UNESCO World Heritage sites in Nepal.

Kathmandu, the largest city and capital of Nepal, is a historic city full of religious sites and intricate Newari architecture and also holds in UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal. Tour the ancient Kathmandu sites such as Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa also known as the Monkey Temple and Boudhanath, the largest stupa in Nepal. We’re going to talk about Kathmandu City Tour itinerary here where you can find all of Kathmandu’s stuff that is going to fall in love with Kathmandu, Nepal. We, Nepal Hiking Adventure Company, give you the best and most comfortable Kathmandu tour.

Kathmandu is Nepal’s capital city as well as it is the most crowded place of the country. It has a glorious two thousand-year history and a sophisticated culture with a large number of Hindu temples, Buddhist stupas and monuments ranked among the highest in Asia. It has a lot to offer its visitors, also called an interactive museum of medieval art and architecture.

Kathmandu has been declared World Heritage Sites along with neighboring towns of Patan and Bhaktapur. Travel covers the entire major city of Kathmandu Valley as you visit Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur heritage sites on this trip and walk through the city’s old quarter to show you the vibrant traditional market. Kathmandu is a valley surrounded by beautiful green hills and the peaks of the Himalayas behind them.

The Kathmandu town full day sightseeing package costs $60 per person for each fixed departure (estimated price). Note that it would consider each departure as a full-day tour and cost $130 per passenger (estimated price). The bill includes a highly professional tour guide and a comfortable vehicle. Consequently, we do not provide fees for food and entry. Below are a few fixed departures we’ll arrange as you choose.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of three squares situated within Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley. Durbar Square is an important site for Buddhist and Hindu rituals, religious ceremonies, royal gatherings, and kingly coronations (durbar translates to “palace” or “a court held by a prince”).

Kathmandu Durbar Square is a meditative, religious site for spiritual seekers, surrounded by fountains, ancient statues, small ponds, and a series of courtyards such as Mohan Chok and Sundari Chok. The site of the Old Royal Palaces (referred to as the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex) is within the inner complex of Durbar Square. The Royal Palaces used to house the Shah and Malla Dynasty kings, who ruled the town until the 19th century. The palaces have since become museums.

The outer complex consists of numerous temples in pagoda style featuring the meticulously carved facades created by Newar artists, some dating back to the 16th century. Durbar Square underwent a series of modifications and new architectural additions under the direction of the Malla Kings.

The building of the oldest temples in Durbar Square was ordered by King Mahendra Malla (1560–1574). His contributions were the Jagannath Temple, Kotilingeshwara Mahadev (Lord Shiva’s stone temple), the Mahadeshwara Temple, and the magnificent Taleju Temple (the largest and perhaps most important temple of all). Though these date back to the 16th century, it is known that construction began as early as the 3rd century for the square itself and the palaces.

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath temple is the Hindu devotee’s famous and largest pilgrimage site. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is situated near the bank of the holy Bagmati River in the north-east of Kathmandu. Pashupati means’ the lord of the animals’ literally, and’ Nath’ means the Hindu god. So, this is Lord Shiva’s temple which is one of Hinduism’s 3 main gods.

Attractions: Non-Hindus can’t enter Pashupatinath’s central temple. Although from the top of the viewpoint you can observe the Pashupatinath temple surrounding it, there are also other holy places to visit such as deer park, Guheswari temple, Gorakhnath temple and you can also watch live cremation ceremony on the bank of the Bagmati River. After three Dhams (Kedarnath, Badrinath, and Muktinath), Pashupatinath temple is one of the most important places in the Hindu religion. Hindu claims that visiting these four places only leads to achieving “Moksha” (salvation).

Festivals: The festivals held here are Maha Shivaratri, Teej and Shaun Sankranti allowing tourists to thousands of Hindus. Shivaratri is one of Nepal’s and India’s major festivals to worship Lord Shiva. The festival is held on Magha’s 14th day (10th month of Nepali) when Lord Shiva was born. Millions of devotees are visiting Pashupatinath this day throughout the world making the biggest crowd.

 Maha Shivaratri:

“Maha Shivaratri” which is literally translates into “Shiva’s Great Night” is a widely celebrated Hindu festival in India as well as Nepal. According to the Hindu calendar the festival is observed on the new moon day in the month of Magh. The day is celebrated for the veneration of Lord Shiva, a significant deity in Hindu culture.

