About 40kms southeast of Kathmandu is a religious site near to Kavre is Namo Buddha. It is a pleasant place located on a slightly elevated land. You can see a wide panorama of some mountains that glow bright white like crystal if you’re lucky. The southern winds bring the breeze in summers and the warm sun ignites your body in winters. There is no need to exaggerate how beautiful this place is. Being a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, the place is really quiet and clean. And the environment is clean with no pollution. This would be the right place for meditation and practice.
Namo Buddha has its own Buddhist monastery, many small stupas and also an environmentally sustainable resort. It is one of the three most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal; the other two being Swoyambhunath and Boudhanath.
Getting there
To get to Namo Buddha, you got to take the road to Arniko Highway from Kathmandu. Then, take a local bus from the bus station in Ratnapark, Kathmandu to Dhulikhel, Kavre. Dhulikhel is a small Newari town set on a perfect location for a weekend getaway. After you reach Dhulikhel, you can either take another bus to Namo Buddha or walk all the way up there. Alternatively, you can drop off at Banepa which is before reaching Dhulikhel and take a hike passing through Panauti and Sangha. You will pass through vintage Newari villages and get to experience the authentic Newari culture. The hike, on the other hand, is easy and the trail is mostly flat with gradual uphill now and then. The whole hiking route is a loop around picturesque villages along lush green fields, dense forests and riverbanks.
Activities
Seeing the vicinity of the place, there’s so much to do in and around Namo Buddha. Having an enormous monastery of its own, you can visit the monastery and dive into the Buddhist tradition. The view of the mountains and the valley below from the monastery is one to savour. There are several small stupas once you go down. Circumvent the whole area for a religious experience. The ecologically sustainable resort at Namo Buddha, set in a dense forest is the perfect place for accommodation if you’re staying there for the night.
Moreover, there are several short hikes from Namo Buddha. The hike to Panauti is a nice and pleasant one with opportunities to experience the local culture and traditions there. Also, there is a small homestay near to Namo Buddha called the Patalekhet Community Homestay. The homestay gives you the taste of local Nepali food, lets you dig into the local traditions and they have a lot of activities that they offer to the visitors. The hike to Patalakhet takes about 1-2 hours depending on how much you can walk. You pass through several villages on the way, which are a delight to observe.
Coming to Namo Buddha inspires your faith and rejuvenates your soul. If you’re in Kathmandu and tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, then you should definitely visit this place. Being a sacred place, you’re bound to feel peaceful and relaxed once you get to Namo Buddha.
