Panauti Namobuddha day hike

General Information About Panauti Namobuddha day hike

Panauti Namobuddha Day Hike is a popular hiking trail in Nepal that offers stunning views of the Himalayas and the surrounding countryside. The hike starts from the historic town of Panauti, located about 32 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, and takes you through lush forests, terraced fields, and traditional villages.

The highlight of the hike is the Namobuddha Monastery, a sacred Buddhist site perched on a hilltop that offers panoramic views of the valley. According to legend, this is the place where the Buddha, in one of his previous lives, sacrificed his body to a hungry tigress and her cubs.

The hike is relatively easy and suitable for hikers of all levels, although there are some steep sections and stairs to climb. It takes about 3-4 hours to complete the round-trip hike, depending on your pace and how much time you spend at the monastery.

Route Description for Panauti to Namo Buddha
Start your trek in Panauti, which is easily accessible by road. Board either a direct bus to Panauti from Ratna Park Bus Stop in Kathmandu or take a bus from Ratna Park Bus Stop to Banepa, and then transfer to another bus to Panauti. The bus ride to Panauti from Kathmandu is particularly scenic. Admire the lush green fields and breathe in fresh, clean air as you travel further from the city. Leave early for Panauti to avoid traffic. Be sure to have your face mask handy for the dusty stretch from Banepa to Panauti.

Starting Routes of Panauti to Namobuddha Day Hiking

Besides Panauti, there are two routes to do Panauti to Namobuddha Day Hiking. This course starts with the Panauti as well. The first one is from Shanku village and the second one by the Balthali route. What it’s like to walk from these routes, let’s check it out.

From Shankhu:

This route from Shanku to Namobuddha is for those who have ample time to stroll around. Shanku to Namobuddha is a 26km hike. So, this is best for free wandering travelers. The trails of this route will guide the walkers through several villages, farm fields, and forests. The Shanku route presents the little show of the Panauti region. Picking the Shanku route is more of walking over the trails than the Panauti exploration.

From Balathali

Balathali route is the most popular route to reach Namobuddha hilltop. It is just a 5km uphill hike from Balathali to Namobuddha. This route runs through some beautiful yellow mustard fields and villages. The walk is strenuous as we have to reach the hilltop. After crossing several bridges and rivers, we reach the bottom of the uphill. From there, it is a snaky way that ends at the top of Namobuddha.

The Best time to Do Panauti Namobuddha Day Hike

The Panauti Namobuddha hike is possible all year. However, the spring season (March to April) and the autumn season (September to December) are regarded as the greatest.
Spring is regarded as one of the greatest seasons for trekking and climbing in Nepal, not only because of the pleasant weather but also because of the beautiful scenery. Fresh flowers carpet the trail, Rhododendron blossoms, in particular from March.

Autumn in Nepal brings mild temperatures and good hiking and climbing conditions, capped off by breathtaking views made possible by the monsoon clearing the air of dust and pollution. The autumn season showcases vivid colors of joyousness as it is also the time of year when Nepal celebrates the important festivals of Dashain and Tihar.

The summer months of May to August are often avoided for trekking/hiking in Nepal due to significant heat and moisture surges, scorching temperatures, clouds, haze, and rain. The clouds of monsoon obstruct views and the heavy rain pour generates muddy pathways along with some season insects and bugs. Other than that, the landscape view after the heavy rainfall is outstanding and clear.

While winter is not recommended for the high altitude and multi-day trekking journeys, it is a good time to do a one-day Panauti Namobuddha Hike. The winter in Kathmandu valley is relatively mild making it a suitable location for shorter walks at a lower altitude. Over the top, the Himalayan vistas are stunning (when the weather is clear) in the winter months.

Despite the pleasant winter weather, the Kathmandu Valley is less overcrowded in the winter, and the valley’s spectacular attractions are less crowded and easier to observe. The treks are also considerably more pleasant and serene without the masses of people.

