Tour Guide, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Namobuddha is one of the most popular Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal, approximately 40 kilometers away from southeast of Kathmandu. The ancient name of Namobuddha is known as Gandhaman hill and Tibetans language is called " Takmo Lu Jin " which means " Tigress Body Generosity " the Namobuddha stupa marks the site where a young prince encountered tigress close to starvation and unable to fed her own cubs. Overcome with compassion, the prince allowed the tigress to consume him and thereby feed her cubs.
A small shrine a few minutes walk uphill from the stupa contains statues of the prince together with the tigress and her cubs. On the other side of the hill stands the Monastery named " Thrangu Tashi Yangtse " was constructed in 1976. Large number of pilgrims visit Namobuddha specially during the months of February and March.
Panauti, a typical Newari town is situated between Punyemati and Roshi river about 1450 meters from the sea level. It is 32 kilometers southeast of Kathmandu around 8000 Newari cast people with minority of others. It is rich with numerous Newari culture and festivals, similar to that practiced in Kathmandu valley and it`s own numerous distinctive festival and events. It is renowned for its religious sites, contains large number of artistic temples, stupas and other religious monuments all of which has made Panauti the most artistic and touristy site of Nepal after Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The area of panauti is spreading merely 100 square kilometers with population approximately 30,000 has three different language spoken.
There are controversial versions among documents available on the founder of this town as some says that this town was founded by Malla king named " Ananda Deva " in 1006 a.d. other says that king Harisingh Deva who ran away from Simraunghadh founded it. Though Panauti was founded as an independent principality, as time went by, influence of Bhaktapur increased and later on become part of Bhaktapur until the 18th century. In 1763, King Prithvi Narayan Shah in the unification process extended Panauti to the greater Nepal.