Overview
Kathmandu valley is surrounded by a tier of green mountain wall above which tower mighty snow-Capped peaks. It consists of three main towns of great historic, artistic and culture interest. (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur). The Kathmandu valley covers an area of 218 sq. miles. It is actuated 4223 ft. above sea-level. The ancient Swasthani scriptures tell of Lord Shiva, supreme among Hindu gods, who came down to the Kathmandu valley to escape boredom. He came as a tourist, if that is the appropriate word, but he was neither among the first nor the last of the gods to visit the Valley. Visitors have come to Nepal since time forgotten. And though the country is much deferent today than it was in ancient times, it has not diminished in charm; the increase in the number of visitors over the years is a living proof. Those who came to the Valley today will appreciate a lot more then Lord Shiva did in his tour. The architecture started here by the Lichhavi and Malla Kings is one such example. Much of the greenery that Lord Shiva is gone, but the forest surrounding Pashupatinath, where he stayed, is still intact. The seven World heritage Sites in Kathmandu Valley designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and cultural Organization (UNESCO) are the highlights of the Valley.
Duration: 1 days
Minimum Pax: 2
Program Grading: Easy
Itinerary
Trip Facts
Departure Date: Everyday
Departure Time: 9:00 am
Taken Care by: Our City Tour Guide
Swoyambhunath
The history of the Valley, according to the legends, begins with Swoyambhu, or the “the self-existent”. In times uncharted by history, Bodhisattva Manjusri came across a beautiful lake during his travel. He saw a lotus that emitted brilliant light at the lake’s center, so he cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the waters to worship the lotus. Men called it the Kathmandu Valley. From then on, the hilltop of the Self-existent Lord has been a holy place.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
It is easy to be overwhelmed by the seemingly uncountable monuments in the Kathmandu Durbar Square. The house of the Living goddess, the ferocious Kal Bhairab, the red monkey god, and hundreds of erotic carvings are a few examples of the sights at the square! The building here is the greatest achievements of the Malla dynasty, and they resulted from the great rivalry between the three palaces of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The valley was divided among the children of Yaksya Malla. For visitors today, and for the Nepalese, it was serendipitous that they, and later their off springs, began artistic warfare trying to outdo each other in splendid constructions. Kings copied everything their neighbors built in an even grander style. A visitor who wanders around the Square will see a round temple in the Pagoda architectural style, the temple of goddess Taleju (who played dice with King Jaya Prakash Malla), and an image of Shiva and Parbati sitting together among the many monuments.
Boudhanath
Boudhanath is among the largest stupa in south Asia, and it has become the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many of them decided to live around Boudhanath. They established many gompas, and the “Lit the Tibet” of Nepal was born. This “Little Tibet” is still the best place in the valley to observe Tibetan lifestyle. Monks walk about in maroon robes. Tibetans walk with prayer wheels in their hands and the rituals of prostration are presented to the Buddha as worshippers circumambulate the stupa on their hands and knees, bowing down to their lord.
Pashupatinath
One-day lord Shiva got tired of this magnificent palace on Mt. Kailas, his armies of ghosts and spirits, and even Parbati – his beautiful wife. Through his cosmic powers, he searched for a perfect place where he could holiday. Without telling anyone, he ran away from his palace and came to live in Slesmantak forest in the Kathmandu valley. He gained great fame here as Pashupati – Lord of the Animals – before other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him. The Pashupati where he stayed has received the attention of worshippers for at least fifteen hundred years; it is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal
[Tour Start: 09:00am
Tour End: 16:00pm]
(Our guide will pick you up from the hotel you stay and escort you to four different sightseeing places in Kathmandu valley where you have an opportunity to explore traditional art and architecture, historical monuments and craft works, magnificent windows, excellent temples, rich local customs, culture, religion, musical mystic and many more.
After the end of the trip, our guide and driver will drive you back to your hotel. This tour involves drive and walking with fully guided tour).
Cost Info
Cost Includes:
- Private land transport for entire tour in the sightseeing places.
- Driver allowances, Petrol/Gas cost, Toll Tax, Parking and Vehicle Insurance.
- English Speaking local Guide for Sightseeing’s.
- Entrances Fees in the sightseeing places in Kathmandu valley.
Cost Excludes:
- Lunch
- Expense of personal nature such as bar bills (alcoholic drink), extra beverages, mineral water, postal service, telephone, Tips etc.
- Personal insurance and equipment.
