Places to see in and around Kathmandu Valley !

Kathmandu Durbar Square is a complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between the 12th and 18th centuries, used to be the seat of the ancient Malla Kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing piece here is the 17th century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar Square, protected as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the social religious and urban focal point of the city. There are also three museums inside the palace building.

Swayambhunath Stupa watches over the Valley from the top of a hillock on its western side. The huge stupa is one of the holiest Buddhists sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. Swayambhu is also known as Samhengu and is listed as a World Heritage Site. The National Museum and Museum of Natural History are situated at the foot of the hill.

Pashupatinath Temple - One of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, Pashupatinath lies 05 Km east of the city center. The richly ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga, or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva. Chronicles indicate the temple's existence prior to 400 AD. Devotees can be seen taking ritual dips in the holy Bagmati river flowing beside the temple, also a World Heritage Site.

Bouddhanath Stupa lies about six Km to the east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the Valley. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. Bouddhanath, a World Heritage Site, is also known as Khasti, or dew drops, after an account that builders had to use dew to mix the mortar as Kathmandu was suffering from a severe drought during its construction.

Changu Narayan Temple is situated on a ridge overlooking the Valley, about 12 Km to the east of the city. It is dedicated to the Hindu god Bishnu. One of the finest and oldest specimens of pagoda architecture, the temple is embellished with exquisite wood and stone carvings. The sacred complex is a World Heritage Site.

Kirtipur is situated on a ridge 10 Km southwest of Kathmandu. The ancient Newar township is a natural fortress and has a proud and courageous history. The Chilamchu stupa and the temple of Bagh Bhairab are major sights here. Kirtipur offer quaint streets lined with artistic houses and temple squares. The people are known for their skill in building and weaving.

Dakshinkali and Chobhar: The temple of Dakshinkali is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali and is one of the most popular places of worship in Kathmandu. Located 22 Km from the city center on the southern rim of the Valley, the shrine is especially crowded on Tuesdays and Saturdays when animal sacrifices are offered to the deity. On the way back, stop at Chobhar gorge. The narrow gash in the hills was made by Lord Manjushree to drain out the lake, which once covered the Kathmandu Valley.

Patan Durbar Square, like its counter part in Kathmandu, is an enchanting melange of palace buildings, artistic courtyards and graceful pagoda temples. Listed as a World Heritage Site, the former royal palace complex is the center of Patan's religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects One remarkable monument here is a 17th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, built entirely of stone. Kwa Bahal, a Buddhist monastery courtyard dating back to the 12th century, Mahabouddha, Uku Bahal etc are other places of interest.

Tibetan Refugee Camp was set up in 1960 under the initiative of the International Red Cross and the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC), then known as Swiss Association for Technical Assistance (SATA), in cooperation with His Majesty's Government of Nepal. Its main objective is to help the Tibetan refugees to do something nice and support themselves.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square: As you walk in, you cannot but be overcome by a feeling of inner harmony. Such is the art and architecture and the spatial layout here. The 15th century Palace of 55 windows, situated to the left as you enter through the city gate, inspires admiration. The National Art Gallery is also housed inside. The entrance to the palace, the Golden Gate, is a masterpiece in the repousse art. In front of the palace building is a medley of temples of various designs. Taumadhi Square lies to the east of Durbar Square reached by a brick paved lane. The towering five roofed Nyatapol temple presides over the square. Dattatreya Square takes its name from the Dattatreya temple dedicated to a three-headed combination of the Hindu deities Brahma, Bishnu and Shiva.

NAGARKOT: Of the possible resort destinations, Nagarkot (altitude 2,175 m) is by far the most popular. Located 30 Km east of Kathmandu, Nagarkot has developed into a favorite weekend getaway among those seeking mountain views in comfort and quiet. At sunrise, the Himalayan range, stretching from Dhaulagiri in the west all the way past Everest to Kanchenjunga in the east, emerges from the darkness to greet the happy visitor with its awe-inspiring majesty and beauty.

DHULIKEHL: The Newar town of Dhulikhel (population 9,812; altitude 1,440 m) offers a traditional atmosphere along with spectacular views. Situated just past Banepa some 32 Km east of Kathmandu, Dhulikhel is a magnificent place to spend the night and awaken to the sun rising across the wide himalayan range. Once an important link in the ancient trade route to Tibet, Dhulikhel has a glorious past, which can be witnessed in the lovely buildings and intricate woodcarvings found along the shop-lined streets and in the temples.

KAKANI: Kakani, 23 Km northwest of Kathmandu, is a less crowded and more pristine destination which provides excellent mountain views of Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Annapurnas. The offerings of nature provide the impetus to visit Kakani (1,982 m) and nature-lovers will hail the close-up view of Ganesh Himal to the north, as well as the beautiful oak and rhododendron forests on the south slope leading down to Balaju.

