Banepa
Kathmandu Valley
Banepa is an old Newar town about 25 km east of Kathmandu, just outside the valley and about 3 km before Dhulikhel. The newer part of town is a busy modern market centre, but the older quarter to the north-west has some interesting streets and temples.
Banepa grew up as a trading town on the old route between the Kathmandu Valley and Tibet. The Newar traditions of the valley can still be seen in its brick houses, small courtyards and festivals.
It is an easy stop on the way to Dhulikhel, Namobuddha or the Arniko Highway towards the Tibetan border, and is best explored on foot over an hour or two.
Photo: Lusifor ,manoj shrestha / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Best time to visit
- October to November, March to April
- Getting there
- By road from Kathmandu, about an hour east along the Arniko Highway.
- Suggested stay
- Half a day (usually visited on the way to Dhulikhel)