Dhulikhel

The little town of Dhulikhel (pop. 10,000) lies on a pass to the east of the Banepa Valley at a height of 1440 m (4726 ft) with a magnificent view of the Himalayas. The town has benefited for hundreds of years from being on the trade route between the Kathmandu Valley and Tibet.

Dhulikhel's public buildings, including the high school, post office and prison, lie on the road running south-east. The old village nucleus is found in the opposite direction, on a hill. In the main square are the three-storied Harasiddhi Temple and a tiled shrine dedicated to Vishnu, its front graced by two contrasting figures of Garuda. Temples to Krishna and Bhagwati are found in the western part of the town. From the three-storied Bhagwati pagoda there is a splendid view of the Banepa Valley. Dhulikhel's Shiva Temple occupies a delightful position at the foot of a small ravine. A stream flows through the precinct which also contains a curious and most varied collection of statues and images. The best view of the Himalayas is obtained from a little shrine dedicated to Kali on the ridge south of the town. The roughly half hour walk can be continued south to Namobuddha, a Buddhist pilgrimage site.

Varja Dhatu Stupa
For Tamang Buddhists the north stupa is one of their most important shrines. According to legend a prince came across a tigress dying from starvation and, filled with compassion, sacrificed himself so she could eat. The stupa is said to hold the remains of the prince who was transformed into a Buddha. The place where this happened is decorated with colored prayer flags. The legend is inscribed on a small stone plaque.