‘within hub of the city in the backdrop of world heritage sites and colorful local culture’
Kathmandu Heritage tour will mesmerize you in and around Kathmandu, located in a valley basin surrounded by green tiers of hills with views of central Himalaya range of peaks, although a semi-modern and capital city of Nepal, but still retaining its old time glories of historical monuments, palaces and other places of great interest.
Kathmandu and its neighboring satellite cities of Patan / Lalitpur and Bhaktapur are a wonder where most of the historical and religious places include in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, where Kathmandu city tour leads right in the heart of its city, catching local culture and age-old traditional life which is the main highlights of the tour.
Where all our wonderful and exciting tour led by expert guides providing you with full information and details of the places, all tour in
walking and short driving distance.
Places of interest to visit around Kathmandu city:
Kathmandu heritage tour of a day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.:
Kathmandu Durbar Square:
Starting morning with tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square in the hub of city where you can visit interesting places in this colorful historical
square with touch of local Nepalese culture.
Tour of Living Goddess (Kumari Ghar), with ferocious Kal Bhairab, the red monkey god, and hundreds of erotic carvings are a few
examples of the sights at the Square! The old buildings are of great achievements of Malla Kingdom.
The Durbar Square (palace courtyard) teems with colorful life includes shops selling curios, flutes, and other crafts around Kastamandap
rest house. The rest house and a old temple Kastamandap, built with the wood of a single tree where Kathmandu name derived from.
Akash Bhairab Temple:
Also referred as the Blue Bhairab sometimes, it is a 3 storied temple in the principal market of Indra Chowk. The divine image of the
Akash Bhairab displayed outside for a week -long period during the great festival of Indra Jatra. The celebration of Indra Jatra honors
Indra- the King of Heaven and the God of Rain.
Hanuman Dhoka:
A historic seats of past royalty, specially belongs to old Malla dynasty. The Durbar Square, an old Royal Palace Complex dedicated to
Malla monarchs, classified as World Heritage Site. The age-old temples and palaces epitomize the religious and cultural life-style of the
people.
Temple of Kumari:
Temple of Kumari with holy courtyard with Buddhist stupa which is the center form of the residential quarters of the Chaste Virgin Living
Goddess called KUMARI. The traditional building has profusely carved wooden balconies and widow screens. The non-Buddhist ant the
non-Hindu visitors may enter the courtyard called the 'bahal' but may not proceed beyond upstairs. The KUMARI acknowledges their
greetings from the middle window of the balcony particularly saved for her alone and snapshot is strictly prohibited.
Swayambhunath Stupa:
After an enjoyable time of an hour a short drive leads you west part of the city to old Swayambhunath Stupa also called as Monkey
Temple due to many Rhesus species of monkeys that dwells around it small patch of forest located on a hillock. Swayambhunath Stupa of
more than 25 centuries old stands as one of the world's oldest Buddhist Chaitya or a Stupa, a major landmark of the country with is the
glory that was Nepal. Listed in World Heritage Site as well nerve center of faithful worship for all Buddhist devout philosophy of Bajrayana
an honor to Lord Adi-Buddha, the Stupa composed of solid hemisphere of terra - cotta bricks and earth supported with copper and gilt.
With four based all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha, keeping an eternal watch on the valley to judge between vice and virtue. An interesting
site to visit where you can catch panorama of Kathmandu city and the valley with snow capped peaks in the distance north with rolling
green hills that surrounds the valley rim and the crowded city. With time here visit leads to eastern part of the city at holy temple of
Pashupatinath:
Pashupatinath Temple:
After an enjoyable time at ancient Buddhist Stupa, where short drive leads to holiest of all holy Hindu pilgrimage site at Pashupatinath
Temple, a pagoda style Hindu temple with gilt roofing and richly carved silver doors dedicated to Lord Shiva (one of Three main god after
Brahma-Vishnu) the temple located a the bank of holy Baghmati River. One of the most sacred temples in entire Hindu world,
Pashupatinath Temple is the nerve center of pilgrimage on Shiva-Ratri (Shiva birth Anniversary) falls in the month of February.
Non Hindu is not allowed in the main entrance gate, however can observe the prayer and worship activities from the other side of river.
Bouddhanath Stupa:
From Pashupatinath Temple, a short drive leads due north at famous and large Stupa of Bouddhanath, the area also called as Little Tibet,
due to similar culture-traditional life that exist around this wonderful place of great interest. Bouddhanath Stupa stand as largest Buddhist
shrine of South Asia, this ancient colossal Stupa / Chorten built in 6th century A.D. by King Man Deb. It rests on series of three terraces
looking from bird's eye view which you see as shape of a lotus flower which remains as a holy object for all the devout Buddhists of the
world. The great Stupa surrounded by market that forms as part of Tibet town with four pairs of the Buddha's eyes gives a vivid flash to
the four cardinal directions. After an interesting and exciting time around Kathmandu Heritage Tour head back to hotel with great
enjoyable on day tour.
Extension of Kathmandu Tour:
Buddhanilkanta:
Situated at northern suburbs of the Valley just at the foot of Shivapuri Hill, this is an enchanting Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu or
Narayan. The locality is also known as Narayanthan. Vishnu lies in a bed of serpents amidst the pious pool and seems to float on water.
The surrounding pond actually represents the sea. The reclining statue was built in the 5th century A.D. The season of religious
celebration here takes place right after the festival of Tihar. Although it is a renowned spot of worship, the reigning king of Nepal (May it
be contemporary or any Hindu monarch) may not visit this place for reasons particularly unknown. Thus to please the king a replica of it
has been built elsewhere if he wishes to visit it much.
Dakshinkali Temple & Chobar Gorge:
By car, bike or a short hike Located south west from Kathmandu city on the valley rim with an hour drive through beautiful scenery of
farmlands and rural villages, Dakshinkali Temple, a woodland shrine, is dedicated to Lord Shiva’s bloodthirsty consort, Kali. The temple
lies about 22km south of Kathmandu. As devotees of Goddess Kali believe her wrath can only be appeased through blood sacrifice, you
will witness animals being sacrificed at the sanctum of the goddess. Chobar Gorge at the foot of Chobar village, the legend about the birth
of Kathmandu Valley speak of the Buddhist deity Manjushree cutting the hill at Chobar into half with a mighty sword, letting out the water
of a lake and opening the fertile vale for habitation.
Pharping a historical village:
This nice historical area situated south west of Kathmandu valley rim can be reached by car, bike or a short hike. Pharping is an ancient
town; it is also popular with the name “Shikharapuri Mahanagari” Shikharapur is an old name of Pharping village and it was an
independent Newari state. It is believed that there was no Kathmandu, Lalitpur or Bhaktapur in existence as Kathmandu valley was a
huge lake, till Goddess Manjushree cut the Chovar gorge and drains the water from the valley, and then the people settled and made the
place Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur into different cities. Great guru Padmasambhava got enlightened at Asura Cave, Gorakhanath
and Shesnarayan cave at Pharping, it is one of the most pilgrimage place for Buddhist. Pharping is now situated at the border of
Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Makwanpur district. Religious temples of Goddess Dakshinkali, Asura Cave, Gorakhanath, Shesnarayan
Temple, Hyanglashi, Gopaeshwor and Bajrajogini and with several monasteries, Pharping is renowned for best pears “ Naspati” fruits and
Lapsi “Goose Berry”.
