Kathmandu's official tourism site,
Kathmandu Metropolitan City,
is run by Nepal's government tourism board. The site, available in
English and Nepali, offers visitors information on the city's history
and background, tourism information including accommodations and
attractions, photos, local news, maps, and a page on the area's UNESCO
World Heritage Sites.
Kathmandu, the largest city of Nepal, is the political as well as
cultural capital of the country. Kathmandu is a city where ancient
traditions rub shoulders with the latest technological advances.
However, it is the grandeur of the past that enchants the visitor whose
gaze may linger on an exquisitely carved wooden window frame, an 18th
century bronze sculpture or the spiritually uplifting stupas. Like any
big city, Kathmandu has seen rapid expansion in the last decade, but
despite the hustle and bustle so typical of metropolitan cities, its
people remain as refreshingly friendly as ever. Retaining its ancient
traditions, Kathmandu is blessed by a Living Goddess and is enriched by
endless ceremonial processions and events that take to the streets every
now and then with throngs of devotees seeking blessings. These
religious festivals are steeped in legend and are quite a spectacle with
chariot processions and masked dancers often possessed by the spirits
of deities.
KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Situated in the heart of old Kathmandu city at Basantapur, Kathmandu
Durbar Square never fails to impress first time visitors with its
ensemble of palaces, courtyards and temples built during the Malla
period. The Durbar Square includes the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, the
historic seat of the royalty; the magnificent Taleju Temple towering
more than 40 meters; Kumari Ghar, the residence of the Living Goddess,
Kumari; Ashok Vinayak, also called Kathmandu Ganesh, a temple without a
filial ; and Kal Bhairav, the God of Wrath. The capital takes its name
from the giant pagoda of Kasthamandap, which is said to have been built
out of a single tree. Since the time of the Malla kings, the Durbar
Square has been the city’s social, religious and political focal point.
AKASH BHAIRAV:
Believed to have been built in the 12th century, the temple enshrines
Akash Bhairav, a ferocious manifestation of Lord Shiva. The
three-storey temple with tiled roofs, a hanging balcony, gilded and
latticed windows and an artistic doorway lies in the main market avenue
called Indra Chowk.
ASAN:
Once the center of old Kathmandu, the Asan market square is located
about midway on the only diagonal thoroughfare in Kathmandu that links
Durbar Square with Durbar Marg. At Asan, there are six roads radiating
in all directions. The three-storied pagoda style Annapurna Temple of
Annapurna, the Goddess of Grains, presides over the ever-lively bazaar.
Asan is still an important shopping center and one of the busiest market
places with shops selling anything from imported spices to kitchenware,
fresh vegetables, Chinese goods, hardware and clothes.
SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Resting on a hillock 3 km west of Kathmandu, it is one of the holiest
Buddhist Chaityas in Nepal. It is said to have evolved spontaneously
when the valley was created out of a primordial lake more than 2,000
years ago. This stupa is the oldest of its kind in Nepal and has
numerous shrines and monasteries on its premises.
PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Situated 5 km east of Kathmandu, the temple of Lord Shiva is
considered one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world. The
two-tiered pagoda with golden roofs and silver doors houses the sacred
linga, or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva. Chronicles indicate the temple
existed before 400 A.D. Near the Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of
the Bagmati River lies Guheswari, where, according to mythology, a
portion of Sati Devi, Lord Shiva’s consort, fell when a grief-stricken
Shiva wandered aimlessly across the earth carrying her dead body on his
shoulders following her self-immolation.
BOUDDHANATH STUPA (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Situated 8 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu, Bauddhanath is one
of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu, visible as soon as you land
at the Tribhuvan International Airport. It is the largest stupa in the
Kathmandu Valley and is the center of Tibetan Buddhism.
BALAJU GARDEN:
Three kilometers north-west of Kathmandu lies
the Balaju Garden, a quiet park ideal for relaxation just below the
Nargarjun hill. The park has a line of 22 stone water spouts built in
the 18th century, each of which has an ornately carved crocodile head.
During an annual festival, people come here to take a ritual bath. A
replica of the stone image of Budhanilkantha was built here specifically
for the royal family who were barred from visiting the real one. Above
Balaju lies
the Nagarjun forest (5 km northwest of
Kathmandu). The summit (2,096 m) is a two-hour walk, from where great
views of the Kathmandu Valley and a number of Himalayan peaks can be
had. There is a Buddhist stupa and a view tower on the summit.
THAMEL:
As the tourist district of Kathmandu, Thamel bustles
with activity late into the night. It is a mere10-minute walk from the
center of Kathmandu, yet completely different from the rest of the city.
Thamel caters entirely to tourists with its scores of hotels, rows of
restaurants and bars, book shops, inviting souvenir shops, cyber cafes
and travel agencies. All that a tourist needs can be found here, even
friends and traveling companions.
DHARAHARA:
The soaring landmark of Kathmandu, the Dharahara
tower is 50.5 m high and was built by then Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa
in 1832. It is open to anyone who can go up after paying the entrance
fee. The 360 degree astounding view of the Kathmandu Valley is well
worth the long climb up the spiraling staircase.
GARDEN OF DREAMS:
At the entrance of Thamel, the Garden of
Dreams within the Kaiser Mahal complex has now been renovated and
restored to its former glory. Major attractions in this 24-acre garden
include neo-classical pavilions, fountains, decorative garden furniture,
Chinese Moon Gate and European inspired features such as pergolas,
balustrades, urns and birdhouses. Today it is open to the public with a
restaurant and bar.
BUDHANILKANTHA:
The largest of Vishnu’s stone statues,
Budhanikantha lies at the foothills of the Shivapuri hills, 8 km north
of the Kathmandu city center. The large granite figure of Lord Vishnu,
reclining on a bed of serpents known as ‘Nagas’, seems to float in a
pond. This shrine dates back to the 5th century.
KIRTIPUR:
It is situated on a ridge 8 km southwest of
Kathmandu. The ancient Newar township - with its brick-paved streets
lined with typical red brick houses and tiled roofs, and temple squares -
is a natural fortress. The Chilamchu stupa and the temple of Bagh
Bhairav are major attractions here. Tribhuvan University, Nepal’s
premier seat of education, is located at the foothills of Kirtpur.
PHARPING:
Lying 18 km south of Kathmandu on the valley rim,
Pharping is perched on a hilltop with a Buddhist monastery. Pharping’s
main attraction is an elaborate 17th-century temple which houses a
glided image of Goddess Bajra Jogini. Other fascinating sights here
include a cave and a hand-imprint of the Buddhist saint Padmasambhav on
the rock face over its entrance.
DAKSHINKALI:
Four kilometers further south of Pharping on the
valley rim is the temple of Dakshinkali dedicated to the Hindu goddess
Kali. The shrine is especially crowded on Tuesdays and Saturdays when
animal sacrifices are offered to the deity. On the way lies Chobhar
gorge. The Bodhisatva Manjushree is said to have cut an incision here to
drain out the lake which once covered the valley. There is a small but
picturesque temple of Adinath on the top of a hill from where one can
have a panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains.
SHESHA NARAYAN:
Situated between Chobhar and Dakshinkali,
the temple of Shesha Narayan represents one of the four Narayans of the
Kathmandu Valley. The other three Narayans are Changu Narayan of
Bhaktapur, Visankhu Narayan of Patan and Ichangu Narayan of Kathmandu.
