Punam Phuyal
Traveling Nepal first let you Step your feet at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). TIA lies in Kathmandu. Each travel agencies offer you to spend some hours or a whole day in Kathmandu Nepal before heading towards your trekking Zone.
Kathmandu is the most developed valley in Nepal. It offers you different pilgrim sites, visiting parks, Gardens, and many more which you should not miss after being in Kathmandu.
The most important as well as popular temple in Hinduism is Pashupatinath. The glory and pride of Nepal, Pashupatinath is the greatest religious site of Hindus all over the world. So, millions of people visit Pashupatinath each year.
The Temple of lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is built in the 5th century by Lichhavi King Prachanda Deva and later renovated by Malla Kings. Each year Pashupatinath Foundation works on retaining its condition. It is said that the Pashupatinath exist from the beginning of Gopal Bamsha, the First Dynasty of Nepal when Shiva Lingam was discovered here during rearing cows in that area.
In the age of the Gopal Dynasty, there was a farmer who always herds cows on Gaushala. He found that one cow gave less milk every day as compared to others. The cow was healthy and used to eat enough grass and water. He starts noticing that cow while raring it in the ground of Gaushala. One day he saw a cow milking in one place near the Bagmati River. He was surprised thinking, why it is doing so? The next day also he saw the same. Then He shared the event with his coworkers and they planned to dig the ground. They convey the message to King. In the presence of the King, farmers dig the ground and found Shiva Lingam under the ground. Then Temple of Lord Shiva was established in the main place.
Pashupatinath is the largest temple complex in Nepal, The Bagmati River flowing from Bagdwar is on both sides of the Pashupati area. The Bagmati river is a holy river and Cremation took place on the bank of Pashupati by burning. The end of life in front of eyes shows the reality of life. The great lesson, one ever had in life.
Pashupatinath is 4.5 km away from Thamel. You can reach Pashupatinath by walking or hiring a taxi/car. You can reach Pashupatinath within 1 hour by walking. It took only 15 minutes by taxi. Walking or using a taxi is your choice.
To know the reality of life. You should visit Pashupatinath Because of its historical importance, beauty, and ritual of Hinduism. Because of the scenery hidden in the greatest Temple of Lord Shiva with a golden roof in Pagoda style, Four Silver doors in four directions behind the wooden carvings, a big statue of Nandi (vehicle of Lord Shiva), hundreds of Shiva lingam, roaming monkeys, Gujeshwori temple on the east of Bagmati river dedicated to Shiva consorts Satidevi, flowing Bagmati river and many more things around the corridor of Pashupatinath. There are 12 Jyoti linga (phallic shrines), around 492 temples, 15 Shivalaya (shrine of Lord Shiva), Deupatan, Jayabageshwori, and Gaurighat in the temple area. As a whole Pashupatinath area shows you the religious, cultural, and spiritual value of Lord Shiva in Hinduism.
There is a belief that stepping once into Pashupatinath is equal to visiting the rest of all religious places regarding Hinduism. People of all castes and religions are allowed to visit Pashupatinath. But Only Hindus are allowed to enter the main temple.
Thamel is the touristic area of Nepal. As you land in Nepal, your first destination will be Thamel. We will get well facilitate hotels, Restro, and Bars in Thamel. So, beautiful Thamel Bazzar is specially designed for welcoming tourists and providing enough facilities for their comfort. Thamel is a commercial zone and the heart of travel companies. You can easily get your guide and fulfill your traveling plan whole over the country.
Various shops and vendors are well spread in each corner and junction of Thamel. Common materials from the past and present are available in Thamel. Shops with Various food items including fresh vegetables, fruits and pastries, trekking gear, walking gear, music, DVDs, handicrafts, souvenirs, woolen items, and clothes stand on both sides of the street. These shops increase the beauty of thamel.
Thamel is the free wifi zone since 28 September 2011. Many roads are declared a vehicle-free zone in October 2017. It is the best place to enjoy the nightlife of Kathmandu. Live music and concerts are done to welcome and provide entertainment for tourists. Thamel is pre base camp for mountaineers and other trekkers as they get to rest and start their journey from Thamel. Each and every material for preparing the trek is available in Thamel.
As Thamel is a traffic-free zone, you can reach the Thamel corridor via taxi up to Jamal which is outside of Thamel. Then you have to walk 20 mins from Jamal or can use rickshaws.
The smallest area with the greatest history, Bouddhanath is one of the busiest cultural heritage of Nepal. People visit Bouddhanath to gain peace and refreshment. There is unbelievable history with the establishment of Bouddhanath which is the gumba made in memory of King Bikramaditya (Lichhavi king).
The peace withholds in Boudhanath is unexplainable. The largest stupa of is the main attraction not only for seeing and feeling but for making Kora (ritual circumnavigation) of the dome, beneath the watchful eyes of Buddha. These eyes keep on gazing us from the guilded central tower.
Boudhanath is accessible with Tibetian Buddhist culture. Pilgrims visiting Boudhanath spin prayer wheels which is all around the Gumba and stock up on yak butter and tsampa(roasted barley floor).while Tibeaten monks in maroon robes wander the prayer-decked streets.
There are monasteries, and workshops producing butter lamps, ceremonial horns, Tibeaten drums, monk's headgear, and many more essential materials for Tibeaten Buddhist life all around the stupa.
Public or private vehicles can easily drop you on the Boudhanath stupa. It takes 15-20 min from Thamel by Cab.
Swayambhunath the view tower of Kathmandu Valley is another important place to visit. It is also known as Monkey Temple because of numerous monkeys roaming its corridor all the time. It is an ancient stupa situated on the hill of Kathmandu city towards its west. Nepali also pronounce as Shyambunath.
