Kathmandu City Day Tour: 1 Day

Introduction: Kathmandu City Day Tour

Kathmandu day tour leads you to impressive and exciting places within Kathmandu city, although a metropolitan city but still retains its ancient glorious enriched with old artifacts of temples, monasteries, stupas, and the royal palace of old bygone days.

Where most of the temples-Stupas, the old royal palace, and the royal courtyard are listed in World Heritage Sites.

Kathmandu day tour starts in the morning after your hearty breakfast in the hotel, where our tour/city guide receives you for a short drive in the heart of the city and beyond for an interesting day tour.

Pashupatinath Temple Tour

Our Kathmandu day tour begins with a holy visit to the famous Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, located 5 k.m. distance from the main city towards the east on the bank of the holy Bagmati River, a golden roofed temple dedicated to lord Shiva, (one of the main Three Gods of Hindu religion) with intricate carving silver doors on four cardinal square.

A famous for its superb architecture, and is a center of annual pilgrimage on the day of Maha Shiva-Ratri (Birth Anniversary of Lord Shiva), which falls during the month of mid-February as the Hindu Luna Calendar.

Where non-Hindu are not allowed inside the main temple premises, however, can observe the religious rites and activities of worshippers from the other side of the river.

Bouddhanath Stupa (with a Lunch Break)

After an exciting time at the holy temple of Pashupatinath, a short drive leads towards north to an interesting site of Bouddhanath Stupa also known as ‘Little Tibet’ due to the environment which is similar to Tibetan tradition and customs of Mahayana Buddhism religion and colorful culture.

Bouddhanath Stupa area, located east of the city limit a big colossal ancient dome-shaped stupa, believed largest in the world with all Seeing Eyes of Lord Buddha, built by Lichchhavi King Mana Dev in the 5th A.D. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels.

Here you can witness many locals and pilgrims of Tibetan origin with the Buddhist religion and practice of Tibetan culture and traditions.

The Stupa or Chorten is surrounded by a circular market, which forms a part of Tibet town. In this case, also the four pairs of the Buddha’s eyes give a vivid flash to the four cardinal directions, meaning to keep a diligent watch over the people and their commitments all day and all night.

The chhorten embraces the authentic philosophy of the Mahayana faith known as Lamaism in Nepal, Sikkim, Ladakh, Bhutan, and Tibet.

 After a short interesting tour around Bouddhanath Stupa and its lively market with a possible lunch stop in its nice restaurants with views of the Stupa and the seeing eyes of Buddha.

Swayambhunath Stupa also known as Monkey Temple

After a great time around Pashupatinath and Bouddhanath where the drive leads you to the outskirt of the city heading due west to reach a famous landmark of the country of Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as monkey temple due to the many monkeys that dwell around and close to a green patch of forest.

Nepal’s important heritage and landmark, as well as one of the world’s most glories Buddhist stupa, with a history of more than 2,600 years old, a main structure of a Stupa made of a solid hemisphere of bricks and clay supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt.

Painted four sides of the spire are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha, perched on a hilltop about 7 meters above the level valley floor, a hill mosaic of small Stupas and pagodas temples, where one can observe grand views of Kathmandu city and the valley with snow-capped mountains towards north on a clear fine day.

After a pleasant and interesting tour head back to the heart of Kathmandu city for a last-day tour around Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Kathmandu Durbar Square and Hanuman Dhoka

Kathmandu Durbar Square teems with colorful life and activities being located in the center of the city, once a royal palace and a courtyard from Malla to Shah Kings.

Kathmandu Durbar is a large square with historic seats of past Nepal Royals from former kings, the square with old temples and palaces, symbolizes the religious and cultural life of the Nepalese people.

This is where the King of Nepal was crowned interesting place to visit in the square includes:

•  Taleju Temple was built by King Mahendra Malla in 1,549 A.D.
•  The gigantic figure of Kaal Bhairav, the God of Destruction.
•  Basantpur Durbar or Nautalle Durbar(9 stored), built by King Prithivi Narayan Shah with
•  coronation platform (Nasal Chok ).Hall of Public audience (Gaddi Baithak)
•  Statue of King Pratap Malla-Big Bell-big Drums and Jaganath Temple.

Visit old Kastamandap Temple (where Kathmandu's name is derived) means a temple built of the wood of a single tree.

Temple Of Kumari (The Living Goddess)

A temple and residence of the Living Goddess; Kumari, located in the hub of Hanuman Dhoka Palace square:

The building with carved wooden balconies and window screens was built by King Jaya Prakash Malla, the last Malla King of Kathmandu, Kumari Goddess also known as the virgin living Goddess. When she reaches puberty she is replaced by another next Kumari.

After a great interesting and exciting Kathmandu day tour reach back to your hotels with fond memories of Nepalese traditions of ancient heritage and vivid religious routines.