Panauti is in Kavrepalanchok district, Bagmati Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.

What is the altitude of Panauti?

About 1,450 m (4,757 ft) above sea level.

How much does it cost to visit Panauti?

Panauti is in or right next to Kathmandu, so it is an easy day visit. Budget for a taxi there and back (about NPR 600–1,500, US$5–11) and meals (NPR 1,000–2,500, US$8–19 per person). If you stay in Kathmandu, rooms cost about NPR 1,500 / US$11–NPR 4,500 / US$33 a night.

How many days do I need for Panauti?

Half a day to a full day is enough; it is a short ride from central Kathmandu.

Do I need a permit or ticket for Panauti?

No special permit or ticket is normally needed.

How do I get to Panauti?

About 30 minutes south of Dhulikhel/Banepa. It is about 24 km (straight line) from Kathmandu.

Panauti

Name: Panauti
Address: Kavrepalanchok, Bagmati Province, NP

Heritage & palace PahadHidden gem1 min readUpdated: October 2026

In Nepali: पनौती

Panauti, Kavrepalanchok — Photo: Wikimedia Commons

A small, intact Newar town at a sacred river confluence, with a 13th-century Indreshwar temple and Nepal's first community homestays.

Panauti sits where the Roshi and Punyamati rivers meet, and a third, invisible river is believed to join them, making it a sacred confluence. The Indreshwar Mahadev temple, first built in 1294, is one of the oldest and largest pagoda temples in Nepal.

The whole town feels like Bhaktapur in miniature, without the crowds. Its community homestay programme lets visitors stay with Newar families, and the Makar Mela fair held every twelve years draws huge crowds.

What to see and do

Visit the Indreshwar Mahadev temple and its carved roof struts, walk to the riverside ghats and cremation platforms at the confluence, and explore the lanes of Newar houses. The local museum and homestays offer insight into town life. Panauti's jatras, especially the chariot festival in spring, are lively.

Good to know

Stay in a community homestay for home-cooked Newar food. Panauti is a popular end point for the Dhulikhel–Namobuddha hike, with buses back to Banepa and Kathmandu.

Quick answers

Where is Panauti?: Panauti is in Kavrepalanchok district, Bagmati Province, in the Pahad belt of Nepal.
What is the altitude of Panauti?: About 1,450 m (4,757 ft) above sea level.
How much does it cost to visit Panauti?: Panauti is in or right next to Kathmandu, so it is an easy day visit. Budget for a taxi there and back (about NPR 600–1,500, US$5–11) and meals (NPR 1,000–2,500, US$8–19 per person). If you stay in Kathmandu, rooms cost about NPR 1,500 / US$11–NPR 4,500 / US$33 a night.
How many days do I need for Panauti?: Half a day to a full day is enough; it is a short ride from central Kathmandu.
Do I need a permit or ticket for Panauti?: No special permit or ticket is normally needed.
When is the best time to visit Panauti?: October–March
How do I get to Panauti?: About 30 minutes south of Dhulikhel/Banepa. It is about 24 km (straight line) from Kathmandu.
What is Panauti called in Nepali?: पनौती