The City of Devotees . . .

Bhaktapur

Still medieval, untouched by the Twentieth century is the Heritage Award winning city of Bhaktapur, founded in the 8th Century. It has gathered myths and treasures along it's walk down history. The Gods are everywhere, in wayside shrines that emblazon the narrow streets that snake its way through old bazars into the Bhaktapur Darbar Square. Here are creations of consummate artistry. A golden gate so rich with carving that it is said to be Nepal's finest treasure, a palace of 55 exquisite wooden windows built by the King whose golden likeness sits atop a pedestal against small pox, to propitiate the dead, and stairways guarded by stone lions that lead to nowhere, because an earthquake in 1934 destroy much beauty that the city cherished. Two other squares, as rich, more beautiful than the Darbar Square, blaze jewet-like.

Taumadi Square boasts the incredible temple of five stages, and a perfectly proportioned temple to the God Bhairab whose head is believed to be enshrined in it. A walk through busy bazaars away is Dattatreya Square, where a wondrous temple to the Trinity of Hinduism rises proudly embellished with golden conch shells, symbols of the Gods, and a golden finial. Abutting it is the filligreed 16th century Pujari Math, where priests lived. Here in a wealth of windows is the famed Peacock Window of Bhaktapur.

Preserved in medievalness, Bhaktapur-a City of farmers, is a meander in the Seventeenth Century.
Amid green terraced fields is a village that once protected Bhaktapur from the incursions of unfriendly neighbors. The terra-cotta village of Thimi is now famed for its pottery, its mask making and its garden of green vegetables has earned it the sobriquet of 'The salad bowl of Kathmandu'. It is difficult to walk away from Thimi without a papier mache mask, the originals of which adorn the lordly mask dances of Bhaktapur. And it is more difficult to resist a terracotta elephant, however fragile, to remind one of the wonder that is the Valley of Kathmandu.

Old Unchanged and Prehistoric Kirtipur and Chovar

The settlement of Kirtipur straggles the hilltop with a stupa at one end and the ruins of a Hindu temple at the other, Kirtipur embodies the perfect blend of two religious existing side by side in perfect harmony. And it is around Hinduism and Buddhism that the people of Kirtipur live their lives of weaving masonry and carpentry. Here the shuttle of the looms vie with the sawing of wood, and the mixing of mortar. Once Kirtipurians were soldiers who resisted a concerted attack on their citadel for months. It is said they were protected by a child's toy tiger that was possessed by the spirit of Bhairab-God of Terror. In the middle of Kirtipur stands a beautiful Bhairab temple protected statuary of an earlier age.

A little away from Kirtipur, is a narrow improbable gash in a mountain wall through which a river rushes. Chovar Gorge is said to be the cut that was made by Manjushri's sword when the Saint drained the valley of turquoise lake that filled it.

A Hindu legend has it, that it was not Manjushri's sword but the beloved Lord Krishna who hurled a thunderbolt at the unyielding mountain wall and created Chovar Gorge. The thunderbolt turned into a stone Ganesh, now enshrined in a small temple.

Banepa-Panauti

Once the capital of a city state, today Banepa is famed for its weaving on its traditional handlooms. A medieval township set in a verdant valley east of Kathmandu, Banepa is a few minutes away from the village of Chandeshwari which has a beautiful temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga. So beautiful is Chandeshwari, and its people so hospitable that early Everest expeditions that set of from Bhaktapur would spend their first night in the village. From Banepa and from Sanga set atop Kathmandu's valley walls are unparalleled views of Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal and the Langtang Himalayas.

Panauti, a rough track away is a 15th century township with more temples than dwellings. Picturesquely set on the confluence of the Roshi and P unyabati Rivers, Panauti is best known for its carvings on a 12th Century temple and as a pilgrimage place where the devotees cleanse themselves in the confluence according to rites dictated by history.

The Holy Trinity
Pashupatinath, Boudhnath and Buddhanilkantha

Three shrines, sacred, serene, steeped in antiquity shine with a rare beauty in the valley of Kathmandu. To see them is to visit the very heart of all that is holy to the Nepalese.

The Hindu Holy of Holies is dedicated to the Lord Shiva in his aspect as the protector of all Animals and birds set with consummate artistry on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. Pashupatinath with its double tiered gilt roof and its heavily carved silver doors, is where Hindus by the millions converge. To bathe in the Bagmati River here, is to absolve the self of sin. To die with one's feet in the sacred river is to escape the perpetual cycle of birth and rebirth that Hindus are doomed to. Above Pashupatinath is a wooded hill which houses ascetic in search of life everlasting. And it is said that in the not too distant past the Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism frolicked here. Around the pagoda roofs of Pashupatinath a wondorous welter of rest houses and shrines and monasteries have blossomed over the years. To go to Pashupatinath, is to find peace.

