Namobuddha Day Hiking

Duration: 1 Day

About Namobuddha Day Hiking

The Namobuddha Day Hike is one of the best ways to explore the ancient Newari culture and Buddhist practices for people with limited time. Situated on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley to the southeast, this 6 to 7-hour hike takes us to beautiful places like Dhulikhel, Namobuddha, Balthali, Khopasi, and Panauti. 

Our hike starts from Dhulikhel which is an ancient Newari town. From there, we will hike to Namobuddha through the beautiful village of many ethnicities like Brahmin, Chhetri, Newar, and Tamang passing by temples and stupas. Namo Buddha is an important Buddhist religious site in Nepal. According to Buddhist myth, this was the place where a prince sacrificed his body to a hungry tigress as an act of compassion. Later, his family built a stupa over the place where he was buried.

After having lunch, we will hike to Khopasi where we will end the hike. On our way, we will pass by Balthali, a beautiful village with terraced fields. After finishing the hike at Khopasi, we will drive to Panuati for a brief visit. It is an ancient Newari town on the bank of the Roshi River. We can observe the wonderful cultural heritages that have been well preserved. Ending our visit, we will drive back to Kathmandu. 

During the Namobuddha Day Hiking, we will pass through beautiful villages, rice fields, monasteries, temples, and forests with a panoramic view of the Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley. Overall, this is a pleasant hike away from the hustle and bustle of the city areas with opportunities for exploring the local lifestyle. 

Highlights

  • Beautiful view of the Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayas
  • Beautiful terraced field village like Balthali and Khopasi
  • Ancient Newari settlements of Dhulikhel and Panauti
  • A short and easy hike near Kathmandu Valley 
  • Holy Buddhist pilgrimage site, Namobuddha

Itinerary

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Day 01: Kathmandu - Dhulikhel - Namobuddha - Balthali - Khopasi - Panauti - Kathmandu

Your guide will meet you at your hotel at 7 AM and brief you about the program. After breakfast, the guide will drive you to Dhulikhel, where you will start the hike. It's a typical Newari settlement with a lot of temples. Hiking through the forest and different settlements you will reach Namobuddha. You will have lunch at Namobuddha and visit the tranquil monasteries. Then you will continue hiking to Balthal, a village with terraced farmland where you can observe the local lifestyle. Then you will end your hike at Khopasi, 10 minutes from Balthali. From there, you will drive to Panuati and briefly visit the ancient town. After ending the visit, you will drive to your hotel in Kathmandu and bid farewell to your guide. 

  • Lunch
  • 1750 M
  • 7 hours

What’s Included

  • Hotel to Dhulikhel and Khopasi to Hotel drop in a private vehicle.
  • Assistant guide if the group is over 6 people.
  • Professional English-speaking guide.
  • Entry ticket to Panauti Heritage Site.
  • All government and local taxes.
  • Lunch with seasonal fruits.
  • Accommodation and meals in Kathmandu except for lunch on the day of hiking.
  • Tips for the guide, and assistant guide (Tipping is expected).
  • Personal expenses.
  • Travel Insurance