THE HOTEL

KIRTIPUR

Excursions - Outside Kathmandu -to the East:

Sankhu nestles in the north-east corner of the Kathmandu Valley 16 km  from Kathmandu. No longer an important settlement on the old trade route to Tibet, it is a quiet spot largely unaffected by the changes taking place elsewhere in the Valley.
The Vajra Yogini Mandir, Sankhu's principal attraction, is located 1.6 km outside the village at the end of a stepped path up the hill. You may use a car by reaching the footprint of the hill but walking along the old pilgrim way from Sankhu is far more atmospheric.
About halfway up the path a blood-spattered stone awaits sacrificial offerings to the Hindu god Bhairava, made to him here, rather than to Vajra Yogini at the temple, to avoid giving offence to Buddhists with whom Hindus share devotion to the Tantric goddess.

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Changu Narayan Temple is situated on a ridge overlooking the Valley, about 12 kms to the east of Kathmandu. It is dedicated to the Hindu God Bishnu – the Preserver. One of the finest and oldest specimens of pagoda architecture, the temple is embellished with exquisite wood and stone carvings and is said to be the oldest pagoda style temple in Nepal built sometime back in 323 A.D. The sacred complex is a World Heritage Site and offers a panoramic view of the surrounding.
It might be convenient for you to visit Changu Narayan Temple on the occasion of your visit of Bhaktapur. From there it's only about 4 kms to the Temple site.

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Thimi is a farming town situated 8 km east of Kathmandu on the way to Bhaktapur. Exquisite temples and other religious shrines are waiting to be discovered by the visitors. It is known for its papier-mâché masks and earthen pots, often seen spread out on the streets to dry in the sun. It can be called a traditional pottery locality with almost 80% of the population still involved in pottery. Hand spun cotton cloth is another Thimi specialty.

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Panauti--The confluence of rivers has traditionally been considered sacred by the Hindus of Nepal. Where two rivers join, you will often find temples and cremation ghats. On the east side of the Kathmandu Valley, close to Dhulikhel and about 7 kms south of the town of Banepa, lies the village of Panauti, which developed centuries ago at the confluence of the Pungamati and Roshi Khola Rivers. Panauti is a Newari town surrounded by rice paddies and forested hills. Many of the town's old brick buildings are still standing, and if you wander through the narrow streets, you will get a sense of how Kathmandu must have looked a short while ago. However, it is Panauti's extensive temple complex, which for many years has been undergoing restoration, that makes a visit here so rewarding.

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