Namobuddha to Panauti
About
A full day just outside the valley. Namobuddha is a hilltop of Buddhist pilgrimage, where the story says a prince gave his body to a starving tigress and her cubs; a stupa marks the place and a large monastery stands above it. From there we walk down through villages and terraces to Panauti, an old Newar town between two rivers, with one of the oldest pagoda temples in Nepal and lanes few visitors see.
A private tour
Your own day, at your own pace
Namaste, and welcome. This is not a group tour; it is your day. Just you and the people you came with, and me as your guide. We start when you are ready, stop wherever something catches your eye, and sit in a courtyard for as long as you like. No one is waiting at a bus, and there is no list we have to finish. I would like you to leave feeling you met the city, not that you rushed through it.
- We start when you like
- Early for the quiet squares and the morning prayers, or after a slow breakfast. I pick you up at your hotel.
- Time for every question
- The gods on the temple struts, the festival in the street, the food on the corner. There is time for every answer.
- Space to just be there
- A cup of tea while the square wakes up. Often the best moments of a day are the ones nobody planned.
- The plan bends to you
- Tired, or curious about something else? We leave a place out, or stay longer.
- Only the shops you ask for
- We stop at a shop only if you want to.
With warmth, Rujan Neupane
Along the way
What this day is known for.
- Namobuddha stupa and the story of the prince and the tigress
- Thrangu Tashi Yangtse monastery above the stupa
- A downhill walk through villages and terraces
- Panauti's old lanes and squares
- Indreshwar Mahadev temple where two rivers meet
The day, stop by stop
Times move with traffic and with you.-
07:30
Pick-up at your hotel
By car past Dhulikhel to Namobuddha, about 2 hours.
-
09:30
Namobuddha
The stupa, the hill with the tigress shrine and the monastery above.
- Namobuddha
-
11:00
Walk down to Panauti
Through villages, forest and terraces. About 3 hours, with lunch on the way.
-
14:30
Panauti
The old town, Indreshwar Mahadev temple and the river confluence.
- Panauti
-
16:00
Back to Kathmandu
About 1½ to 2 hours by car.
Is this tour for you?
Walking, steps, heat and access, honestly.Not sure? Tell me who is coming, and I'll tell you honestly. Write to me
The honest downsides
What I'd want to know before booking.- A long day with about 4 hours in the car.
- New roads now cross parts of the walk.
- Panauti's fee is separate from Namobuddha.
More about this tour
Best time to go
Clear, cool months; the hills are green after the monsoon.- GoodJAN
- GoodFEB
- BestMAR
- GoodAPR
- HazyMAY
- RainJUN
- RainJUL
- RainAUG
- GoodSEP
- BestOCT
- BestNOV
- BestDEC
October to March is best. From April the walk gets hot by midday.
Time of day
Festivals worth planning for
Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and change every year; I confirm the date when you ask.
Before you go
The small practical things.Visiting with respect
These are living places of worship, not museums.- Walk clockwise around stupas, temples and shrines.
- Ask before photographing people, and never photograph cremations up close.
- Take off shoes and leather where you see others do it.
- Do not touch offerings or step over them on the ground.
- In the monastery, keep quiet during prayers and do not walk in front of the monks.
Where your money goes
Every amount, and who receives it. I charge only my guide fee; the rest is paid at cost.| What | Who receives it | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guide (me) | Rujan Neupane | My city day rate | One rate for 1 to 5 people |
| Car and driver | A local driver | What the driver charges | Paid at cost |
| Entrance fees | The sites | See my Entrance fees page | Paid at the gate, at cost |
| Lunch | A local place on the way | What they charge | You pay directly |
I don't sell packages. I guide, and I help you arrange the rest (rooms, transport, permits) at what it actually costs. If you would like it all put together as one package, ask me: I make one only on your request, and we confirm it by email.
Photo notes
From a guide who is also a photographer.The places in detail
The history and stories behind what you will see.Namobuddha
Namobuddha is one of the holiest Buddhist places in Nepal. The story, told in the Jataka tales, is that a young prince met a tigress too weak to feed her cubs and gave her his own body. A stupa marks the place, and a large Tibetan monastery stands on the hill above.
Panauti
Panauti is an old Newar town where the Roshi and Punyamati rivers meet. Its Indreshwar Mahadev temple is one of the oldest pagoda temples in Nepal, and the town keeps many old houses and squares.
Fees
Panauti asks a fee from foreign visitors: see my Entrance fees page.
My promises
Written down, so you can hold me to them.- No pressureAsk me anything. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and I will never rush your decision.
- Nothing hiddenEvery cost is written down before you pay anything, and nothing is added later without your agreement.
- Your day, your paceWe stay longer where you want to, and skip what doesn't interest you.
- Reviews as writtenEvery review here is published as the guest wrote it. I don't edit reviews or remove critical ones.
Before you go
What I would read first, from my own guides and tours.Guides to read first
- Nepal Trekking Etiquette: A Local Guide’s Guide to Culture and Respect on the Trail12 min read
- Useful Nepali Phrases for Trekking: Words That Open Every Door4 min read
- Festivals in Nepal and Trekking: Dashain, Tihar and the Trekking Calendar7 min read
- Upper Mustang Trek Guide: Tibet Without Leaving Nepal7 min read
Frequently asked questions
How far is Namobuddha from Kathmandu?
About 2 hours by car, past Dhulikhel.
Is the walk hard?
Not hard, but long and mostly downhill. We can shorten it.
Can we stay overnight?
Yes, there are simple stays near Namobuddha and in Panauti. Write to me and we plan it.
Is there a fee?
Panauti asks a fee from foreign visitors; see my Entrance fees page.
Reviews from guests who toured with me are published automatically, exactly as they wrote them. Reviews sent through the open form are checked for spam only.
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- +977 984-3808583
- Phone
- +977 984-3808583
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More than 5 of you? Write to me. I guide up to 5 people at one rate. For a bigger group we can talk it through by email. I reply myself, usually within a day. On the trail there is often no network, so it can take a few days.
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