similarly, road construction and development projects have led to the destruction of trees, boulders and slopes where orchids naturally grow, disrupting delicate ecological networks.  

Ecosystems function as intricate webs, with each species playing a role in maintaining balance. When habitat destruction disrupts this balance, this natural network of symbiotic relationships among plants and animals unravels. 

This sets off a domino effect with hazardous and sometimes unexpected consequences that ultimately threaten the survival of orchids and other interdependent species. 

Amidst rapid urban development, the primary goal of conservation is to protect plants, their habitats and the broader ecosystem they rely on. 

 ICIMOD’s Living Mountain Lab, for instance, does a botanical tour called an ‘Orchid Walk’ to spread awareness about the strengths and struggles of this plant, all the while showing visitors the up-close beauty of the flowers.

“The goal is to enhance the visitors’ experience and raise awareness about the incredible orchid biodiversity of the Godavari-Phulchoki landscape,” says Yufang Su, who heads the Lab. “We hope to inspire a deeper appreciation for these delicate blooms and the need for their conservation.”