Sightseeing · Dhulikhel
Panauti Day Trip from Dhulikhel
A serene medieval Newar town of riverside temples and the ancient Indreshwar Mahadev.
Panauti is a serene medieval Newar town about 10 to 12 kilometres south of Dhulikhel, set at the sacred confluence of the Roshi and Punyamata rivers. Remarkably intact, it is one of the best-preserved old towns in the Kathmandu Valley region and makes a rewarding day trip or the natural endpoint of a hike from Namobuddha.
What to see
The centrepiece is the Indreshwar Mahadev temple, a towering tiered pagoda first built in the medieval period and counted among the oldest temples in Nepal, with superb carved struts. Around it spread quiet brick squares, the riverside ghats at the confluence (a revered spot during the Makar Mela pilgrimage held every twelve years) and lanes of traditional Newar houses. The whole town is on Nepal's tentative UNESCO World Heritage list.
Getting there
It is about 30 minutes by taxi or local bus from Dhulikhel via Banepa. Better still, walk there from Namobuddha on the trail that links the two, the heart of the Dhulikhel–Namobuddha–Panauti loop trek.
Good to know
- Allow two to three hours to wander the squares, temples and riverside.
- It is quieter and less touristed than Bhaktapur — go slowly and soak it up.
- Combine it with the Namobuddha walk for a full, varied day.
For more on the carved temples and brick houses you'll see here, read our guides to Newar culture and heritage and the most beautiful villages in Nepal. Back in town, don't miss the old Newari core of Dhulikhel itself.
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Frequently asked questions
How do you get from Dhulikhel to Panauti?+
Panauti is about 10 to 12 kilometres south of Dhulikhel, around 30 minutes by taxi or local bus via Banepa. Many visitors walk there on the trail from Namobuddha, turning it into the classic Dhulikhel loop trek.
What is Panauti famous for?+
Its remarkably intact medieval Newar core, set at the meeting of two rivers, and the ancient Indreshwar Mahadev temple, one of the oldest pagoda temples in Nepal. The whole town is on Nepal's tentative UNESCO World Heritage list.
Is Panauti worth a day trip?+
Yes — it is one of the best-preserved and most peaceful old Newar towns in the valley, with carved temples, riverside ghats and a slow pace. It pairs naturally with Dhulikhel and the Namobuddha hike.
