| Duration: | 3 Hour(s) - 30 Minute(s) |
| Tour Category: | Half Day Tour |
HALF DAY UNESCO SITES TOUR
KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE:
( "UNESCO World Heritage Site") Also known as Hanuman Dhoka Square is one of the major attractions in Kathmandu Valley. Most of the cultural centres of Nepal are concentrated around the Kathmandu valley; among those cultural sites, the important one is the Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square.
The name Hanuman-dhoka Durbar came from the statue of Hanuman established by King Pratap Malla at the entrance of the royal palace in 1672 A.D. A storeyed residence built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1770 is called Basantapur Durbar(palace). The whole complex is also known as Kathmandu Durbar Square. Located at the heart of the ancient city in Kathmandu, it is surrounded by both Hindu and Buddhist temples.
Most of them are built in the pagoda style, embellished with intricately carved exteriors as well as Most of the buildings we see here date from the 15th tothe 18th century.
The Durbar Square, with its old temples, palaces, epitomises the religious and cultural life of the people. The major Interesting things to see here are "Kumari (The Living Goddess) Gar", "Kastha Mandap", Maru Ganesh, Mahadev Temple, Shiva Parvati Temple, Bhagwati Temple, Old palace, Saraswoti temple, Krishna Octangular Temple, Big drums, Kal Bhairav, Jagannath Temple, and Taleju Temple, etc.
The Durbar Square is actually made up of two sub-areas. The outer complex is renowned for numerous interesting temples as Kumari Ghar Kasthamandap, Shiv-Parbati Temple, Jagannath Temple, Big Bell, etc, while the inner complex comprises the old palace area, Hanuman-dhoka and its courtyards as Nasal Choke, Mul Choke, Sundari Choke, Basantapur Durbar and others. Besides the magnificent temples and shrines, it has other interesting aspects, such as various festivals, cultural activities and traditions people have been following for centuries, which are presented in the Durbar Square.
The major festivals include Indrajatra, Dashain, Gaaijatra, Machchhindra-nath jatra, etc. These are the occasions when people from all over the city gather here to mark their centuries-old traditions. All the carving and architecture in this area are exceptionally fine, which makes the architecture in this Hanuman-dhoka Durbar square among the most important sights for travellers to see.
SWAYAMBHUNATH "MONKEY TEMPLE":
It is an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley, west of Kathmandu city. It is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal, second only to the great Boudhanath stupa to the east of Kathmandu, and a major tourist attraction.
The Swayambhunath Stupa is a golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill. It is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu Valley. It has a lofty white dome and a glittering golden spire that are visible from all sides of the valley.
The stupa's surroundings consist of chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects. Located on a hill on the outskirts of Kathmandu, the temple affords magnificent views over the city and, on a clear day, to the mountains beyond. At the heart of the temple complex is the stupa, topped by the painted eyes of Buddha, surrounded by prayer wheels and numerous smaller temples. Although a Tibetan Buddhist site provides a fantastic moment.
Amazing to look at, the architectural beauty of Swayambunath Temple gives way to feelings of reverence and adoration. The stupa consists of a dome at the base and a cubical structure with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions. There are pentagonal Toran present above each of the four sides with statues engraved in them. Behind and above the torana, there are thirteen tiers. Above all the tiers, there is a small space above which the Gajur is present.
According tothe Swayambhu Puran, the entire Kathmandu valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a mystical Lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning 'Self-Created' or 'Self-Existent'. The Bodhisattva Manjushri had a vision of the lotus at Swayambhu and travelled there to worship it.
TRIP INCLUSIONS:
Half-day sightseeing tour by private A/C car
One English Speaking Guide
TRIP EXCLUSIONS:
Accommodation in Kathmandu
Personal Insurance for travel to Nepal.
Lunch & dinner in Kathmandu
Emergency Rescue evacuation
Personal expenses
International air tickets and Taxes
Tips
Entrance fees at all sightseeing places
