Cultural tour of Kathmandu provides you with the opportunity to explore the cultural heritage of the medieval period in the valley an insight of trekking in the mountains. All seven of the UNESCO world heritage sites have been included in the itinerary. A visit to the temples and religious shrine in Kathmandu valley helps you understand more about the people and culture. In Kathmandu, you will be visiting heritage sites such as Swoyambhunath, Boudhanath, Pashupatinath, and Patan Durbar Square. Swayambhunath or more popularly "Monkey Temple" is a common site of homage for both Hindus and Buddhists. The other important attraction of this trip is the largest holy shrine in Nepal– Pashupatinath. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the god of destruction and one of the members of the Holy Trinity. For Hindus, the Bagmati Riverbank below the temple premises is a sacred cremation site for dead bodies. A stopover at “Boudhanath”, the largest and famous Tibetan Buddhist stupa in Nepal is captivating and spiritually rejuvenating. Patan Durbar Square, the city that offers visitors a chance to see an abundance of exquisite works of religious art and architecture prevailing from the medieval period. You will also be visiting Bhaktapur Durbar Square an open museum to the culture and tradition of the medieval history. Also included in the tour is a wonderful hilltop destination of Nagarkot which is well-know for its sunrise over one of the best panoramas of the Himalayas, including popular ranges like the Annapurna, Manaslu, Everest, Numbur, Ganesh Himal, Langtang and others.
Trip Highlights
Visit all 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites in/around the historic Kathmandu Valley
Witness the fascinations of a 2000-year-old civilization
Relish a wide variety of artistry and monumental delights
Gain a deeper understanding of the harmony amidst people of diverse culture, ethnicity and religious values
Refreshing retreat at the hilltop destination of Nagarkot: the easiest way to catch the sunrise view over the Himalayas
Outline Itinerary
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel
Day 02: Full Day Sightseeing of Baudhanath, Pashupatinath & Kathmandu Dubar Square
Day 03: Full Day Sightseeing tour of Swayambhunath and Patan Durbar Square. Drive to Nagarkot and overnight
Day 04: Enjoy morning sunrise view from Nagarkot, short hike to Changunarayan, visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square and drive back to Kathmandu
Day 05: Final Departure from Kathmandu
Price Includes:
Arrival airport pick-up and departure drop-off
Welcome dinner (Day 1) at an authentic cultural restaurant
Farewell dinner (Day 4) at one of the finest restaurants in Thamel
Three nights’ accommodation at a 3-star standard hotel in Kathmandu on twin sharing basis with breakfast
One night’s accommodation at a 3-star standard hotel in Nagarkot on twin sharing basis with breakfast
All transportation as per the itinerary in a private car
Sightseeing tour of following places with licensed, experienced, English speaking local tour guide (*special language guide available upon request)
Monument entrance fees as per the itinerary
Price Excludes:
Nepal Visa and International flight tickets
Meals except for breakfast, welcome and farewell dinner
Personal expenses such as beverages, confectionaries, laundries, etc.
Any other tours and transfers other than mentioned above
Any extra night of accommodation due to any reason and Supplement charges for alternate hotels or upgrade
Travel insurance (must cover medical/hospitalization expenses and Trip Cancellation charges)
Any expenses incurred in emergency evacuation/rescue due to any unforeseen reasons
Tips to your guide, driver and other field staff as a token of appreciation
Any other expenses or charges not mentioned in the “Trip Includes” list
Note: It is compulsory for all the tourists visiting heritage sites of Kathmandu to pay a certain entrance fee to get inside the area. Different amounts for different sites are allocated by the Government of Nepal. The monument entry fees for the sites mentioned in the itinerary are included in the price offered. however, if the tourists visit any of the sightseeing places other than mentioned in the itinerary then extra charges will be applicable depending upon the sites chosen.
Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu and transfer to Hotel
Our airport representative will be there to welcome you at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu upon your arrival. He/she will escort you to the respective hotel in a private vehicle comfortably. Your prior trip meeting will be scheduled on the very day at the hotel before dinner. However, our airport representative will give you a brief idea about the second day’s schedule on your way to the hotel. During the meeting, we will introduce you to your leader/guide. Please do not hesitate to ask questions about your trek or anything that is related to your trip. A welcome dinner is organized to introduce you to the culture and cuisine of Nepal. Overnight at Hotel in Kathmandu
Day 02: Full Day Sightseeing of Baudhanath, Pashupatinath & Kathmandu Dubar Square
BAUDHANATH
Boudhanath Stupa is one of the largest Stupas in Nepal and the holiest Buddhist site in Kathmandu. The eyes on the Stupa are a symbol commonly associated with Nepal and can be seen throughout the region. The squiggle between the eyes is the Sanskrit numeral one, symbolizing the unity of all things. Prayer wheels at the base of the temple are inscribed with the Tibetan mantra Om Mani Padme Hom! At ground level, there is a brick wall with 108 images of meditational Buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels.
