After finishing up a fairly exciting three day trek around the southwest portion of the Kathmandu Valley, we decided to stop in Pharping which was on the way home. It was a place I’d never heard of before, and I couldn’t even locate it on Google Maps. It seemed clear that this would be a quick overnight stop in a tiny town. Boy, was I wrong! Pharping has more things to do in it than Kathmandu! I honestly couldn’t believe it. We arrived and immediately felt at home. Within minutes, we had booked a second night at our hotel. Honestly, two nights wasn’t enough, and I can’t wait to go back. Pharping has several amazing day hikes, a bazillion Buddhist monasteries, giant statues of ancient gurus, Hindu temples, stupas by the dozen, and is home to the first hydro power plant in Nepal and the second in all of Asia!
Brief History of Pharping
Today, Pharping is most famous for its plethora of Buddhist monasteries. If you ask the monks, they’ll often grant you permission to walk around and take photos. The architecture reminds me of the temples I saw in northern Thailand. Many of the monasteries were built in the 2000’s making them fairly new. Pharping is a pilgrimage site for many Buddhists and houses many of Nepal’s monks.
So, why are there so many monasteries here? It’s believed that a few small caves in the area were the meditation places of popular gurus. Two of these caves are the Phamting Vajrayogini Temple (Asura Cave) and Yanglesho Cave. Some Buddhists believe that meditating in or near these sacred spots increases the meditative experience and helps them to reach enlightenment quicker.
Not only is this a popular city for Buddhists. It also has some very significant Hindu temples. The Dakshinkali Temple is one of the most popular temples in Nepal for worshipping the goddess Kali. Each god and goddess in Hindi culture has specific likes and dislikes. Kali is a destroyer of evil forces and is pictured in a somewhat scary manner most of the time. She likes the taste of blood, and therefore, people bring her live sacrifices in the form of chickens and goats. They sacrifice animals here behind the main temple, and the stream beneath it often runs with blood. This temple was moved from a site above Asura Cave, and we were able to see the original as well as the newer version on our trip.
Besides it’s religious history, the city is also famous for the Pharping Hydropower Station which was established in 1911. This makes it the very first hydropower plant in Nepal. I’ve heard that it was the second known hydropower station in Asia but can’t find an article proving this. The plant used to provide electricity for the royal palace before there was any electricity in Nepal. Today, it acts as a living museum and supplies water to parts of Lalitpur.
If all that wasn’t enough, the area is popular for small day hikes. The city is set in the hills with beautiful forests surrounding it. We did two hikes and plan to go back for a third. I mapped them out below for you to see. The pink line offers views of the Himalayas, a walk through millions of prayer flags, Asura Cave, and a Tamang Cremation Ground. The purple is the most popular route which goes to Champa Devi. We plan to go back to do that one as it’s six hours and we wanted to spend a full day doing it. The green line takes you up to Dudjom Nadrom Choling Monastery, Hattiban Resort, and back down to town. We saw the Pharping Hydropower plant on that hike as well. You just have to continue past the trail down into the city.
Pharping City Map
Pharping, Nepal City Guide
Major ethnicity: Tamang & Newar
Major religion: Buddhism & Hinduism
Language: Nepali, Tamang & Newar
Location: 23 km (14 miles) southwest of Kathmandu
Altitude: 2,285 m (7,496 ft) – altitude of the hilltop near Champa Devi
How to get there: It’s very easy to take a local bus from Kathmandu, and it’s only about an hour ride. You can also get a bus from Kirtipur or Patan. Some people hire a cab or private vehicle for the day. We took a local bus from Kulekhani since we were coming back from a hike.
What to eat: Typical Nepali food is popular in the area. If you are staying at Solid Rock Lodge, you’ll be treated to organic and vegetarian cuisine which was delicious.
Things to do in Pharping
As mentioned in detail above, there are so many places to see. I’d recommend checking out a few of the major religious sites like the original Dakshinkali Temple, the new Dakshinkali Temple, Asura Cave, Yanglesho Cave. See several of the monasteries and the Ringpoche Guru statue. There are three major day hikes. The first (shown in pink on the map), goes to a Tamang cremation ground, a football field, Asura Cave, and into town. The second (shown in purple), goes to Champa Devi which is a popular day hike from Kathmandu. The third (show in green) goes to Dudjom Nadrom Choling Monastery, Hattiban Resort, and back to town.
Read more about the Asura Cave & Dakshinkali Temple Hike
Read more about the Champa Devi Hike
Pharping Hotels & Accommodations
Booking.comBudget Hotel in Pharping: Dudjom Nadrom Choling ($7 USD per person for room and $5 USD per person for all meals) We stopped by the Dudjom Nadrom Choling Monastery on a day hike. It’s set in the hills with a gorgeous view of the city below. You can even hike less than 15 minutes to see the Himalayas. You’re welcome to spend as little as one night at the monastery or as long as you want. One man has been there for four years. It’s a self guided program, so you meditate on your own. The rooms are really nice but there is no wifi, heat, hot water, or A/C. It’s the perfect place to get some peace and meditate at your own pace. Call 9803637257 to let them know you are coming a few days in advance.
Comfort Hotel in Pharping: Solid Rock Lodge – One of the reasons we loved Pharping so much was because we stayed in a beautiful farm stay tucked into the mountain. It’s the perfect location for starting the shortcut routes of this hike. The family who runs it is so sweet, and we feel like family when we stay there. It’s the sort of place you can go back to over and over again. I highly recommend it if you decide to stay over the night before the hike.
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Luxury Hotel in Pharping: Neydo Hotel ($70 USD a night) Neydo Hotel is a slightly more upscale hotel in the area which is located on the grounds of a monastery making it a peaceful place to stay.
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Pharping Photography
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Michelle Della Giovanna
Writer at Full Time Explorer
I’m just your average New Yorker who quit her job in the fashion industry to explore the world. Come find out what it’s like to trade in five-inch heels for squat toilets.
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