Travel Guide

Excursion and Tourism Opportunity in Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Valley is full of tourist interest and among the world top destination for travel. Kathmandu Valley is well known for religious places coupled with the art and architecture. Some of short interest near from the proposed venue are as follows:

Swayambhunath is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley , west of Kathmandu city. Find peace and prayers on the little hillock of Swaymbhunath in the northwest of the Kathmandu Valley. Also known as the “Monkey Temple” among visitors from abroad, Swayambhunath sits atop its hill, overlooking most parts of the valley. This is a good place to catch panoramic views of the city. The site itself has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries. The glory of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started from this point. Resting on a hillock 5.5 km west of the proposed venue, Swayambhunath is one of the holiest Buddhist Chaityas in Nepal. It is said to have evolved spontaneously when the valley was created out of a primordial lake more than 2,000 years ago. This stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal and has numerous shrines and monasteries on its premises.

Bouddhanath Stupa (UNESCO World Heritage)

Boudhanath is a stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Located about 5 km from the proposed venue and northeastern outskirts of Kathmandu, the stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. Take an early morning or evening stroll around the inspiring white dome buzzing with energy; observe the devout passersby, light a butter lamp and send a prayer where you wish, look around for souvenirs, or observe all from a nearby rooftop restaurant, coffee in hand. The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. With countless monasteries surrounding it, Boudhanath is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. Built in the shape of a mandala designed to replicate the Gyangtse of Tibet, the stupa was renovated by Licchhavi rulers in the 8th century. The location of the stupa is interesting as it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet and it was here that Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for centuries.

Bhaktapur  Durbar Square and Around (UNESCO World Heritage):

Bhaktapur is an ancient Newa city in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal, about 13 km from the capital city, Among the three major cities of the Kathmandu Valley, Bhaktapur, to this date, is the living representation of how the entire Kathmandu Valley would have looked like during the medieval periods. The city is celebrated for its glorious architecture; sky-high temples built in pagoda style – which is believed to be the stairway to the heaven, fine clay pottery, and massive royal courtyards whose existence date back to the 12th century, where devotees, still, celebrate their pre-historic festivals by equal amount of gusto and passion.

Patan Durbar Square and Around (UNESCO World Heritage):

The ancient royal palace of Patan faces on to magnificent Durbar Sq. This concentrated mass of temples is perhaps the most visually stunning display of Newari architecture to be seen in Nepal. Temple construction in the square went into overdrive during the Malla period (14th to 18th centuries), particularly during the reign of King Siddhinarsingh Malla (1619–60). It’s well worth at least a half-day trip from Kathmandu.

Patan Durbar Square is situated at the center of the city of Lalitpur in Nepal. It is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of its attractions is the ancient royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.

The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks. There are many temples and idols in the area. The main temples are aligned opposite of the western face of the palace. The entrance of the temples faces east, towards the palace. There is also a bell situated in the alignment beside the main temples.^[3] The Square also holds old Newari residential houses. There are other temples and structures in and around Patan Durbar Square built by the Newa People.

Basantpur Durbar Square and Around (UNESCO World Heritage)

Basantapur is the heart of Kathmandu city. It carries a lot of cultural and historical significance for the people of Nepal. Known for its rich culture and arts, Basantapur is the hub for tourists and visitors. The Kathmandu Durbar Square held the palaces of the Malla and Shah kings who ruled over the city. Along with these palaces, the square surrounds quadrangles, revealing courtyards and temples. It is known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the palace.

Basantapur Durbar Square is the heart and soul of Basantapur. It is one of the three Durbar Squares situated in the Kathmandu valley. Enlisted as a UNESCO cultural heritage site, this durbar square has attracted a lot of tourists from across the globe. There are various temples and monuments inside the Durbar Square such as Taleju Temple, (which is only open during Nawami of Vijaya Dashain) the bell, Hanuman Dhoka, Kumari Chowk.

The preference for the construction of royal palaces at this site dates back to as early as the Licchavi period in the third century. Even though the present palaces and temples have undergone repeated and extensive renovations and nothing physical remains from that period. Names like Gunapo and Gupo, which are the names referred to the palaces in the square in early scriptures, imply that the palaces were built by Gunakamadev, a King ruling late in the tenth century. When Kathmandu City became independent under the rule of King Ratna Malla (1484–1520), the palaces in the square became the Royal Palaces for its Malla Kings. When Prithvi Narayan Shah invaded the Kathmandu Valley in 1769, he favored the Kathmandu Durbar Square for his palace. Other subsequent Shah kings continued to rule from the square until 1896 when they moved to the Narayan Hiti Palace.

Changunarayan Temple (UNESCO World Heritage)

The Changu Narayan Temple has a history that dates back to around 3000 years. Perched on a hill, the temple stands majestically over the rice fields of Bhaktapur, around 22 km away from Kathmandu.

The temple of Changu Narayan was originally built in the 4^th century during the Lichhavi Dynasty. It was rebuilt in 1702 after a major fire occurred. The Changu Narayan temple is a double-roofed temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayan. The temple is decorated with ten incarnations of the Narayan. Stone lions guard all the four doors of the temple.

