Kathmandu
Valley Tours Destination
The
Kathmandu Valley is a fascinating showcase of a very
rich culture, art and tradition. Nowhere else in the
world can one find a blend of monuments and shrines
dedicated to both the Hindu and the Buddhist gods within
the same complex. Only a few meters divide devotees
of either faith performing their own rituals; and again,
many can be seen adoring both the divinities.
The classic beauty of the three medieval city kingdoms
of Lalitpur (Patan), Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon), and Kantipur
(Kathmandu) within their older quarters have been fortunate
to survive the ravages of invasions and natural calamities.
Till today, they flaunt the dwellings of their former
rulers; the palaces, the courtyards, the temples and
monuments. They are today, declared as World Heritage
Sites.
Swayambhunath
According to legends, the history
of the Kathmandu Valley begins with Swayambhunath (the
self-existent). It is believed that Bodhisattva Manjushree
had come across a beautiful lake with a lotus that emitted
brilliant light at the lake's center. So, he cut a gorge
in a southern hill and drained the water of the lake
to worship the lotus. Men settled at the bed of the
lake and called it the Kathmandu Valley.
Swayambhunath may be the best place to observe the religious
harmony in the country. The stupa is among the most
ancient in this part of the world. The largest image
of Shakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next
to the stupa of Swayambhunath.
Swayambhunath is a major landmark of the Valley and
looks like a beacon below the Nagarjan hill. It offers
an excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley. Devotees
have climbed the steps on the eastern side for centuries.
The main attractions of Swayambhu are the statues of
Buddha, mini-stupas, monasteries and monkeys.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
There are innumerable monuments such
as Kumari, the living Goddess, the ferocious Kal Bhairav,
the red monkey god, hundreds of erotic carvings, among
others. Visitors can also see a round temple in the
pagoda architectural style, the Goddess Taleju and image
of Shiva and Parvati peering outside through the window
besides among many other monuments. It is believed that
the Goddess Taleju used to play dice with King Jaya
Prakash Malla.
The buildings at the Kathmandu Durbar Square were constructed
during the time of Malla period. The exceptionally attractive
woodcarvings, statues and architecture lure the visitors.
Changu Narayan
The temple of Narayan or Vishnu near
Changu village is believed to be the most ancient ones
in the Kathmandu Valley. There is a fifth century stone
inscription located in the temple compound and it tells
about the victorious King Man Dev. Having constructed
during the third century, the temple now covers 1,600
years of Nepalese art history. The temple represents
the complete cultural development of the valley.
Pashupatinath
It is believed that one day Lord Shiva
got tired of his glittering palace on Mt. Kailash, his
armies of ghosts and spirits, and even his beautiful
wife Parvati. Then, he moved to a forest near the present
temple of Pashupatinath. While staying there, the Lord
Shiva earned fame and became Pashupati or Lord of Animals.
For the last 1,500 years, worshippers have been paying
attention to the place, which is regarded as the holiest
Hindu pilgrimage site in Nepal. There are linga images
of Lord Shiva along with statues, shrines and temples
dedicated to other deities in the Pashupatinath area.
A temple of Lord Shiva was built in 879 A. D. However,
the present temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla
in 1697. The pagoda-style construction is decorated
with a gold-plated roof, silver doors, and woodcarvings
of the finest quality. There lies the temple of Guheshwari
that represents the female force. The temple is dedicated
to Satidevi, Lord Shiva's first wife, who abandoned
her life in the flames of her father's fire ritual.
Sadhus and sages, who follow the lifestyle of Lord Shiva,
are seen covered with ashes and loincloths.
The temple of Pahsupatinath lies close to the Bagmati
river. On the banks of the river, dead bodies are cremated.
The cremation site is also known as Aryaghat, where
the royals are also cremated. Visitors are not advised
to take photographs of cremations and bereaved families.
Bouddhanath: The stupa of Bouddhanath is considered
to be the largest one in the entire South Asian Region.
The stupa is main attraction of Tibetan Buddhism. It
is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet. Many
Tibetan refugees have been living around the stupa of
Bouddhanath since the 1950s when they entered Nepal.
The stupa is believed to have been constructed in the
fifth century. The stupa is also said to entomb the
remains of a Kasyap sage, who is respected by both Buddhists
and Hindus.
Budhanilkantha: Budhanilkantha is a famous Hindu pilgrimage
site. The main statue of Lord Vishnu is seen reclining
on a bed of snake on a pond. The stone sculpture dates
back to the fifth century. The site is eight kilometers
north of the downtown Kathmandu. The Shivapuri hill
is in front of the pilgrimage site.
