Panauti, Nepal: Culture, Temples & Hidden Gems (2026)

Information for Visiting

Best Time to Visit Panauti

Panauti can be visited all year around. Visiting Panauti is more about exploring the temples and learning about Nepali culture, so it can be visited anytime.

For the best weather, the best time to visit Panauti is from October to May. There are some hills near Panauti where you also can go for a hike. On a clear day, you get really good views of the Himalayas from the nearby hills. One of my friends lives in a small village near Panauti, and they get the best views in the autumn.

Panauti can also be visited during the monsoon season but make sure to check the weather updates beforehand. During monsoon, I like to visit places closer to Kathmandu, and Panauti is a good option to escape the city. However, Panauti is prone to flooding when it rains too much, and a few years ago, the historic center of Panauti was flooded, so definitely check the weather beforehand.

Another time it can be worth visiting Panauti is during one of its biggest festivals, the Panauti Jatra. It usually takes place sometime in May or June (the exact date changes every year as Nepal follows the lunar calendar) and it celebrates the Hindu gods, Bhairav and Bhadrakali. It gets pretty crowded during the festival, so if you don’t like crowds, then avoid visiting during this time.

How Long to Spend in Panauti

You need at least one day to visit Panauti. We visited Panauti for a day trip from Kathmandu which was enough time to explore the temples and walk around the town.

If you go for a day trip to Panauti, I recommend leaving as early as possible. It takes around two hours to get to Panauti from Kathmandu, and if you only have one day to spend in Panauti, then you spend four hours traveling back and forth on the same day.

We left to visit Panauti in the afternoon and we had only a few hours to explore the town. We had enough time to visit the major attractions and have some food, but it would have been less rushed if we had more time.

If you take the public transport to Panauti, I recommend staying in Panauti for the night. The road to Panauti is long and dusty, and if you already made the trip to Panauti, then it’s better spend a bit more time there.

Brief History of Panauti

Panauti is one of the oldest cities in Nepal, and it was founded during the Malla Period in the 13^th century. However, its origins go back to as early as the 2-8^th century.

The original inhabitants of Panauti were the Newari people (a caste in Nepal). Newari people are known for their architecture and food, and Panauti is a great place to learn about Newari culture.

You can see many houses built in Newari architecture (red brick houses, and wood carved windows), and you can also try Newari food.

How to Get to Panauti

Panauti is 32 km southeast of Kathmandu, and you can take a public bus or taxi to get there. We went by car and it took at least 1 hour 45 minutes from Kathmandu to Panauti, so, if you take the bus, it can be even up to 2 hours to get there.

The public bus from Kathmandu to Panauti leaves from Ratna Park (opposite Bir Hospital). There are direct buses that go to Panauti, and it costs Rs. 80 (USD 0.50) one-way.

If you are visiting Panauti from Bhaktapur or Dhulikhel, then you first have to take a bus to Banepa and change to another bus from Banepa to Panauti. The bus ride from Banepa to Panauti takes around 20 minutes and costs Rs. 20.

The highway (Arniko Highway) leading from Kathmandu to Panauti is under construction, and it makes the road very dusty. If you take a bus or motorbike, prepare for a lot of dust. They said it could take years before the highway is completed, so for a few more years, the highway is likely to remain bumpy and dusty.

Taking the bus to Panauti is very affordable, but if you want some more comfort then I recommend taking the taxi or hiring a private car. Hotels and travel agencies in Kathmandu can arrange a driver for the day, for around USD 100. The best thing about the private car is that it is way more comfortable, you can go on your own schedule, and you can even stop at other places on the way.

Places to Visit in Panauti

Indreshwor Temple

• Entry fee for foreigners: Rs 300 (USD 2) including entry to the Panauti Museum. Free for Nepali citizens.

The Indreshwor Temple is one of the must-visit sites in Panauti. It was built in 1294, and it is one of the oldest temples in Nepal. Within its premises, there is the Panauti Museum, and some smaller shrines and temples, such as the Bhairav Temple.