Foods And Accomodation

Generally, if the location we are hiking towards consists of restaurants or cafes then we will have our meals and tea/coffee in those local restaurants/cafes. But if the destination doesn’t have any restaurants then our guide will take a packed lunchbox both veg and non-veg as per the traveler’s choice, and a water bottle with him/her. We will enjoy the hygienically packed lunch overlooking the mesmerizing scenery seen from the hilltop

Since day hikes are single-day trips, it doesn’t require accommodations so it is not included in the package. However, we offer 3-star category accommodation with breakfast on a twin/double sharing basis.

But the accommodation can be modified as per the traveler’s interest, budget and availability. Luxurious resorts, standard hotels to comfortable guesthouses, lodges, and homestays are available in Kathmandu.

GEARLIST
Clothing/Equipment/Gear for Day Hike Panauti to Namobuddha

Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by beautiful hill stations around its perimeter. So it is of no surprise that Kathmandu is really popular for day hikes. Phulchowki is the highest hill surrounding Kathmandu Valley located at an altitude of 2750 meters above sea level. To help you pack efficiently, we have prepared a gear list for Phulchowki Hike based on seasons. Nepal has four primary seasons:-

Winter: Winter in Nepal falls in January and February. It starts getting cooler after Christmas. The temperature is usually 0-4°C in the morning, 10-12°C at noon, and -1 to 0°C at night. So if you are planning to hike here any time after Christmas to the end of February then we suggest you wear long-sleeved t-shirts, hoodies or sweater/fleece, windproof and preferably waterproof jackets because Phulchowki has temporary snowfall during winter.

Similarly, we suggest wearing beanies/hats, gloves, trousers, sports shoes/hiking hoots, and thermals if you prefer an extra layer of warmth. Carrying a water bottle, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hiking poles would be ideal.

Spring: March to May are spring in Nepal. The temperature in these months during the morning ranges from 10-12°C, 22-24°C at noon, and 14-16°C at night. Since the weather is pleasant during spring, apart from the basic essentials mentioned below, all you need is some casual shirts, shorts or trousers, a couple of long sleeves, sports shoes/hiking boots, a water bottle, sunscreen, sun hat/cap, sunglasses, and an overall/light jacket because it might get a bit chilly at the top.

Summer/Monsoon: June, July, August, and September are summer months in Nepal. But we have a summer monsoon that occurs from Mid-June to Mid-September. The temperature of Kathmandu ranges from 18-20 °C in the morning, 28-32°C at noon, and 16-18°C at night. We do not suggest you hike while raining but apart that that, Summer Hiking in Phulchowki is ideal too.

So, besides the regular items mentioned below, casual cotton wears, sunglasses, a sun hat/cap, an umbrella, or a raincoat are some essentials for the summer. Because this hike takes place in a lush forest, there might be some leeches if it rains the previous night.

These leeches aren’t harmful but might cause nuisance so the trick is to carry salt and if leeches try and stick to your body then you could sprinkle salt.

Autumn/Fall: October, November, and December are autumn in Nepal. It is the best time for the hike due to the delightful weather and visibility of beautiful vistas seen along the way and from the hilltop. The temperature during fall ranges from 8-10 °C in the morning, 22-25°C at noon, and 5-7°C at night. December is comparatively cooler than the other two months.

Tips during the trip

• Carry a raincoat or an umbrella with you if you are hiking during the monsoon season.

• Wear sunglass and cap to protect yourself from the heat if you are hiking in the summer season.

• There is no age requirement for participating in the hike. This one-day hike is easy and can be undertaken by children as well as elderly people.

• Wear comfortable clothes and sport shoes.

• Carry a liter of water with you. We recommend you carry your own water bottle. It will be economical as well as eco-friendly.

• Take good care of your personal belongings. If you are traveling in a public vehicle, make sure that you do not leave any of your belongings behind. As there are many public vehicles running the same route, it will be difficult to get back what you left behind.

• The trip will be postponed in case of inappropriate weather conditions.