Tour in Nepal >> Kathmandu Valley Sightseeing Tour

About Kathmandu

Situated 5 kilometers east of Kathmandu City, Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest temples 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 jilted roof and richly carved silver doors. Visitors are permitted to view the temple from the east bank of Bagmati River, entrance in the temple being strictly forbidden to all non Hindus. No one visiting Kathmandu can miss the distinct architecture and convivial atmosphere of Durbar Square, located in the heart of the old city. Wander with your guide through the narrow, winding streets of Old Town, stopping to sample steamed momos or browse the handicrafts.Pashupatinath is the centre of annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri which falls in the month of February/March. Kathmandu is well worth a week of your time, but it's too easy to spend too much time stuck in touristy Thamel.Kathmandu is now the premier cultural and economic hub of Nepal and is considered to have the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal. From the point of view of tourism, economy and cultural heritage, the sister cities of Patan(lalitpur) and Bhaktapur are integral to Kathmandu.The valley has often been described as an open air art gallery with thousands of sacred shrines in brick,stone,metal and wood scattered through out it.

 

 

Pashupatinath:Pashupatinath is Nepal's holiest Hindu Pilgrimage site (followed by the remote Muktinath in the Himalaya). Like Varanasi in India - although on a much smaller scale - it is a time-warp of temples, cremation ghats, ritual bathers and bearded, half-naked sadhus (religious mendicants). Dedicated to Lord Shiva (one of the Hindu trinity), the shrines and temples of Pashupatinath straddle the now-polluted Bagmati river which, like the Ganges, is considered sacred by the faithful. To die and to be cremated here is to be released from samsara (the cycle of rebirth in this world). This wooded ravine near the golf course and airport is considered to be one of the abodes of Lord Shiva who is the patron deity (in one of his more benign forms) of Nepal. Pashupati is another name for Shiva and means 'Lord of the Animals'

It is believed that the shiva linga of pashupatinath is self existing.It is accdentally found in the very spot where kamadhenu the celestical cow used to offer her milk right at the very spot.It is said that by curiosity as what was the reason by daily offering milk here by kamadehenu,some people started digging the ground and by suprise a blaze of light gushed out and the foolhardy ones burnt to ashes. It is believed that those foolhardy who dig out this place died due to cosmic rediation emited by the linga.Pashupatinath is known as the Parasnath and according to popular beliefs,it has the power of alcbemy which turns all kinds of metals into gold.A unique features of pashupatinath is that the linga has a pancha mukhi "wigaraha".The top of linga is pashupatinath four faces of pashupatinath are Tatpurush also parabrahma,Aghore,vamadeva anp sadyojat.The face towards east is called "Tatpurush" or Para-brahma i.e the supre e being.He is indra,king of all deities.The Face of pashupatinath towards south is called aghore ie calm form.This is the symbolic representation of yamraj ,the lord of death.Then deadful forms is both calm and terrifying.The north face off shiva linga of pashupatinath is vamdeva.Vamdeva is worshipped as god of giving.The face of shivalinga of pashupatinath towards the west is called sadyojat.It depicts the face of child.The upper face is shapeless and is called ishan.It is the symbolic representation of shiva's organ.The upper form is the main pashupatinath ,the symbol of extreme happiness .It is the greatest form of shakti and energy.This face is worshipped for the knowledge and fulfillment of desires.

 

What to See
» Gold-painted images of guardian deities
» Chaturmukha (four-faced statue)
» Chadeshvar, an inscribed Licchavi linga from the 7th century
» Brahma Temple
» Dharmashila, a stone where sacred oaths are taken
» Arya Ghat
» Gauri Ghat (holy bath)
» Pandra Shivalaya (15 shrines)
» Gorakhnath and Vishwarup Temples
» Guhyeshwari (Guhjeshwari) Temple
» Kirateshwar Mahadeva Mandir and Surya Ghat

 

Architecture
» The western door has a statue of a large Bull, Nandi, is ornamented in gold. This black stone idol, about 6 ft in height and circumference, adds to the beauty and charisma of the temple.
» The present architectural nature of Pashupatinath temple came into existence as a result of renovation by Queen Gangadevi during the reign of Shivasimha Malla (1578-1620 AD).

