Kathmandu, amidst the ancient temples and bustling streets, lies a city that captures the essence of Nepal’s rich history, vibrant culture, and awe-inspiring natural beauty.. It lies in a Hilly region at the elevation of 1400m above sea level, it is a place to explore history, art, culture and food. This city is in the northwestern part of the Kathmandu valley to the north of Bagmati river which covers 50.7 km2. Archeologist finding indicates that Kathmandu and the other two sister towns are traced to the period between 167BC and 1 AD. Kathmandu is called the home of the Newar community, now it also has diversity in other communities, Hinduism and Buddhism are the major religions followed in the valley. Kathmandu valley is rich in culture and tradition. There are many ancient temples and historical monuments which date back to 564AD. They valley is surrounded by Mahabharat hill range
The city hosts several prominent heritage sites, including the Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddha, Swayambhunath, and Durbar Squares. Kathmandu offers something for all types of travelers; for instance, the sunrise view from Nagarkot is breathtaking. Additionally, the Shivapura National Park provides excellent hiking trails. The Kathmandu Valley boasts three durbar squares: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, and Patan Durbar Square. These squares offer significant historic value, arts, and culture.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu durbar square, also known as Basantapur Durbar which is the oldest durbar in kathamndu’s center. It lies in the heart of old Kathmandu city. Kathmandu durbar square is the home of Courtyards temples because there are over 50 temples in the square, such as Taleju Temple, Kumari Temple, Jaganath Temple This location stands as a remarkable testament to the legacy of Kathmandu’s traditional architecture.The Durbar Square is divided into two distinct courtyards: the outer courtyard houses structures like Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar, and the Shiva-Parvati Temple, while the inner courtyard features Hanuman Dhoka and the main palace. Serving as an active thoroughfare, this place connects various streets for public convenience. In 1979, Kathmandu Durbar Square was honored with the designation of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
Pashupatinath Temple
The Pashupatinath temple is a hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is situated on the bank of the Bagmati river. This temple gives you a strong religious vibe as thousands of devotees come to offer their prayers and take blessings from Lord Shiva. The Pashupatinath temple is the oldest temple in KathmanduMoreover, it is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kathmandu. The most important festival that take place here is Shivaratri, which attracts more devotees and sadhus.
Swayambhunath Temple
Swayambhunath is situated at the top of the hill in Kathmandu. As it is on the top of the hill its offers the panoramic view of the whole Kathmandu. This temple is in white dome stupa type. Circumnavigating the temple by the pilgrims since it is believed to wash away all the sins and to gate blessing from the Lord. This temple is also known as “Monkey Temple” because this place is surrounded by lots of monkeys. To reach this temple you should climb 365 steps of stairs. At the east side of the stupa you can see a huge gold plated Vajra ‘thunderbolt’. On the west, statue of Buddha.
Boudhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest stupa in Kathmandu, situated at a distance of 10 kilometers from the city center of kathmandu. This temple is home for more than 50 monasteries which is a shelter for the monk and Tibetan refugees. It is a very popular attraction for the foreigners and locals, as hundreds of pilgrims from different religions gather here daily. Everyone who visits this stupa takes one whole circle which is also known as ‘kora’ because of getting good blessings. This is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kathmandu.
Asan
Asan is one of the most well known historical locations in Kathmandu, as it is one of the famous bazaars where you can experience the tradition of Kathmandu through its food and items. In ancient time, it used to be in the India-Tibet trade route because of this Asan has been a city’s main marketplace
Thamel
Thamel has been the center of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for decades. It is known for its narrow alleys crowded with various shops and vendors, mostly selling trekking gear, food, and clothes. Thamel also serves as the pre-base camp for mountaineers, as it offers a wide range of mountaineering equipment for sale.
Rani Pokhari
Rani pokhari is a historic man made pond located in the heart of the city. It was built in 1670 AD by king Pratap Malla. After the death of Chakravartendra Malla, king Pratap Malla built this pond to make the queen happy. It lies just outside a former city gate. This pond is 180 m long and 140m wide.
Budhanilkantha Temple
Budhanilkantha temple is located at the foothills of shivapuri hill in Kathmandu. It is a hindu open air temple dedicated to Lord Mahavishnu. This holy place will give you a sight of a unique statue of sleeping Vishnu in a pool of water. Along with the religious vibes of the temple. On the occasion of Haribodhini Ekadashi Mela lots of devotees visit this temple.
Narayanhiti Palace Museum:
Narayanhiti palace museum is located east of Kaiser Mahal and next to Thamel. It was declared as Public Museum in 2008. The museum use to be the former Narayanhiti palace (Narayanhiti Durbar) before the 2006 revolution. The palaceuse to be the residence and principal workplace of the Monarch of the kingdom of Nepal. The Palace was build in 1963 by King Mahendra.
Chandragiri Hills
Chandragiri hills is located in the south-west of Kathmandu city. It is one the major attractions for tourists and locals as from the top of its hills we can witness spectacular views of Himalayan mountain range and Kathmandu valley. At the top of the hill there is Bhuleshwar Mahadev Temple. Devotes come to pray for their better life and wash away all the sins. The journey to Chandragiri hills begins from a 12 min cable car ride that takes off from Thankot Base Station following the hiking trail to the top.
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