Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. It is a main gateway to Nepal. It has a glorious history going back two thousand years, and a refined culture that ranks among the highest in Asia This 4 Night - 5 Days tour package covers the entire major city in Kathmandu Valley like Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan. All these sightseeing places carry a historical importance and play a vital role in the history of Nepal. This package includes several UNESCO world heritage sites located in Nepal. It Starts from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan Durbar Square and Swayambhunath. Pashupatinath & Boudha with the famous temple located near to the hill station like place Nagarkot. You would be having the chances of visiting the high altitude place to see the beautiful Himalayan ranges and to explore another hot tourist destination Dhulikhel, lying on the road to the Nepal – Tibet boarder.
Full day guided sightseeing in Kathmandu Valley tour including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, Baudhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Stupa also known as monkey temple which are World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO.
After breakfast we will start to world heritage sites sightseeing with professional license holder tour guide with private vehicle.
Pashupatinath Temple: One of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, Pashupatinath lies 5 km east from the city center. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred lingam, or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva as well as the noteworthy gold plated roofs and silver coated doors. This is the abode of God Shiva and is the holiest of all the Shiva shrines. Religious pilgrims and Sadhus, like the one pictured here, travel all the way from the remote areas of India to visit this sacred sight, especially during Shivaratri (the night of Shiva) that falls between February/March. Even though these devotees have denounced worldly possessions, each carries a Sadhus ID (identifications card) to freely cross over the border between India and Nepal. Chronicles indicate Pashupatinath existence prior to 400 AD. Devotees can be seen taking ritual dips in the holy Bagmati River flowing beside the temple, also a World Heritage Site. The crematorium is just outside the temple and it is a dream of almost every Hindu to be cremated by the side of Pashupati Aryaghat after their death.
Baudhanath Stupa: It is about 6 km east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the Valley and one of the largest in the world. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design with hundreds of prayer wheels and 108 small images of Buddha all around. Just like the Swayambhunath, the stupa here is too has four sides with the watchful eyes of Lord Buddha. All the Buddhist throng to this stupa to take part in the sacred rituals during the Buddhist festivals.
Kapan Monastery: Kapan Monastery is one of the famous monasteries, in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. It is set high in the hills above the Kathmandu valley, about half an hour drive from Kathmandu. The air is clean and the view across the valley is magic. Kapan was established by Lama thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche in 1970 as a centre of Buddhist learning in response to a strong wish expressed by their Western students for spiritual guidance and for a place to study.
Swayambhunath Stupa: Swayambhu literally means 'Self-Existent One.' Swayambhunath is believed to have been established more than 2,500 years ago. According to translations from an inscription dating back to 460 A.D., it was built by King Mandeva and by the 13th century, Swayambhunath had developed into an important center of Buddhism. Legend has it that Swayambhu was born out of a lotus flower that bloomed in the middle of the lake which the Kathmandu valley once was. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal was recently built on the western boundary of Swayambhu. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri or Saraswoti - the Goddess of learning. Chaityas, statues and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities fill the stupa complex. The base of the hill is almost entirely surrounded by prayer wheels that were recently installed. Devotees can be seen circumambulating the stupa at all times. The stupa sits atop the hill and the exceedingly steep stone steps leading up to the shrine is quite a challenge. However there is also a road going up almost to the top and you can drive up. A large numbers of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swayambhunath throughout the day. Swayambhu is perhaps the best place to observe religious harmony in Nepal.
Kathmandu Durbar Square: In the heart of old Kathmandu city in Basantapur never fails to impress first time visitors with its intricate wood carvings and rich history. Surrounded by concrete buildings, the complex is an oasis in a fast developing, chaotic modern city. Once the residence of Nepal Royal family, all coronation ceremonies were held here. The palace is an amalgamation of eastern and western architecture with additions by Rana and Shah Rulers over the centuries. An unbelievable 50 temples lie within the vicinity including the temple of the titular deity, Taleju Bhawani. The Durbar is divided into two courtyards, the outer Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar, and Shiva-Parvati Temple, and the inner section consisting of Hanuman Dhoka and the main palace. Some floors have been converted to museums dedicated to three generations of Shah Kings. Most parts of the palace premises are open to tourists throughout the week.
Patan Durbar Square: Patan Durbar Square complex is perhaps the most photographed of the three durbar squares. Located in the heart of Patan city, this was once the palace of the kings of Patan. The square is a display of Newari architecture that had reached its pinnacle during the reign of Malla kings who were great builders and patrons of the arts. The palace has three main courtyards: the central and the oldest is Mul Chowk. To the west of the complex are a dozen free standing temples of various sizes and built in different styles. A masterpiece in stone, the Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, the Golden Temple of Hiranya Varna Mahavira and Sundari Chowk mark the artistic brilliance of the Newar craftsment of that era. The Sundari Chowk with the sunken bath of Tusha Hiti, showcases exquisite woodcarvings, stone and metal sculpture. Like the other palaces, Patan Durbar Square also houses a temple dedicated to Taleju Bhawani.
After finish our tour and return back to hotel and after your refreshment we will talk about next day’s tour/ sightseeing information and overnight in hotel.
Early in the morning we will drive you in Nagarkot by car to see the sunrise view of Himalayan ranges with snow cover to near to you. Nagarkot is one lovely place to observe enchanting mountains and local cultures. From here you can see the Manaslu Himalayan ranges, Ganesh himal, Langtang Himalayan range, Rolwaling Himalayan range and far-east Everest ranges. After breakfast in Nagarkot we will drive to Telkot and hike up to Changunarayan temple.
Changunarayan Temple: Perched on a hill and visible from miles around, the Changu Narayan temple stands majestically above the rice fields of Bhaktapur. Dedicated to Vishnu, the Preserver the temple’s origins go back to the 4th century. A fifth century stone inscription in the temple proclaims it as one of the oldest shrines of the Kathmandu Valley. The temple is a showcase for Newari art and architecture of the early century. The stone, wood, and metal craft found here are exemplary. On the struts of the two-tiered Changu Narayan Temple, are ten incarnations of Narayan. And a 6th Century stone statue shows the cosmic form of Vishnu. Garuda, half man and half bird, is the vehicle of Vishnu, and his life-size statue kneels before the temple.
Bhaktapur Durbar Squire: The least busy among the durbar squares is Bhaktapur Durbar Square in the center of Bhaktapur city. Show casing architecture that dates back to the Malla period, the square is the most charming, with wide open spaces that are off limits to vehicular traffic. In Bhaktapur you will see some of the finest medieval arts of Nepal. Of particular interest are: the Golden Gate, Fifty-five Windows and the beautiful statue of King Bhupatindra Malla mounted on a giant stone pillar. The Golden Gate was erected by King Ranjit Malla as the entrance to the main courtyard of the Fifty-five Window Palace. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in 1427 A.D.and was re-modelled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the 17th Century. The Art Gallery has a fascinating collection of ancient manuscripts, thangkas, centuries-old stone sculpture, antique paintings that belong to the Hindu and Buddhist traditions of various periods. This gallery is open every day of the week except Tuesday.
Then after we will drive to Kathmandu if we have time we will visit Narayanhiti Palace Museum where in 2001 AD. The Royal family massacred. Transfer to hotel.
