Visiting Kathmandu? Make sure you keep a day or two free for day tours in Kathmandu Valley to experience the natural and historical wonders of the Valley. Kathmandu consisted of three different kingdoms in the past Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur. The valley has continuous habitat from around 2500 years ago, having ancient architectural evidence of early as 1st Century B.C.E. Explore the open-air museum learning about the legends and rich history. Visit various ancient Temple, Vihar, Stupa, Chorten, Gumba, Palace, Fort, and Traditional houses and get an insight into the lifestyle of various ethnic groups. Try different authentic cuisines and participate in cultural activities and festivals.
Here at female guide Kathmandu, we’ve been planning and organizing custom itineraries since over a decade. We have a team of professionals who are always assisting customers with a better traveling experience. From an array of services and products from basic to luxury ones. Here at female guide Kathmandu when you choose any services with us, we ensure you experience the tour with style and comfort.
Here are some of the famous places that are included in the day tours in Kathmandu valley:
Bashantapur Durbar Square
Located in the heart of Kathmandu valley, the Kathmandu Durbar Square is a complex of various temples and palaces. Explore several palaces, courtyards, and temples and discover, virtually every square inch of the buildings covered with beautiful designs. During the 1934 earthquake, the vicinity was largely damaged and was reconstructed. In 1979 it was enlisted in the UNESCO World’s heritage site. The 2015 earthquake made yet another damage to the complex, which is being restored.
Bashantapur Durbar Square was built during the Licchavi period around the 4th to 8th centuries AD, and later in the 17th century, King Pratap Malla extended its property. Known as the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, it was the Royal family’s residence until the 19th century. The complex has around 50 temples, in the square, and most parts of the palace premises are open to tourists throughout the week.
The temples around this complex are mostly Nepalese Style Temple, having multi roof structures where the roofs of the base are larger and get smaller as it ascends and on the top is a pinnacle made of metals gold and copper. The structure of the temple has various types of carvings and, bells are decorated on every corner of the roof. The complex has a mixture of cultures from Hinduism, Buddhism, and Tantrism, which permeate Nepalese culture. Where every temple and structure has a story of its own.
Visit the Taleju Bhawani temple, Kasthamandap temple, Shiva-Parvati temple, and the Kumari Ghar, home to the living goddesses of Nepal. Explore the Durbar square complex and museum learning about the culture and history.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan is nestled on a Plateau, between the Bagmati river on the west and south, the Godavari river on the east. The city is known for its unique art and architecture and is the oldest, and most historic palace in Kathmandu valley. Patan was the largest of the three kingdoms, having a prosperous economy, architecture, and culture. The tranquility city has vintage residential sections, narrow alleyways, bustling local markets, the kings’ palaces, temples, and Vihars.
During the 7th century, Patan was one of the major Buddhist cities in Asia. Scholars, pilgrims, monks, and partitionists from Tibet, China, and India traveled here staying in a monastic complex around the city. Where most of the population were either monks or artists. Till now local craftsmen follow ancient techniques shaping statuettes and painting Thangkas.
Patan Durbar Square was once the palace of the kings of Patan. The square consists of palace buildings, artistic courtyards, pagodas, and temples. A display of architecture that had reached its pinnacle during the reign of the Malla kings. Most of the temples and monuments were built during the 17th century. The architecture of this city is unique consisting of Nepalese Style Temple, Shikhara Temple, Palaces, Vihar’s, and Chorten. Every monument and heritage site is full of architecture to depict its distinctive culture.
Explore the narrow alleyways visiting a blend of Hindu and Buddhist landmarks of Mahabouddha, Rudra Varna Mahavihar, Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, Kumbheshwar, and other well-preserved structures and also visit museums around the area. Walk the narrow streets and get an insight into the lifestyle of the locals.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
The city of Bhaktapur lies 12 km to the east of Kathmandu. Perched on a hill at an altitude of 1,401 meters it is known as the City of Devotees. Once a capital of the entire valley and the junction of the old Tibet trading route, Bhaktapur is unchanged and isolated with its authentic ambiance with brick-paved roads and red brick houses where it has preserved its architectural style back to medieval times. This ancient city is also famous for the pottery and woodcarving of the local houses and temples.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square is surrounded by buildings dating from the 13th century to the 18th century. Boasting an array of unique medieval art and architecture. The city has unique sculptures and woodcarving regarded as the finest in the valley.