DAMAN: For those seeking the ultimate pan-Himalayan view and willing to travel the extra distance to find it, Daman is the place to go. Located 80 Km southwest of the Kathmandu Valley on the highway to the Indian border, Daman (2,400 m) offers the only sight guaranteed to leave the early riser spellbound for days to come. From horizon to horizon, the full majesty of the world's highest mountain range can be taken in.

GORKHA is situated 131 Km west of Kathmandu at an altitude of 1,135 m at the end of a mountain road that branches north from the Kathmandu-Pokhara Highway at Abu Khaireni. It is the ancestral home of the Shah dynasty and home of the original Gorkha soldiers. Gorkha's centerpiece is the magnificent Gorkha Durbar which is a fort, a palace and a temple with excellent views of the surrounding valleys and the Manaslu range.

POKHARA: 200 Km to the west of Kathmandu is Pokhara, an enchanting city nestled in a tranquil valley (altitude 827 m), it is the starting point for many of Nepal's most popular trekking and rafting destinations. The atmosphere on the shore of Phewa Lake is one of excited vitality as hipster backpackers crowd the many bars and restaurants exchanging recommendations on guest houses and viewpoints, both by the lake and above the clouds.

Pokhara (population 95,000) is a place of remarkable natural beauty. The serenity of Phewa Lake and magnificence of the fishtailed summit of Machhapuchare (6,977 m) rising behind it create an ambiance of peace and magic. At an elevation lower than Kathmandu, it has a much more tropical feel to it, a fact well appreciated by the beautiful diversity of flowers which prosper in its environs. Indeed, the valley surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forests, gushing rivers, emerald lakes and of course, the world famous views of the Himalaya.

Pokhara is part of a once vibrant trade route extending between India and Tibet. To this day, mule trains can be seen camped on the outskirts of the town, bringing goods to trade from remote regions of the Himalaya. This is the land of the Magars and Gurungs, hardworking farmers and valorous warriors who have earned worldwide fame as Gurkha soldiers. The Thakalis, another important ethnic group here, are known for their enterpreneurship.

PLACES TO SEE:

Mountain views: Most stunning of Pokhara's sights is the spectacular panorama of the Annapurna I to IV, Annapurna south and Machhapuchare.

Lakes: Phewa Lake, the second largest lake in the Kingdom roughly measuring 1.5 by 4 Km, is the center of all attractions in Pokhara. Begnas and Rupa Lakes are located about 15 Km from Pokhara at the end of a road that turns north from the highway to Kathmandu.

Temples: Barahi temple: Built almost in the middle of the Phewa Lake, this is the most important religious monument in Pokhara. Bindhyabasini temple is the center of religious activity in the old bazaar, dedicated to Goddess Bhagawati.

Caves: Gupteshwor Gupha, a sacred cave, lies 2 Km from Pokhara airport which approximately 3 Km long. Mahendra Gupha, another nature's wonders in Pokhara is about 2 hour's walk to the north of Pokhara. This limestone cave is locally known as the House of Bats.

Seti Gandaki: flowing right through the city, the boisterous river runs completely underground at places.

Devi's Fall: an awesome waterfall lying about 2 Km south west of Pokhara airport on the highway to Tansen.

The Old Bazaar: Pokhara's traditional bazaar is colorful and so are its ethnically diverse traders.

Museums: Pokhara Museum, located between the airport and Mahendra Pul, reflects the ethnic mosaic of western Nepal. Annapurna Museum, also known as the Natural History Museum, is located at Prithvi Narayan Campus east of the old bazaar.

LUMBINI: Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, the Shakya prince, the eventual Shakyamuni and the ultimate Buddha - the Enlightened One. This nativity site, identified by Indian Emperor Ashoka's commemorative pillar erected over 2,200 years ago and rediscovered in 1896, is the quintessential Buddhist heritage site, currently renaissanced by the internationally-supported Lumbini Development Project.

This World Heritage Site is not only a place of pilgrimage but also an international tourist attraction. For development purposes, it has been divided into three zones: the Sacred Zone at the center including the spot where the Buddha was born; the Monastery Zone where the monasteries, temples and stupas of different countries are located; and the New Lumbini Village on the outermost periphery.

The main attraction at the Lumbini remains the Sacred Garden that is spread over 8 Sq Km and possesses all the treasures of the historic area. The Mayadevi temple is the main attraction for pilgrims and archaeologists alike. This is where we find a bas relief of Mayadevi, the Buddha's mother, giving birth to him as the Hindu deities, Brahma and Indra, shower him with lotus petals and holy water. There is also a sacred stone marked with a "foot imprint" of Emperor Ashoka which had been placed here to mark the exact birthplace.

Nearby, to the west of the Mayadevi temple, stands the Ashoka Pillar - the oldest monument so far found in Nepal. The pillar was erected by Emperor Ashoka in 249 BC to commemorate his pilgrimage to the sacred site. The inscription on it in Brahmi script authenticates Lumbini as the place where the Buddha was born 623BC. To the south of the Pillar we find the sacred pond - Puskarni - where Queen Mayadevi had taken a bath just before giving birth to the Buddha.