A Brief of Sightseeing places in
Kathmandu Valley
 
(a) Half day tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanumandhoka)  and Swoyambhunath Stupa
(b) Half Day tour of Patan and Tibetan Refugee Centre price US$ 8.00 per person
(c) Half day tour of Bhadgaon city, Pashupatinath and Boudhanatyh price US$ 16.00 per person
(d) Nagarkot
(e) Dhulikhel
(a) Half day tour of Kathmandu Durban square (Hanumandhoka)  and Swoyambhunath Stupa
Price US$ 8.00 per person
Visit of the historic seat of royalty. The Durban square, with its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the Religious and Cultural life of the People. Here the Kings of Nepal are crowned and solemnized. Interesting things here and around yo u will see are (1) Tleju temple, (2) gigantic figure of Kalbhairav, the god of destruction, (3) Basantapur Durban or Nautale (nine story) palace and temple of Kumari or the Residence of living goddess. Kumari or the Goddess is worshiped by Hindus and Budd hists since ancient times. She is also known as the virgin goddess who has got some specialities that she must be of the Newari Shakya caste, a virgin with no body marks or injuries. When she attends an puberty is replaced by another Kumari who is chosen from a fair selection of four or five years of age from Shakya clan after satisfying 32 specified distinctive signs.
Swoyambhunath Stupa - After visiting Kathmandu Durban square visit to Swoyambhunath the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas built 2000 years ago situated on a hillock about 77 meter above the level of the valley. You will also have a grand view of the Kathmandu valley from this spot.
 
(b) Half day tour of Patan and Tibetan Refugee Centre price US$ 8.00 per person
Visit the city, from that ancient time to modern day Patan, also called lalitpur or the place for fine arts blessed by the artist kings and gifted princesses. You will visit ancient royal palace, its three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul chowk, main Keshav Narayan chowk, Sundari chowk - a master piece of stone architecture and the royal bath called Tusahity. You will also visit Krishna Mandir the first specimen of Sikhara style architec ture in Nepal built in the seventeenth century having 21 shrines completely made of stone having most of the important scenes from the ancient Hindu epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata engraved on its frienzes.
Mahaboudha - A Buddhist temple made of clay and bricks in which thousands of images of Lord Buddha are engraved - terracotta structure of the fourteenth century Nepalese architectural masterpiece by an architect - Avaya Raj. You will also visi t the golden pagoda Hiranya Varna Mahavihar and Rudra Varna Mahavihar - Unique Buddhist monastries.
This tour ends with the visit of industrial estate and Tibetan Centre an interesting place where you will see the spinning, dying and weaving of Tibetan carpets with a well - stocked show room.
 
(c) Half day tour of Bhadgaon city, Pushupatinath and Boudhanatyh price US$ 16.00 per person
Visit Bhadgaon or also called Baktapur is called today an "open museum" and a "living heritage" is an extra special square. Brick paved enclave of old royal palace buildings, artistic temples and exquisite art work offers a picture of the Grandeur of Mediaeval Nepal. This city of "devotees" will surprise you by its presentation of innumerable temples and other architectural showpieces - Nyatapola, Bhairavnath, Dattatraya, Pujari math with peacock window and many more.
Pashupatinath - with golden roof and silver doors - most sacred temple of Hindus and Boudhanath - built in 5th century ad is one of the biggest stoup in the world.
(d) Nagarkot - A popular tourist resort of Nepal situated 32 em east of Kathmandu At an altitude of 2175 M. above the sea level. The panorama of the major Peaks of eastern Nepal Hima layas including Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) can be seen from here. Manuals (8463 M), GAnnett Hmal (7111 M), Langtang (7246 M), Chobabhamre (6016 M), Gaurishanker (7134 M), number (6957 M) and many other peaks are clearly seen from Nagarkot.
(e) Dhulikhel - This ancient town is situated 30 km. east of Kathmandu on the way to the Chinese border through araniko rajmarg (Kathmandu-Kodari highway). This short trip out of Ka thmandu gives you more or less over all impression of all aspects of diversity of Nepal - different character hills, rice fields, farmers villages, typical ancient houses, varieties of vegetation, typical costumes and life styles, river systems, snowy mou ntains and more over if you are still hungry top it up with visits to the ancient livings to small towns - Banemia and thimi on the way.
 

Outside Kathmandu valley

Pokhara
 

Pokhara valley is one of the most picturesque spot of Nepal. The beauty of Pokhara is enhanced by its lovely lakes - Phewa, Begnas and Rupa which have their source in the glacial region of the Annapurna range of the Himalayas. Situated 200 km. west of Kathmandu at an altitude of 827 meter from the Sea-level. For the mountain viewers Pokhara offers the magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Machapuchre (fishtail), five peaks of Annapurna and others. Pokhara is the only place in the world to provide such a dra matic views in a sub-tropical setting. Machapuchre for example, is only 28 km. from Phewa lake and not a single mountain range intervenes between the two.
 

Chitwan National Park
 

This is one of Nepal's largest forest region with a wide range of wildlife - the rare great one horned rhinoceros, several species of deer, sloth bear, leopard, wild boar, fresh water dolphin, crocodile, more than 350 Species of birds and the elusive r oyal bengal tiger. One of the best managed National Parks in the world which covers an area of 1040 sq.km. It is situated 160 km. south-west of Kathmandu. It used to be a hunting reserve for the Royalties and high officials till 1963. In 1964 this area wa s declared a Sanctuary and National park in 1973. This National Park today is the last home for the remaining about 250 endangered asian one-horned rhinoceros.
 

Lumbini
 

The birthplace of Lord Buddha (543 bc) the apostle of peace and non-violence is situated in Kapilvastu district of Lumbini zone - The Western Terai of Nepal 250 km. South-West of Kathmandu. Lumbini was lost for centuries. Fa-hien a Chinese monk visited Lumbini in 4th century ad who returned with vivid description of remnants in Lumbini. In 1895 archaeologists unearthed the inscribed pillar erected to commemorate the visit of the Mouryan Eemperor Ashook in 249 bc since 1970 the Sacred site has been prot ected by Hmg Nepal. Ashok pillar, an old monastery, images of Buddha's mother Maya Devi etc. are still preserved. Further excavation is going on.

Description on Nagarkot-Changu Narayan Trek

Naqarkot:

A popular Tourist Resort for viewing sunrise over the Himalayas situated 32 km. east of Kathmandu at an altitude of 2175 M above the sea level. The panorama of the major peaks of eastern Nepal Himalayas including Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) can be seen from here. Other major peaks seen from Nagarkot are Manaslu (8463 M), Ganesh Himal(7111 M), Langtang (7246 M), Chobabhamre (6016 M), Gauri Shanker (7134 M) and number (6957 M).

 

After sunrise and breakfast at one of the restaurant then walk down on the gentle to the end of long ridge which runs well into the valley where the oldest temple richly decorated with sculptures and carvings (323AD) CHANGU NAR AYAN is located. This 4 hours easytrek on the ridge is one of the most scenic trek through Tamang village, corn fields, pine forests and with grand view of Bhadgaon city on the left, Sankhu and Kathmandu on the right with number of snowy peaks in the back ground and Patan city with southern hills in front. Once you do this trek, you feel like doing again and again. Packed lunch will be served at the end of the tour or if you want to visit Bhaktapur on the way back to your hotel, hot lunch can b e served in one of the restaurant in Bhaktapur city.