KATHMANDU HERITAGE TOUR

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What's Included?

• International Airport transfer (Pick up and drop from Airport Terminal)
• Deluxe accommodation in Kathmandu at 3 star category Hotel
• Healthy breakfast
• Farewell dinner in Kathmandu 
• All ground transportation
• An experienced English-speaking guide for tour
• Entry fees of the monasteries and applicable charges
• Other government applicable charges
• Comprehensives medical KIT

What's Not Included?

• Meals in Kathmandu City
• Transfer in/out hotel
• Travel insurance, personal medical expenses and rescue evacuation
• Expenses incurred towards usage of landlines, mobiles phones and internet.
• Personal gear.
• Any extra expenses arising out of various/unforeseen situations like natural calamities, landslides, political disturbances, strikes, changes in government regulations, etc.
• Items of personal nature, laundry expenses, tips.
• Nepal entry visa fee (Visa's easy to acquire upon arrival).
• Any extra services, products, offers or activities which are not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Any other item not included in “THE PACKAGE COST INCLUDES” section

ABOUT THE SIGHTSEEING PLACES

BOUDHNATH STUPA:

Boudhanath,  is one of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu, visible as soon as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport. It is the Largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley.

The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. With countless monasteries surrounding it, Boudhanath is the centre 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.

On each side are a pair of the all-seeing-eyes of the Buddha symbolizing awareness. The canopy has 13 stages. At ground level there is a brick wall with 147 niches and 108 images of the meditational Buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels.

PASHUPATIMATH TEMPLE:

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. Built in the 5th century and later renovated by Malla kings, the site itself is said to have existed from the beginning of the millennium when a Shiva lingam was discovered here.

The largest temple complex in Nepal, it stretches on both sides of the Bagmati River which is considered holy by Hindus.  The main pagoda style temple has a gilded roof, four sides covered in silver, and exquisite wood carvings. Temples dedicated to several other Hindu and Buddhist deities surround the the temple of Pashupatinath.

Cremation of Hindus take place on raised platforms along the river. Only Hindus are allowed through the gates of the main temple. The inner sanctum has a Shiva lingam and facing the temple sits the largest statue of Nandi the bull, the vehicle of Shiva. There are hundreds of Shiva lingams within the compound.

Pashupatinath Temple is one of the eight UNESCO cultural Heritage Sites of the Kathmandu Valley. It is also a cremation site where the last rites of Hindus are performed. The rituals of cremation is not for the faint hearted; still visitors are seen watching curiously from across the river from the hillside. Visit Pashupatinath Temple for an out-of-this-world experience.

SWAYAMBUNATH TEMPLE

Find peace and prayers on the little hillock of Swaymbhunath in the northwest of Kathmandu Valley. Visitors for whom the name was a tongue twister have called it "Monkey Temple" from the 1970s. Swayambhu, overlooks most parts of the valley giving visitors a panoramic view of the city. The stupa has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries with Hindu temples and deities incorporated in this Buddhist site. The glory of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started from this point. 

Resting on a hillock 3 KM west of Kathmandu Swayambhu is one of the holiest Buddhist stupas 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. 

Swayambhu literally means "self-existent one". Believed to date back to 460 A.D., it was built by King Manadeva and by the 13th century, it had become an important center of Buddhism. Legend has it that Swayambhu was born out of a lotus flower that bloomed in the middle of a lake that once spread across the Kathmandu Valley once was. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal sits on a high pedestal on the western boundary of Swayambhu beside the Ring Road. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri or Saraswati - the Goddess of learning. Chaityas, statues and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities fill the stupa complex. The base of the hill is almost entirely surrounded by prayer wheels and deities. Devotees can be seen circumambulating the stupa at all times.

Exceedingly steep stone steps that lead up to the shrine is quite a challenge. However, there is also a motor road going up almost to the top from where it is a short walk. A large number of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swayambhu throughout the day. This shrine is perhaps the best place to observe religious harmony in Nepal. The largest crowds of people are seen here on Buddha's birthday which usually falls in May each year.

KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE

Kathmandu Durbar Square in front of the old royal palace of the former Kathmandu Kingdom is one of three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Several buildings in the Square collapsed due to a major earthquake on 25 April 2015.

PATAN

Patan Durbar Square is situated at the centre 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 attraction is the ancient royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.

BHAKTAPUR

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.

