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Kathmandu festival tour (06 nights 07
days) |
Kathmandu
festival
tour (06
nights
07 days) |
| |
Itinerary
In
Details |
Day
01 :
|
Arrival at Kathmandu
International Airport
and transfer to hotel.
Stay overnight at hotel
in Kathmandu. |
Day
02 :
|
Drive from Kathmandu to
Sankhu and then hiking
up to Nagarkot. Stay
overnight at hotel in
hotel in Nagarkot.
Sankhu is a very old
Newar city and lies 23
km from Kathmandu. It
derives its name from
Sankhapura, which means
Conch City. It lies on
the famous route to
Tibet. The traders used
this route from 7th to
9th centuries AD. This
legendary city is worth
a visit, because of its
old houses, beautiful
wood- carved temples and
old stone water taps.
The famous temple of
Goddess Ugratara
Bajrayogini is situated
at a 45 minute walking
distance from here.
The Goddess Bajrayogini
is the Hindu – Buddhist
parallel manifestation
of Goddess Kali. The
temple complex is
supposed to be as old as
Changunarayan (467 AD).
It is mentioned in Gopal
Vamsabali, a research
manuscript, which states
Manadev, performed
penance at this place.
The present three- tier
structure or the temple
is the contribution of
King Pratap Malla.
Nagarkot is a famous
place to see the
mountain ranges and
sunrise. It lies at an
altitude of 2211m and is
located 30 km north east
of Kathmandu. If weather
is good, one can see
great views of Himalayas
including Annapurna,
Langtang, Dorje Lakpa
and Gauri Shanker,
Ganesh Himala. The
mountain flight that
goes each day to show
Everest and other
Himalayas from Kathmandu
goes via the Nagarkot
route.
Many visitors go to
Nagarkot to see sunrise.
Once the sun begins to
rise from behind the
Himalayas, it looks
spectacular as mountain
changes its color.
However to see the
sunrise, visitors has to
go to Nagarkot 4 o’clock
in the morning. |
Day
03 :
|
Hike from Nagarkot to
Changunarayan, sight
seeing of Changunarayan
temple, and then drive
from Changunarayan to
Bhaktapur. Drive to
Kathmandu after
sightseeing tour of
Bhaktapur. Stay
overnight at hotel in
Kathmandu.
Changunarayan is
situated at the end of a
long ridge which runs
well into the valley, it
is said to have been
built in 323 AD by King
Hari Datta Varma. The
temple is richly
decorated with
sculptures and carvings.
It is said to be the
oldest temple in the
valley.
Bhaktapur (1,401m)
covers an area of four
square miles. Bhaktapur
or the city of devotees
still retains a medieval
charm and visitors to
this ancient town are
treated to myriad
wonders of cultural and
artistic achievements.
The past glory of the
Malla rules continues to
be reflected at the
Darbar Square. Pottery
and waving are its
traditional industries.
Bhaktapur is famous for
woodcarving and the
traditional topi or cap.
The city lies about 14
km east of Kathmandu.
The places of interest
include Bhaktapur Darbar
Square, the National Are
Gallery, Nyatapola
Temple, Bhairavnath
Temple, Dattatreya
Temple and Dattatreya
Square.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
The main square of the
city contains
innumerable temples and
other architectural
showpieces such as lion
gate, the golden gate,
the statue of King
Bhupatindra Malla,
Dattatraya Temple etc.
A magnificent statue of
King Bhupatindra Malla
in the act of worship is
placed on a column
facing the palace. It
was listed in the UNESCO
world Heritage Monument
List in 1979.
Palace of 55 Windows:
Being built by King
Yaksha Mall in 1427 A.D.
and remodeled by King
Bhupatindra Malla in
17th Century, the
balcony and the windows
are intricately carved,
is a masterpiece of wood
carving.
Nyatapola Temple: This
five storied Pagoda
Style temple was built
by King Bhupatindra
Malla in 1708 A.D. well
known for its massive
structure and subtle
workmanship. It is the
tallest pagoda structure
in the Kathmandu valley. |
Day
04 :
|
Full day sightseeing
tour of Kathmandu city.
Stay overnight at hotel
in Kathmandu.
Known as Kantipur,
Kathmandu is the capital
of the Kingdom of Nepal.
Here you will visit the
temple of the Living
Goddess who acknowledges
the greetings of the
devotees from the
balcony of her temple
residence. Kashtamandap
- the source of the name
Kathmandu and supposed
to be made from the
timber of a single tree
and the Durbar Square
are with its array of
temples overlooked by
the Hanuman Dhoka
Palace, the ancient
place of the Nepalese
Royalty.
