Cultural tours and Sightseeing involves to places of interest in the Kathmandu valley, primarily to ancient religious sites of the two main religious: Buddhism and Hinduism and to the four cities of the valley founded at various times from before 3rd century B.C. and the 9th Century A.D. established by the Malla rulers at the peak of their ascendancy in the 17th century in which condition they remain today. Tours take you to different small but ancient places and places of beauty out of Kathmandu Valley into remote places of Nepal. Description of different sites, to see few itineraries,

Places of Sightseeing and Tours

KATHMANDU

Popular legend has it that Goddess Manjushree, an incarnate of Lord Buddha, was responsible for carving out the Kathmandu valley with one swipe of her sword. Be it true or a legend the result was a spectacular setting which has brought forth endless praises from the pens of the great poets of Nepal. Surrounded by mountains and hills, Kathmandu today is a hustle and bustle of a city which Manjushree would hardly recognize as her own handiwork. Situated at an altitude of 4’423 ft. above the sea level and covering an area 218 sq. miles, it is a place that has been a source of fascination to visitors over the years.

The marriage of Buddhism and Hinduism in the valley has given the city a rich cultural mix of traditions and beliefs. it is a place filled with prayers, gods and legends which has given rise to monuments which have became world heritage sights. Kathmandu Durbar Square is an overwhelming house of monuments. within it are the Kumari Ghar or the house of the living goddess. Kashtamandap a huge resthouse that is said to have been built with the wood from a single tree and is the source of which Kathmandu valley got it’s name. Other sites around the Kathmandu Square are the ferocious Kal Bhairab - the red monkey God- Hanuman, Hundreds of erotic carvings, temples and statues dedicated to different deities.

SWAYAMBHU NATH

Swayambhunath , “the self existent”, Is a gigantic stupa located on a hilltop and houses images of important deities of both Buddhists and Hindus. Swayambhu, is perhaps the best place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal. In the shadows of the imposing structure and beside the integrate architecture can be found the daily surge of devotees faithfully offering their prayers to the gods. Swayambhu is a major landmark of the Kathmandu valley and looks like a beacon attracting hundreds of people towards it.

PASHUPATINATH, the Hindu Holy Of Holiest

Pashupatinath, an ancient plinth, by the banks of the holy Bagmati river, stands the 16th century of Pashupatinath - Shiva, as Lord of all Creatures. The old buildings on the site were leveled by Moslem invaders in the 14th century, its stone Lingam smashed to dust, but it rose again behind their retreating backs. succeeding monarchs added votes temples, their images, and they and their subjects donated their wealth to buy a hasty entrance into heaven. Today, earnest Hindus about to die are brought to expire the its sacred and their remains burnt to ashes on the stone platforms lining the river’s banks.

BOUDHANATH

A short distance off, the small stupa at Chabahil and the 4th and 5th century statuary that litters its surround is all that remains of Buddhist convent founded by the widowed consort of a 3rd century prince. And still father, one comes upon the great hemisphere of Boudnath, great eyes gazing with serenity upon the valley and crowned a massive golden spire. A-flutter with streamers of colorful prayer - flags, the great base is crowded with pilgrims from far and near circumscribing the stupa came about and how it came by its two romantic monasteries - the flat plains around this monument support a good many, gaily painted, flicker with the flames of a million butter lamps.

MONASTERIES

There are more than 50 Buddhist Monasteries in the Kathmandu Valley and half of them you find only in Boudhanath area which is a focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal and around it has sprung up, what can be called - ‘Little Tibet’. Dhiya Gonpa is one of the oldest monastery in Boudhanath. Thangu Gonpa runs a school for monks and for outsider children at Boudha and also has a retreat - center in Namo Buddha. Che-chen Shedupling Gonpa, has a very special statue of Sakya-muni called ‘Chhowo Rinpoche’ very similar to Lhasa ‘Chhowo’ which is extremely famous. It has one retreat center in Pharping. Jamchhe Lhakhang has a special statue of Lord Buddha called ‘Jawa Shapma’ which is known as future Buddha. Shechen Gonpa has a very special statue of Lord Padma Sambava and three Buddha of future, present and past in their main temple where they attain their daily their puja. Samteeling Gonpa which is also a one of the oldest monasteries in Boudhanath as it was established by a Mongolian monk a fifty years ago. Kopan Gonpa is also a popular monastery for its retreat center. These with Ka-Nying Gonpa and small several monasteries are the main monasteries of Boudhanath area.

PATAN

Afternoon, being better for photography, also known as Lalitpur, city of fine Art, Patan has the most impressive Durbar - square on the valley. Beautiful stone baths, repose images of river sprites, great golden audience windows, 14th century terra-cotta temples and 17th century stone ones. A terra-cotta shikara temple, each brick bearing an image of the Buddha. A sober black-stone entrance to a temples of gold and an exquisite 5-story pagoda from the 14 century, earliest of the standing temples. Spring legend tells us rise in the holy lakes of Gosainkund to the north of Kathmandu. And walks through the sides streets of the city, still busy today with the tap-tap of hammers and chisels and bronze and wood, as the descendants of the creators of this ancient splendor carry on the trade ancestors.

TIBETAN HANDICRAFT CENTER

This was originally set up as a Tibetan refugee camp but over the years has been transformed by the refugees living there as a center for handicrafts. Things that are made her include traditional crafts such as wooden masks, carpets, thankas, etc. There are all made in the same manner as they were made centuries ago.

BHAKTAPUR

Best preserved of the Valley’s cities. Begin at the farther end of Bhaktapur, entering from the Nagarkot road. Here around the Dattatreya Square, the 9th century markets grew gradually, spreading to the Taumadi Square with its 3 - tiered temple of Bhairab and great 5 - storied temple to the Goddess of Light and Space and finally to the magic of the main Palace Square, Its statue of King Bhupatindra Malla frozen in gilt before the exquisite golden door he ordered for his tutelary deity, a hidden stone pool where Malla Queens bathed and sported, watched over by great stone cobras.

KIRTIPUR AND CHOBAR

Kirtipur is the 4th city of the Valley, quite different from the others as it stands on the peaks of two hills and covers the saddle between. Largely neglected, Kirtipur has a decayed charm and a walk through this town can be an exhilarating experience on the top of a hill. This historical town has many things to offer - old shrines, temples and old houses. Drive on a little further to view the gorge at Chobar where the Buddhist legends tell us Manjushree cut the sides of the lake that once filled the valley and the Hindus have it that Krishna hurled a thunderbolt to open up its sides. Whatever the legend or the reality, it certainly opened up a very fertile valley for human habitation!!

BHUANILKHANTA

About 8 kilometers north of Kathmandu, at the base of Shivapuri hill is a remarkable colossal statue of Lord Vishnu, reclining of the bed of snake. This is one of the masterpieces of stone sculptures of Lichchhavi period. This fifth century statue is in the middle of a small pond and seems to float in water.

DAKSHINKALI AND PHARPING

Dhakshinkali is regarded as one of most important Hindu goddesses. Pilgrims visit this temple to offer their prayer and animal sacrifices to the goddess. Pharping or Shes Narayan is an ancient shrine to Vishnu where his sacred carp live in the clear water of natural spring and his temple stands beneath the great overhang of stalagmites. Sacred to the Buddhists too because the Buddha was believed to have rested on visit tom the Valley and where his 9th reincarnation, Padmashambhava was supposed to have meditated in order to continue the rampaging Goddes.

CHANGUNARAYAN

A 4th century site of Chagunarayan, a Vishnu temple, said to be the oldest temple in the Valley, whose main shrine was rebuilt in 1702 after a fire destroyed the original building.

NAGARKOT (2174m) & DHULIKHEL (1600m)

Nagarkot and Dhulikhel are the vantage points on the rims of the valley, from where on a clear day the magnificent High Himalayan may be viewed. Quiet, cool spot that embraces several peaks in atmosphere make this a walker’s paradise.

PANAUTI

It is a thriving village of the road to Dhulikhel, with some very lovely temples and interesting old houses, particularly beautiful area some fourteen-century wooden temple struts. The drive is through beautiful countryside.

BUNGAMATI

A 16th century settlement where Machindra, a rain god of India was invited to settle with his people at the time of a big drought. Later a shrine of Machendra was established at the place where the village of Bungamati now lies. Walking through this town remains you a life of 17th century human habitants.

SHANKHU

An ancient settlement of Shankhu in the north-east part of the valley is famous for secret goddess, the Bajra Jogini who is believed with having persuaded Manjushree to drain the water of the lake which once occupied the Valley floor.

DAMAN

It is situated 80 Kilometers south-west of Kathmandu at an altitude of about 2,400 meters. Daman is located on the Tribhuvan Highway in between Kathmandu and the town of Birgunj. For the view of the breathtaking grandeur of the world’s highest peaks extending in one glittering are from for-west of Dhaulagiri to far east of Mt. Everest there is no better place than Daman. There is a view tower fitted with long-range telescopes.

GORKHA

Halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara (or Chitwan), its tiny fortified palace crowning its craggy hills against a splendid Himalayan background: Gorkha, from where Prithi Narayan Shah, ancestor of the Royal House of Shah rode out in the 18th Century to swallow the minor principalities that Nepal then comprised and weld the Kingdom into its present shape. A Royal Palace of the 17th century can be seen there.

POKHARA

Pokhara Valley lies 200 kms from Kathmandu and is the home of famous Gorkha soldiers. It lies in the shadow of the mighty Annapurna Mountains, in the warm tropical climate of its bare 3000”. And from its groves of bamboo and banana, rise paddies and poinsettia, you can enjoy such a view of the high snow peaks unparalleled in any other part of the world ! And of course boating on lake Fewa is an additional activity you can enjoy there.

CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK

Nepal’s famous national park, situated on the low lands of the Inner Terai, covering an of 900 sq.km, is the largest remaining home in Nepal for more than 300 of the endangered Asian one-horned rhinoceros and harbors one of the largest populations of the elusive and rear Royal Bengal tiger. Chitwan also supports 450 species of birds, four kinds of deer, spotted chattel, leopard, sloth bear, wild boar, monkeys, and many other smaller animals and a great variety of flora and fauna.

TANSEN

Tansen is a beautiful town located amidst the grander of the surrounding mountains and is considered one of the most beautiful town in Nepal. This place is modeled as a sister town of Kathmandu. All the important monuments and temples of Kathmandu have been replicated here. It is like being in a Kathmandu perched on a mountain top minus the noise and the congestion. Sightseeing here includes: Visiting the Srinagar hills which offers the best view of the western Himalayas in Nepal.

LUMBINI

Lumbini - the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The Lumbini gardens which houses the actual spot where Lord Buddha was born and where a pillar erected by Emperor Ashoka of India in 249 BC to mark the exact spot. This area also houses ruins of ancient monasteries and the temple of Mayadevi - Lord Buddha’s mother. Other monuments here are the various monasteries constructed by other countries like Japan, Burma, Korea Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Kapilbastu is not far from Lumbini and was in 563 BC, the Kingdom which Gautam Buddha’s father ruled. Around here are many ruins which indicate the old forts and palaces of the time. Tilorakot, the capital of Kapilbastu where Siddhartha (Buddha) spent his days inside a palace as an heir apparent to the throne. It was here he came to know about the suffering of people and decided to choose the way of the Buddha.