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.
