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 Kathmandu Durbar Square.
This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples like Hanumandhoka Palace, Kumari Ghar (Abode of the
Living Goddess), Taleju temple, built between the 12th and 18th centuries,
used to be the seat of the ancient Malla Kings of Kathmandu. An intriguing
piece here is the 17h -century stone inscription set into the wall of the
palace with writings in 15 languages. The Durbar Square, protected as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the social, religious and urban focal point
of the city. Even to date, all the major state and social ceremonies,
including the solemnization of coronations are performed in one of the
courtyards in this complex. There are also museums inside the palace
building. There is an entrance fee of Rs. 250 for foreign visitors. Your
ticket to the Square entitles you to visit all the museums.
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 Kathmandu
Walkabout.
A colourful and enlightening walk that gives you a feel of Kathmandu starts
at Rani Pokhari, the large pond at Jamal beside the clock tower (Ghanta Ghar).
The first stretch of the diagonal street leading southwest from here is
called Kamalachhi. It is lined with bicycles and garment stores and brings
you to the stone-paved market square of Ason, where the Annapurna temple
presides over the motley of spice, grain and oil shops. Keep on walking and
you come to Kel Tole after passing shops overflowing with brass utensils.
Further on is the junction of Indrachowk with the temple of Akash Bhairav
occupying one side. Your next stop after threading your way through the
street lined with cloth shops is the stone-paved plaza of Makhan, where the
Taleju temple towers over a row of handicraft shops. Walk on through Durbar
Square to the intersection of Maru where you are surrounded by temples of
all shapes and sizes. |
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Kathmandu
Heritage Walk.
A walk through selected historic sites seldom
visited. This revitalizing walk starts at Teku, south of old Kathmandu,
leading on to Wonder Narayan, a 17th century temple dedicated to Lord Bishnu.
Strolling through Hyumat Tole, you will arrive at Kusah Bahi, a Buddhist
courtyard built in 1754. The next stop is the Narayan Dewal, another Bishnu
temple (built in 1865) with a small Ganesh temple at the entrance. Walk on
to Tukan Baha, built in the 14th century as a replica of the Swayambhu stupa.
Admire the Ram temple at the Ramchandra Dewal before reaching Jaisi Dewal, a
huge Shiva temple built in 1688. Saunter down to Kohiti to study the
Buddhist and Hindu sculptures in this sunken water fountain. Walk through
Chikan Mugal and stop by at the Atko Narayan Dewal, an important Bishnu
temple built in 1857, before visiting the namesake of the city, the
Kasthamandap pavilion. After a further five-minute walk, reach the final
destination, the Bhimsen Dewal, built in 1655 and dedicated to the main
deity of local traders. |
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 Swayambhu Stupa
watches over the Valley from the top of a hillock on its western side just
three kilometres west of the city centre. The stupa is one of the holiest
Buddhist sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of
the Kathmandu Valley out of a primordial lake. Swayambhu is also known as
Samhengu and is listed as a World Heritage Site. It is also one of the
oldest and glorious Buddhist shrines in the world which is said to be two
thousand years. The four sides of the stupa is painted with the eyes of Lord
Buddha and the temple is also known as the watchful eyes of Buddha. Entrance
fee Rs. 50 (SAARC nationals Rs. 30). |
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 Budhanilkantha is situated below Shivapuri hill at the northern end of the Valley. It is about
9 km from the city centre. The hub of the temple complex is a pond in which
lies a 5 meter (17 feet) long great stone figure of Hindu god Bishnu
reclining on the coils of a cosmic serpent. The figure has been estimated to
have been found buried in the ground in its original state more than
thousand years ago. It is also known as Bhuijasi. Hindus throng to this
sacred pilgrimage almost everyday to perform puja but a great number of
worshippers can be seen in various festivals, especially on Haribodhini
Ekadashi that falls between October/November, the day believed that the
sleeping Lord Bishnu wakes up. |
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 Pashupatinath. One of
the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, Pashupatinath lies 5 km east
from the city centre. The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga,
or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva as well as the noteworthy gold plated roofs
and silver coated doors. This is the abode of God Shiva and is the holiest
of all the Shiva shrines.
Chronicles indicate Pashupatinath’s existence prior to 400 AD. Devotees can
be seen taking ritual dips in the holy Bagmati river flowing beside the
temple, also a World Heritage Site. The crematorium is just outside the
temple and it is a dream of almost every Hindu to be cremated by the side of Pashupati Aryaghat
after their
death. |
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 Bouddhanath, a World
Heritage Site is also known as Khasti. There are more than 45 Buddhist
monasteries in the area. Many have schools that teach young monks like those
pictured here.
Bouddhanath Stupa lies
about 6 km east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the Valley
and one of the largest in the world. It looms 36 meters high and presents
one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design with hundreds of
prayer wheels and 108 small images of Buddha all around. Just like the
Swayambhunath, the stupa here has four sides with the watchful eyes of Lord
Buddha. All the Buddhist throng to this stupa to take part in the sacred
rituals during the Buddhist festivals. |
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