Kathmandu World Heritage & Scenic Himalayas
3 Nights / 4 Days

Destination: Kathmandu Cultural World Heritage Sites and scenic Himalayan views with sunset and sunrise from Nagarkot hilltop.

Tour Season: September-May,
Trip Grade: Easy

Kathmandu Valley's Highlights:

Welcome to Nepal, the land of adventure! Kathmandu Valley, the capital of Nepal, is situated at 4,423 ft. above sea level. The valley is surrounded by semi-green hills, terraced fields and towering snow-capped peaks in the backgrounds. Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan are the major towns in the valley. All three are of great historic, cultural and artistic interests. The architectural history of the valley is said to have begun with the Lichhavi and the Malla kings. Today, the ancient monuments and temples are the center of attraction for visitors, particularly the seven World Heritage Sites, designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Please find brief descriptions of each site in the itinerary below.

Not only the ancient temples and monuments that make the valley interesting but also the diverse cultural groups that make their home here. It is the base camp for all visitors to Nepal and a perfect place to explore history and culture of this Himalayan Kingdom. Nepal being an undeveloped country, its shape and face is changing daily bringing environmental degradation, and is affecting the world heritage sites. The influence of modernization is engulfing the ancient treasures of Nepal. Therefore, we request the visitors to contribute their good ideas on how to save the world heritage sites of Kathmandu Valley by improving its environment.

We offer fine quality hotels and resorts in Kathmandu and its surrounding hills when you are on our tour programs. The valley rims, Nagarkot and Dhulikhel are perfect places to escape the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. From these hilltops, you can enjoy striking mountain views, sun set and sun rise over the high Himalayas, and breathe fresh air in the ambience of the tallest mountains in the world. We organize treks of various lengths in the surrounding hills to provide you opportunities to visit local villages to explore the local cultures. People who plan to spend more than couple days in the Kathmandu Valley should consider these treks.

Itinerary: Kathmandu World Heritage & Scenic Himalayas 4 Days:

Day 1 Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal and the Eyes of Buddha
Upon arrival, meet at Kathmandu Airport and transfer to Boudha, a giant Buddhist stupa with eyes looking in four cardinal directions and experience monastic lifestyles. Walk at leisure around the stupa and visit the adjacent monastery.

Bouddha Stupa:
Bouddha Stupa is located thirteen kilometers north of downtown Kathmandu or about four kilometers from Pashupati area, and is one of the largest stupas in Nepal. It is said that the Bouddha stupa was built by the Lichhavi King Man Dev in the fifth century. Ever since then Tibetan merchants and Buddhist pilgrims have rested and offered prayers here.

Monks, nuns and lay people alike walk around the stupa with prayer wheels in their hands, whispering "OM MANE PADME HUN" meaning "hail to the jewel in the lotus" while extreme devotees undergo rituals of prostration to the Lord Buddha. The Bouddha area is a unique place with full of visual attractions. Vividly colored thankas (tantric Buddhist paintings), hand-woven carpets, jewelry, masks, khukri knives, ready made garments of different ethnic groups, and many other modern and antique crafts. The visitors and residents around the stupa are as varied as the physical objects one will encounter. The Tamangs were the orinal inhabitants. Then, refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s and many settled around Bouddhanath. Today, different ethnic groups, mostly followers of Buddhism, make their homes here.

After the tour, transfer to hotel and at leisure until dinner.
Evening-Nepali dinner and folk cultural show.
Meals: B

Overnight at hotel.
Meals: D

Day 2 Swayambunath Stupa-Bhaktapur-Patan-Nargarkot
Today, we wake up early, have breakfast and check out from the hotel. 7:30 AM depart to visit Swayambunath Stupa or better known as monkey temple. We will tour the stupa complex and monasteries. Then, we drive to Patan, Bhaktapur and tour until lunch. After lunch, we drive to the famous hilltop of Nagarkot, and spent the night there for spectacular sunset and sunrise over the Himalayas and the valley.

Swayambu Stupa:
It is said that the history of the Kathmandu Valley began with Swayambu, "selfcreating". According to legends, the Buddhist saint Manjushree came across a beautiful lake during his journey in the Valley. He discovered a lotus that emitted brilliant light at the center of the lake. So, he cut a gorge in the southeastern hill (known as Chobar gorge) and drained the water to worship the lotus. People settled in the dried up lake and called it Kathmandu, while the hilltop of the selfcreating Lord has become a holy place. The Valley being a lake bed is actually not only a fable, but a geologic reality. Clay mines and rich soil bear evidence of the valley's under water past.

Swayambu is not only the major landmark of the Valley but also one of the best places to observe the religious harmony of Nepal. Ancient mini stupas and shrines of both Bhudhists and Hindus fill up the stupa complex. This stupa is among the most ancient in this part of the world and its worshippers are diverse. A monastery adjecent to the stupa houses the largest image of Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal and many stone sculptures of different deities. There numerous monasteries in the vicinity of the stupa with huge prayer wheels, fine Bhuddhist paintings, and special butter lamps which can be lite after offering a monetary donation. Since we will not spare time to visit all the monasteries, we will visit the main monastery in the stupa complex. On a clear day, this hilltop stupa complex offers excellent views of the Kathmandu Valley and the towering snow-capped peaks in the background.