The mantras of Mahayana Buddhism refer to a jewelled lotus which surely is Boudhnath, one of the world's biggest stupas. Said to contain the relic of the Amitabha Buddha, Boudhanath with its Golden Finnial, its all seeing eyes, and the ring of terracotta tresure troves around it is a place of particular sanctity. Here mule trains from Tibet and caravans laden with preciousness, rested. Here are monasteries carried over the high passes from Tibet. Here are inns as old as the caravans and here are re-incarnate Lamas who chant the sun into the sky and who pray as darkness falls. Many legends attach themselves to Boudhnath and we will unfold them for you as we wander around the 'Stupa of a million dewdrops'.

Worshipped by Hindus and Bhuddist alike, the 5th Century image of the sleeping Vishnu, the Preserver of Life, is a particularly fine example of Lichhavi Art. It would seem that the master sculptors' hands were possessed of divinity for' a play of water perhaps, the chest of the 30 foot diety seems to breath in the tranquil rhythms of sleep. Set in the didst of a pool, the statue is perfectly reflected in the water that cradles it. At the time of Buddhist festivals, the shrine is hung with fluttering prayer flags for Vishnu is Avlokeshwara to the Buddhist.

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ITINERARIES

We present here our standard itineraries designed for specific time frames that are available to our visitors. These are by no means comprehensive, and we shall be only too glad to design for you itineraries to suit your time frame and budget in whichever area you may want to visit. Please do not hesitate in contacting us.

SIGHTSEEING ITINERARIES

PTT/SI/03

KATHMANDU VALLEY

6 Days Culture

Day 01	Arrive Kathmandu PM: Kathmandu City and Swayambhunath
Day 02	AM: Bhaktapur City and Thimi PM: Patan City and Tibetan Handicraft Centre
Day 03	AM: Mountain Flight PM: At leisure
Day 04	AM: Dakshinkali, Shesh Narayan Chover Gorge PM: At leisure
Day 05	AM: Pashupatinath and Boudhanath PM: At leisure
Day 06	Full day at leisure till departure transfer

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PTT/SI/04

KATHMANDU VALLEY AND POKHARA

5 days Culture and Excursion

Day 01	Arrive Kathmandu PM Kathmandu City and Swayambhunath
Day 02	Transfer by flight to Pokhara PM: Pokhara Sightseeig
Day 03	Transfer to Kathmandu by car PM Patan City and Tibetan Handicraft Centre
Day 04	Bhaktapur City and Thimi PM: At leisure
Day 05	Full day at leisure till departure transfer.

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PTT/SI/05

KATHMANDU AND CHITWAN

6 days Culture and Wildlife

Day 01	Arrive Kathmandu PM Kathmandu City and Swayambhunath
Day 02	AM: Drive to Royal Chitwan National Park PM: Elephant Safari
Day 03	Full day Jungle and Wildlife activities
Day 04	AM: Jungle and Wildlife activities PM: Drive back to Kathmandu
Day 05	AM: Dakshinkali. Enroute see Shesh Narayan Chovar Gorge PM: At leisure
Day 06	Full day at leisure till departure transfer

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Dakshinkali and Sheshnarayan

The drive is romantic. You leave the valley, pass the gorge called Chovar that Manjushri made with his burning sword of wisdom. Past terraced fields and ochre huts, past forests, past a pool said to be filled with legendary treasures of a Snake King, past idyllic villages and verdant valleys and then suddenly almost floating in the river is the open-air shrine of Dakshinkali, where four gilded serpents canopy an image so old it could have been carved by time itself. Here sacrifices are made to the Mother Goddess Kali so that on Tuesdays and Saturdays the river runs red with blood. To propitiate Kali, is to have ones boons answered and to propitiate the much venerated Dakshinkali or Kali of the south is to bring good fortune to the family.

Incongruously atop a nearby mountain is a Buddhist monastery curtained in prayer flags so that the blood shed in the river is not seen by the shrine itself. The monastery is one that overlooks nearby Shesh Narayan where Hindus and Buddhists alike come to worship.

For Hindus it is where the beloved Krishna rested after an epic war and was fed with milk that dripped miraculously from a rock shaped like the teat of a cow.

