Dhulikhel
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Understand
There are good views of the Himalayas from Dhulikhel, possibly as good as those from Nagarkot, with one important difference: Dhulikhel is a real Newari town and has a village square lined with temples, not just infrastructure to accommodate tourists looking for good views.
Get in
- Buses from Kathmandu's Ratna Park bus station will take about two hours and cost less than NPR100. These buses pass through Bhaktapur on the way.
- Taxis from Bhaktapur will likely cost more than NPR1000. Expect to pay at least twice that from Kathmandu.
- Dhulikhel is on the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail . This trail starts in Sundarijal, a short bus or taxi ride from Kathmandu, and continues on to Chisapani (2,150m), 5.5h and then to Nagarkot (2,163m), 5-7.5h. Expect to hike between 4-7h between Nagarkot and Dhulikhel.
Get around
Dhulikhel is a small place, easily explored on foot.
See
Kali TempleA Hindu temple at the top of the hill in Dhulikhel, providing a good viewpoint. This is a popular spot for locals on weekends.
Shiva TempleA Hindu temple at the bottom of a gorge, over 2 km southeast of the village square.
Narayan TempleA Hindu temple to Vishnu, near the centre of town
Do
- Hiking - about 6h will get you to Namobuddha and back to Dhulikhel. The route starts in the same direction as the walk to the Kali Temple. The route is well signed. Once you arrive in Namobuddha, you might want to visit the Tibetan monastery on the hill above the town.
Buy
There is a Nabil Bank ATM in the centre of town at the junction of BP Highway and the Araniko Highway.
There is no place to change currencies in town.
There is no place to change currencies in town.
Eat
There are few independent places to eat in town. Most people will choose to eat at their hotel or lodge.
Newa KitchenOffers International and Nepali menu items.
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Rukh Cafe
phone: +977 11 490751address: B.P.Highway, Dhulikhel 45200Expresso,(cappuccino,americana,cafe late,caramel latte,chocolate late,hot chocolate,cafe mocha)ICE/HOT,ice tea,green tea special masala tea,special lassi, pizza,sandwich burger hot dog, nuggets,Japanese gyouza,purin,pasties, japanese green tea.etc....
Sleep
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Panorama View Lodge
phone: +977 11-680786address: Dhulikhel HeightNear the top of the hill, on the dirt road up to the Kali Temple. There is a restaurant with local and western foods which is popular for passing Nepali people on weekends. There are seven rooms, four downstairs with balconies, three upstairs next to the rooftop area. Clean bathrooms with hot showers. On a clear day there are views of the Himalayas towards Everest, otherwise still impressive views over the valley below. Room price includes breakfast; price can be bargained lower without breakfast. Shiva Guesthouse
Nawaranga Guest HouseAlso has a restaurant.
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Bhattidanda Fresh & Natural Homestay
phone: +9779841427881address: Resort MargaHomestay that does farming without pesticides and invites guests to join the family life, harvest vegetables and learn how to cook them. The building is brand new (built 2017), so the rooms are very modern and comfortable yet simple. Starting with 25$ for a double room with breakfast. Meal packages available. Most of the rooms allow you a nice view on the hills and into the valley. They have a restaurant where they serve local food made from fresh ingredients right out of their backyard. -
phone: +977 11-490872
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phone: +977 1-4225092address: BansghariTry getting a room with views of the mountains.
Go next
If you are hiking the Kathmandu Valley Cultural Trekking Trail , you can continue from Dhulikhel to Namo Buddha and from there on to Panauti. The hike to Namobuddha will take approximately 3h and an additional 2.5-3h to reach Panauti. This village has several temples and is considered a particularly sacred spot being at the junction of two rivers as well as a third invisible river, the Padmabati.
- Namo Buddha is a 3h hike from Dhulikhel. The town has a large stupa which is one of the three most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists in Nepal. The Thrangu Tashi Yangtse Monastery sits on the hilltop overlooking the town.
- Panauti
- Banepa
- The Arniko Highway can be followed a further 75km to the Tibet Border, passing the towns of Barabise, Tatopani, and Kodari