This day you will visit
Kathmandu Durbar Square,
Swayambhunath,
Boudhanath and
Pashupatinath. Though
there are other places
worth to be visited such
as Machchendranath
Temple, Akash Bhairab
Temple, Kumari Temple,
Ashok Vinayak, Jaishi
Dewal, Tundikhel,
Marty’r Memorial,
Bhadrakali Temple,
Singha Darbar,
Narayanhiti Darbar,
Kaiser Library,
Budhanilkantha, Balaju
Water Gardens, the
National Museum,
Guheswari Temple,
Chabahil and Chandra
Vinayak.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
is one of the most
popular tourist
destination is enlisted
in World Heritage Sites.
Clustered around the
central Durbar Square
are the old Royal Palace
(Hanuman Dhoka),
numerous interesting
temples, the Kumari
Chowk or Kumari Bahal
(House of the Living
Goddess) and the
Kasthamandap (House of
Wood) from which
Kathmandu derived its
present name. An
inquisitive exploration
in the Durbar Square
reveals the ancient art
and architecture of
Nepal which has proved
to be a masterpiece to
everyone accepting its
genuineness.
Swayambhunath is located
approximately 4
kilometers of Kathmandu
city and this Buddhist
Stupa is said to be 2000
years old. The Stupa
which forms the main
structure is composed of
a solid hemisphere of
brick and earth
supporting a lofty
conical spire capped by
a pinnacle of copper
gilt. Painted on the
four sided base of the
spire are the all seeing
eyes of Lord Buddha.
This hill is a mosaic of
small Chaityas and
Pagoda temples.
Boudhanath Stupa is 8
kilometers east of
Kathmandu City and is
one of the biggest in
the world of its kind.
It stands with four
pairs of eyes in the
four cardinal direction
keeping watch for
righteous behavior and
human prosperity. This
Buddhist Stupa was built
by King Man Deva at the
advice of the Goddess
Mani Jogini. It is built
on an octagonal base
inset with prayer
wheels. The shrine is
ringed by houses of
Lamas or Buddhist
priest.
Situated 5 kilometers
east of Kathmandu City,
Pashupatinath temple is
one of the holiest
temples dedicated to
Lord Shiva. Situated
amidst a lush green
natural setting on the
bank of the sacred
Bagmati river, the
temple built in pagoda
style has jilted roof
and richly carved silver
doors. Visitors will be
permitted to view the
temple from the east
bank of Bagmati River,
entrance in the temple
being strictly forbidden
to all non Hindus.
Pashupatinath is the
centre of annual
pilgrimage on the day of
shivaratri which falls
in the month of
February/March. Behind
the temple are the
cremation grounds. |
Day
05 :
|
Full day sightseeing
tour of Kirtipur, Chovar,
and Dakshinkali, then
drive back to hotel.
Stay overnight at hotel
in Kathmandu.
Kirtipur situated on the
top of hillock is 6
kilometers southwest of
Kathmandu. The ancient
township is a natural
fortress and has a proud
and courageous history.
It was founded by Shiva
Deva between 1099 and
1126. It was apart of
kingdom of Patan after
the division of
Kathmandu valley in
1482. Historically, this
city is famous for its
resistance against the
invasion of Gorkhas. The
King of Gorkha, Prithivi
Narayan Shah attacked
there time to conquer
this city. The city is
historically and
artistically important.
There are many small and
big temples and stupas
scattered around the
city. The Chilamchu
Stupa and the temple of
Bagh Bhairav are major
sights here. Kirtipur
offers quaint streets
lined with artistic
houses and temple
squares. The people are
known for their skill in
building and weaving.
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 past Pharping
village, the shrine is
especially crowded on
Tuesdays and Saturdays
when animal sacrifices
are offered to the
deity. According to a
mythology the Goddess
Durga has killed the
demon and drank the
blood of animals. This
is the reason blood is
scarified to her. The
temple was built by
Pratap Malla during 17th
century, but the
construction, seems to
be very new.
Next you stop at Chobhar
gorge. Legend has it
that Manjushree cut out
the gorge to drain out
Kathmandu valley was
then a lake. There is a
small but picturesque
temple of Adinath on the
top of a hill. From this
top one can have a
completed view of
snowcapped mountains
peaks. |
Day
06:
|
Full day sightseeing
tour of Patan + Tibetan
village & Nepali
handicraft center,
Chapagaou, Bungmati &
Khokana village. Stay
overnight at hotel in
Kathmandu.
The ancient city of
Patan, lying 5 km
southeast of Kathmandu,
is known as Lalitpur or
the city of fine arts.