Sometimes referred to as “Little Tibet”, Boudhanath is still the best place in the Kathmandu Valley to observe traditional Tibetan lifestyle. There are various Tibetan monasteries surrounding Boudhanath Stupa as it is the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Boudhanath is a UNESCO world heritage site, and a destination not to be missed while traveling in Nepal.
PASHUPATINATH
Pashupatinath Temple is the holiest Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated 6km from Kathmandu City, on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River. The main temple is a multi-storied temple with a gilded roof and richly carved silver door. The sanctum deity is a five-faced Shiva in the form of a lingam. He is also considered as the god of destruction who holds a special position in the Hindu Trinity. Pashupatinath is the center of annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri, which falls in the month of February/March. It falls on the moonless night where thousands of devotees and Sadhu’s from various parts of Nepal as well as India come to worship Lord Shiva. The festival is observed for one day and one night. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds for the Hindus. One can observe the traditional cremation of the Hindu community at the bank of Bagmati River. Lunch - Own arrangement
Day 03: Full Day Sightseeing tour of Swayambhunath and Patan Durbar Square; Drive to Nagarkot and overnight.
SWAYAMBHUNATH
The Buddhist temple of Swoyambhunath situated on the top of a hill, west of Kathmandu is one of the most popular, holy and instantly recognizable symbols of Nepal. The Swoyambhunath Stupa is one of the oldest religious complexes in Nepal; dating back to the 5th century A.D. Swoyambhunath Stupa has a shape of a dome standing on a base which represents the entire world. A pair of big eyes on each side of the dome symbolizes Wisdom and Compassion. They are, in fact, Buddha’s eyes — they give the impression as if he is looking right into you no matter where you stand.
The Swoyambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Lichchhavi period. A Tibetan monastery, museum and library are more recent additions. The site has two access points: a long stairway, claimed to have 365 steps, leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which lies in the east direction; and the other way to reach the temple is via a road trip around the hill leading to the southwest entrance.
PATAN DURBAR SQUARE
Patan Durbar Square complex, also known as Lalitpur is one of the oldest Buddhist cities. Patan Durbar Square and its surroundings is a good specimen of ancient Newari architecture. There are three main courtyards in the palace: MulChowk, Sundari Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Mul Chowk, the oldest one is at the centre of Patan Durbar Square. Several multi-sized and multi-styled temples occupy the western part of the complex. The main among these are Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple and the Golden Temple of Hiranya Varna.
The city of Patan offers visitors the chance to see an abundance of exquisite works of religious art and architecture. Patan Durbar Square is filled with ancient palaces, pagoda temples, stone baths, Hindu and Buddhist statues, engravings, and bronze carvings. Patan Durbar Square is one of seven monument zones in the Kathmandu Valley that together have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also located in the square is the Patan Museum, which houses bronze statues and religious objects, some dating back to the 11th century.
A trip to the Tibetan Refugee Camp and the Handicraft Centre will also be done while visiting Patan where you will witness the hand weaving of Tibetan carpets and mouldings of metal statues.
Day 04: Enjoy morning sunrise view from Nagarkot, short hike to Changunarayan, visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square and drive back to Kathmandu
BHAKTAPUR
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights some of the finest medieval arts of Nepal. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is an assortment of Pagoda and Shikhara-style temples grouped around a fifty-five-window palace of brick and wood. The square is a part of a charming valley as it highlights the idols of ancient kings perched on top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in every place - struts, lintels, tympanums, gateways and windows - all seem to form a well-orchestrated symphony. The main items of interest in Bhaktapur Durbar Square are the Lion Gate, the Golden Gate and the statues of kings on stone monoliths. The Golden Gate was erected by King Ranjit Malla as the entrance to the main courtyard of the Fifty-five Windowed Palace. Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries.
Many of the original medieval industries still continue to this day. They include; painting, carving, masonry, bronze casting and pottery. Over the centuries the city gained a reputation for the quality of its goods. Bhaktapur is rich in architectural beauty, filled with ancient Hindu and Buddhist religious sites, and palaces and courtyards where tourists can easily spend days absorbing the traditions and culture of the Newars.
Day 05: Final Departure from Kathmandu
Our representative will escort you to the airport. We wish you a pleasant flight and hope to see you again!
We have prepared the trip departure dates in small groups departure for group fun and enjoyment trekking. Our group size start from 2 peoples (Even for solo travelers, we organize single trip on supplement cost of US$- 200 additional) and maximum group size will be 8-10 travelers. But in general, our every date will have small groups of 4- 6 peoples, which is good group size for safe and flexible & comfortable trekking. We have listed our group departure dates based on every season as below.
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