Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and is surely one of the world’s most amazing cities, being endowed with a large number of ancient monuments, historic temples and other interesting and unusual sights. Once thought to be the fabled and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is now a hub for independent travellers as well as a growing vacation spot catering to all budgets. The term Kathmandu has been derived from the combinations of two Sanskrit words, ‘Kaasth’ meaning wood and ‘Mandap’ meaning shelter. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1400m and is inhabited by about one million people. Kathmandu is considered to have the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal. It is a home to most of the government offices, embassies, corporate houses, and palaces. The old palace of the Newar Kings at Durbar Square is listed as UNESCO world heritage site. Nearby is Freak street, which was the popular hippie spot during the 1970s. The former Shah King’s Palace stands just east of Thamel-the tourist hub of the country. Kathmandu has two important Buddhist stupas, Syambhunath and Boudhanath and a famous Hindu shrine, Pashupatinath temple. Since 2003 the sites have been added to the World Heritage List as being in danger out of concern for the ongoing loss of authenticity and the outstanding universal value of the cultural property.

The square is the complex of palaces, courtyards and temples that are built between the 12th and the 18th centuries by the ancient Malla Kings of Nepal. It is the social, religious and urban focal point of the city. Taleju Temple, Kal Bhairab ( God of Destruction), Nautalle Durbar, Coronation Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, the stutue of King Pratap Malla, the Big Bell, Big Drum and the Jagnnath Temple are some of the interesting things to see in this Square. An intriguing piece here is the 17th century stone inscription that is set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. It is believed that if anybody deciphers this entire inscription, the milk would flow from the spout, which lies just below the inscripted stonewall. Some people say that the inscription contains coded directions to a treasure King Pratap Malla has buried beneath Mohan Chowk of Durbar Square.

It was the Royal Palace of the former king Gyandra. The Shah kings moved to this palace from their old palace in the late 18th century. The new edifice was inaugurated in 1970 on the occasion of the wedding of King Birendra. The palace takes its name from the Narayanhiti, a famous historic waterspout situated at the sounthern corner of the Palace. The Palace compound is immense, surrounded by high walls and guarded by soldiers. With the demolition of monarch now Narayanhiti palace serves as a museum.

Boudhanath is one of the holiest Buddhist site in Nepal. Located about 11km from the center and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu, the stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. The stupa, well known as Khasti, is enlisted in the World Heritage Site. It dominates the skyline as it looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. Along with Syambhunath it is one of the most popular tourist sites in the Kathmandu area.

The temple of Pashupatinath is the holiest of all the Shiva shrines in Nepal and is the abode of lord Pashupatinath, the guardian God of Nepal. Pasupatinath area has a sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images and inscriptions raised over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati river. The temple of Pashupatinath is a large double – roofed pagoda of gold gilt and brass; the gateway are plated with silver. It is located about 5 km northeast of Kathmandu and contains the sacred lingam or phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site. Believers in Pashupatinath are allowed to enter the temple premises. Non Hindu visitors are allowed to have a look at the temple from the other bank of Bagmati river. There is a crematorium outside the temple by the side of the wide but shallow river. On the occasion of the annual festival of Shivaratri, the temple is thronged by thousands of devotees, including a large number of pilgrims from India. The temple is also the site of a number of other different festivals and rituals taking place throughout the year.

The most ancient and enigmatic of all the Valley’s holy shrines lies 2 km west of Kathmandu city, across the Vishnumati river. It is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are lots of monkeys in this temple. The golden spire of Syambhunath stupa crowns a wooded hillock and offers a commanding view of Kathmandu city. On clear days, one can even view a line of Himalayan peaks. The view is splendid at dusk as the city illuminates like a jewel. The place has become a popular hang out among the locals. Syambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, including a Tibetan monastery, a museum and a library. Painted on the four-sided base of the spire are the watching eyes of Lord Buddha. Syambhunath Temple is listed in the World Heritage Site.

Built in 1757 by King Jaya Prakash Malla, Mumari Chowk is the home of the Kumari or living goddess who is considered to be an incarnation of the goddess Taleju. The temple or the residence of Living Goddess Kumari is situated in the vicinity of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The building has profusely carved wooden balconies and window screens. It is third storied of the building that is especially attractive with its fine bay windows, in which the Kumari appears from time to time in the company of her guardian priestess to see and be seen by her devotees and admirers. A Kumari is believed to be the bodily incarnation of the goddess Taleju until she menstruates, after which it is believed that the goddess vacates her body. If Kumari gets seriously ill or there is a major loss of blood from an injury and if she reaches puberty the she is replaced by another Kumari.

The Kasthamandap or ‘House of Wood’ from which Kathmandu takes its name probably dates back to the 16th century and it was built by King Laxmi Narshingha Malla. It is said to be constructed from the wood of single Sal tree. Once a year a big ceremony is performed in the temple. On that day people gather around the temple, and they stay up all night. The people share the legendaries stories about the temple, and enjoy themselves with different varieties of foods. This three-storied building has an open ground floor, underlining its original purpose as a public building. The decorations and carvings added over the years have greatly enhanced the original design, bringing it closer to the appearance of a shrine. The central image in Kasthamandap is of Gorakhnath. At each of the four corners is an image of Ganesh, the elephant-headed god.  
Behind Kasthamandap there is a small but a very important temple of Ashok Vinayak, also known as Kathmandu Ganesh or Maru Ganesh.

