Panauti Day Tour

Best Time for Panauti Day Tour

You can plan your 1-day Panauti tour at any time of the year in Nepal. Each season in Nepal offers a distinct experience, offering a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. You can choose the time according to your preference, which may depend on perfect weather, vibrant festivals, or peaceful, crowd-free exploration. Below are the four seasons that you can visit Panauti for the cultural tour:

Spring (March to May): Spring is undoubtedly the most pleasant time to do a 1-day Panauti tour. The weather is perfect, allowing visitors to spend hours walking the historic brick-paved lanes without fatigue. You can see the clear skies, which provide stunning backdrops for photography, especially of the intricately carved wooden windows and tiered temple roofs.

Similarly, you will see lush surrounding hills as well as feel the scent of blooming flowers, making your sightseeing of Panauti’s highlights, like Indreshwar Mahadev Temple, Triveni River, and others, more refreshing and pleasing.

Autumn (September to November): It is another wonderful time of the year to plan the Panauti day tour. As the monsoon rain washes the landscapes clean, you can feel the crisp air, which is quite refreshing, making your walk more comfortable.

The visibility will be superb, making the environment picture-perfect for the photographers and nature lovers. It is also the best season to sit by the holy sacred rivers to admire the distant views of snow-clad mountains. You will have the opportunity to stroll around the town of Panauti without worrying about the weather.

Monsoon or Summer (June to August): Even though we don’t suggest travelers visit Panauti during the monsoon season, as intermittent heavy rain can be disruptive, this season has its own magic. Travelers get the chance to witness green landscapes and the mist clinging to the surrounding hills, offering a dramatic atmospheric setting.

If you happen to visit the town during Panauti Jatra, which generally takes place in June or July, you will see Panauti transform into a living spectacle of chariot processions and lively celebrations. However, you may consider bringing an umbrella, a raincoat, and waterproof gear if you decide to visit during the rainy season.

Winter (December to February): Winter can be chilly and cold, especially in the morning and at night. However, the major perk of visiting this time is that there will be fewer crowds. Similarly, the days will often be sunny and brilliantly clear, which makes the sightseeing tour convenient and pleasing.

If you are exceptionally lucky and plan years ahead, doing proper research, you may even have the opportunity to witness Makar Mela, which falls in the winter season. There will be a massive gathering at the river confluence that happens only once every 12 years.

Difficulty during Panauti Day Tour

This Panauti Day Tour has relatively little difficulty. Since you are traveling in a comfortable private vehicle to reach Panauti town from Kathmandu City, you don’t have to walk much. However, you should wear sturdy footwear, as this town is a maze of uneven, brick-paved lanes and steps, which can be challenging to walk on.

Another challenge that can emerge when traveling to Panauti is during the rainy season, which runs from June to August, since sudden downpours can impede your wonderful adventure. Otherwise, this brief excursion is enjoyable and meaningful, with no physical challenges.

Food and Drinks

Beyond the temples and cobbled lanes, you can genuinely connect with Panauti’s living Newari culture through its delicious food. For an unforgettable lunch, you can try out a traditional ceremonial Newar platter, Samaya Baji, which has a beautiful mosaic of flavors and textures.

This dish includes flattened rice (chiura), spicy grilled buffalo meat (chhoila), hard-boiled eggs, smoked fish, black lentils, and so on, which is normally eaten by Newar people during feasts and festivals.

Other popular dishes of Newari cuisine include Bara, a pancake that is crispy on the edges and soft in the middle, and Chatamari, often called the Newari pizza, topped with minced meat, egg, or fresh herbs.

Likewise, another well-known item in Newar culture is Yomari, which is shaped like a fig filled with molten molasses or khuwa inside. It is especially prepared on the occasion of the Yomari Purni celebration.

You can grab a plate of these dishes near the old Durbar Square, enjoying the ringing bells of the temple in the background and taking in the vibe of a spiritual setting. Apart from food, you can also try drinks popular in the Newari community, such as thwon (home-brewed rice beer) and rakshi (homemade alcohol), which are often served in small, traditional clay containers.

People, Culture, and Festivals

The soul of your Panauti Day tour isn’t just in temples and historic sites but in the living community that preserves them. Panauti is mostly inhabited by the Newari residents, who will give you a warm reception on your arrival. The most common culture in any Nepalese community is greeting by joining hands, saying the word “Namaste,” and showing respect to the guest.

Panauti town is a true showcase and testament to Newari culture. You will get to see the intricate woodcarvings on the windows in traditional houses. Similarly, you can also witness elderly people wearing Newari attire still in this present era, showing the massive respect for the culture. At Triveni Ghat, various rituals are performed on auspicious or specific days, which offer a spiritual and religious atmosphere to the tourists.

Panauti, on the other hand, is well-known for its Panauti Jatra, which takes place every year and is usually held in June or July according to the Nepali lunar calendar. On this auspicious occasion, the Newar people celebrate with chariot processions, traditional music, masked dances, and ritual ceremonies.

The primary attraction of the Panauti Jatra is when devotees install images of Brahmayani and other protecting gods on wooden chariots and drag them through the narrow alleyways. This Jatra highlights the town’s living tradition, providing one of the most unique cultural experiences if you visit during the festival.

Another attraction of this town is the Makar Mela, which takes place every 12 years at the river confluence and attracts thousands of pilgrims for sacred baths and rituals. It is thought that bathing at the Makar Mela will wash away sins and provide favors in the future. As a result, the Panauti Day Tour is one of the most rewarding cultural experiences available in Nepal.