There is an entry fee for foreigners (Rs. 300 /USD 2) and it’s free for Nepali visitors. The entry fee includes both the Indreshwor Temple and the Panauti Museum. I thought the small entry fee was worth it as it’s the biggest attraction in Panauti.

It’s close to the Tribeni Ghat and after you walk around the temple and visit the museum, it’s easy to walk down to the ghat.

Panauti Museum

The Panauti Museum is within the premises of the Indreshwor Temple. When you buy the entry ticket, it includes the entry to both places, so it’s not possible to visit only the museum separately.

The exhibition at the Panauti Museum showcases Nepali artifacts, including stone and wooden art, household items, musical instruments and religious objects. The museum was a bit dusty inside, but overall, I thought the exhibition was better than I expected.

Tribeni Ghat

The Tribeni Ghat is a pilgrimage site, and it is believed that it is the place of the meeting of three rivers: Roshi River, Punyamati River, and a third, invisible river, the Lilawati River. It is believed that if you take a bath here, it will wash away your sins.

When we visited the Tribeni Ghat, the water levels were very low, and it was full of rubbish. I liked walking around the small temples and shrines at the ghat but the river looked sad due to all the rubbish. If the river was kept clean, I would have enjoyed the area more.

Panauti Durbar Square

To my surprise, not much remains of the Panauti Durbar Square. When we arrived in Panauti, I was excited to check out the durbar square. We followed the location to the durbar square on the map, and when we got there, it was only the ruins of what the durbar square remains.

We asked the locals nearby for some directions and to confirm where the durbar square is, they pointed us towards the ruins. I thought the Panauti Durbar Square would be like a smaller version of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, but it wasn’t. I got confused for a second but then we understood that only the ruins of the Panauti Durbar Square remain.

Panauti used to be an important town on the salt trade route between Tibet and India, and the palace building on the Panauti Durbar Square remained intact until around the 18^th century. It was destroyed by earthquakes and fires, and has not been reconstructed since.

Visiting the Panauti Durbar Square was a let-down. There isn’t anything to see at the durbar square because it’s only the ruins and the foundations of the buildings that remain. When we were there, it seemed that locals use the grounds to hold events, like wedding celebrations.

Instagram Worthy Places

I am not that big on Instagram (if you check my account, you’ll know), but Panauti has some good spots for photos. There are these big, colourful wall paintings that look great, plus you can never go wrong with photos at one of the temples!

Restaurants in Panauti (& What to Eat)

Panauti is originally a Newari settlement, and it is a good place to try Newari food. Newari food is known for being very spicy (even spicier than usual Nepali food), so take it easy if you are not yet that used to spicy food.

There are not that many restaurants in the area around the Panauti Durbar Square but there are a few where you can try Newari food (they also serve Nepali food).

We ate some Newari snacks at the Gratitude Cafe. They have traditional Newari dishes like bara (lentil patties with toppings), and chatamari (often called as the Nepali pizza).

Opposite from Gratitude Cafe, there is another restaurant, Aagha Chhyen, which is such a nice place built in Newari architecture. We already ordered our food before we spotted Aagha Chhyen, if I returned to Panauti, I’d try the food at Aagha Chhyen for sure.

Hotels in Panauti

I didn’t stay in Panauti for the night, but I did some research and there are not that many hotels to choose from. After doing some research, I recommend staying at Hotel Panauti. It’s a mid-range hotel, located centrally.

Homestays have become very popular in Panauti. The Panauti Community Homestay is one option, the hosts organize various activities for guests and it has great reviews from previous travelers.

My Final Tips for Visiting Panauti

I found Panauti was a nice place to visit for a day trip, but we went by car, so it was more comfortable. If we had taken the bus, it would have been more tiring, and then, I think that it would have made it too hectic to explore Panauti in a day. So, if you take the bus to Panauti, it is better to plan to stay there for a night and make it a two-day trip.

We spent the afternoon in Panauti, and it was just enough to explore the major temples. If we had wanted to do some hiking, we should have stayed for the night and hike the next day. My friend that lives near Panauti keeps telling me that the hikes are great in the area, so if you have more time to spend in Panauti, I recommend going for a short hike.