Pashupatinath Temple
Pasupatinath is one of the holiest places of Hindu people In Nepal which situated 5 kilometers east of Kathmandu City. Among the three trinity gods of Hindu people, the temple is dedicated to Shiva, the Lord of the entire living beings and the source of eternal bliss and peace. The two storied pagoda style temple glinted with the golden color roof is situated on the bank of sacred Bagmati river with silver carved doors in all four directions. Non Hindus are not allowed to visit the inner premises of the temple but allowed to view the temple from the east bank of the Bagmati River. On the same river banks, the cremation of death bodies by Hindu people can be seen. The Pasupatinath symbolizes Nepal’s national glory. It is centre of faith and religious piety of Hindus of the world.
Boudhanath Stupa
The largest Buddhist stupa in the world is one of the religious focal point and meditation centre of Tibetan and Nepali Buddhist which is located on 7 km East of Kathmandu valley, which is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Twenty-nine Tibetan Gompas (Monasteries & Nunneries) around Boudhanath stupa make the place more attractive. The surrounding of stupa is full on restaurants, souvenir shops, traditional painting schools and many more.
Swayambhunath Stupa
The Buddhist stupa, which is located approximately 4 km west of Thamel is also known as “Monkey Temple” as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. It is the fascinating and chaotic jumble of Hindu and Buddhist iconography. Historical records found on a stone inscription give evidence that the stupa was already an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination by the 5th century AD. Swayambhunath's worshippers include Hindus, Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet, and the Newari Buddhists of central and southern Nepal. Each morning before dawn, hundreds of pilgrims will ascend the 365 steps that lead up the hill, file past the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa. The area surrounding the stupa is filled with chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects.
Kathmandu Durbar Square.
Kathmandu Durbar Square consists of various pagodas temples, former royal palace of Malla and Shah Kings and different artistic courtyards of different centuries. It is known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the palace. It is also called Basantapur Durbar because of the royal palace built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1770 A.D. Most of the temples are built in between 15th to 18th century. The major attractions of the Durbar Square are Kumari Ghar (The Living Goddess) ,Kasthamandap, Maru Ganesh, Maju Dega, Shiva Parvati Temple, Taleju Temple, Kal Bhairav, Jagannath Temple, and courtyards as Nasal Choke ,Mul Choke and Sundari Choke. Besides the magnificent temples and shrines, it has other interesting aspects are various festivals , cultural activities and traditions people are following from centuries, which are presented in the Durbar Square. The major festivals like Indrajatra, Dashain, Gaijatra, Kumari Jatra Machchhindra-nath Jatra are highly celebrated in the premises of the Kathmandu Durbar Square. These are the best occasion to see the cultural performances for the travelers.
Patan Durbar Square
Among the most ancient cities of Nepal, Patan is popularly known for its fine art and typical masterpieces of Newari wood and metal carving. The city was initially designed in the shape of the Buddhist Dharma-Chakra (Wheel of Righteousness) which is surrounded by four stupas and one at the middle, erected in 3rd century AD. by Emperor Ashoka. The size and shape of these stupas seem to breathe their antiquity in a real sense. There are more than 1,200 Buddhist monuments of various shapes and sizes scattered in and around the city. The most important monument of the city is Patan Durbar Square (the former residential place of Malla kings of Patan), Krishna Mandir, Jagat Narayan Temple,Mahaboudha, Machchhendranath Temple, Tibetan Refugee Camp which has been listed by UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of its cultural, religious and historical importance. The cultural heritage like the royal palace, with intricately carved doors and windows and beautiful courtyards decorated with attractive icons enhance the beauty of the city. Such art pieces are found in stone, metal, terracotta ivory and other objects. All these artifacts exhibit artistic excellence of the craftsmen and the whole city looks like an open museum.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktpur also known as Bhadgoun and the city of devotee is the home of medieval art and architecture. It lies around 14 km far from Kathmandu City, this place was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a conch shell. The city is at the height of 4,600 ft. above sea level. In Bhaktapur, you will visit the Durbar Square with its array of temples overlooked by the Palace of 55 Windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla. Here you will also visit the Nyatapola Temple, which is the best example of Pagoda style architecture in Nepal and stands on five terraces on each of which stands a pair of figures, two strong men, two elephants, two lions, two griffins and two goddesses. This ancient city is renowned for its elegant art, fabulous culture, colorful festivals, traditional dances and indigenous lifestyle of Newari community. Many of the original medieval industries still continue to this day. They include; painting, carving, masonry, bronze casting, jewellery and pottery.
Changunarayan Temple
The Changu Narayan Temple is one of seven structures cited by UNESCO which is located on a magnificent hill top of Changu, is the oldest Vishnu shrine in Kathmandu Valley. Founded as early as 325 AD, it is one of Nepal’s most beautiful and historically important structures. The two-storey pagoda temple is popular because of its intricate carvings of the ten incarnations of Vishnu and different multi-armed Tantric goddesses with the ancient stone, wood, and metal carvings in the courtyard surrounding the main temple. The pagoda style temple has several master pieces of 5th and 12th century Nepalese art.
Nagarkot.
Nagarkot is a village located about 25 miles east of Kathmandu about 1950m from sea level is the second highest peak in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one of the most scenic spots in the region, renowned for its sunrise and sunset views on the Himalayas. It has also become a popular stop for mountain bikers. Nagarkot is at the eastern periphery of the Kathmandu Valley. After an hour long exciting and winding drive you will be above to feel the cool breeze of air blowing endlessly into your face, and see the widest range of Himalayas with your bare eyes from here. It is the best spot to see the panoramic view of mountains, sunset, sunrise including the cultural life of local people.
Namo Buddha.
Namo Buddha is one of the three major pilgrimage sites in Kathmandu valley. The stupa is situated about 40 km south east of Kathmandu city, which was built on the bones and hair of prince Mahasattva, who was Buddha Shakyamuni’s former reincarnation. He was the youngest of the three sons of king Maharatha. One day as the three brothers were walking through the forest, they saw a tigress with the five cubs she had given birth to. She was so hungry she could hardly move. The three princes went away, but Mahasattva decided to go back and started to cut his flesh to give it to the tigress to eat. When his brothers went to look for him they found only his bones and hair. The stupa was built on top of these remains.Walking up the hill from the stupa, one can reach a place where the scene of the Buddha giving his body to the tigress is engraved in stone. According to the oral tradition, this is the actual place where the Buddha gave his body.
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