Nearby Locations to Visit

After exploring Panauti, there are many other destinations close to this town, which you can visit and enhance your traveling experience with countless memories. Some of them are described below so that you can choose to visit if you like:

Namobudhha: It is a pilgrimage site atop a peaceful hill, which is just 15 kilometers away from Panauti. Here, you can visit Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery, which has intricate murals. There are also many colorful, fluttering prayer flags, which make this destination more beautiful. You can see many monks, from children to elders, doing meditation. This location also provides panoramic views of lush landscapes.

Dhulikhel: You can visit a hill station to witness the wide-angle vistas of the Himalayan ranges, including Langtang and Everest. This place is also famous for relishing in sunrise and sunset views.

Banepa: This historical Newari town is very close, just a few kilometers from Panauti. When you return from Panauti and drive to Kathmandu, you can make a quick stop and visit Chandeshwari Temple.

You can also explore the town’s bustling bazaars and streets to see local life and enjoy a fusion of tradition and modern town culture. This town also organizes the Chandeshwari Jatra every year, which includes chariot processions, ceremonies, and traditional music.

Who can join this Panauti Day Tour?

This Panauti Day Tour package is available to a wide range of tourists. It is ideal for most visitors, including families with children, solo travelers, female travelers, retirees, nature lovers, cultural enthusiasts, and those who want to travel on cultural excursions. This tour has minimal physical requirements, which will be very easy for anyone.

If you want more adventure in this tour, you can add a side hike to Namobudhha, which requires a 3- to 4-hour walk. However, it is not recommended for those with heart problems, pregnant women, severe back problems, and so on. Nonetheless, anyone is welcome to join the tour and enjoy Panauti’s rich legacy, creating amazing moments.

Private Tour Vs Group Tour

Choosing a group or private tour for the Panauti day tour package depends on your priorities for flexibility and budget. It is up to you to decide whether you want to travel in private or in a group. Each type of tour offers a unique experience. Our company can customize both tours to the visitor’s request, as per their priorities and group size.

Taking a group tour is a cost-effective and socially beneficial alternative. You may join the other travelers on a fixed itinerary that usually includes the major highlights, such as the Indreshwar Temple and Triveni Ghat of the 1-day Panauti tour. This tour is great for solo travelers who like meeting new people.

However, if you decide on a private tour, it will be more costly, but you will have the flexibility of complete customization and personal pace. You and your guide can decide on the itinerary, thereby giving you a chance to spend more time at the site that you like. This type of tour is usually ideal for people with families and children, seniors, groups of friends traveling together, ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌etc.

Travel Tips

To‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ have a trouble-free and fun Panauti Day Tour, it is advisable to start your trip in the morning. Being an early bird will enable you to skip the congested roads in the city and will also allow you to get a good look at Panauti’s heritage, old lanes, and nature at ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌leisure. Similarly, when you are walking around the town, you hydrate regularly, wear hats and sunscreen in summer, and wear warm clothes in winter.

Your traveling experience can be directly related to the weather. During the rainy season, roads may be muddy and slippery, so travelers should be prepared for occasional travel delays. Without an umbrella and raincoats, you will not be able to explore the town as you expected. When you travel in spring and autumn, the weather is pleasant, and the travel experience is also enhanced.

Furthermore, when visiting temples and sacred sites, you should always respect the local culture. Therefore, you should wear modest clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. As‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ per the custom in Nepal, please take off your shoes before entering the temple. During the Panauti Day Tour, being informed of the customs of the area not only enhances the significance of your visit but also fosters positive relationships with the locals.

Transportation

The Panauti Day Tour package includes transportation service. We will provide private transportation or a tourist bus based on the size of your group. This interesting cultural tour will begin with a pickup from your hotel in Kathmandu.

After reaching Panauti, you will have a whole day tour sightseeing the major sites. Then, in the afternoon, we will drive you back to the hotel, ending this one-day short tour. If you want to travel to another destination, we can also arrange for you to offer services as per your best interest and preference.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for this Panauti Day Tour is not mandatory, as you are not traveling to higher destinations like Everest Base Camp, the Annapurna Trek Circuit, and other adventurous locations of Nepal. But still, having reliable insurance can be useful and help you in a lot of unforeseen circumstances.

You can buy a standard travel insurance policy in your home country that covers useful benefits like lost baggage, travel delays due to road conditions and weather, stolen items, trip cancellations, injuries, any health-related issues, and so on. This will save you from financial burdens that can put a bad experience in your tour.

Additionally, before purchasing the insurance, you should clearly review the terms, conditions, and exclusions that cover the activities you plan. Otherwise, you can get scammed, wasting your money completely on the insurance. Make sure you have a copy of your insurance policy and 24/7 emergency contact number with you during your Panauti Day tour.

What to expect from this 1-day Panauti tour?

Near Kathmandu, the Panauti Day Tour provides a tranquil and engaging cultural experience. The trip from your accommodation takes you to one of Nepal’s oldest towns, known for its medieval architecture, a sacred river confluence, and the Newari culture, which has been preserved quite well.

Besides temples, you will visit traditional houses, open courtyards, and stone-paved streets while the guide explains to you the spiritual and historical significance of the town. One‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌ of the main attractions of this Panauti Day Tour is that you get to enjoy your time at ease without rushing around. So, this Panauti Day Tour offers you a genuine and serene retreat from the rush and noise of the ‍‌‍‍‌‍‌‍‍‌city.