Changunarayan lies on a ridge over looking the valley, about twelve-kilometer to the east of the city. It is regarded as one of the oldest temple of the Kathmandu Valley, constructed somewhere in the 3rd century and it is included in the World Heritae Site. Changu Narayan is the temple of Vishnu, the preserver, in the village of Changu in Bhaktapur. The temple is believed to be sixteen hundred years old. It is embellished by the best examples of stone, wood, and metal craft. On the struts of the two-tiered Changu Narayan Temple, are the ten incarnations of Narayan. A sixth-century stone statue shows the cosmic form of Vishnu. Garuda, half man and half bird, is the steed of Vishnu, and his life-sized statue kneels before the temple.

Situated below Shivapuri hill at the northern end of the valley, Budhanilkantha temple is 9km from Kathmandu city. The temple consists of a pond in which lies a great stone figure of the Hindu god Vishnu reclining on the coils of a cosmic serpent. The huge statue of sleeping Vishnu is carved from the single block of black stone of a type not found in the valley. It is believed that ages before the two-hardworking farmers (husband and wife discovered the statue when they were plowing their field.

Nagarkot is a small hill town located 32 km east of Kathmandu. It is at an altitude of 2175m and is the most popular tourist destination in the Kathmandu Valley for the spectacular mountain views. Nagarkot also offers a panoramic view of the Kathmandu valley. At sunrise, the Himalayan range, stretching from Dhaulagiri in the west all the way past Everest to Kanchenjunga in the east, emerges from the darkness to greet the happy visitors with its awe-inspiring majesty and beauty.

Dhulikhel is situated 30 km southeast of Kathmandu. It is a small town with a people living in there are Newars, Bhramin, Chhettri, Tamang and Dalit. Dhulikhel has been an important trading center on the ancient commercial route linking Nepal to Tibet. Since time immemorial, people of Nepal travel to Tibet to bring home salt and gold. In the present days Dhulikhel is the administrative center of Kavrepalanchok District. One can see the spectacular snow fed mountains from Dhulikhel. When a blue haze covers the lower portion of the mountains, they seem to be floating in the air. With the snowy mountains on the backdrop, Dhulikhel is a stage of immense beauty and a paradise for nature lovers. Green inviting hills of which still virgin and some turned into beautifully carved agricultural terraces cater to the beholders pleasure.

The ancient city of Patan is situated on the south side of the Bagmati River, which separates it from the City of Kathmandu on the northern side. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Walking down the narrow streets you would come across traditional building and tiny shops of artists, metalworkers, wood workers and stonecutters. The city is indeed renowned for its fine craftsmanship. Patan is also known as the city of artists. Places of interest in Patan are Patan Durbar Square, Hiranya Varna Mahaa Vihar, Banglamukhi temple and Kumbeshwor temle.

Bhaktapur city is a home to traditional art and architecture, pottery and weaving industries, rich local customs and culture and the every day life of Bhaktapur people. The city lies about 14km east of Kathmandu and is the third largest city in Kathmandu valley. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is renown for its beauty and it is listed in the World Heritage Site. Strewn with unique palaces, temples and monasteries best admired for their exquisite artworks in wood, metal and stone, the palatial enclave has bewitched pilgrims and travellers for centuries. Places to visit in Bhaktapur are Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Nyatapol Temple, The Bhaktapur National Art Gallery, Bhairavnath Temple of Bhaktapur and Dattatraya Temple.

Lumbini is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Kapilavastu district of Nepal, near the Indian border. It is the place where Lord Buddha was born. Indian King Ashoka visited the place and erected his commemorative pillars there. Lumbini is one of four magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha, the others being at Kushinagar, Bodh Gaya and Sarnath. Things to see in Lumbini are Mayadevi temple, Lumbini Museum, Lumbini International Research Institute, Kapilvastu Museum and numerous other temples. The Kapilvastu museum has ruins of ancient capital of Sakya kingdom where the Buddha spend his youth as Prince Siddhartha.

Crisp clean air and Shangri la like Vista makes Pokhara the unmatched city of Nepal. It Kathmandu is the cultural bug of Nepal, Pokhara is its center of adventure. An enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley, it is the starting point for many of Nepal’s most popular trekking. With a population of 300000 people it is the third largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Biratnagar. Phewa Lake is one of the most vibrant places as there are many bars and restaurants and a good place for hangout. The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic. Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. Places of interest in Pokhara are Phewa Lake, Begnas Lake and Rupa Lake, Barahi temple, World Peace Pagoda, Seti Gandaki, Devi’s Fall, Gupteswar Cave, Mahendra Cave, the Old Bazaar, Bindhyabasini Temple, Museum, Himalayan Visita and many more.

Chitwan National Park has long been one of the country’s treasures of natural wonders. At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few remaining undisturbed vestiges of the ‘Terai’ region, which formerly extended over the foothills of India and Nepal. It covers and area of 932 squares Kilometers and is listed in the World Heritage Site to protect the endangered species inside the park. One Horned Rhinos and Royal Bengal Tigers are the main two animals that are famous in the park. Spotting them while on a safari will be the joy of a lifetime. The Park has a rich flora and fauna.