9/1/2023 0 Comments Namo buddha nepal monasteryIt was just shy of 10km to walk to Namobuddha passing through small settlements and agricultural land. There was a nice cloud inversion over Kathmandu when I was there. Though there’s building work and a huge telecoms pole to blight the serenity. It’s actually possible to stay up here in one of the guest houses, which would make a dawn view much more feasible. The shrine itself is nothing spectacular unless you are a devotee but from here there are mountain views, weather permitting and it’s supposed to be stunning at dawn if you’re inclined to get up early. Leaving Dhulikhel via the 1000 steps to the Kali shrine expect to be charged 100NR for the privilege as a foreigner (20NR for locals). I believe there are a few fancy resorts here if you have plenty of dollars to spend on accommodation and your own transport. The food however was not that great, apart from the buckwheat pancake I had for breakfast. I opted for the Nawaranga Guest House at 500NR for a simple room, it was rustic and made charming by the fact it was also an art gallery. There are a few places to stay on the main street and not many places to eat. The temple tank with Shiva partially submerged There are apparently opportunities for mountain biking around here but there are no hire shops. An hour or so is plenty of time to wander through the streets of the old town talking to dogs and small children on the way. I dubbed the town ‘ Dhu-little‘ as there’s not a lot to do and I wished hadn’t got up so early to get here. Sadly decaying and in some cases uninhabitable post earthquake though there seems to be reconstruction going on. The houses are grand mansions with wooden fretwork windows and balconies. On a calm sunny day the reflection of the surrounding houses make for a colourful backdrop. To the right of the temple is a tank with the body of Shiva submerged in it’s murky green depths, only his head showing. The second is guarded by fearsome goddesses and served as a playground for some curious children. The first is a beautiful bright orange colour and sits in the central Naryanthan square area and is dedicated to Vishnu. The main sites are the Harasiddi and Bhagwati temples. Grueseome Goddess guarding the Bhagwati Templeĭhulikhel is around an hour and a half to two hours from Kathmandu pick up a bus from the city bus station behind Ratna Park for only 50NR. Though of course on a day trip you would miss out on the unique opportunity of a night in the monastery. I spread the route over a slow three days, essentially because I had the time to kill but it would be feasible to cover all three places in one long day trip from Kathmandu. The Dhulikhel, Namobuddha, Panauti circuit seemed a perfect option some short hiking opportunities, country culture and traditional towns promised for a varied weekend. I couldn’t go far as had to return on Monday afternoon to pick up my passport from the Indian Embassy visa office. With three days to spare I wanted to get away from the city oppression and breathe some fresh air again.
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