Shiva is said to have saved the world from destruction on this day provided people worshiped him with great pride and enthusiasm. Other legends say this particular day was named by Shiva when asked by goddess Pārbati. Maha Shivaratri is a major festival within the religion of Hinduism. Because it is a commemoration of the world overcoming darkness and ignorance.

The community observes the day during this day being to remember Shiva and adjust prayers, to fast, to do yoga, and to meditate. The key focuses and ultimate goals are the principles and values of self-restraint, integrity, kindness to others, compassion and Shiva’s discovery.
Maha Shivaratri is one of the most popular Hindus festivals. Devotees give wine, milk, dhatura, bhaang, akwan flowers to the idol of Shiva, or Shivalinga, and worship the destructive Hindu God. Shiva is considered the ideal husband and girls and women who are not married wish for a husband like him. Every day in the year has some meaning in Hindu mythology and the tales frequently vary from different regions and communities.

Daily Rituals at Pashupatinath Temple

Additionally, Pashupatinath is one of the world’s few living cultural heritage sites. Kathmandu day tour includes other cultural sites or museums; every day, Pashupatinath is the center of energy with people’s active participation. Pashupatinath Temple’s daily rituals are as follows:

4:00 am:- West gate opens for visitors.

8:30 am:- Lord’s idols are bathed and washed after arrival of Pujaris, clothes and jewelry are changed.

9:30 am:- Baal Bhog or breakfast is offered to the Lord.

10:00 am:- Then people will be welcome to do that if they want to do Puja. It is also called Farmayishi Puja, whereby for specific reasons people tell the Pujari to perform a particular Puja. The Puja starts in the afternoon until 1:45 p.m.

1:50 pm:- The Lord’s lunch is eaten in Pashupati’s main temple.

2:00 pm:- At this time, Morning prayers end.

5:15 pm:- Starts the Aarati evening at the main Pashupatinath Temple.

6:00 pm onward:- The Bagmati Ganga Aarati made by the Bagmati banks has gained popularity in recent times. For Sundays, Mondays and on special occasions, there are large crowds attending. Ganga Aarti is performed during the Ganga Aarti evening, along with Shiva’s Tandava Bhajan, composed by Ravana.

7:00 pm:- Doors close.

Besides the daily rituals, special events are plotted during the lunar calendar special dates.

Patan Durbar Square

Visit the historic square of Kathmandu Durbar Square, which is situated in the heart of the capital city, and visit the old palace which was the seat of power of the Malla and Shah Dynasties until a new palace was built.

Located in the center of the city of Lalitpur (historically Patan), Patan Durbar Square is an ancient royal palace where kings of Malla lived. Today, this site is one of the cultural sites affected by World Heritage. Patan is one of the oldest cities of Buddhism and a place of festivals and festivities.

The April 2015 earthquake damaged many old palaces, temples and monuments and they’re all being restored right now. Despite the damage, however, much of the rich history and heritage of the Malla dynasty can still be seen as the valley’s foremost pioneers of art and culture. Visitors walking around Kathmandu Durbar Square will enjoy the architectural beauty and the beautiful wood carvings. Be a part of vibrant festivals which the local Newar communities are still celebrating with boisterous joy.

Important places: Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen temple, Viswanath temple are the main structures outside of Durbar Square. The temple of Taleju Bhawani, etc.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Many of the city’s smaller streets converge on this square where the Bhaktapur Kingdom’s royal palace was located. The monuments and temples that surround the site represent medieval Nepal’s history and traditions. Everything still looks like it was during its medieval heyday around Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is indeed among Nepal’s most intact ancient cities. It also earned the distinction to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The town’s “Bhaktapur Durbar Square” is also known as a museum of medieval art and architecture with numerous examples of sculpture, woodcarving and monumental pagoda temples dedicated to various gods and goddesses 15 km from Kathmandu. It is a conglomeration of temples in pagoda and shiokara style grouped around a brick and wood fifty-five window palace.

The square is one of the Valley’s most charming architectural showpieces, as it highlights Nepal’s ancient arts. Kings ‘ golden effigies perched on top of stone monoliths, guardian deities gazing out from their sanctuaries, wood carvings in every place-struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways, and windows-all seem to be a well-orchestrated symphony to shape. His major traditional industries are pottery and weaving.

Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath is one of Kathmandu’s famous ancient stupas. This stupa is situated at the top of the hill can be seen by Kathmandu day tour. Back to many centuries ago, instead of Kathmandu Valley, there was a large lake. Lord Manjushree, the Tibetan-Buddhist deity, saw the large lotus that is now a Swayambhunath. So he removes the barriers to send all the waters away building the Kathmandu Valley and the Swayambhunath with the holy sword.

Swayambhunath also refers to the monkey shrine, because the hill is surrounding by a huge number of monkeys. Legends say the monkeys were the only human survivors living on the Swayambhunath hill and were created as the monkey after the Manjushree incident. No wonder Swayambhunath is World Heritage Sites, pilgrims and visitors crowd the stupa every morning.

Some important monuments to see in this area

• Vajra’s giant gold plated’ thunderbolt’ located in the stupa’s east side.
• Buddha statue on Swayambhu’s western side.
• The Buddha of the Night.
• A bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings are noted by the Dewa Dharma Monastery.
• The temple dedicated to Harati, the children’s goddess. 

Chitwan National Park

In Nepal’s southern region, Chitwan National Park jungles await you with experiences of wildlife like no other. Go in pursuit of the magnificent Royal Bengal tiger and watch the Greater one-horned rhinoceros roam freely, while the great Asian elephants travel in herds about the jungles.  The nearest and best place to go for a wildlife safari is Chitwan National Park.

The Chitwan National Park is Nepal’s first national park, and is located in Chitwan’s inner Terai lowlands at the foot of the Mahabharata range. Area of 932 sq. Km is the most well-preserved nature conservation area in Asia.

Experience true wilderness in the Chitwan jungles: go for a jeep safari in the forest floor, or sail a silent canoe and take wildlife by surprise. Go for a walk in the jungle assisted by an experienced guide who knows the jungle like his back.

Festivals of historic Tharu culture

Visit a Tharu village to observe local tribal life, where you will be welcomed inside their traditional mud houses and treated as valued guests.

Add to the nature of the ultimate jungle experience at the end of the day by unwinding next to a large campfire, watching the hypnotic Tharu stick dance and listening to their calming folk songs.

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park is home to the world’s highest peak-Mt. Everest (8,848 m), Sagarmatha is Everest’s name for Nepali. This is the toughest UNESCO World Heritage site in the world. The area was designated a national park in 1976 and includes several other peaks all over 6,000 m above sea level. In 1979, the park was recognized as a World Heritage Site. Many hollywood movies had being shot here with famous hollywood stars/celebrities.

With most of the park above 3,000 m, it is predominantly rough terrain composed of deep gorges, glaciers and massive rocks. The Park boasts a wide array of wildlife including over 118 bird species. While silver fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper trees dominate the forest, trekkers in this region may spot animals such as musk deer, the Himalayan tahr, the ghoral, the serow, the wolf and the Himalayan black bear.

Rarely seen endangered species include: snow leopard, red panda and two kinds of stunning pheasants-the crimson-horned and the Impeyan, the national bird of Nepal. The park also features smaller animals such as marmots, pikas, and martens.

The region ranges in altitude from below 2,000 m above sea level at Jiri to the Himalayan high peaks over 8,000 m above sea level. Therefore the flora and fauna of the park are diverse with thick pine, oak forest and the flowering rhododendrons found up to 4,000 m above sea level. The latter are one reason to make a spring trip to Nepal, when the hills between 2,000 m and 3,500 m are a color riot. 

The best time to visit the park is in the October-November autumn months, and in spring / summer from March-May.

Lumbini National Park

Lumbini is the birthplace of the Buddha, one of the most famous holy sites in the world(one of The UNESCO world heritage site in Nepal. Therefore draws Buddhist as well all tourist from all over the world. Today you can visit more than twenty-five Buddhist monasteries constructed from Vietnam to France by various countries, study Buddhism, meditate and visit the birthplace within the sacred Maya Devi Gardens.

Maya Devi Temple is the Lumbini Garden’s most sacred site where archeologists have identified the exact place where Lord Buddha was born. Inscriptions on the nearby Ashoka Pillar also refer to the spot as the place of his birth. It’s said the newly born Prince Siddhartha took his first seven steps here and delivered his message of peace to humanity. 

The birth took place in the stunning Sal grove which is now the Lumbini Garden’s focal point. Maya Devi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, passing through the Lumbini Garden, took a bath in the Sacred Pond Pushkarini on the day of Baisakh Purnima, and bore Prince Siddhartha soon after.