Swayambhunath, a great Stupa with having a white solid base with watchable eyes of Lord Buddha representing wisdom and compassion is the main part to visit. Pair of eyes are present in four sides with a third eye in its center. The third eye seems a question mark, it is a sign of the unity of all things existing in the world. The third eye is the path of enlightenment through the teaching of Lord Buddha.
The collections of shrines and temples, monuments, carvings of five Buddha ( Vairochana - in the center representing the master of the temple, Akshobhya – facing east which represents the cosmic element of consciousness, Ratna Sambhava –facing south which represents cosmic element of sensation, Amitabha – facing west representing cosmic element of name and Amoghsiddhi – facing north which represents cosmic element of conformation), at the base of Swayambhunath, wonderful scenery of Kathmandu from the yard of man stupa, Saraswati temple, varieties of trees, fresh air touching you with the flow of peace in you are the main reason to visit Swayambhunath. In Hindu mythology visiting this hilly place gives knowledge and strength to follow the path of truth.
You will have an unexplainable view of the peaceful Kathmandu Valley from the yard of Swayambhunath.
By using a private vehicle, taxi, or car. It takes not more than 10-20 minutes to reach Swayambhunath from Thamel. Two paths are Sanovaryang and Thulo Bharyang are there to reach at the top. You can choose any of them. The cemented staircases with numerous shrines and temples guide you on the top of Swayambhunath.
Chandragiri Hill is the best well-managed touristic place situated at 2551 meters above sea level in southwest of Kathmandu. It lies in Thankot, Kathmandu.
Chandragiri is famous because of its altitude, beauty and proper management for visitors. Rope way - the cable car to reach on the hill with the view of wonderful Rhodendron forest is major attraction for small to elder people. The Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple represent religious faith. You can view Wonderful Kathmandu valley with Annapurna and other mountain ranges forming horizon behind hills of Kathmandu from the corridor of temple. Well managed children park gives you space for rest and make your children enjoying with games. View tower - The topest point to view Kathmanndu valley, Dhading and many more places of Nepal, on the top of restro is another attraction of the Chandragiri hills. You can have good food on the restro or café with enjoying the scenery from the Chandragiri hill.
You can go to Chandragiri by using a private vehicle from Thamel or a public bus either from Ratnapark or Kalanki. Chandragiri is 10.8 Km away from Thamel and it takes 30-35 min.
Kathmandu durbar square also called as Basantapur is the closest and best destination of Kathmandu valley which reflect culture, religion and beauty of Nepal. Presently it is under construction to give its original look as before the distruction via Earthquake 2072 in Nepal.
Kathmandu Durbar square is the UNESCO world heritage site carrying historical importance. The museum reflecting the life of Royal family, Kumarighar – temple and place to stay for living goddess Kumari, Kal Bhairav, Shiva Mandir, Hanuman statue, courtyards and attractive Palaces with wonderful crafts of Malla and Shah kings are major attraction of Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is heart Kathmandu. Artist remain busy on their canvas to capture the beauty of Basantapur. Various galleries, street shop with cultural statue and crafts increases beauty of the place.
Kathmandu durbar Square is nearby new road. You can reach Kathmandu Durbar square on foot from Thamel. It took maximum about half an hour from Thamel. Even you can hire taxi aswell.
Before Loktantra in Nepal, Narayanhiti was a Palace. After peoples movement 2062/63BS Royal family leave the palace and after some year it was converted into Narayanhiti palace museum in 2064/65 BS. Narayanhiti Palace museum is situated in Durbarmarg Kathmandu.
The Naryanhiti palace museum is the most beautiful expanding on 15-hectare land. The Royal life of Nepal, and the culture of each district of Nepal is a mirror image of this museum. The close-up view of the way how the royal family used to live in Palace, the wonderful decoration, the history of Nepal, place where life of the Royal family of Birendra bir bikram shah dev ended. Gardens and many more attachments of royalty of Nepal.
You can reach Narayanhiti Palace Museum within 10 min from Thamel on foot and 5 min by taxi. You should have buy tickets for the entrance.
On the gateway to Thamel just near the entrance of Kasar mall, there is a peaceful wonderful garden which you must visit. Beyond the crowd of Kathmandu city, a peaceful environment with the best natural arrangement, Garden of Dreams takes you to the land of your imagination.
Garden of Dreams is a classical historical garden with six seasonal beauties at once. Kaisar Sumsher Rana made it in 1920AD as a private garden. It becomes the property of the government of Nepal after the death of Kaisar Sumsher Rana.
Peaceful Greenland with a variety of rare to common flora with beautiful decorations representing the six seasons of Nepal is the uniqueness of Garden of Dreams. Well-managed lawn, sitting area, and artistic design make you to have photographs and capture the precious moment. It gives the perfect environment for retaining yourself and refreshing you. The nearby Library (keshar mall library) encourages you to spend some time with books in the garden and increases knowledge as well.
The Garden of Dreams is on the gateway to Thamel. You can reach here by foot within 5 -10 minutes. The entrance ticket will allow you to enter the garden.
Nepal, a beautiful country offers Amazon in diversity, heaven in natural gifts, and holy land of belief and faiths. Visit Nepal and don’t miss to be on Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Narayanhiti Palace Museum, Thamel, Chandragiri, and Garden of Dreams after coming to Kathmandu. Come with an extra day for visiting Kathmandu after or before the trek. Because these places are the most important places carrying historical, cultural, religious, and spiritual values. Mission summit and expedition make your visit successful as one day Kathmandu tour.
Related link:- Day Tour Kathmandu, Best hiking around Kathmandu, Nepal culture Tour, Chitwan Jungle Safari, Kathmandu Valley Rim Trek
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