The PanautiBalthali Day Hiking Tour is a short drive from Kathmandu which is especially designed for those that want to immerse themselves in the ancient Newari culture and also hike in the beautiful hills of Nepal.
The journey starts with a sightseeing at Panauti village, which is a historical Newari town located 32 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu. In the past, Panuati was a significant trading center. It has own royal palace and an array of Buddhist and Hindu religious monuments. Through this trip, visitors get to explore some of the most famous temples in the town.
After Panauti, the trip takes visitors to for a short hike to Balthali. Balthali is a sweet get away on the edge of the valley. The hike takes you to the Balthali village day via paddy fields, ancient temples and villages. Plus, you get to witness the stunning Himalayan peaks in the distance without getting way high up.
Being a significant trading centre in the past, Panauti has many temples and marvels dating back almost a thousand years and even earlier.
Stop At: Indreshwar Temple
Indreshwar Temple is one of the largest and tallest pagoda style temples in Nepal. It was built in the 13th century. The temple is surrounded by a massive courtyard which is full of sculptures. It is situtaed between the Roshi and Pungamati rivers. The temple is a superb piece of Newari architecture.
Stop At: Brahmayani Temple
Brahmayani Temple is another significant shrine built in the 17th century dedicated to Goddess Brahmayani. The three-storeyedBrahmayani Temple is reached after crossing one of the two pedestrian bridges situated at the northern bank of the Pungamati River.
This is one of the best short hikes around the Kathmandu valley as in a short amount of time it lets you explore the natural and cultural beauty of Nepal. The hike to Balthali village takes you through beautiful paddy fields, temples, and views of the Himalayas. The village itself is very picturesque. Itresides on a plateau surrounded by rice terraced fields, stunning views of the Himalayas, lush green forests and Buddhist temples. Once at Balthali village, we stop for lunch and to explore the surrounding. After this, we retrace our steps back to the start and then drive back to the hotel.