Bhaktapur used to be the ruling throne of the Kathmandu Valley until the king, Yakshya Malla, in 1482, divided the kingdom between his three sons, eventually fading the strength of unity and losing the nation to the Shah dynasty from Gorkha. But, before losing the kingdom to Shah kings, Bhaktapur was renowned for its Malla Yuddha; a fierce combat between two wrestlers. Hence, one can observe muscular craved wrestlers, as the trademark of the city, into various temples of as the guardian of the city and of the Gods.

Bhaktapurians are proud inhabitants of their city and culture. Most of the women would be seen in their traditional, Newari, attire, who would do their laundry in public - but artistically crafted - taps, farmers would be seen here and there carrying vegetables, as the city is also known as Bhadgaon, which means the City of Rice. This city has preserved the Newari value as a mother would keep their children safe, so it would be not hard to feel the aroma of ancient Newari culture once you reach the Bhaktapur.

The city is considered as the neat city, compared to other two cities, where tradition and modernization walk in sustainability.  Bhaktapur city is one of the beautiful UNESCO Heritage Sites of Nepal.

CHANGUNARAYAN TEMPLE

The ancient Hindu temple of Changu Narayan is located on a high hilltop that is also known as Changu or Dolagiri. The temple was surrounded by champak tree forest and a small village known as Changu. The temple is located in Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur District, Nepal.

This shrine is dedicated to lord Visnu and held in special reverence by the Hindu people. This temple is considered to be the oldest temple in the history of Nepal. The Kashmiri king gave his daughter, Champak, in marriage to the prince of Bhaktapur. Changu Narayan Temple is named after her.

GOOD TO KNOW:

Kathmandu heritage tour is designed to introduce the major UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) heritage of Kathmandu valley. There are 7 UNESCO heritage sites in Kathmandu valley and they are Patan, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu Darbar Square, Swoyambhunath, Bouddhanath, Pashupatinath and Chagunarayan. 

HOW TO SAY HELLO AND THANK YOU IN NEPALI

Many Nepalese know Hello and Thank you, but hearing you speak in their language is still a sweet sound of respect. When saying Hello in Nepal, you say “Namaste” and fold your hands into a prayer.  Thank you is “Danyavad”.

HOW TO GET A NEPAL VISA UPON ARRIVAL

Once you arrive at the airport, please follow these simple procedures for Tourist Visa on Arrival.

1^st Step. Fill in ' Arrival Card ' ...

2^nd Step. Make payment at the bank according to your visa requirement ( 15/30/90 Days) ...

3^rd Step. Proceed to the Immigration Desk with your online form, payment receipts and your passport.

THE SPOKEN LANGUAGE IN NEPAL IS NEPALI AND THE SECOND LANGUAGE IS ENGLISH

Nepali is an Indo-Aryan language similar to Hindi,  is written in Devanagari script and is the first language of Nepal. Indian travelers should understand enough to get around. English is a secondary language spoken mostly in large cities like Kathmandu. Outside Kathmandu, English is spoken a little less, but getting around is still manageable. Simply smile with a Namaste and the Nepalese will help you in any way they can.

AVOID DRINKING TAP WATER

Tap water is not filtered or purified in Nepal. Thus, tap water is often boiled before consumption. It’s best to buy bottled water. It is relatively inexpensive. Avoid any fruits and veggies foods washed in tap water.

ROADS AND DUST

Roads in Nepal can occasionally be in disrepair, due in part to the earthquake. The government is said to be working on improving them. Still, you’ll find large potholes and a lot of dust, especially in the more urban areas of Kathmandu. You’ll see Nepalese wearing face masks when driving on the road. Women cover their faces with saris or scarves.

SQAT TOILETS ARE COMMON IN NEPAL

While westernized hotels and restaurants and tourist attractions have western toilets, you’ll find more local joints and public restrooms bearing squat toilets. 

AVOID STREET FOOD

Nepalese street food has been known to cause many bold adventurers a case of traveler’s stomach issues. Refrigeration is poor in Nepal so street food isn’t always refrigerated and food can be reused after a day of being out.  Stick to well-maintained and busy restaurants.

BLACK OUT IN NEPAL

In the past, Nepal had regular blackout periods, which meant most of the city would go dark and don lanterns or power generators to keep business flowing. Today, the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has turned on the lights, making blackouts a thing of the past. But the newfound electricity has made Nepalese people suspect that the NEA purposely left them in the dark all these years, as a ploy to force them to invest in power generators. 

Kathmandu is fairly lit and most westernized hotels and restaurants have backup power generators for traveler’s convenience. In more remote areas and trekking trips, take a flashlight or head lamp.