Boudhanath: Bouddhanath is among the largest stupas 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 Bouddhanath. They established many gompas, and the "Little Tibet" of Nepal was born. This "Little Tibet" is still the best place in the Valley to observe Tibetan lifestyle. It is the biggest stupa in the Valley.The eyes on the Stupa are a symbol commonly associated with Nepal and can be seen throughout the region. The squiggle between the eyes is the Sanskrit numeral one, symbolizing the unity of all things.The canopy has thirteen stages and the white mound towers thirty-six meters overhead. The shape of the steps the spherical dome is built on represents a Tibetan mandala, a type of spiritual painting that is found in Buddhist and Hindu traditions.Prayer wheels at the base of the temple are Inscribed with the Tibetan mantra Om Mani Padme Hum. At ground level there is a brick wall with 108 images of meditational Buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels.Sometimes referred to as "Little Tibet" Boudhanath is still the best place in the Kathmandu Valley to observe traditional Tibetan lifestyle. The stupa, well known as Khasti, is also known as the World Heritage Site. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design.

Boudhanath is a refuge for most Tibetans who circle it in prayer on a daily basis, spinning the prayer wheels at the base of the stupa. Tibetans believe that an old woman asked the king for land to build a shrine for Buddha. The king agreed but told her that she could only have as much land as she could cover with the skin of a water buffalo. The old woman cut the skin into thin pieces and by placing them end to end, she covered a large area. Her cleaver tactics convinced the king to donate the land, which has become the circumference of the stupa. There are more than 45 Buddhist monasteries in the area. It lies about 6 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu.Therethere are many monasteries or Gompa attractions. They are all impressively adorned and colorfully painted. Anyone can visit the monasteries and take visuals. It is advisable to give small donation if you take photographs. The Bouddha area Preservation & Development Committee runs an information center.

 

 

Kathmandu Durbar Square: The Durbar square is surrounded by spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the Newari artists and craftsmen over several centuries. The royal palace was originally situated at Dattaraya square and was only later moved to the Durbar square location.The Kathmandu Durbar Square holds the palaces of the Malla and Shah kings who ruled over the city. Along with these palaces, the square also surrounds quadrangles revealing courtyards and temples. The square is presently known as Hanuman Dhoka, a name derived from the statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, near the entrance of the palace. The preference for the construction of royal palaces at this site dates back to as early as the Licchavi period in the third century. The interesting things to see here are: the ferocious Kal Bhairav, Nautalle Durbar Square, Coronation Nasal Chowk, the Gaddi Baithak, The statue of King Pratap Malla, the big Drum and the Jagannath Temple.The capital takes its name from the Kasthamandap pavilion, which is said to have been built out of a single tree. Entrance Rs. 300 for foreigners and 50 for SAARC nationals.There are also the Numismatic Museum and Tribhuvan Museum inside the place building. Photography is prohibited inside the museumThere is an entrance fee of Rs. 250 for foreign visitors. Your ticket to the Square entitles you to visit all the museums. It is the place where the visitors can see uncountable monuments.. It is the place to observe the juxtaposition of past and present, old and new.

Time and again the temples and the palaces in the square have gone through reconstruction after being damaged by natural causes or neglect. Presently there are less than ten quadrangles in the square. The temples are being preserved as national heritage sites and the palace is being used as a museum. Only a few parts of the palace are open for visitors and the Taleju Temples are only open for people of Hindu and Buddhist faith.

OVERVIEW:

Location	Durbar Square, Kathmandu
Significance	Former Royal Palace of the Malla Kings
Major Attractions	Nasal Chowk and Basantpur Temple
Distinctive Feature	The place is home to dozens of monkeys
Famous For	Coronation of Nepalese Kings

 

Good to know:
There is a 17th century stone inscription in the Hanuman Dhoka that is set on the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. It is believed that if anybody deciphers this entire inscription, the milk would flow from the spout, which lies just below the inscripted stone wall. Some people say that the inscription contains coded directions to a treasure King Pratap Malla has buried beneath Mohan Chowk of Durbar Square.

