Morning after breakfast city and cultural guide receives you for short drive in the heart of Kathmandu city. Explore the exciting streets full of shops and vendors, the guide leads you to uncountable monuments around Kathmandu Durbar Square. The traditional resident of the Living Goddess (Kumari Ghar), ferocious Kal Bhairab, are a few interesting sights at the Square. The buildings here are the greatest achievements of the Malla dynasty from 7 th to 16 th Century. The Square teems with colorful life around the Kastamandap Temple, where thename of Kathmandu derived from. The word means a temple built from a single tree woods.
After an interesting time around the Old Durbar Square, drive outskirt of Kathmandu city towards west. Visit the famous landmark of Nepal the Swyambhunath, located on a hillock above the Kathmandu city.
Swyambhunath a large dome Stupa, the area is also popularly called as the Monkey Temple. Due to large number of Rhesus species monkeys dwells around the forest of Swyambhunath complex.
The whole Stupa on a hill is a mosaic of small Chaityas and pagoda temples possessing great five Mahayana (Lamaism) and one Hinyana (Therbadist). On the hind hill is located another important Buddhist shrine; it is called Manjushree. This Chinese Buddha the God of Knowledge who created the Kathmandu valley and drain the lake.
From Swyambhunath a short drive east of the city to Pashupatinath a holy Hindu Temple.
Pashupatinath, a pagoda roofed Hindu temple adorned with gilt roof and carved silver doors on four cardinal side. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, stands on the bank of a Baghmati River. One of the most sacred temples for entire Hindu followers. As well the nerve center of pilgrimage on the day of Shiva-Ratri.
The auspicious day of Shiva’s birth anniversary, takes place in the month of February as per Hindu Lunar calendar.
Just close to Pashupatinath temple, a short drive to Bouddhanath huge stupa, the a area is also called Little Tibet. The largest Buddhist monument of South Asia. The ancient colossal dome shaped chorten built in 6 th century A.D. by King Man Deb. Stands on a series of three terraces, relevant shape of a lotus flower. Surrounded by circular market, which forms as part of mini Tibet with all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. The Stupa embraces authentic philosophy of Mahayana, faith known as Lamaism in Nepal, Sikkim, Ladakh, Bhutan and Tibet.
Enjoy the lunch in one of its many excellent roof top restaurants with close background of beautiful Bouddhanath Stupa.
After a grand tour of exciting and interesting world heritage sites of Kathmandu city, drive back to hotel.
Morning after breakfast cultural guide leads you to places of interest around Patan / Lalitpur and Bhaktapur cities heritage sites.
Patan fall with district of Lalitpur, at present a semi modern and sub-metropolitan city, of great heritage charm and beauty.
Places of great interest to visit are as follows:
Patan Durbar Square houses ancient Newari architecture with three main courtyards in the palace: Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Mul Chowk is the oldest one at the center of Patan Durbar Square.
Several multi-sized and multi-styled temple houses the western part of the complex. Main among these are Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, and the Golden Temple of Hiranya.
The temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna was built in the 17th century. Considered the first Shikara architecture ever built, the temple is one of the gems of Durbar Square.
Just at the rim of Durbar square stands the five-storied pagoda temple of Lord Siva built by King Jayasthiti Malla, inside the temple premises a natural spring, its source the belief is from the famous glacial lake of Gosainkunda around Langtang Himal of Rasuwa district.
The golden work on the temple was added later in 1422 A.D. On the festival of Janai Purnima (month of August), ritual bathing and fair take place.
Jagat Narayan temple, a tall Shikhara-style temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, red bricks are used for the construction. The temple holds a fine metal statue of Garuda, Ganesh, and Hanuman, all related to the Hindu religion and mythology.
After a wonderful morning tour Patan old Durbar Square and its colorful markets, next tour leads to Bhaktapur city. A drive of less than an hour heading east of Kathmandu and Lalitpur areas.
On reaching Bhaktapur main Durbar Square a masterpiece work of arts and craftsmanship. One of the finest city of medieval era times, with narrow alleys lined with old bricks lanes. A living museum to enjoy around beautiful city of Bhaktapur.
Bhaktapur, located within the Bhaktapur district. The oldest city and former kingdom of Kathmandu valley. On entering Bhaktapur city and its old Durbar Square, enjoy the tour of its fascinating sites. Includes great historical, religious and cultural places of magnificent monuments dates back to 6 th to 14 th Century.
Places of interest to visit around Bhaktapur Square are as follows:
Listed as the best world heritage site of Nepal, reflects age-old rich culture, art, and masterpiece architecture. The famous golden gate leads and the main courtyard of an old Palace with 55 windows. The golden gate is regarded as the world's most beautiful and richly carved specimen of its kind.
The main highlight of Bhaktapur and the landmark of the city. The tall Nyatapola Temple in local Newar language, means a five storied roofed temple towers high 30 meters high. The tallest temples around Kathmandu valley, built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1708 AD. Each of its five terraces with pair of figures, from the bottom are wrestlers, an elephant, lion and griffins.
The main shrine of Hindu goddess sits on top of the temple. Enjoy great views of the square from the top of the Nyatapola temple.
The Bhairavnath Temple a three-storied roofed temple built in 1718 A.D. by King Bhupatindra Malla. The temple stands for its artistic grandeur, dedicated to Lord Bhairab - the god of Terror and a guardian angel also.
An interesting monument of Bhaktapur is Dattatreya Temple, built in 1427 AD, it is believed the temple was built from a single tree. Visit the monastery enriched with exquisitely carved peacock windows located close by from the temple area.
Tour extends to traditional ways of making potteries, observe the pottery in full blaze. Interesting to observe the craftsman on wheels shaping the clay in a finely tuned system of human pottery rotation. The skill and crafts from the past centuries of old-age heritage and tradition.
After a grand tour of Patan and Bhaktapur cities. Enjoy lunch in one of its lovely restaurants in the canopy of heritage surroundings.
Completing the interesting and wonderful tour of Patan and Bhaktapur drive back to your hotel.