-
Inside Bhaktapur
Visit The Palace of Fifty-five Windows which was built in 1697, during the reign of Bhupatindra Malla. The Palace of Fifty-Five Windows is one of the most beautiful architectural features of the durbar square. Next visit The Nyatapola Temple which stands at the north end of Bhaktapur’s Taumadhi Square. The temple is regarded as one of its kind, having two five-tiered pagodas in the whole of the Kathmandu Valley built around the 18th century. Another major attraction of the place is the small square on the east side of Bhaktapur, the Dattatreya Temple build around the 15th century.
The temple was built from the wood of a single tree. It was intended as a rest house for Shiva ascetics. The other major sites include Taleju Bhawani Temple, Siddha Pokhari an artificial rectangular pond located near the main gate of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Doleshwar Mahadev Temple, and the pottery square. The pottery square is decorated with several vessels of all shapes and sizes set out to dry. Bhaktapur is famous for its buffalo milk yogurt which is called King Curd (JuJu Dhau). Explore the alleyways and cold narrow streets of Bhaktapur an open-air museum.
Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath Temple is also a great place for day tours in Kathmandu Valley for exploring the Hindu temples. Pashupatinath Temple is one of the biggest and most sacred Hindu temple complexes dedicated to Lord Shiva, built during the Licchavi period during The Age of Civilization. The temple complex is located on the east side of the Kathmandu valley on the banks of the holy Bagmati river. The temple is also known as “The Temple of Living Beings”. It is one of the most renowned pilgrim sites for yogis and devotees.
The temple complex is surrounded by hundreds of stone shrines of various deities. The main temple is built in Nepalese style having two-level roofs which are embellished with gold and the four main doors of silver. The western door has the statue of a large bull ornamented in gold, Nandi, who is known as the vehicle of Lord Shiva.
The holy Bagmati rivers bank is a sacred Hindu cremation site, the open-air cremation is regarded to assure a smooth transition of the soul to the next world.
Swayambhunath
Swayambhunath Temple is also one of the best locations for day tours in Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath is an ancient Buddhist stupa located atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. Swayambhunath means “self-existent one”. There are many legends about how the Stupa came into existence and some believe that it dates back to 1500 B.C. The stupa is regarded as Dhamma Stupa and is a pilgrimage site for both Hindu and Buddhist followers for spiritual awakening, inner peace, and blessing.
A semi-circular structure with its apex painted with the eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions. On top of the cube are 13 tiers that represent the stages of spiritual realizations of Buddhahood. There are carvings of the five Buddhas on each of the four sides of the stupa. Panch Buddhas, represent the 5 cosmic elements (ether, water, earth, fire, and air).
The base of the hill is almost surrounded by prayer wheels, prayer flags, and deities of various kinds. Devotees can be seen circumambulating the stupa at all times chanting prayers and spinning the prayer wheels. The huge gold-plated bajra, the Dewa Dharma monastery, and the sleeping Buddha are some of the major attractions. The Stupa also has a panoramic view of the valley and mountain ranges to the north.
Boudhanath
Another renowned Buddhist stupa for day tours in Kathmandu valley is Boudhanath, along the ancient trading route to Tibet. Located in the Northeastern part of the valley it is one of the biggest stupas in South Asia. Boudha Stupa is Sararika Stupa as it is built upon the relics of the Kashyap Buddha. Pilgrims travel from, Tibet, Southeast, and East Asia to worship here. A large crowd of devotes circle the Stupa clockwise chanting mantras, spinning prayer wheels, and prayer beads.
The stupa symbolizes the Mind of all Buddhas. This cosmological map in the shape of a mandala represents the wholeness of all the Buddhist teachings. The inner space of the stupa is full of sacred mantras, statues, blessed objects, and offerings symbolizing a mind of purity.
Explore the stupa and head on the back roads and experience the lifestyle and culture of the people. Come across monks chanting prayers, meditating, and visiting gompas, and monasteries soaking in the high energy of the place.
Conclusion
The best part of visiting Nepal is you’ll not just encounter the bio-diversity but learn about its rich culture, authentic Nepali food, the hospitality of the local people, and many more. A country with rich history and cultural harmony in the laps of the isolated mountains, where nature is regarded as culture itself.
Be a part of this adventurous journey with Female Guide holidays experiencing and learning about the beautiful legends and wonders of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal.
