For a week long in Nepal, it is not possible to venture deep into the high Himalaya. So I make do with a short hike into the hills of the Kathmandu Valley. I decided on this Panauti to Namo Buddha hike day hike as it is not far to get to from Kathmandu, I can do it without engaging a guide and description of hike that includes culture, nature and views.
Getting to Panauti
There are direct buses to Panauti departing from Ratna Bus Park area every 15 minutes or so. These buses stop in Banepa but a transfer is not required. The same bus will contiue to Panauti bus park. If there isn't a direct bus, then option is to take one to Banepa and change from there. I paid NPR 90 for the approximately 1.5 hours ride.
What happened when I needed to take buses were - walked to Ratna Bus Park and on getting there, asked any of the drivers or bus conductors if they were heading to where I wanted to go. If they were not, they would very kindly let me know where to find those buses. During my trip, buses to Panauti were bigger buses (not minivans) and departed from the main road. I got on a direct bus to Panauti.
I find that this page was very helpful in both getting to Panauti and the hike.
Getting off at Panauti Bus Stop
I got off the bus stop and walked to a random shop to have my breakfast before starting the hike. Of course with intention to find gwaramari (round bread in Newari) as mentioned in the page above. I didn't see any but had my breakfast. Not sure what they are called though. I tried to ask especially the one in a long roll as that was the tastiest among the 3 but they told me, "roll". Ok.
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| NPR 100 for these |
The Panauti temple complex is conveniently at the start of the trail. Indreshwar Mahadev temple is one of Nepal's oldest and largest surviving wooden mandirs. This temple is dedicated to Shiva Mahadyo and said to be built in 1294 and possibly re-built from 16th century onward.
This part of the hike is on asphalt paved roads. There were construction sites nearby so there were trucks passing by fairly frequently nearer to the temple complex. One can see villagers working in the fields and children playing in the courtyards at this stretch.
After this, the hike gained elevation from here and ascended uphill to northeast till Namo Buddha monastery. One of the tuk tuk driver even stopped to offer me a ride for free. Must've taken pity of my slow struggling steps uphill. I did wish I had a motorbike at this point.
Namo Buddha monastery
This monastery is also known as Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, is a Tibetan monastery about 40 km southeast of Kathmandu. It lies at the top of a hill in Namobuddha Municipality.
According to legend, in the distant past a prince saw a starving tigress and her five cubs. The tigress was weak as she had just given birth the her cubs. She was frail and not able to go out hunting to feed her cubs. The prince offered his own flesh to the tigress to keep her and her cubs alive. The bones of the prince were brought back to the village and buried in a tomb which became the stupa of Namo Buddha.
No entrance fees to visit the monastery but toilet fee was NPR 10.
I think one can stay at the monastery but I didn't and walked out of the monastery after visiting. I stopped by a small shop to replenish my sustenance and asked the timing of the next bus. I was quoted a time, which from memory in about 30 minutes. With a snack in one hand and water bottle in another, I was about to walk away but the shopkeeper told me that the bus was here. There was no bus stop, the bus just stopped at a random spot near the shop.
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| More fried food |
Here are other places around the area if you are interested but I only visited the monastery.
Side note: To extend or not to extend?
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