After breakfast on your second day, your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel for a day of sightseeing in Kathmandu. You'll visit several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Kathmandu Durbar Square, Boudhanath Stupa, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Budanilkantha, and Pashupatinath Temple. You’ll return to your hotel by late afternoon. Stay overnight at hotel in Kathmandu.
Brief Description Of The Places:
Kathmandu Durbar Square:
Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the major attractions in the Kathmandu Valley. A world cultural heritage site, the Durbar Square carries a rich history in its exquisite art and architecture engraved in the struts, sculptures, palaces, courtyards and temples. Some of the major monuments within Kathmandu Durbar Square are:
- Kumari (The Living Goddess) Ghar
At the west end of the square is a beautiful house full of woodcarvings of different Gods and Goddesses. This house, called Kumari Ghar, is three storied high and is home to Kumari, the famous living Goddess of Nepal. Both Buddhists and Hindus equally venerate her. Kumari is a young pre-pubescent girl regarded as the manifestation of the goddess Taleju. She is chosen from a Buddhist family, especially from Shakya and Bajracharya clan of Newari community. During the festival of Indra Jatra, the head of the country visit the Kumari Ghar for blessings.
- Kastha Mandap
One of the popular temples of Kathmandu Durbar Square is Kasthamandap, locally known as Maru Sattal, built in 12th century. It is believed the city of Kathmandu was named after Kasthamandap temple, which is one of the largest and well-known pagodas. Kastha means wood and Mandap means pavilion. And it is said that the whole temple was built from just a single Sal (shorea robusta) tree. A statue of Gorakhnath stands in the center of this temple while the statues of God Ganesh guard the four corners.
- Kal Bhairav
Kal Bhairav is one of the largest stone idols in Kathmandu located in Hanuman Dhoka. The statue, which is 3.7m high, depicts the terrifying manifestation of Shiva. It is believed that people will die if they speak lie in front of this statue. The statute is believed to be sculpted in 5th or 6th century.
Boudhanath Stupa:
This Stupa, 8 kilometers east of Kathmandu City, is one of the biggest Buddhist stupas. Similar in structure to Swoyambhunath Stupa, it is highly revered by Buddhists in Nepal and Tibet. The shrine is ringed by houses of Lamas or Buddhist priests.
Swoyambhunath (Monkey Temple):
Located approximately 4 kilometers west of tourist-hub Thamel, this Buddhist Stupa, also popularly called ‘Monkey Temple’ is said to be over 2000 years old. The dome shaped white washed Stupa is composed of brick and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. The all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha rest on all four sides of the conical base. This hill is a mosaic of small Chaityas and Pagoda and is the most important Buddhist site in Nepal. Enjoy the views of sprawling Kathmandu from the top of this world heritage site monument.
Budanilkantha Stupa:
Budhanilkantha literally means “old blue throat’ features a sleeping statue of the Hindu god Vishnu on a pond of water. Located approximately 10 kilometers from the center of Kathmandu near Shivapuri hill, the statue is 5 meters in length carved out from a single block of black basalt stone. Vishnu’s legs are crossed and the eleven heads of Shesha cradle his head. Vishnu’s four hands hold objects that are symbols of his divine qualities: a chakra or disc (representing the mind), a conch-shell (the four elements), a lotus flower (the moving universe) and the club (primeval knowledge). During the festival of Haribondhini Ekadashi that falls in October/ November, pilgrims in large numbers visit the temple to worship and offer their respect to Lord Vishnu.
Pashupatinath Temple:
Situated 5 kilometers east of Kathmandu City, Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest temples of Hindus, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, the temple built in pagoda style has a gilted roof and richly carved silver doors. Visitors are permitted to view the temple from the east bank of the Bagmati River, as entrance to the temple is strictly forbidden to all non-Hindus. Pashupatinath is the center of the annual pilgrimage of thousands of Sadhus and pilgrims from Nepal and India on the day of Shivaratri which falls in the month of February/March. The temple has been inscribed in the World heritage list.