Changunarayan Temple

Changu Narayan Temple one of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal. It is Near from Bhaktapur Durbar Squire. Two-tiered Changunarayan temple is 15 kilometers from the town of Kathmandu(Thamel). Since this is Lord Vishnu’s temple, also called Narayan, and is located near Changu, the temple was named as such. Stone carving of 464 A.D. and other masterpiece of architecture featured in Nepal’s temple showcase of ancient history. Also the temple bore the sculptures of the ten incarnations of Vishnu; Vishwaroop, Vishnu Vikrant, Vishnu riding Garuda, Nar-Singha Vishnu etc. It is also one of the oldest temple of Nepal. So it takes one part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

In the vicinity of Changunarayan temple are also temples of Kileshwar Shiva, Chinnamasta Devi, and other gods and goddesses. The temple provides a breathtaking view of the cascading Manohara River through lush vegetation.

Temples and its History

Changu Narayan dates back to the fourth century, and is widely regarded as the oldest Hindu temple in the Kathmandu Valley and one of the oldest in Nepal. Built on a high hill about seven miles east of Kathmandu, the temple is dedicated to Vishnu although there are also shrines to Lord Shiva, Ashta Matrika, Chhinnamasta, Kileshwor and Krishna in the wider temple complex.

The main temple is adorned with some of the finest carvings in the Kathmandu Valley and the best you’ll see outside the National Museum of Nepal is the array of statues surrounding the temple.

The diagonal beams that support the two pagoda roofs of the temple are adorned with intricate carvings of Vishnu’s 10 incarnations and various Tantric goddesses with multiple arms. Meanwhile, stone lions, griffins, elephants, and Sarabhas (part-lion, part-bird creatures from Hindu mythology) guard the four entrances to the temple.

Boudhanath Stupa

Located eight kilometers east of downtown Kathmandu. Buddha is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites and one of Kathmandu’s most imposing landmarks. The biggest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley is visible as soon as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Boudha’s 36-meter-high stupa is massive, dominating the area’s skyline. Boudha is the center of the Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal, with countless monasteries around it.

Built in the form of a mandala designed to replicate the Tibetan Gyangtse, the stupa was restored in the 8th century by Licchhavi rulers. The location of the stupa is important since it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet. And it was here that Tibetan traders rested for many centuries and offered prayers. It is one of the most famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites from around the world.

The Buddha’s all-seeing-eyes are on each side symbolizing awareness. There are 13 stages to the canopy. At ground level there is a brick wall behind copper prayer wheels which has 147 niches and 108 images of the meditative Buddha inset.

Swayambhunath Temple

Find peace and prayers on Swayambhunath’s little hillock in north-western Kathmandu Valley. It is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage site in Nepal. Visitors for whom the name was a tongue twister from the 1970s have called it “Monkey Temple.” Swayambhunath, overlooks most areas of the valley offering a panoramic view of the city to tourists. The stupa has for centuries stood as a symbol of faith. And unity with Hindu temples and deities represented in this Buddhist site. From this point the glory of Kathmandu Valley is said to have begun.

Extremely steep stone steps leading up to the sanctuary are quite a challenge. But there’s also a motorway going up almost to the top where it’s a short walk from. Swayambhu is visited by a large number of Buddhists and Hindus alike all day. Perhaps the best place in Nepal to observe religious harmony is this shrine. The largest crowds of people are seen here on the birthday of Buddha which usually falls every year in May.

Resting on a hillock 3 km west of Kathmandu, Swayambhunath is one of Nepal’s most saintly Buddhist stupas. It is said to have evolved spontaneously when the valley was formed more than 2,000 years ago from a primordial lake. 

Literally, Swayambhu means “self-existing one.” Believed to date back to 460 A.D. It was founded by King Manadeva, and had become a major center of Buddhism by the 13th century. Legend has it that Swayambhu was born from a lotus flower which once bloomed in the middle of a lake which once spread across the Kathmandu Valley. 

The Monkey Temple 

Nepal’s largest Sakyamuni Buddha image sits on a high pedestal on Swayambhu’s western border next to the Ring Road. A temple dedicated to Manjushree or Saraswati-the goddess of learning-is located behind the hilltop. The stupa complex is filled with chaityas, statues, and shrines of the Buddhist and Hindu deities. Base of the hill is lined by prayer wheels and deities, almost completely. Although, Devotees can always be seen wandering around the Stupa. most of the area of this temple we find monkey. So It is known as monkey temple.