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Half day city sightseeing Kathmandu & Swayambhunath: Side by side the modern streets and buildings is the old city, with its Patan & Tibetan Refugee Camp: Patan (“city of a thousand golden roofs”), 5 km from Kathmandu across Bagmati River, is the oldest city in the valley. Flourishing even during Emperor Ashoka’s visit in 250 BC, it remains the best palace to see Buddhist and Hindu temples and traditional Newari artisans at work. Highlights include the centuries-old Durbar Square palace; Krishna Mandir with its fine relief depictions of scenes form the Mahabharatta and Ramayana epic; the 14th century Mahabaudha Temple with a Thousand Buddhas embossed in bricks; the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar ; and the five story Kumbeshwar Temple. A worthwhile visit can be made toe the Tibetan refugee settlement and their reputed handicraft center. Passhupatinath & Baudhnath: On the bank of the holy Bagmati north of Kathmandu stands the holiest Hindu temple in Nepal. Pashupatinath, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is also a site for Hindu cremations. It is visited yearly by throngs of Indian and Nepali pilgrims during the Shivaratri Festival in February / March. Not for off is Boudhnath, possibly the worlds largest stupa and great veneration to Bhuddhists. Around the stupa is a community of Tibetans, their monasteries and their bazaar. Bhaktapur & Thimi: Known also as Bhadgaon, “City of devotees,” the third ancient city of the valley has an ambience of the 17th century with just a whiff of the present. The best sights are the Durbar Square; the 15th century palace with 55 exquisitely carved windows; the beautifully proportioned five story Nyatapola Temple; the Golden Gate of the Goddess Taleju; and the golden statue of the 17th century King Bhupatindra Malla. Nearby is the local of Thimi. Which is produces the finest pottery in the valley. Budhanilkantha: Here lies a 15-foot long statue of Vishnu reclined in a centuries-old square pool on the sculpted coils of a snake. The king, also regarded as a Vishnu incarnate, cannot cast eyes on the image, but there is an equally fine replica of it at the Balaju Water Gardens, which the king can visit. |
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superb examples of medieval are and architecture, as seen in the Durbar Square palace – and – temple complex guarded by the Monkey God Hamuman: the temple residence of the Royal Kumari or the living Goddess; the 12th century Kasthamandap building after which Kathmandu was named; the 14th century Taleju Temple; and kal Bhairav, the fearsome black statue that represents Lord Shiva’s wrathful aspect. Also visit Swayambhunath stupa – believed to be more than 2,000 years old – atop a hill clustered with Buddhist monasteries overlooking Kathmandu.