Some important monuments seen in this area are:
* The Kala Bhairav, one of the largest 17th century stone statue in Kathmandu, represents the terrifying aspect of Shiva.
* The 17th century Kumari temple (the temple of the living goddess is an example of the highly developed Nepali craftsmanship.
* Kastamandap, from which Kathmandu derives its name, is said to have been built from the timber of a single tree.

Swoyambhunath Temple (Monkey Temple): Commonly known as the monkey temple, due to the large numbers of monkeys that roam the temple complex, Swayambhunath is one of Kathmandu's oldest and most sacred religious sites.The history of the Valley, according to the legends, begins with Swayambhu, or "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 settled on the bed of the lake and called it the Kathmandu Valley. From then on, the hilltop of the Self-existent Lord has been a holy place. Swayambhu's light was covered in time because few could bear its intensity. By the thirteenth century, after many layers were added to the original structure that enveloped the Lord's power, a dome-like shape had been acquried.

The Swayambhunath stupa is a golden pinnacle which crowns a wooded hill in conical shape. Of all the idols of Kathmandu valley this stupa is most ancient and attractive. The area around the stupa has temples, images of idols which are nicely painted, chaityas and many other objects with religious importance. The stupas central mast was damaged and replaced at that time. Peripheral sources of power were discovered on the hilltop as well and stupas, temples, and resthouses were built to honor them. Image of important deities, both Buddhist and Hindu, were also installed. Today, age-old statues and shrines dot the stupa complex. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri of Saraswati - the goddess of learning. Swayambhu is the best place to observe the religious harmoney in Nepal. The stupa is among the most ancient in this part of the world, and its worshippers are diverse from Newar nuns, Tibetan monks, and Brahmin priests to lay Buddhists and Hindus. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next to the stupa. Other monasteries here have huge prayer wheels, fine Buddhist paintings. Swayambhu is a major landmark of the Valley and looks like a beacon below the Nagarjun hill. It provides an excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley.

Several Buddist altars and statues make for a perfect picture break and a way to meet some locals as this is not just a popular touristic attraction.If you're lucky you will be able to photograph some of the baby monkey's sitting on top on the statues posing for some attention.At the end of the stairs you'll realize the climb has been worth the effort because the view from up here is spectacular. Especially around sunset when the last rays of light make the golden shrines lit up even more this place is simply magical!

 

Taleju temple:The tallest of all structures built by king Mahendra Malla in 1549 A.D.

Jagannath temple:Built in the 16th century, known for fascinating erotic figures carving the wooden strata eaves.

Kal Bhairav :One of the largest stone idols in Kathmandu representing the terrifying aspects of Shiva.

Statue of King Pratap Malla:It is in praying gesture to Taleju, the royal family deity right across.

Kasthamandap:Located near the temple of Kumari , it is said to have been built by King Laxmi Narsingha Malla in the beginning of the sixteenth century from the timber of a single tree. It is said to be constructed from the wood of a single tree. The Kathmandu City derives its name from the same temple, Kasthamandap.

 

Temple of Kumari (Kumari Ghar): Kumari represents the living goddess in Nepal. The temple is situated in Hanuman dhoka Palace. The temple is carved with wood and Kumari accept greetings from her balcony window most afternoons. Kumari is a young child who is considered the living goddess. She is kept in her palace until about the age of thirteen when she is replaced by another Kumari. Kumari only comes out on special occasions and her feet are never aloud to touch the ground.

 

Ashok Vinayak:The small but a very important temple of Ashok Vinayak is situated behind the Kasthamandap -also known as Kathmandu Ganesh or Maru Ganesh.

 

Jaishi Dewal:Five minutes from Kasthmandap the Shiva Temple of Jaishi Dewal is famous for its erotic carvings. It is still one of the main routes of the chariot festival of Indra Jatra, Gai Jatra and other festivals.

 

Machchhendranath Temple

The temple of Sweta Machchhendranath is situated at Machchhendra Bahal between Indra Chowk and Asan. It is a pagoda of considerable artistic beauty. Also called as Janmadyo or Machchhendra the deity.