‘Cultural and Historical tour of Kathmandu of great interest’
Kathmandu world heritage sites tour:
From half day to full day of minimum 2-3 hrs to 4-5 hrs with short drive and walks accompanied by expert tour city guides, in the comfort of spacious car-coach as per groups size and duration of sightseeing tour.
Kathmandu a unique capital city of Nepal and commercial hub with combination of metropolitan city and rural country farm life on the suburb of the city, where our tour leads you to fascinating and interesting places listed as World Heritage Sites.
Kathmandu Durbar Square (old Palace and courtyard):
Closest areas within reach is Kathmandu Durbar Square, full of historical and religious monuments with Living Goddess (Kumari Ghar) resident, and ferocious looking Kal Bhairab (protector), red monkey god, all the site and buildings of great and achievements dates back from Malla regime,
The Durbar Square full of colorful life with vendors of vegetables, curios, flutes, and other crafts with Kastamandap a rest house believed to have been built with the wood of a single tree and is the source from which the Kathmandu Valley got its name. Nearby are great drums which were beaten to announce royal decrees. All woodcarvings, statues, and architecture in this area are exceptionally fine, and Kathmandu Durbar Square is among the most important sights for travelers to witness, the complex also houses the Tribhuvan Museum that carries the mementoes of different Shah Kings.
Akash Bhairab Temple:
Also referred to as the Blue Bhairab sometimes, it is a three-storeyed temple in the principal market called Indra Chowk. The divine image of the Akash Bhairab is displayed outside for a week -long period during the great festival of Indra Jatra. The celebration of Indra Jatra honors Indra- the King of Heaven and the God of Rain.
Hanuman Dhoka:
This falls to be the historic seat of the past royalty, particularly belonging to the Malla dynasty. The Durbar Square, which is itself the old Royal Palace Complex dedicated to the Malla monarchs, is today classified as a World Heritage Site. The age-old temples and palaces epitomize the religious and cultural life-style of the people. The interesting things to view include Taleju Temple built by late King Mahendra Malla in 1549 A.D., a gigantic stone figure exposing the fearful manifestation of the Black Bhairab which the Hindus regard as the God of Destruction, the tall stone pillar on the plinth-top of which sits late King Pratap Malla his four children at the four small corners, the colossal image of the White Bhairab the lattice of which is removed for a week during the Kumari Yatra festival, the nine-storeyed Basantapur Palace (literally meaning the spring season palace), the Great Bell and the Great Drums. The main golden-gate is guarded by the Monkey-God called Hanuman. He is the king of the Monkeys and faithful servant to Lord Ram Chandra-the Hero of the Epic “Ramayan.” Being guarded by a sole protector, the gate itself has come to be known as Hanuman Gate. With a commercial umbrella suspended above his head and wrapped in a scarlet cloak, he squats on a stone plinth to be respected by hundreds of Nepalese Hindus plus Indian Hindus.
Temple of Kumari:
The temple and the holy quadrangle with a Buddhist stupa at the center form the residential quarters of the Chaste Virgin Living Goddess called KUMARI. The traditional building has profusely carved wooden balconies and widow screens. The non-Buddhist ant the non-Hindu visitors may enter the courtyard called the ‘bahal’ but may not proceed beyond upstairs. The KUMARI acknowledges their greetings from the middle window of the balcony particularly saved for her alone and snapshot is strictly prohibited.
Kastha Mandap:
Located nearby the Temple of Kumari, this is a unique type of wooden temple also known as Maru Satal. It was built in 1596 A.D. by King Laxmi Narsingh Malla. They say the timber used for its relevant construction was sawed out of a single tree. It is also believed that the capital of Kathmandu derived its new name from this very ‘Kastha Mandap.’ Today it housed the Hindu God namely Gorakh-Nath.
Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple):
The great Stupa of Swayambhunath believed to be more than 25 centuries old, stands as one of the world’s oldest Buddhist Chaityas and the land mark of Kathmandu and Nepal.
The Great Stupa of Swyambhunath, is the wonder and the glory that was Nepal.
It listed as World Heritage Site, the nerve center of faithful worshipers for all devout and pilgrims with honor to Lord Adi Buddha. It is dedicated to the self – originating flame God. The stupa, which forms the salient structure, is well composed of a solid hemisphere of terra – cotta with four-sided all seeing eyes of lord Buddha, keeping an eternal watch on the Valley distinguishing between vice and virtue.
The whole hill is a mosaic of small Chaitya and pagoda temples possessing great five Mahayana (Lamaism) and one Hinyan (Therbadist). On the hind hill is located another important Buddhist shrine; it is called Manjushree, the Chinese Buddha ‘God of Knowledge and Wisdom’.
Pashupatinath Temple:
A Hindu religion with pagoda style temple with gilt roofing and richly carved silver doors dedicated to Lord Shiva, situated on the bank of holy Baghmati River. One of the most holy temples in entire Hindu world, Pashupatinath Temple is the nerve center of pilgrimage on the day of Shiva-Ratri anniversary of Lord Shiva. This small religious town also houses great temple known as Debpatan, situated 5 kilometers east of the capital city. Only Hindus are permitted to enter the main courtyard of the temple.
Foreign tourists can view the temple from eastern side of the River.
Bouddhanath Stupa:
Stands as the largest Buddhist shrine around South East Asia, the ancient colossal chhorten or Stupa built in 6th Century A.D. by King Man Deb. It rests on a series of three terraces looking from bird’s eye view it takes the form and relevant shape of a lotus flower, which indeed remains a very holy object for all the devout world-wide Buddhists.
The chhorten is surrounded by a circular market, which forms a part of Tibet town overlooking four sided Buddha’s eyes give a vivid flash. The chhorten embraces the authentic philosophy of Mahayana the faith of which is known as Lamaism in Sikkim, Ladakh, Bhutan and Tibet.