For Buddhists Shesh Narayan becomes Pharping, where the ascetic Guru Padmasambhava is said to have battled evil and triumphed. Call it Pharping or Shes Narayan, but find here clear pools of water, which barely conceal the remnants of a prehistoric temple, find here fine carving in stone of Kings and Queens and Gods and Goddesses and find here a newly built monastery embellished with scroll paintings and religious artifacts from Tibet. But find mostly here a sylvan calm.

Changu Narayan

Arguably the oldest temple site in the valley, Changu Narayan is ten kilometer away from Bhaktapur, and perched delicately atop a hill has commanding views of the valley. The old temple is gone. Some say a clestial earthquake felled it. What remains are the inscriptions from the 5th century AD talking of miraculous happenings and of a King called Manadev II.

View Over the Hilltops
Dhulikhel,Nagarkot,Kakani,Phulchowki,Godavari

The sunsets in Nepal are spectacular just as sunrises are dramatic. Three perfect viewing points perched on the run of the valley, offer panoramic views of majestic mountains catching fire at dawn as the sun rises or lingering in a symphony of colors at dusk. An unforgettable experience.

Dhulikhel, 30 kilometers away from Kathmandu offers sweeping views from Cho-Oyu in the east to the Annapurnas in the west. A half hour walk to an temple, Bhagwati, makes the trip back much more exciting.

Nagarkot, thirty two kilometers from Kathmandu, is a drive on a road that snakes through the peaceful countryside, clusters of villages, tall pine forests and downs of grass. From here on a clear day you can see all the way to Everest.

Kakani is reached via the Balaju Water Gardens and is a thirty two kilometer drive away from Kathmandu. Kakani offers breathtaking views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Himalchuli and Manaslu.

Each place has its addicts. All three make Himalaya viewing at sunset forever memorable.

Pulchowki-Godavari, at 9050 feet above sea level, Pulchowki towers above in Kathmandu valley and is the highest point on the valley wall. The base of Pulchowki sweeps into the Royal Botanical Gardens where flowers and butterflies and running brooks and a natural calm impresses itself on the mind as does a wide variety of Himalayan birds. Nearby is an early AD temple which tradition has as the source of the river Godavari.

A buddihst shrine caps Phulchowki and a jeepable road winds through Rhododendrons and pine forests, to it. From here spectacular views of the valley and the high Himalayas.

Chinese Border

The Chinese border trip to Kodari's Friendship Bridge over the Bhotekosi is not unlike a journey to the edge of the earth, for this is the ultimate point in the Kingdom from where it is possible to glimpse Tibet, the land of numerous legends and possibly the last of the 'Forbidden Territories' in the world today. A pleasant drive along the Sunkosi River snakes through the shifting scenes of mountainous terrain, rushing waterfalls, natural hot-springs and scattered Sherpa villages. This is the lowest mointain pass to Tibet. Kodari can be reached in a little more than four hours, leisurely, unusual attractions like the visit to a typical Tibetan village, Khasa, where photography is forbidden. Aside from viewing the typical Tibetan rural life, a stamp on your passport from the Tibetan Border Patrol.

A combination trip to Dhulikhel at sunrise would make it unforgettable.

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PTT/SI/06

KATHMANDU AND CHITWAN

6 days Culture and Excursion

Day 01	Arrive Kathmandu PM Kathmandu City and Swayambhunath
Day 02	AM: Transfer by Flight to Nepalgunj and drive to KARNALI TENTED CAMP PM: Wildlife activities
Day 03	AM: Full day wildlife activities
Day 04	AM: Full day wildlife activities
Day 05	AM: Morning transfer to Nepalgunj for flight to Kathmandu
Day 06	Full day at leisure till departure transfer

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PTT/SI/07

KATHMANDU AND CHITWAN

7 days Culture and Wildlife

Day 01	Arrive Kathmandu PM Kathmandu City and Swayambhunath
Day 02	AM: Drive to Kurintar for Rafting
Day 03	AM: Continue Raft and tranfer to Chitwan National Park
Day 04	Full day wildlife activities
Day 05	After lunch drive to Kathmandu PM: At leisure
Day 06	AM: Dakshinkali, Shesh Narayan and Chovar Gorge PM: At leisure
Day 07	Full day at leisure till departure transfer

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PTT/SI/08

KATHMANDU AND POKHARA

8 days Culture and Wildlife

Day 01	Arrive Kathmandu PM Kathmandu City and Swayambhunath
Day 02	AM: Drive from Kathmandu to Chitwan National Park PM: Full day wildlife activities
Day 03	Full day wildlife activities
Day 05	After lunch drive from Chitwan to Pokhara
Day 05	From Pokhara fly to Kathmandu
Day 06	Patan City and Handicraft Centre PM: Bhaktapur City and Thimi Village
Day 07	AM: Dakshinkali, Shesh Narayan and Chovar Gorge PM: At leisure
Day 08	Full day at leisure till departure transfer

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Trisuli, Nuwakot, Kakani

A drive of some 45 kilometers of constantly changing scenery brings you to the beautiful Trisuli River Valley. The ancient settlement of Trisuli fringes both banks of the river itself. The river takes its name from the Trisuli, or Trident of Lord Shiva, which is said to have been thrust into the flanks of that mighty mountain range, from which gushed forth the icy waters of the Trisuli river. In recent times, the name Trisuli has been associated with the Capital's hydro electric power supply.

