Dhulikhel stupa

Dhulikhel is rich in plethora of cultural diversities, interesting traditional practices, lush vegetation and rich birdlife. Dhulikhel (1440m.) is a small town with a long history. According to the records it has been around for more than 500 years. The artistic skill and urban ethos of its Newar inhabitants have created a place of charm and beauty. Streets are lined with bare-brick houses, carved wooden windows, sloping roofs, pagoda temples and sacred statues everywhere which are profuse wood carvings. Namo Buddha (famous Monastery) is situated on a hill above Panauti and requires either drive or good hike, walk is recommended to visit this place. 

This is one of the Buddhist Pilgrimage located in Kavre District about 38 km east of Kathmandu. The Stupa and shrines built in this lovely little hill mark a very ancient holy site significantly enough where a legendary prince named Mahasattva offered himself to a starving Tigress with its several underfed cubs. This legendary episode is depicted in a very nice stone slab and placed right next to a holy Stupa.

Dhulikhel has for many centuries been an important trading centre on the ancient commercial route linking Nepal to Tibet. Since time immemorial, people of Nepal travel to Tibet to bring home salt and gold. Likewise, the Tibetans every year with their flocks of sheep enter into Nepal during Dashain, the greatest Hindu festival. They purchased chilies and other daily necessities in Nepal and return to their homeland. In those days, a whole day walk from Kathmandu to Dhulikhel was comfortable for Tibet trippers with easily available of food and water at Dhulikhel at the evening for overnight stay. Even now, a bird's eye view from the resorts at Dhulikhel to the landscapes; highway to Tibet and horizons far to the Tibetan Borders, clearly exhibits Dhulikhel as the gateway of Tibet. After adjoining with Tibet by motorable road in 1965, Dhulikhel got a face lift and developed as a tourist destination both for Tibet trippers and tourists. Dhulikhel is an ideal station to stop overnight stay while going to Tibet and coming back to Kathmandu.