Patan City and Durbar Square-The City of Beauty & Artistry:
We drive to Patan, the ancient city, also known as "the city of Beauty", is situated on the southern bank of the Bagmati River about five kilometers southeast of Kathmandu, a city of artists, craftsmen and metal workers. Full of Buddhist monuments, Hindu temples with fine bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Patan's Durbar Square has many famous sites and unique architecture. Krishna Mandir in the Square was built to honor an incarnation of Vishnu and is Nepal's best example of stone architecture. The best place to see fine metal sculpture is Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, the "Golden Temple", a Newar monastery, which contains wall paintings, fourteenth century statues, and scriptures. Its facades is mostly covered in bronze.
We take a leisurely walk and tour through this peaceful city with full of attractions to keep us busy.

Bhaktapur, the city of Devotees.
Here, we walk through the Palace square, visit the palace museum, monuments and the pottery kiln. The name Bhaktapur, means the "city of devotees", and was founded in 889 AD by King Anand Dev. It is the most enchanting of Kathmandu Valley's three ethnically Newar cities. Newar art and architecture of the Malla periods from about 12th to 18th century are among the best attractions here. The palace complex in the middle of the city portrays the prosperity of the Malla years and the detailed craftsmenship of the period. The Palace of fifty-five Windows stands in the square and was home to many of Bhaktapur's kings. The square's gate was erected by King Bhupatindra Malla (1696- 1722) and was among the biggest in the Valley. Among other monuments in Bhaktapur, the big bell, the Nyatapola, the golden Gate, the Bhairab Temple, the five-tiered temple, the Dattatreya Square with its wood-carving, and metalwork museum are the most interesting places.

Bhaktapur is not as modernized as Kathmandu and Patan and stands in sharp contrast. Therefore, visitors can still observe people making clay sculptures and utilities in the city alleys. Its elaborate ancient monuments and the surrounding valley with beautifuly terraced farmlands make Bhaktapur a unique destination to visitors.

Bhaktapur.Lunch break :
After lunch, we drive to Nagarkot: At an elevation of 2,099 meters above sea level, this hilltop, rural resort town is ideal place for viewing spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the Himalayas. On a clear day, Mount Everest and many of the other world famous peaks can be seen from here; also beautiful layout of the Kathmandu Valley below.
Overnight in Nagarkot:
Meals: BL

Day 3 Pashupatinath Temple and Kathmandu Durbar Square Tour
Very early morning wake up to see sunrise of the Himalayas. Then, breakfast at the resort and drive to Pashupatinath, the Holiest place for the Hindus. Pashupatinath Hindu temple and Kathmandu Durbar Squares, the old royal palace complex, are cultural world heritage sites declared by UNESCO.

7:30 AM drive to Pashupatinath Temple sightseeing and then to Kathmandu Durbar Square to visit the ancient palace complex.

Pashupati Temple:
This temple is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal. The shrine of Lord Shiva has existed for at least fifteen hundred years in the Kathmandu Valley. A temple dedicated to Shiva existed at this site in 879 AD. However, the present temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1697. A gold-plated roof, silver doors, and woodcarvings of the finest quality decorate the pagoda construction.

Rajrajeswari Temple built in 1407, Kailash with lingas more than 1,400 years old, Goraknath temple, the courtyard of Biswarup, rows of Shiva shrines and Hindu pilgrims from all over South Asia offering worship to Shiva, the Hindu cremation grounds known as Arya Ghat along the Bagmati River are some of the attractive sites that we visit on this tour. You may encounter cremation along the bank of the river. Please refrain from taking pictures of such scene as you might offend the mourning relatives.

We will have lunch in Kathmandu Durbar Square area. After lunch, we continue tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square and visit the royal museum.

Kathmandu Durbar Square:
The numerous monuments in Kathmandu's Durbar Square are almost too much for the eye to take in. The fearsome Kal Bhairab, the Red Monkey god, the house of the living Goddess Kumari, not to mention hundreds of erotic carvings-only begin to catalog the square's cultural imagery!

The buildings here are the greatest achievements of the Mallla dynasty. They resulted from the great rivalry between the three realms of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan. According to legend, the Valley was divided among the children of Yaksya Malla. His children and grandchildren began an artistic warfare trying to outdo each other in ever grander styles. As a result, the architectures of these cities look similar. But the wood carvings, statues-and architecture in particular-of Kathmandu's Durbar Square are exceptionally fine.

Then, we visit the fine collections of the Royal Museum inside the old palace of Kasthamandap from which the name Kathmandu was derived. Our tour ends after the royal museum; then walk or drive back to the hotel.
Meals: BL

Day 4 Departure from Kathmandu.
Breakfast at the hotel and drive to airport for homeward bound flight.

NEPAL FOR LESS PROMOTION 2004-2005!
TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Tour Cost Includes:
Three nights accommodations in quality hotels in Kathmandu at 2-3 star boutique hotel and quality resorts in Nagarkot on twin sharing and breakfast,
all tour activities as mentioned in the itinerary,
all ground transportation including on arrival and departure,
tour guide service throughout the tour,
entrance fees to monuments visited,
Note: The above tour cost is based 2-3 star quality boutique hotels or similar none star quality hotels.

Tour Cost Does Not Include:
Visa fees, international airfares, airport departure tax, meals not mentioned in the programs, personal expenses, personal insurance, alcoholic and soft beverages, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control such as bad weather, natural disasters, political unrest, accidents and emergency rescue fees. Individual arrivals, such as early arrival and late arrivals are not included in the tour cost and must be paid separate.