 One of the highlights of visiting Nepal is spending some time at it's wonderful capital Kathmandu. This green and fertile valley with a pleasant climate has wonderful ancient palaces & temples with festivals and events happening the year round. You can easily spend several days here visiting these World Heritage sites, loose yourself in the amazing back streets of the old market, pamper yourself to an aryuvedic massage, try out eastern cuisines in world class restaurants or shop for all sorts of things from carpets to jewellery.
THE REAL KATHMANDU is to be found in the back streets and markets of the old city around Ason Tole and Basantapur area. Just head up New Road to Durbar Square and lose yourself in the maze of alleys and lanes for an hour or so. Don't worry about getting lost, many people speak English and will be happy to assist you. You can always hop into a taxi and ask the driver to take you back to the hotel.
 KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE. A durbar is a place where Princes or Kings held court. Each of the valley’s former kingdoms (Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur) has their respective Durbar Squares. Prior to 1760 Kathmandu Valley was a country in its own right under the Malla (Newar) Kings. It was not until the Gorkha King Prithvi Narayan Shah, conquered the valley that it became incorporated into the new kingdom of Nepal and made the capital.
At Kathmandu Durbar Square you will find the old Royal Palace and many Hindu temples as well as the home of the living Goddess, the famed Kumari. The museum is interesting with a spectacular view from a small room at the top. Many of the temples and shrines in this area date back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Organised trips can be arranged before or after your trek.
 SWAYAMBHUNATH is a Hindu/Buddhist temple located on the southern edge of the city. It is built on the top of a hill and has a fine view of the valley. This type of temple is known as a stupa and this is one of the largest and most beautiful in the valley. Its exact age is unknown but it is a holy place for both Buddhists and Hindus and is often called the Monkey Temple for reasons you will see! Entrance fee charged Rs. 50.00 per person.
PASHUPATINATH is a Hindu religious site on the banks of the sacred Bagamati river built in the 4 th Century BC and is the center for the worship of Shiva for the entire Hindu world. Each year thousand of worshippers flock to Kathmandu from all over India and Nepal to celebrate the famous Shivaratri festival at the end of February.
BOUDHANATH is the largest stupa in the valley and has been a destination for Buddhist pilgrims for centuries. Surrounding the stupa is the village of Baudha, which over the years has gradually become one of the largest Tibetan centres in Nepal. Behind the stupa are numerous Buddhist monasteries that were built when the Tibetan refugees came across from Tibet in the 1960's and also many Tibetan shops.
 BHAKTAPUR also called Bhadgaon, is the most traditional and unchanged of the three Malla capitals. The Durbar area is very beautiful and contains great works of art. One can wander for hours along brick paved streets lined with shops and building that seem to be right out of the Middle Ages. Don't forget to check out the potters at work or the beautiful peacock window. Entrance fee charged Rs. 300 per person.
PATAN, also called Lalitpur, is the oldest of the Malla capitals. It is positioned just across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, and has a special blend of antiquity and vitality. It has been the home of skillful metal workers and wood carvers for centuries. |
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