Natural History Museum
Situated three kilometers west of
the downtown Kathmandu and close to famous stupa of
Swayambhunath, the museum is the only one of its kind
in Nepal. The museum contains about 1400 species of
butterflies, fish, birds, mammals and plants from across
the country. Visitors can get detailed information about
bio-diversity and flora and fauna of Nepal from the
museum. The museum remains open everyday, except Saturday,
Sunday and other government holidays. Taking photograph
inside the museum is strictly prohibited.
Patan Durbar Square
There are many famous sites besides
unique architecture in the Patan Durbar Square. The
Krishna Mandir (temple), which is considered to be the
best example of stone architecture of Nepal, was constructed
to honor an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Scenes from
the Mahabharat that are carved on the walls of the temple
bring us to the Mahabharat war, Asia's great mythological
war.
The temple of Bhimsen is a fine sample of metal craft.
Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, the golden temple, is regarded
as the best place to visit. The Newar monastery has
wall paintings, the 14th century statues and scriptures.
The Patan Durbar Square, the best artistic sites of
Nepal, has temples of Ganesh, Shiva, Narasingha, Taleju,
among others.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
In the Sanskrit language, the word
"Bhaktapur" means "the city of devotees."
The ancient cultural city that was founded by King Anand
Dev in 889 A. D. is also known as "Bhadgaon".
The palace complex depicts the prosperity of the Malla
period and shows how the craftsmen had worked during
that time. In the palace complex, the Palace of Fifty-Five
Windows stands. The palace was home to many kings of
Bhaktapur.
It was King Bhupatindra Malla, who constructed the massive
gateway to the Durbar Square during 1696 to 1722. The
big bell, the golden gate, five-storey temple of Nyatapola,
the Bhairav Temple, the Dattatreya Square with its wood
carving and metalwork museums are the other monuments
of Bhaktapur. Though the massive earthquake of 1934
destroyed the city, it still reflects the traditional
Newari culture and architecture.
Apart from these, there are a number of other attractive
destinations in the Kathmandu Valley. They include Chobhar
Gorge, Jawalakhel Zoo, Dakshinkali, Balaju Water Garden,
Budhanilkantha, Godawari Botanical Garden, Nagarkot,
Kakani, Nagarjun, Shivapuri, Chandragiri, Phulchowki,
Dhulikhel, Panauti, Banepa and Sankhu.
The Kathmandu Valley is also rich in museums and art
galleries. The National Museum is the most popular museum.
Located on the way to Swayambhunath hill. It has ancient
artifacts and interesting mementos of recent kings and
recently used firearms. Other museums worth visiting
include the Tribhuvan Museum, the museum of natural
history, Keshar library, the national bronze art museum,
the national art gallery, the national woodworking museum,
the bronze and brass museum, Asha Archives and Patan
Museum.
Kirtipur
Situated 10 kilometers southwest of
Kathmandu, Kirtipur is an ancient Nerwari township.
It has a proud and courageous history. Major attractions
of this township are the Chilamchu Stupa and the temple
of Bagh Bhairab. Locals have been able to preserve their
traditional cultures and lifestyles.
Gokarna & Sundarijal
Gokarna is a popular place maong pilgrims
and visiting tourists. Lying some seven kilometers northeast
of the downtown of Kathmandu, the protected area of
Gokarna is also a popular site for seeing wildlife and
various species of birds.
Sundarijal is another peaceful place that lies near
Gokarna. The meaning of “Sundarijal” is “pure water”.
There is a beautiful water fall in the area.
Nagarkot
Nagarkot, a quiet, cozy
little resort town located 32 km far from Kathmandu
at an altitude of 2100 meters, is an excellent place
from which to see the sunrise over the Himalayas.
From here, visitors can enjoy stunning views of numerous
peaks and sub-ranges of the Himalayas, such as the
Ganesh, Langtang, Jugal, Rolwaling and Solukhumbu
areas. On a clear day, visitors can even see Mt. Everest
and the massive south face of Mt. Lhotse from Nagarkot.
Wide ranges of hotels of different price ranges are
also available and there are excellent facilities
for tourists.
Pokhara
Pokhara is Nepal’s second most popular tourist destination.
Most travelers visit Pokhara for trekking, rafting
or other adventure sports but leave deeply impressed
by the areas’s scenic beauty and its rich mosaic of
ethnic groups and culture. Pokhara’s emerald lakes,
which reflect the backdrop of snowy Himalayan peaks
on a clear day, make it a place of unparalleled natural
beauty.
