Kathmandu Day Tour

Activity 1: Pickup From Hotel and drive to Patan Durbar Square
Activity 2: Explore Patan and transfer to Boudhanath Stupa
Activity 3: Transfer from Boudhanath Stupa to Pashupatinath Temple and explore Temple complex
Activity 4: Pashupatinath Temple to Swayambhunath Temple
Activity 5: Swayambhunath Temple to Basantapur Durbar Square
Activity 6: Drop back to Hotel from Basantapur Durbar Square

Historical Development of the Kathmandu Valley
According to the Swayambhu Purana, the Kathmandu valley used to be a big lake “Nagdaha” translating to “Lake of Snakes”and its water was drained after Bodhisattva Manjushree cut down the hill of Chobar draining the water within the valley using his flame sword Khadga. After most of the water from the Lake drained the lands of the valley began emerging which was fertile and perfect for agriculture resulting in the movement of the Gopals (Cow Herders) who were the first inhabitants of the valley. The Gopal Dynasty came to an end as the Kirat kings came into power marking the beginning of the Kirat Dynasty as early as 3rd century BC. The number of residents of the valley began growing later on during the 6th century under the Kirat rules and their famous Kirat King Yalamber is also mentioned in the epic of Mahabharat. During the rule of the Lichhavis, the first known temple of Kathmandu valley, the Changunarayan Temple was constructed which is listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Kirat dynasty which ruled for around 700 years came to an end by the hands of King Manadeva which marked the beginning of the Licchavi dynasty. During the Licchavi period the valley was introduced to art and religion and the famous Licchivi King, Amshuverma who married his daughter Bhirkuti to the Tibetan king Tsong Tsen Gampo lead to exponential growth of the valleys economy as trade routes with Tibet were established. Later on, the Licchavi dynasty was overthrown by the Malla kings which began the “golden age for art, culture and architecture in Nepal“. During the Malla dynasty there were highly skilled artisans whose contribution led to the creation of magnificent temples, building, courtyards which shaped the history of Nepal during the Malla Period the iconic landmarks including Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square were also constructed during the golden age of Malla Kingdom. Patan Durbar Square used to serve as the royale abode for the Malla kings for centuries. The Kathmandu valley used to be a single kingdom until the death of King Yaksha Malla after which the kingdom was divided into three separate states Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur/Patan. After 550 years of rule, the Malla dynasty was overthrown by King Prithivi Narayan Shah during the unification campaign of Nepal.

Patan Durbar Square
Patan durbar square is an architectural marvel built in the Newari architectural style which served as the Royal residence of the Malla Dynasty from early 14th century to 19th century AD. Patan durbar square portrays the architectural prowess of the ancient Kingdom and is enlisted among the UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites. Patan Durbar Square is considered as the oldest durbar square among the three durbar squares: Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur durbar square and Patan Durbar square. The ancient city of Patan was previously called “Yala” by its first inhabitants, the Newari. The city later on got the name Lalitpur which translates to “a beautiful place”.  The surrounding of the Patan Durbar Square also boasts a number of intricate temple complexes including Golden Temple (oldest temple of Patan believed to be constructed during the 12th century AD), Baglamukhi Temple and many more. The Patan Museum is also located within the vicinity of Patan Durbar Square filled with intricate monuments including wood carvings, bronze idols, stone carvings and many more.

Boudhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is one of the most revered religious sites for Buddhsim all around the world located at the North-East part of the Kathmandu valley, the Stupa is believed to be constructed during the 5th century AD and brought to its current form/ structure  during the 14th century during the Malla Period. The Stupa according to Buddhist folklore is constructed over the remains of a Buddhist Monk which later became a symbol for peace and enlightenment. The Stupa symbolizes the universe through its massive mandala design. The Stupa stands tall at around 36 M in a dome shape surrounded by 108 small stupas and statues making it one of the biggest stupa of Nepal. At top of the dome the all-seeing eyes of Buddha representing wisdom and a third eye representing spiritual insight are painted on the four faces of the Stupa. The pilgrimage visitors are often seen walking around the Stupa in a clockwise direction chatting their mantras/ prayers and spinning the prayer wheels constructed round the dome of the stupa. The Stupa has been a UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1979 AD.

Pashupatinath Temple
The Pashupatinath Temple constructed on the banks of the holy Bagmati River in Kathmandu is one of the most significant and revered sites for the Hindu community all around the world. The temple is dedicated to the lord of Destruction, Lord Shiva in his Pashupati form meaning the “lord of beasts” and according to the factual data the temple dates back to around 5th century AD but has gone undergone through multiple expansion and renovation processes. The major renovation process took place during the ruling of King Ananta Malla who also added a roof to the temple. The temple attracts devotees all around the world on a daily basis but during the annual festival of Janai Purnima and Maha Shiva Ratri the temple is crowded as thousands of devotees stay in line waiting for their turn from as early as 2 AM.  The spawaling temple complex also includes various shrines and statues. The bank of the Bagmati River also serves as one of the biggest cremation sites of the Hindu community in Nepal as according to the faith of believers the devotees who are cremated there find their path to next life easily.  The temple was enlisted as a UNESCO World heritage site in 1979 AD. The temple also symbolizes Nepal’s deep rooted connection with Hinduism.

Note: The followers of Hinduism are only permitted to enter the main vicinity of the Pashupatinath Temple and non-hindus are not permitted within the vicinity but can explore other parts of the grand temple complex freely.

Swayambhunath Stupa
Swayambhunath Stupa also called the Monkey Temple is one of the most revered and sacred sites of the country, located on top of the Gosringa Hill. The Swayambhunath Temple origin can be traced as back as 5th century AD, However according to various folklores the origin of the Swayambhunath dates back ever further as it is believed that the Stupa was formed when a lotus flower bloomed in the middle of the Lake which covered the entire valley of Kathmandu. The Bodhisattva Manjuri is said to be responsible for draining the water from the valley which he did by cutting down the Chobar hill using his flame sword, Khadga. The site has been serving as one of the pivotal points for Buddhist pilgrimage for centuries and also for the hindu community similarly. The name Swayambhunath means “self-manifested” or “self-born”. The stupa is constructed on a dome shaped structure abode with a golden spire on top of it. The wisdom eyes of the buddha are facing the four cardinal directions symbolizing his omnipresent awareness. The stupa is surrounded by various shrines, temples and statues which are dedicated to some hindu deities including lord Shiva, the God of destruction. The Swayambhunath Stupa is also one beautiful viewpoint overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayas in the back. The iconic landmark has been serving as a center of spiritual practice and Nepalese heritage attracting both pilgrims and tourists. The Stupa has gone through various renovation projects among which mostly took place during “the golden age of art and culture”, the Malla period. The stupa can be accessed by the visitors after climbing a flight of 365 stairs.

Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square has been the center of the major political events of the county for centuries. The Durbar Square had been serving as the Royal residence till the late 19th century after which the royals shifted to the Narayanhiti Royal Palace. The iconic landmark origin dates back to the Licchavi period who ruled from the 4th century to 9th century AD but was developed massively under the Malla Kings. The site has served for major political events including royal coronation, festivals, celebrations as well as massacres which shifted the nation’s trajectory massively. The complex holds various monuments built during the ruling of different dynasties each showcasing unique architectural characteristics. The iconic temples of the site include Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace,  Kumari Ghar (home of the living Goddess), Taleju Temple and many more.  The architectural wonderland was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 AD and has been one of the must visit places for local and international tourists. The restoration process of the damaged monuments are at its final stages as the landmarks were severely damaged during the earthquake of 2015 AD.