Kathmandu City Tour

Discover ancient temples and monuments in the valley of the Gods where Hinduism and Buddhism co-exist in perfect harmony. Learn about the myths and legends that shaped the lifestyle of Nepalis for centuries, since ancient times. Savor traditional Newari food cooked on wood ovens while you stroll through the charming little alleys around the Durbar Squares of the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley; Bhaktapur, Patan or Kathmandu. The Kathmandu Valley, historically known as Nepal Valley or Nepa Valley, lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of the Indian subcontinent and the broader Asian continent, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several pilgrimage sites for Hindus and Buddhists.

Find peace and prayers on the little hillock of Swaymbhunath in the northwest of Kathmandu Valley. Visitors for whom the name was a tongue twister have called it "Monkey Temple" from the 1970s. Swayambhu, overlooks most parts of the valley giving visitors a panoramic view of the city. The stupa has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries with Hindu temples and deities incorporated in this Buddhist site. The glory of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started from this point. Swyambhunath is a Buddhist Stupa situated at the hilltop in Nagarjun Hill range that surrounds the Kathmandu Valley. Its location is a perfect vantage point that offers a wide-angle view of the vibrant valley beneath. Besides, Swyambhunath is a perfect replication of Nepal’s religious harmony. There is a big-dome with tall golden pinnacle, dedicated to Lord Buddha. The miniature structures of temples and stupas give the place a vibe of the Lilliput.

For hundreds of years, the Boudhanath Stupa has stood as a beacon of Buddhist belief, towering over the surrounding town as a giant mandala of peace and beauty and also giant eyes. The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudha is massive and dominates the skyline in the area. With countless monasteries around it, Boudha is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Built in the shape of a mandala designed to replicate the Gyangtse of Tibet, the stupa was renovated by Licchhavi rulers in the 8th century. The location of the stupa is interesting as it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet and it was here that Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for many centuries. It is one of the major pilgrimage sites for Buddhists from around the world.On each side are the all-seeing-eyes of the Buddha symbolizing awareness. The canopy has 13 stages. At ground level there is a brick wall that has 147 niches and 108 images of the meditational Buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels.

Natural History Museum of Nepal is situated on the lap of Swayambhu stupa, a world heritage site in the west hillock of Kathmandu valley. Swayambhu hillock is itself a famous place not only in the context of the culture, religion and history of Kathmandu valley, but also equally famous place for the early plant hunters in Nepal. The museum has collected 50,000 specimens of Nepal’s flora and fauna.

Nepal’s most important Hindu temple stands on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, surrounded by a bustling market of religious stalls selling marigolds, prasad (offerings), incense, rudraksha beads, conch shells, pictures of Hindu deities and temples, tika powder in rainbow colours, glass lingams, models of Mt Meru and other essential pilgrim paraphernalia. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. Built in the 5th century and later renovated by Malla kings, the site itself is said to have existed from the beginning of the millennium when a Shiva lingam was discovered here. The temple is just 1 kilometers west of Tribhuwan International Airport and its premise covers a massive area. Tourists can check in to admire the religious values and aesthetics of the temple. Additionally, Bagmati riverbank in the temple’s premise hosts Hindu ritual of crematorium. This can be one rare site to tourists.

The aesthetic historic monument which describes the oldest architecture of Nepal is Patandubar square. Located approximately 5 km south of Kathmandu valley, the durbar square is one of the 3 royal cities in the valley. There is a belief that city was built by the Kirant Dynasty in the third century B.C. The city is bounded by temples, arts, monasteries. Patan or Lalitpur, is encircled by the four Stupas, one at each corner of its leading points. The dubar square has brilliant piece of architecture. The floor of the square is tiled with red bricks. One the significant temple is Krishna Mandir (temple), which is aligned opposite of the old palace.Krishna Marndi’sstone masonry design is of the finest ever which excels that of its southern counterparts.From the architectural point of view, the temples around the square was built in sikhara and multi-storied. Lord Krishna's birthday is celebrated in August-September at the Krishna temple in Patan. Devotees gather at the temple for a lookout through the night. The other places like Golden temple, rato(red) Machhindranathtemple, Rudra Varna Mahavihar, Kumbheshwor temple, Bagalamukhi temple are the major attraction around the Patandurbar square.

Patan Museum is housed in a courtyard within the Northernmost building complex of the Durbar area. The most picturesque setting of the palace that has been created in so small a place by piety and pride is known now to the people as Keshav Narayan Chowk after a temple standing at the center of the courtyard dedicated to Keshavnarayan- a form of Lord Vishnu.This part is recorded in the history as Chaukot Durbar or four-cornered-fort-palace.The Patan Museum displays the traditional sacred arts of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. The Patan Museum displays the traditional sacred art of Nepal in an illustrious architectural setting. Its home is an old residential court of Patan Darbar, one of the royal palaces of the former Malla kings of the Kathmandu Valley. Its gilded door and window face one of the most beautiful squares in the world. The museum's exhibits cover a long span of Nepal's cultural history and some rare objects are among its treasures. Their meaning and context within the living traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are explained in extensive labels. Most of the objects are cast bronzes and gilt copper repousse work, traditional crafts for which Patan is famous.