As your aircraft lands at Kathmandu airport, you will be welcomed and transferred to your hotel. In case of your time adequacy, our guide will take you around the local old market where you will get an opportunity to feel lifestyle of the diverse range of Kathmandu. Later on this evening you will be picked up from your hotel for a cultural dinner.
On the first day of full day tour in Kathmandu, you will be busy at three of the seven UNESCO cultural sites. This tour does not offer only informative monumental sight and pleasure but also the blessings from Kumari, the living goddess. In the first spot, you will be surrounded by a number of temples and old royal palace as the heart of the town. Artistic courtyards with sculptured structures, awesome architecture and living goddess Kumari are the main highlights of this site. A museum inside the Durbar presents memorials of the monarchs from Shah Dynasty.
Monuments to visit in Kathmandu Darbar Square:
Kumari Bahal- In Local language we call Kumari for Living goddess. Some books mentioned princes for her. Bahal is a local monastery design in quadrangle design; this is an official house of a Living Goddess. Kumari cult is a living harmony of Hinduism and Buddhism. Selection process is similar like Dalai Lama. She is reincarnation of Goddess Taleju. We select young girls at an early age, normally they are chosen when they are 3- 5 years old. They get retired after first menstruation.
Kalabhairab- The god of justice, in the 17th century it was used to store the truth as a lie detector. now people still pray for good luck. Kasthamadap- 12th-century wooden temple constructed using one huge tree. Name of Kathmandu also derived from this temple. kathmandu means Wooden temple, this is the wooden temple. Freak Street- in 1960 many hippies came and enjoyed here.
Shiva Parvati Temple- Shiva and his wife watching from a window so we need to do good karma.
Big bell- still active every day at 9 AM we ring it. it is about 1000 kg so the person who is employed to ring it gets one liter of milk every day.
Taleju Temple- 16th century Pagoda temple, was the tallest building till 1950, other people were not allowed to have higher houses than this temple. Living goddess-kumari is a reincarnation from this Taleju goddess.
Nasal Chock- the main ceremonial courtyard of royal palace. it was last used in 2001 AD
Mohan kali chock- Richest artwork on stone, metal and wood we can observe here.
Sundari chock- Royal bath with snake carving on single piece stone,
King's column- Pratap Malla's statue on the top of a pillar, was destroyed by the earthquake in 1934 and re-erected again
Swayambhunath, ‘The Self Existent’ stupa, is often referred to as ‘the Monkey Temple’ due to large troops of tricky monkeys found in its premises. It’s almost 2600 years old Buddhist shrine. This is also a place to have bird's eye view on Kathmandu tour since the hillock presents the picture of the entire town. Being the second largest town in the valley, Patan proffers the huge number of monuments with Newari and Buddhist monuments in general. Here, we will visit historical Patan Durbar Square surrounded by pagoda and octagonal temples. Five storied Kumbheswar temples, Golden temple, Rudravarna monastery and so forth are the places to visit there. In addition, while being at Tibetan Refugee Camp, you will witness how the Tibetans weave carpets manually. Overnight at hotel.
Morning Everest Mountain flight - This flight goes around Himalaya’s up to Everest and return to Kathmandu airport.
After mountain, flight transfer back to the hotel for breakfast and after breakfast, the tour goes as below;
This day blends city and countryside trip. We start from Pashupatinath, the most famous Hindu shrine on the subcontinent. This trip offers an approach to understand cremation system in Nepal since you will see open public crematorium on the bank of holy river Bagmati. While visiting this temple of destroyer and re-creator lord Shiva, you will get chance to move toward dreadlocked holy men as well. Now, our journey of Kathmandu tour heads to Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world. Bouddhanath pretends as mini Tibet due to the presence of various Tibetan monasteries and Tibetan exiles. The shrine dates back to 4th century and is regarded as a must-visit site for the Tibetans. Apart from these, there are a number of Thanka painting schools producing the best souvenirs from Nepal. Leaving the crowd and noise of a city, the tour takes the turn to the countryside. It’s the distant point of your tour around Kathmandu in this package. Observing farmland, a lifestyle of locals and passing dozens of turnings, we will reach Nagarkot, ‘The Fort of the Town’. This place is ever praised for gigantic Mountain View along with sunrise and sunset. Enjoy the stunning act of the sun when it gets ready to disappear at the horizon. Overnight at resort.
This morning, you will capture a picturesque scene of sunrise from the resort at Nagarkot. After breakfast, we will drive to Bhaktapur, the medieval city. An infinite number of cultural and historic courtyards, enormous temples with mostly appreciated design (e.g. Nyatapola) and indeed, arty Durbar are the awesome features of this town. After exploring Bhaktapur, we will drive back to Kathmandu where you will have a free afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Today after breakfast you will be picked up from the hotel by tour guide and take you towards Kirtipur.
Kirtipur is a Newari ethnic settled village just 5 kilometers away from the capital city Kathmandu. Kirtipur is a beautiful twin hillock and has two satellite hamlets to the south i.e. Panga and Nagaon. In about 12 centenary histories of Nepal, it was a separate powerful state and the trade gateway to Kathmandu Valley. While in the deification by Gurkha force also it took three times which indicate the most powerful state at that time. Remains of the fortified walls and part of the original 12 gates can still be seen. In this tour even it is Newari place there are more different in culture and tradition. Beside the village visit, there are also some interesting temples such as Bag Bhairav, Chlanchu Vihar etc.
Chobhar is famous for its gorge said to have been cut by the god Manjushri to drain the water from the Kathmandu Valley which was at that time a lake. On a hilltop, there is a small pagoda dedicated to Adinath. From this point, one has a superb view of snow-clad mountain peaks. Chobhar is located eight kilometers south-west of Kathmandu.
Bungmati and Khokana After a wonderful lunch at the hillside of Kathmandu you will proceed towards Khokana and Bungamati. Khokana and Bugmati is also a Newari village but very ancient from Kirtipur. Khokana is very famous for traditional and typical oil production center of ancient time and up to now. Apart from that Bugamatti is the famous place for traditional and cultural wood carving and a different authorized village for the ancient history center a bit apart from the city life of Kathmandu. This day can be your perfect day with the sceneries and full of hilly lifestyle and history.
Later in the afternoon according to your flight time, we will transfer to international airport for farewell.
Dipak was my wonderful tour guide. Every time he replied Quickly. My friend and I spent 4 days in Nepal last month. Nepal trekking planner was recommended to us and we are really glad that Dipak arranged everything so well. I highly recommend them to all the people who are planning to visit Nepal.
