Sightseeing
& Religious Tours
KATHMANDU
Kathmandu
the small mountain sheltered valley; the arrival and visit point for the visitors is the
historical and architectural centerpoint of Nepal which was crowned with the title of
"Capital City" after the great unification of Nepal in 1768 AD.
Nevertheless
its small size it has got a bountiful treasure of spots listed in the World Heritage
Sites. The three Durbar Squares of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur ( 3 districts of the
Valley ) are renowned to the arena of tourism for being a masterpiece in art and
architecture. The old carved houses , narrow lanes, frequently encountering ancient
temples and moreover adorned by the rare and attracting cultures and festivals enlists
Kathmandu as "a focal destination" for sightseeing.
The
valley forwards itself to the panoramic views of the captivating Himalayas, sequestered
jungles and also to the exotic hiking corners.
Kathmandu Durbar
Square
This one of the most popular tourist destination is enlisted in World
Heritage Sites. Clustered around the central Durbar Square are the old Royal Palace
(Hanuman Dhoka), numerous interesting temples, the Kumari Chowk or Kumari Bahal (House of
the Living Goddess) and the Kasthamandap (House of Wood) from which Kathmandu derived its
present name. An inquisitive exploration in the Durbar Square reveals the ancient art and
architecture of Nepal which has proved to be a masterpiece to everyone accepting its
genuineness.
Pashupatinath
Not only is
Pashupatinath the most important Hindu temple in Nepal, its one of the most
important Shiva temples on the subcontinent and draws numerous devotees from all over
India each year. Pashupati is considered to have a special concern for the kingdom of
Nepal. Pashupatinath, an ancient plinth, by the banks of the holy Bagmati River, stands
the 16th century of Pashupatinath - Shiva, as Lord of all Creatures. The old buildings on
the site were destroyed by Moslem invaders in the 14th century, its stone linga smashed to
dust, but it rose again behind their retreating backs. Succeeding monarchs reinstated the
temple and the images. The flowing Bagmati is a holy river and the ghats (crematorium) at
its bank are the earnest Hindus truest cremation center.
SWAYAMBHU
NATH
The Buddhist temple
of Swayambhunath, situated on the top of a hill west of the city, is one of the most
popular and instantly recognizable symbols of Nepal. Geologists believe that the Kathmandu
Valley was once a lake and legends relate that the hill on which Swayambhunath stands was
an island in that lake. Under the Mallas various improvements were made and the great
stairway to the stupa was constructed by King Pratap Malla in the 17th century.
From the flattened top of the hill, the soaring central stupa is topped by a gold-colored
square block from which the watchful eyes of the Buddha gaze out across the valley in each
direction. From the platform of the spot the splendid changing view of the valley could be
seen with the monkeys running here and there.
BOUDHANATH
This
is the largest stupa in Nepal and one of the largest in the world. It is a religious
center for Nepals considerable population of Tibetans and there a number of thriving
monasteries around the stupa which have their own self-importance. Bodnath has always been
associated with Lhasa and Tibetan Buddhism. The first stupa is believed to be constructed
some time after 600 CE after the Tibetan King Songtsen Gompo was converted to Buddhism by
two wives named Bhrikuti and Wen Cheng Konjo but the current stupa was probably built
after the depredations of the Moghul invaders in the 14th. Century. Stupas were
originally built to house holy relics or to commemorate an event or place with a structure
that symbolizes Buddhist Beliefs.
PATAN
Patan is 15 minutes drive from Kathmandu. Lalitpur, the city of beauty is
separated from Kathmandu only by the Bagmati River and is the second largest town in the
valley. Lalitpur is fragmented from other cities due to its substantive architectural
ancient masterpieces. Patans central Durbar Square is absolutely packed with
temples: its an architectural center point with a far greater concentration of
temples per sq. meter than in Kathamandu or Bhaktapur.
Krishna
Mandir which is one of the grandeur of the square was built in 1637 by the king
Siddhinarsingh Malla. The entire temple is constructed from the stone. Golden Temple which
is the unique Buddhist Monastery was founded in the12th century which is a large
rectangular building has three roofs and a copper gilded façade with the images of Buddha
and Avalokitesvara where there are Buddha images and illustrations on the walls. The
square has been unrestrainedly adorned by the Bhimsen Temple, Manga Hiti, Vishwanath
Temple, Jagannarayan Temple, Golden Temple and numerous. Take the pleasure of discovering
this Patan Durbar Square which has been entitled in the World Heritage Site.
BHAKTAPUR
Bhaktapur,
also known as Bhadgaon or the city of Devotees, is the third major town of the valley and
in many ways the most mediaeval. Bhaktapurs Durbar Square is much larger and more
spacious than Kathmandus and much less crowded with temples than Patans.
Bhaktapurs Royal Palace was founded by Yaksha Malla and added to by successive
Kings. Unfortunately the palace suffered great damage in the 1934 earthquake and its
subsequent reconstruction did not match its original artistry.
KIRTIPUR
Kirtipur
is 5 Km. south west of Kathmandu, the small town is relatively neglected and timeless
backwater despite its proximity to the capital. At one time it was associated with Patan
and then became a mini kingdom in its own right. Kirtipurs resistance was strong but
eventually surrendering to the strong siege laid by King Prithivi Narayan Shah during his
campaign for the unification of Nepal during 1768, the city was conquered and annexed to
the great Nepal. At one time there were 12 gates into the city and traces of the old city
wall can still be seen. Kirtipurs ridge is actually two hills, with a lower saddle
between them. The Chilanchu Vihara tops the southern hill and has a central stupa with
four smaller stupas, numerous statues and bells and Buddhist monastery building around it.
At the bottom of the saddle where the hill meet is the Bagh Bhairab Temple, sacred to both
Hindus and Buddhists. From the hill top nearby villages of Panga and Nagaon can be
inspected.
POKHARA
Pokhara is one of the imaginary realistic part of Nepal. This is the
second touristic destination of the country. Pokhara stands at 884 meters above sea level,
about 700 meters lower than Kathmandu. The valley has three large lakes: Rupa Tal, Begnas
Tal and Phewa Tal.
Viewed
from Pokhara, the Himalaya is indeed a mighty mountain range, looming over the horizon
much closer than it does in Kathmandu. Only foothills separate the town from the full
height of the mountains, and the magnificent 8000 meter peaks of the Annapurna Range
utterly dominate the view to the north. In the Kathmandu Valley the high temples are all
around you, in the Pokhara Valley it is the mountains.
TANSEN
Tansen is one
of the oldest Newar hill settlement with a rich history and a glorious past. Short
excursion of the surrounding if time permits. Tansen is a beautiful town located amidst
the grander of the surrounding mountains and is considered one of the most beautiful town
in Nepal. This place is modeled as a sister town of Kathmandu. All the important monuments
and temples of Kathmandu have been replicated here.It is like being in a Kathmandu perched
on a mountain top minus the noise and the congestion. Sightseeing here includes: Visiting
the Srinagar hills which offers the best
view of the
western Himalayas in Nepal.
LUMBINI
Lumbini
(306Km. -east); this World Heritage Site is not only a place of pilgrimage but also an
international tourist attraction where Lord Buddha was born, who ultimately got
enlightenment and preached his message to the world. The main attraction at the Lumbini
remains the Sacred Garden that is spread over 8 sq. km, the Mayadevi Temple, Ashoka
Pillar, sacred pond, China Temple etc. A tour to this destination should bring
emancipation in ones life which is so pure, peace and prosperous to those who seek
salvation from the filthy activities practiced in the world.
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