Kathmandu – A Handcrafted Expedition!

Upon arrival in Kathmandu, having cleared immigration, collected your luggage and passed through customs, please make your way towards the exit of the terminal building where you will see a bank of people waiting for you. Amongst them will be our representative who will be waiting to greet you with a placard with your name on it. Transfer to the hotel, rest of the day is free or at leisure.

Today morning after breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel for sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city, Swayambhunath & Patan.

Kathmandu City: Here you will visit the temple of the Living Goddess, who acknowledges the greetings of the devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Kasthamandap – the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient residence of the Nepalese Royalty.

The Kumari Goddess: Chosen at the age of four or five, the Kumari Devi is the most important of the several living goddesses in Nepal, selected using very strict criteria, she moves into the temple with her family, leaving only to attain a few festivals each year.

Swayambhunath is one of the most important religious and cultural sites in Nepal and is associated with the birth of the Kathmandu Valley civilization. Approximately 2000 years old, Swayambhunath stupa, is 20 meters in diameter and 32 meters high and is made of brick and earth mounted by a conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt.

Patan or Yala: Patan as it is known today is located on the southern banks of the Bagmati River and is one of the three main cities in Kathmandu Valley. The city is believed to be the first settlement in the Valley and was established by the Kirat dynasty who ruled for more than 1200 years from the 3rd century BC. Patan Durbar square is one of the seven Monument Zones that make up the Kathmandu Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Today morning after breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel for sightseeing tour of Pashupatinath, Boudhanath & Bhaktapur.

Pashupatinath: The temple of Pashupatinath located on the western banks of the Bagmati River on the north-eastern side of Kathmandu, is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimage site in the world. Until recently Nepal was officially a Hindu Kingdom and Pashupatinath, which literally means “Lord of all Animals”, was considered the main protector deity of Nepal. Pashupatinath is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Bouddhanath: With a base of 82 meters in diameter, Bouddhanath is claimed to be the largest Buddhist stupa in the world. Today there are more than 50 monasteries surrounding Bouddhanath which is also one of the seven Monument Zones which make up the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites.

Bhaktapur: One of the three main cities in the Valley and is in reality a medieval city where the Newars, the main inhabitants still follow age old traditions and customs. Established around the 9th century Bhaktapur is known for its fertile land and was still a small farming village when Patan and Kathmandu were already well-established towns. Bhaktapur became the capital of the Valley in 1377 BC during the reign of the Malla dynasty and flourished as a major urban centre from the 15th century onwards. It houses some of the best examples of Nepali craftsmanship on wood and stone such as the Palace of 55 Windows built in 1697, the five storied Nyatapola Temple, the Kashi Biswanath Temple, the Dattatreya Temple among many others. Considered a living museum one can witness ancient traditions carried out even today as they were centuries ago in many areas of the city such as in Potters Square where the local potters use age old techniques to make clay utensils. Bhaktapur is also among the seven Monument Zones that make the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites.