Namobuddha Panauti Hiking is a preferred choice for those wanting to explore an old Buddhist stupa and take a leisurely nature walk followed by a cultural exploration of the Newar village of Panauti. Namobuddha’s legend extends to a prince, supposed to be a reincarnation of Lord Buddha, offering his body to feed a starving tigress and her cubs, an extraordinary sacrificial deed. Panauti, renowned for its architectural beauty, is still decorated with stone-paved streets, along which you can get an insight into the traditional culture and lifestyle of its inhabitants.
Namobuddha is a one and half hour drive from Thamel. We hike downhill after visiting the sacred stupa decorated with splendid sculptures and thanka art and the newly constructed ThranguTashiYangtse Monastery. Throughout the three-hour hike, views of Langtang, Garuishankar, and other ranges accompany you. The route passes through local villages, orange yards, and beautiful terraces of rice fields before we reach Panauti, the age settlement of the Newars. Housing magnificent chiseled artwork, the 17th century Mahadev temple, among many others, forms a major attraction of this town. The junction of the rivers Roshi and Pungmati forms another holy spot beside the preserved local culture and tradition.
Besides the magnificent views of Langtang, Dorjelakpa, and Gauri Shankar, the Buddhist pilgrimage of Namobuddha and the ancient town of Newars at Panauti forms major attraction sites. The teahouse-type hike has numerous alternate routes to explore and is kept under bird-watching tours.