A ten kilometer uphill stretch will bring you to the ancient township of Nuwakot. Perched on a hilltop, Nuwakot provides views of the surrounding river valleys, and insights into the-daily lives of the hill people. Here also is the majestic 18th century palace of King Prithivi Narayan Shah, the founder of the present Shah DYnasty and the unifier of Nepal.

On your return, the serene sweep of the Himalayas is visible, lightly brushed with the deepening tones of approaching sunset. This is best observed from Kakani.

Bajra Barahi, Lele

The tour of Patan's ancient city can be extended further south into the hinterland of medieval villages. Here on the old trade route to India are the villages of Chapagaon, the temple of Bajara Varahi and the small township of Lele with its Saraswati Kunda, a natural reservoir dedicated to the Hindu Goddess of Learning, Saraswati.

The Bajara Barahi temple stands in a small wooded park some nine and a half kilometers distant fro Patan City. As it's name implies, it is dedicated to Varahi, an incarnation of Vishnu in the form of a wild boar. By reason of its picturesque setting, it has become a popular picnic spot. The village of Chapagaon presents a typical picture of rural life in the Kathmandu valley, and also affords the sort of panoramic Himalayan views which only the southern end of the valley can offer.

Lele itself is yet another medieval township, but nevertheless one which enjoys a special distinction. A little beyond is a natural reservoir of fresh water to which both sacred and magical properties and attributed by valley dwellers. It is believed that immersion in its waters, early in the morning, will confer the power of speech and understanding, even upon those who have always lacked them. Local belief has it that the level of the Saraswati Kunda will always remain the same throughout the seasons of the year besides being warm on the coldest of winter days and cool at the height of summer.

Bajra Jogini, Sankhu

The temple tour of Pashupatinath and Boudhnath leads eastward to the preserved rural village of Sankhu, by driving across the sacred Bagmati river and the Gokarna Royal Game Preserve. Sankhu is a religious site celebrated in legend, where Hindu devotees throng to immerse themselves in the purifying waters of the Sali Nadi during the Nepalese month of Magh (December-January) each year.

From Sankhu itself, a few minutes walk uphill brings you to the temple of the Jogini known to the Buddhist devotees as one of the greatest Jogini temples. Scenic views of the wide Manhora River can be enjoyed from here, which is as popular with holiday makers as it is with the devotees.

On the way back from here, there is a choice of alternatives. One one either walk to Changu Narayan Temple, after crossing the Manhora River, or one can drive back and visit the Gokarna Safari park and observe the wildlife, including antelopes and deer which frequent this stretch of afforested game reserve.

From October to May each year, Nepal's National Airline, RNAC, offers you a unique experience. Seated in the pressurized comfort of a modern aircraft, you may witness the breathtaking majestic grandeur of the Eastern Himalaya from a distance of no more than 20 kilometers. This early morning flight of one hour's duration will show you eight of the ten highest peaks of the world, all of them exceeding 26,000 feet and including Mount Everest. 'The rooftop of the world'. A certificate to the effect that you were one of the fortunate few to be greeted on that day by Mount Everest herself will serve as a cherished memento of the trip.

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PTT/SI/09

KATHMANDU AND TREK AROUND POKHARA

10 Days

Day 01	Arrive Kathmandu PM Kathmandu City and Swayambhunath
Day 02	Transfer by flight to Pokhara, met by trek crews and commence trek Suikhet.
Day 03	Full day trk to Dhampus
Day 04	Full day trek to Naudanda
Day 05	Trek to Pokhara and check in at hotel
Day 06	AM: Pokhara City PM: At leisure
Day 07	Transfer by flight to Kathmandu PM: At leisure
Day 08	Bhaktapur City and Thimi Village PM: Patan City and Hand Craft Centre
Day 09	AM: Dakshinkali, Shesh Narayan and Chovar Gorge PM: At leisure
Day 10	Full day at leisure till departure transfer

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