The city is full of
Hindu temples and
Buddhist monuments. The
diversity of medieval
culture that allowed
both Hinduism and
Buddhism to flourish has
left a rich legacy of
impressive sightseeing
in this city. At Patan
you explore Patan Durbar
Square, Mahaboudha
Temple, Kumbeshwor
temple, Krishna Temple,
Golden Temple and many
other places of Patan,
you feel as if Patan has
been unveiled before you
as an open museum
showcasing intricately
carved windows,
intrinsic roof struts,
statues of gods and
goddesses, temples
designed in pagoda style
with erotic carvings and
repose metalwork facades
and many other exquisite
facets. You will also
get to see handicraft
centre in Patan.
Patan Durbar Square:
Patan is probably one
the oldest Buddhist City
in the world. It is
believed that the city
was founded in the 3rd
century A.D. Patan is
situated on a plateau
across Bagmati River.
Another name of Patan,
is Lalitpur. This city
is known for its finest
traditional crafts and
rich artistic heritage.
Patan is designed and
built after Buddhist
Dharma Chakra. It is
surrounded by 4Stupas as
4 corners of Patan, one
at each corner of its
cardinal points. These
stupas are said to have
been built by the famous
Emperor Ashoka in the
3rd century BC. It is
also said that the
ancient city got its
name Lalitpattan after
the Lalitadhara forest
was cleared by king
Biradava. It must be
remembered that the name
of Patan used by Newars
in Yala. It is said that
King Yalamber named this
city after himself.
Before Malla Dynasty
ascended the throne in
1480 the Muslim Emperor
Sam Suddin Iliyas
destroyed the temples
and monuments of Patan.
When King Siddhi Nar
Singh Malla ascended the
throne in 1618, he
started to rebuild the
city and Shrinivas and
Yog Narendra Malla made
further contributions to
it. These days one can
see the beautiful palace
complex and squares
built during the Malla
period.
Krishna Temple: The
Krishna Mandir is
dedicated to lord
Krishna and was build by
Siddhi Narsingha Malla
in 1637. Many writers
have considered this
temple as and ornament
of Patan. This temple
was built in Shikhara
style, which is
considered to be of
Indian influence in
Nepal. The temple is
three storied and
important scenes from
the Ramayana and
Mahabharata epics have
been carved inside the
temple. The statue of
Krishna lies in the
first floor and only
Hindus are allowed to go
in. It is one of the
most visited temples in
Patan. On the occasion
of Krishna Janmasthanmi
(Lord Krishna’s
Birthday), thousands of
devotees come to the
temple. The other
importance of this
temple is a statue of
Garuda) (the vehicle of
Krishna or Vishnu) in
front of the temple.
Golden Temple: The
Golden Temple or Hiranya
Varna Mahavihar is the
richest temple in Patan.
The temple is just tow
minutes walk towards,
the north f the Durbar
Square. The temple,
built in the 12th
Century, is popular
among the Buddhists of
Patan. At the main
entrance tow lions are
guarding the temple. The
building has three roofs
with copper golden
facades. Inside the
temple, there are images
of Buddha and
Boddisattvas. IN the
courtyard, there is a
small temple with
beautifully decorated
pinnacle.
Other interesting things
to see here are Mulchowk,
Jagat Narayan Temple,
Big Bell, Pillar of
Yognarendra Malla, Hari
Shanker temple,
Vishwanath temple,
Bhimsen temple, Marga
Hiti, and Mani Mandap,
Café Pagoda, Kumbheswor
Temple, Rato Machhendra
Temple, Minnath, Rudra
Varna Mahavihar and
soon.
Chapagaun is a very old
Newar Village in
southern Patan. The main
attraction of this
village is the Bajra
Barahi Shrine. Barahi is
the name of one of the
Mother Goddesses Ajima.
It lies in the center of
a thick grove, three
hundreds meter from the
center of the village.
The temple was built 500
years ago.
About 6 kilometers South
of Patan lays the two
medieval village of
Bungmati and Khokana. To
reach these villages one
has to follow the
straight road from the
Tibetan refugee Camp on
Jawalakhel. About 5000
people live in Bungmati
and 3000 inhabitants in
Khonkana. Most of the
people are Newars. From
Khokana, Bungmati is 15
minutes walk. In these
villages on can see
typical Newari houses.
Also these villages are
popular for chilly and
mustard oil. The best
time to visit Bungmati
and Khokana is in
October and November
because at that time the
whole village looks
colorful. They hand red
chilly garland from the
top floor to the ground
floor in the whole
village. Most of the
farmers in these
villages are either
involved in spinning or
oil pressing business.
The mustard oil of
Khokana is still popular
in Kathmandu valley. |
Day
07 :
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Fly out from Kathmandu. |
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