Panauti lies 7 km south of Dhulikhel, about 20 minutes by car down a winding road through rice terraces. The town sits on a wedge of land where the Roshi Khola and the Punyamati meet, and tradition adds a third, invisible river to make a sacred confluence. Because it was never on the main highway, Panauti kept much of its old street plan: long brick lanes, raised stone platforms called pati, and small shrines tucked into almost every courtyard.
The centrepiece is the Indreshwar Mahadev temple, a three-roofed pagoda dedicated to Shiva that is counted among the oldest temples of its kind in Nepal, with carved roof struts showing gods and scenes from daily life. Hindus may enter the inner shrine; visitors of other faiths are welcome in the courtyard. We then cross the river to the cremation ghats and the Brahmayani temple, where Panauti's chariot festival, the Panauti Jatra, gathers each year around May and June.
The walk is flat and slow, roughly 2 km in total, and suits every age. Panauti charges a modest visitor fee for foreigners at the town entrance; check current status before you travel. Several households run a community homestay programme here, and we can add a home-cooked Newar lunch of beaten rice, buffalo or vegetable curry and pickles on request. Many guests combine this visit with the Namobuddha hike by walking down from the monastery and meeting the car in Panauti.
Good for
- Families
- Seniors
- Couples
- Photographers
- First-timers
Questions travellers ask
How far is Panauti from Dhulikhel?
Panauti is about 7 km south of Dhulikhel, roughly 20 minutes by car on a paved but winding road. Local buses and shared jeeps also run from Banepa. From Kathmandu it is about 32 km, so many travellers visit Panauti in a single loop that also takes in Dhulikhel, or on the way back from Namobuddha.
Is there an entry fee for Panauti?
Yes, Panauti's municipality has charged foreign visitors a modest entry fee at the old town, with lower rates for SAARC nationals and free entry for Nepalis. The amount has changed over the years, so check current status before you travel. The fee is not included in every tour price; ours lists it clearly on your quotation.
When is the Panauti Jatra festival?
Panauti Jatra falls in the Nepali month of Jestha, usually late May or early June, and follows the lunar calendar. Chariots of the town's main deities are pulled through the lanes and meet near the river. Dates move each year, so check current status before you travel and tell us early if you want to time your trip for it.
