Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu valley is the most traditional as well as modern Nepal represent by Kathmandu 1536 which is the capital city of Nepal. The valley is an unexpected oasis, a green oval nestling beneath the highest mountains on earth. Containing thousands of mountains, shrines, temples, stupas and palaces including seven UNESCO world heritage sites is also dense with 1.5 million people. It is the major tourist attraction area. It is showcase of old art and architecture with a living, vibrant entity, nourished by old traditions and customs which continue, miraculously to this days. The valley is the traditional homeland of the Newari people with their own language, script and tradition consisting three Major cities Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, where you will find many attractions;

Kathmandu Durbar Square (Hanuman Dhoka - World heritage site)
It is an old Royal palace of Kathmandu with its old temples and palaces. In the entrance you will find an honor statue, a brave monkey assistance of lord rama. The good view of Kathmandu is seen from the nautale Durbar. Now it is a museum mostly related to king Tribhuban, Kastamandap is near by Hanuman Dhoka. It is said to be constructed from the wood of a single tree later the name of the city derived by that temple.

Monkey Temple (Swyambhunath - World heritage site)
Swyambhunath is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas which is about 2000 years old and just 5 kms. from the city on the top of the hillock about 77mt above the valley. The painted seeing eyes of Lord Buddha on each side of the spire bases area think as the power separate guilt. There are 365 stone steps to climb up through a shady forest teeming with monkeys. There is also a small museum with some fire stone sculptures related to Shakyamuni Buddha

Pashupatinath (World heritage site)
Pashupatinath is the temple of lord Shiva, the god of destruction & creator, situated on the banks of Bagmati River and about 5 km far from the city. It is one of the most important Shiva Sites of the subcontinent which is Nepal's official protectors, invoked in royal speeches and cited on treaded and pledges. The temple has two tiered golden roof and silver doors with great architecture. Non-Hindu are not allowed to enter however the good view of the main temple is seen from the opposite side of the Bagmati river. In the festival Shivratri, the birthday of Shiva which falls on February /March many people come from all over Nepal and India. Near Pashupatinath another historic and holy temple of Guheshwori, goddess of Vagina is located.

Bouddanath (World heritage site)
This is one of the biggest ancient stupa in the world situated in the north about 6 km from the city. It is very favorite of Tibetan people where Tibetan culture is both accessible and unhindered and the believe still remains that a piece of bone of Buddha is inside of the stupa.

Budhanilkantha
Budhanilkantha is about 8 kms north of Kathmandu, at the base of Shivpuri Hill. The sleeping statue a lord Bishnu in reclining of the bed of snakes one of the masterpiece of stone sculptures an ancient Nepal.

Lalitpur (Patan)

This ancient city of Patan also known as Lalitpur or the city of fine arts is separated from Kathmand by Bagtmati river only about 5 kms south-east of Kathmandu . The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments. Patan's Durbar Square is absolutely packed with temples, its an architectural feast with a far greater concentration of temples per square meter than in Katmandu or Bhaktapur.

Patan Durbar Square (World heritage site)
This is one of the most elegant architectural treasures of which Patan is very proud. About the beauty of Patan, a western lady writer has to stay this-"Patan means eternity itself and Patan Durbar Square is the spectacular sight of Asia Indeed".

Krishna Mandir
This is another attraction in Durbar square area the Shikhara style of architecture of temple. More interesting thing if this temple is that is completely made of stone.

Golden Temple
A few minutes walks towards north of Durbar square, this is located. There story golden temple of lokeshwar (Lord Buddha), built in the 12th century by King Bhaskar Verma. Inside the upper story ther are the golden image of lord Buddha and large prayer wheel. Kumbheshwor temple is situated north of D.S. which is five-story temple. This is noted far its time properties and elegant woodcarving. On the platform of the temple there are two ponds whose water is said to cmioe strength from the holy Lake Gossaikunda (_____) and a ritual both held on the Janai Purnima around August.

Rato Maachhendranath
This temple is also anther attraction, a few minutes walk from Durbar square to the south, rato (Red) Machhendranath the god of rain and plenty is situated which is the tranric to Buddhis while its Shiva to Hindustan on every 12 year cycle, a heavy chariot is dragged with numbers of people celebrating in festival.

Bhaktapur (Bhadgaun)

The city of devotes is the third major town of the valley about 15 km from Kathmandu which was the capital of the whole valley during the 14th to 16 th centuries. It is the valley's best farm land where Newari Jyapu peasants produce cauliflowers and rice. Still it is the most traditional most aggression and the most Newar of the valley's three ancient kingdoms. The great architecture of this city is from end of 17th century during the rule of king Bhaktapur's Malla.

Durbar Square (World heritage site)
Durbar Square contains innumerable temples and other architectural showpieces like the lion gate, the statue of king Bhupanindra Malla, the picture gallery, the golden gate, the place of 55 windows, the bastala temple and the bell of barkin dogs etc.

Bhaktapur Royal palace
Bhaktapur Royal Palace was founded by Yaksha malla (B.S.1428-1482) and added it to my successive kings, Particularly Bhupindra malla (1696-1722). The octagonal temple known as Chyasilin Mandap was one of the finest in the square until it was destroyed by the 1934 earthquake. The golden gate is the entrance to the main countered of the place of 55 windows; it was built by King Ranjit Malla. The gate is one of the most beautiful and richly covered specimens of the king in the entire world. The palace of 55 windows was built in the seventeenth century by King Bhupatindra Malla. Among the bricks walls with their gracious setting and sculptural design, is a balcony of 55 windows which is a masterpiece of wood carving. Nyatpola temple is five-storey pagoda built in 1702 A.D.. by king Bhuptindra Malla. He also built Bhairavnath temple, the god of terror Dattatreya temple was built from trunk of a single tree. Near this temple is a monastery with exquisitely covered peacock windows.

Changu Narayan
This is the oldest temple of Vishnu built in early 5th century. This temple situated in a very peaceful hill top commands the most views of Kathmandu valley. This is also one of the most historical place where one can see the largest number of finest stone sculptures dating back to early Lichhavi period (5-9 century AD). Many archaeology rightly call it a living monumental garden.