Mountain Flight

Taking a mountain flight is one of the most exhilarating things one can do in Nepal. Easily arranged, visitor can go eye-to-eye with Mt. Everest and world’s highest peaks within minutes! Nepal is the home to the greatest range of mountains in the world and understandable many visitors come to Nepal to see them. However, not everyone is a trekker or a mountaineer or has the time to walk into the mountains, so what are the options for these visitors to enjoy the highest points on the planet? Mountain flights! Even just arriving in Nepal during the hours of daylight can provide the visitors with their first glimpse of the high Himalayas, whether it is arriving from the west past Dhaulagiri and the Annapurna range or from the north past Everest, Makalu and Kanchenjunga, the horizon will be a jagged line of high snowy peaks stretching far into the distance.

Chandragiri Hills and Cable Car

Chandragiri Hill provides panoramic views of Kathmandu Valley and the Himalayan ranges from Annapurna to Everest. Chandragiri hill is one of the four passes of Kathmandu, and so is connected with the unification of Nepal by Prithvi Narayan Shah. The Bhaleshwar Mahadev temple of Lord Shiva is on top of the hill. A cable car trip is the shortest means to reach Chandragiri Hills’ top station. The 2.5 km long cable car ensures a smooth and safe journey, all the while giving you an up-close view of the untainted wilderness. The 2.5 km cable car ride takes 9 minutes to reach the Chandragiri Hills’ top station.

Nagarkot: Hill Station

Nagarkot is a village in central Nepal, at the rim of the Kathmandu Valley. It’s known for its views of the Himalayas, including Mount Everest to the northeast, which are especially striking at sunrise and sunset. The surrounding scrubland is laced with trails and home to many butterflies. To the west is the ancient, pagoda-style Changunarayan Temple, dedicated to Vishnu and a Hindu pilgrimage site.

Dhulikhel: Hill Station and Trekking Trail 

Dhulikhel is one of the popular places from which to observe the high Himalaya. From the edge of the ridge, a stunning panorama of peaks unfolds, from Langtang Lirung (7227m) in the west, through Dorje Lakpa (6966m) to the huge bulk of Gauri Shankar (7134m) and nearby Melungtse (7181m), and as far as Numbur (5945m) in the east. The most common itinerary is two nights with a side trip to the sacred stupa at Namobuddha, a 12km drive or three-hour walk south. Important information for participant, they can live in Dhulikhel and join the APrIGF event in downtown.

Shivpuri National Park: Sanctuary

The northern part of the Kathmandu Valley rises to the sprawling forests of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, upgraded to national park status in 2002 to protect the valley’s main water source, as well as 177 species of birds and numerous rare orchids. This is one of the last areas of primary woodland left in the valley, and the forest is alive with monkeys, and maybe even leopards and bears.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) is situated in the north side of Kathmandu valley. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is the ninth national park in Nepal and was established in 2002.

Excursion & Tourism Opportunity near Kathmandu (Outside Valley)

Lumbini, the birth place lord Buddha (UNESCO World Heritage)

The Buddist participants will have opportunity to visit Lumbinī, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. This Buddhist pilgrimage site in located just 280 kelometer far from the proposed site. It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in 563 BCE.[1][2] Gautama, who achieved Enlightenment some time around 528 BCE,[3][4] became the Buddha and founded Buddhism. Lumbini is one of many magnets for pilgrimage that sprang up in places pivotal to the life of the Buddha.

Mayadevi Temple is one of the important sites in the Lumbini Garden with many historians and archaeologists referring to it as the place of birth of Lord Buddha. Inscriptions on the Ashoka Pillar also refers the spot as his birthplace. It is said that here the newly born Prince took his first seven steps and gave a peace message to humanity.

Pokhara Lake Valley

Pokhara is the second largest tourist destination after Kathmandu which is just 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of the capital Kathmandu. The altitude varies from 827 metres (2,713 feet) in the southern part to 1,740 metres (5,710 feet) in the north. The Annapurna Range, with three out of the ten highest mountains in the world  Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Manaslu — is within 15–35 mi (24–56 km) of the Pokhara valley.

Pokhara is considered the tourism capital of Nepal, being a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit through the Annapurna Conservation Area region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas. The city is also home to a large number of the elite Gurkha soldiers.

Mountaineering and Trekking

Mountain climbing in Nepal instantly became a passionate adventure treat for mountaineers after the country first opened doors to climbers back in 1949. Despite all the hardship of mountaineering, adventurers have been fighting their way through the summit in a hope of making their dream of adventure come true. Gleaming like a silver majestic fortress, Nepal boasts of having eight of the world’s highest fourteen peaks over 8000m, including the highest of them all, Mt. Everest. Equipped with top notch equipment, highly experienced team of Sherpa climbers, Explore Himalaya has led hundreds of Mountaineering Expeditions to 8000+ meter peaks and innumerable trips to trekking peaks below 6500 meters.