KATHMANDU CULTURAL & HERITAGE TOUR Overview
HIGHLIGHTS:
Experience Kathmandu city from a modern hub to ancient historical sites.
Tour of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites of great charm and beauty.
Explore the ancient Swyambhunath, Pashupatinath, and Bouddhanath.
Exciting tour amidst the historical monuments of the royal palace and courtyards.
Tour of the best ancient landmarks that Kathmandu city has to offer.”
Short Tour Profile:
Mode of Tour: In the best hotels and Lodges on tour.
Tour Grade: Leisure to Moderate with short walks.
Areas of Tour: Kathmandu city, famous landmarks.
Tour Duration: A full-day package tour of 5-6 hours with a lunch break.
THE BEST SEASONS FOR KATHMANDU CULTURAL & HERITAGE TOUR:
The best seasons are spring, from March to May, and autumn/fall, which begins from September to November. Interested travelers can visit all year round, except for the summer/monsoon time of mid-June to August.
During the springtime, most days are bright with longer sunny days, but it can get cloudy sometimes in the afternoons. The late afternoons, nights, and mornings are cooler; the right time to visit is when wildflowers are in seasonal bloom.
The next best season is autumn/fall, with bright sun, to enjoy the views of snow-capped peaks. Days are short with limited sunlight hours, cold mornings, afternoons, and nighttime.
Enjoy the tour during winter also, most days are crystal clear for views, and a pleasant tour. Cold temperatures occur during the mornings, late afternoon, and nighttime. But an enjoyable winter season despite the cold months of December to February. Sunrise is late, from 5:30 -6 a.m., and gets dark by 5 p.m., but with a clear, bright, starry night sky.
OVERVIEWS:
Kathmandu Cultural & Heritage Tour takes you around the ancient monuments of Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, and Stupas. Kathmandu is located in a fertile valley close to the lap of the Central Himalayas towards the north.
The city and valley are surrounded by tiers of green rolling hills dotted with farm villages and terraces. Although a semi-modern and metropolitan city, it retains its old-time glory of the Hindu and Buddhist monuments.
Kathmandu Cultural and Heritage Tour provides the opportunity to experience the Hindu and Buddhist cultural heritages, the main religions of Nepal.
The tour led by our expert city guide will show you the wonders of Nepal’s ancient history. In ancient times, Kathmandu Valley was a huge lake, drained by the saint Manjushree. Then, slowly, the people around the country began to settle in this fertile valley. Kathmandu Valley had three main kingdoms: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. Kathmandu city was established around 723 AD by the King Gunakamadeva. Later, it became the capital of Nepal in the 18th Century after the Shah dynasty united all Nepal into one country.
Kathmandu has an ancient historical and religious background, a mosaic of various cultures, and colorful festivals. Kathmandu Cultural and Heritage Tour leads you to visit famous monuments, listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
It is a great and exciting tour to experience the ancient cultures, impressive architecture, and intricate arts.
Day Itinerary:
From 9 a.m. onwards to 3 p.m.
Start the exciting day tour visiting places of great interest listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Having breakfast, carrying the needful items for about
6 hours of a guided sightseeing tour around Kathmandu city and its famous landmarks.
A short drive to the main city area, the guide leads you towards the historical
Durbar Square. Steeped in medieval era monuments of temples, a royal courtyard, and a palace. The tour takes you around the old palace of the Malla period to the late Shah Monarch.
Places of interest around Durbar Square:
Temple and the Resident of Kumari, the famous Living Goddess.
Taleju Temple was built by King Mahindra Malla in 1,549 A.D.
Gigantic figure of Kal Bhairav, the God of Destruction.
Basantapur Durbar, or Nautalle Durbar built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah.
Coronation Platform (Nasal Chowks).
Hall of Public audience (Gaddi Baithak)
Kasthamandap Temple, built from the wood of a single tree, the name Kathmandu is derived from Kasthamandap Temple.
Statue of King Pratap Malla, Big Bell-big Drums, and Jaganath Temple.
Tour of Swyambhunath, Pashupatinath Temple, and Bouddhanath:
From Kathmandu, the old Durbar Square is a short drive to Swyambhunath, located on a green hill within the cool shade of a small forest. The oldest Buddhist Stupa, more than 2,600 years old, with wonderful views of Kathmandu valley and the city.
After an interesting time at Swyambhunath, a famous landmark of Nepal, the next tour is a short drive to the holy temple of Pashupatinath. The holiest of all holy sites of Hinduism, the temple of Lord Shiva, one of the main Gods.
A beautiful temple with a golden pagoda roofed with silver doors, located on the bank of the Baghmati River.
Observe the devotees and pilgrims’ prayer ceremony, after an exciting time at Pashupatinath, a short drive to Bouddhanath.
Visit the world’s largest dome Stupa with four cardinal sides, with the mystical eyes of Lord Buddha. The whole area of Bouddhanath is lively with a circular market. With time at Bouddhanath for lunch, stop in one of its many good rooftop restaurants, and have lunch facing the large Stupa of Bouddhanath.
From Bouddhanath Stupa, having an excellent lunch, back to the hotel after a great, wonderful time around the Kathmandu Cultural & Heritage Tour.
Please Note:
Interested travelers can extend the tour by visiting more of the historical and scenic places around the outskirts of Kathmandu city. Likewise, the Narayanthan or Buddhanilkanta, lies a sleeping Vishnu on a bed of serpents.
The White Monastery or Seto Gompa, ride a cable to the Chandragiri Hill scenic park. Chandragiri Hill is famous for panoramic views of Kathmandu city and the Himalayan range of peaks.
Have Questions?
