How To Hike From Panauti To Namo Buddha
Starting Off In Panauti
For those looking to hike to Namo Buddha, there are two main starting off points. The first is from the town of Dhulikhel and the second is from Panauti. Dhulikhel is along the Araniko Highway, meaning its a straight shot from Kathmandu. Dhulikhel is also for those wanting to get to Namo Buddha as quick as possible, not having to waste a few days hiking and exploring the countryside.
If you are looking for a more intimate and leisurely experience, taking a right turn off of the dusty highway and into the historic town of Panauti might just be the highlight of your trip to Nepal. With a stunning contrast of high mountains, rolling hills, and ancient temples, the small town charm of Panauti is more than enough to steal your heart.
If you are looking to hike from Dhulikhel to Panauti, you can read more here!
Two Routes to Namo Buddha
From Panauti, Namo Buddha is an easy treck which can be enjoyed by both beginner and advanced hikers alike. The distance to the temple is not that far at all. On a clear day, Namo Buddha is visible from downtown Panauti. The journey should take anywhere between 2-3 hours one way. There are two main routes which hikers can take from Panauti to the Namo Buddha Monastery perched high on its mountain roost. The first of these trails takes travelers through Shankhu and the second through Balthali.
Other than homestays, there is not much in the form of accommodation in Panauti. Both backpackers and tour groups usually find themselves checking into Hotel Panauti. If you are looking for a real budget guest house, Cafe Agha has the cheapest beds in town. An alternative to staying in Panauti is to spend the night in Balthali, which actually brings you much closer to the summit of Namo Buddha. Nearby Balthali you will find several eco-resorts and hotels such as the Balthali Village Resort.
You can read more on Balthali here!
Shankhu or Balthali?
For those a bit pressed on time or looking to spend most of their day at Namo Buddha, hiking through Shankhu will give you a straight shot to the temple. Along the way, you will pass through many quaint villages, shops, and fields with locals tending to their crops. The Shankhu hike presents only a mere showcase of what Panauti has to offer. Balthali, on the other hand, unveils a romantic landscape of forests, terraces, and mountains.
The hike through Balthali is about 10 times as strenuous when compared with Shankhu. Deep valleys and steep slopes will have you second-guessing your decision to attempt this treck. If you can get over the occasional excruciating climbs, you will be awarded breathtaking views of bridges stringing together mountainsides like a single thread connecting torn bits of earth and prayer flags leading you to the peak of Namo Buddha Temple.
For those looking to get a taste of everything the region has to offer, it is possible to do a huge loop. Starting off from Panauti, begin your treck by going through Sunthan and Shankhu on the way to Namo Buddha. After exploring the grand halls and temples of the monastery, descend the mountain by way of the southern trails. This hike will take you towards Balthali then Khopasi, and finally back home to Panauti.
You can read more about hiking to Namo Buddha here or here!
Reaching Namo Buddha
When first arriving at the steps of Namo Buddha, you may find yourself a bit underwhelmed. The initial stupa on the northern side of the complex is surrounded by guest houses, restaurants, and souvenir shops. Although a bit touristy, locals can still be seen going about their day in the form of prayers and other daily rituals. Buddhist devotees will walk around the stupa in a clockwise motion, sometimes spinning the prayer wheels or even simply mumbling mantras to themselves.
Continuing up the stairs will take you through a tunnel of branches and prayer flags. It is not uncommon to also see the pictures of the deceased among the leaves. These portraits are hung so that even in death, ancestors can hear the prayers of the temple.
This stairway transports Buddhists and tourists alike away from the tourist hub below, up to the actual monastery that the monks call their home.
Looking to stay at the temple overnight? Stay at the guesthouse here or hotel here!
What is Namo Buddha?
The story behind Namo Buddha is one of sacrifice. One day long ago, a king and queen along with their 3 children journeyed out to the countryside. After finding a suitable place to enjoy the outdoors, their servants built a large encampment, unloading all of the king’s tents and belongings. As the king and queen relaxed, the three princes ventured off into the woods, bows in hand.
The brothers stumbled upon a cave which was the home of a tigress and her five cubs. Two of the brothers were quick to string their bows to kill the tiger, but the prince named “Great Being” stopped them as soon as he noticed the animals were starving. The two brothers lowered their weapons and turned to leave, but Great Being lingered behind, pondering as to how to help the tigress.
Knowing that a fierce animal such as a tiger needed flesh and blood to survive, the prince cut his own arm and presented it to the beast to feed of off. After just a mere lick, the tigress pounced on Great Being and devoured him. The prince was then reborn in the celestial realm as “Great Courage”. After seeing his parents and brothers mourning his death, the reborn prince presented himself to them. “Shed no tears,” he said, “out of my generosity to save the tigress and her cubs I have been reborn. Do evil and you will be cast into hell. Do good, then in the next life we will meet again!”
You can read the full story of Namo Buddha here!
The Monks of Namo Buddha
Namo Buddha would be completely devoid of life if it wasn’t for the Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery which houses the hundred of monks that live on the mountainside. Many of these monks are children coming from Tamang families, which is an ethnic group that has close ties to both Tibet and Buddhism. Many parents send their children to the monastery to both get a better education as well as to seek enlightenment. On the weekend, families can be seen hugging and kissing their red robed bald children when visiting the temple.
The novice monks do not get a lot of free time or opportunities to just be a kid. Other than their English, Nepali, and math classes, the children also have to memorize various prayers and rites to get good marks. Even on a Saturday, the young monks can be seen outside and around their dorms, rocking back and forth as they recite mantras.
You can read more on the monastery here!
A Pilgrimage Site and a Tourist Attraction
Locals and foreigners alike can be seen making the trek to the peak of Namo Buddha. Cameras in hand, they both can be seen snapping selfies and trying to find a sense of peace among the stupas and prayer flags. Actual devotees carefully step in and out of each hall and temple as they pay their respects to the Buddha. Inside the cave where the prince supposedly gave his life for the tigers, Buddhists present offerings and cloth to the statue by wrapping the strips around the Buddha’s neck.
It doesn’t matter if you journeyed to Namo Buddha to pray or simply to get a taste of local culture, the monastery in a place which is welcome to people of all walks of life. Be sure, however, to take your time and keep your eyes open for the intricate details which make Namo Buddha special. Too often people are too concerned with getting to Namo Buddha, that they fly through the temple as soon as they step foot on the grounds.
The Journey Is Just As Great As The Destination
In order to do Namo Buddha and the surrounding areas justice, you almost need to spend three to four days exploring both the temples and fields of Panauti. In the villages alone you can find an abundance of hiking trails, waterfalls, and shrines nestled into the hillside. On Namo Buddha itself, you can wake up to a crisp mountain air and a whisp of the incense from the temple as young monks rub their eyes on their way to the hall for morning prayers. If the weather permits, you may even be sipping on tea with a grand view of the Himalayas in the distance.
Regardless if you only have a few days to spare, or maybe even a few weeks, Namo Buddha and Panauti are sure to give you that small town charm that you have been hankering for. From prayer flags and chanting monks to emerald fields and waterfalls, your journey to Namo Buddha is sure to be the highlight of your adventure in Nepal.
Looking to get more in touch with the local culture? Check out the bi-monthly Arati Puja in Panauti here!
