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| Katmandu | ||||||||||
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Presided over by snow-covered mountains, the Kathmandu Valley is
surrounded by verdant agricultural hills scattered with traditional
villages and brick houses, rich in ancient holy temples and shrines
used by both Buddhists and Hindu worshippers reflecting a great
wealth of culture and tradition. Most of the country's ethnic groups
are represented in the Valley, particularly in Kathmandu itself, but
it is the Newars who are the original inhabitants responsible for
development and the splendid art and architecture in the citiesThe
Valley is the cultural, political and commercial centre of Nepal and
encompasses three cities: Kathmandu the capital; Patan, which has
been enveloped by the growing Kathmandu outskirts; and the medieval
city of Bhaktapur. For the unprepared visitor, the capital city of
Kathmandu can trigger a sensory overload - it is a heaving city of
both intriguing and unpleasant smells, incessant noise and
pollution, and sights that etch themselves on the memory. Getting Around Katmandu Durbar Square Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durbar Square is the religious and social heart of Kathmandu’s old city and is a complex of palaces, temples, shrines, statues and courtyards built between the 12th and 18th centuries by the ancient kings of Nepal. |
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| The square is a queer assortment of the old and the new - elaborately carved architectural features and curving roofs provide shelter for cows, beggars and weary tourists; Brahman priests and painted Sadhus perform rituals and pose for photos, while souvenir sellers and rickshaw drivers compete for attention among the crowds. Stone lions guard the gates to the Old Royal Palace that contains a number of courtyards and several museums. Set into the palace wall is a 17th-century stone inscription written in 15 languages; it is believed that milk will flow from the spout below if anyone deciphers the entire inscription. |
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On the other side of the square, the Kasthamandap temple is an open pavilion topped by a pyramidal tower, said to be created from the wood of a single tree. It is purportedly the Valley’s oldest building, and the city of Kathmandu derives its name from this ancient temple.
Opening time: Durbar Square:
daily 8am to 5pm. Old Royal Palace: Tuesday to Saturday
9.30am to 3/4pm
The golden spire of the 5th-century
Swayambhu stupa is adorned with a colourful
fluttering of prayer flags; it crowns a hill
overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and offers
fantastic views over the city of Kathmandu.
Swayambhunath is one of the most
recognisable symbols in Nepal and the
painted eyes of Buddha watch all those who
ascend the worn stone steps. It is a World
Heritage Site and one of the holiest
Buddhist sites in Nepal, and is at the
source of the Valley's mythical beginning.
Legend has it that the history of the Valley
began with the draining of an ancient lake
by an Enlightened Being to reveal the Valley
and a lotus flower was transformed into the
hill and the shining light became the stupa
itself. Swarms of pilgrims and red-clad
monks circle the complex, spinning the
prayer wheels, while the scores of monkeys
that give the temple its nickname, Monkey
Temple, prance about in irreverent groups.
Interestingly the temple complex is
scattered with shrines and statues of
Buddhist and Hindu deities and the
assortment of pilgrims from both faiths
characterises the country's unique religious
harmony.
Admission: Rs. 50 if
entering from the car park, but free if
entering via the stairway
Lying just 22 miles (35km) east
of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, also
known as the City of Devotees,
was the capital of the Kathmandu
Valley during the 14th to 16th
centuries, and the wealth of
fabulous architectural
showpieces, soaring pagodas,
richly ornamented houses and
medieval layout is testament to
this period. The whole town is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site and
is filled with palaces, temples,
statues and squares connected by
a maze of largely
pedestrian-only streets. The
main central square, Durbar
Square, boasts many
architectural attractions,
including the Golden Gate, the
15th-century Palace of 55
Windows and several statues of
ancient kings. The second main
square of Taumadhi is presided
over by the graceful Nyatpola
Temple, the tallest in the
Valley atop a five-story
platform. Bhaktapur is also the
centre of traditional pottery
and weaving industries in the
Kathmandu Valley.
Transport:
Bus (45 minutes) or taxi from
Kathmandu |
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Of the 14 national parks and reserves in Nepal, the Royal Chitwan National Park is the oldest and the most popular safari destination for visitors. Situated in the sub-tropical Tarai lowlands, the jungle is home to endangered animals such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tigerOther animals include leopards, wild elephants, Indian bison, sloth bears, crocodiles, pythons, monitor lizards, pangolins, and over 400 species of birds. | |||||||||
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There are different ways to explore the park, but elephant-back
safaris are the most popular. Jeep safaris, guided walks, overnight
jungle expeditions and canoe trips are also available. There is a
wide choice of accommodation ranging from luxury camps or hotels
within the park, to budget options on the outskirts.
Transport: The Royal Chitwan
National Park is an excursion from Kathmandu or Pokhara
– it is linked by public bus, tourist coach and air, and
is a seven-hour bus journey from Kathmandu or six hours
by bus from Pokhara Pashupatinath TempleOne of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, Pashupatinath is one of the major temples devoted to Shiva (Pashupatinath) on the Indian subcontinent and attracts thousands of Hindi pilgrims each year. Shiva is the patron deity of Nepal. The Temple of Pashupatinath stands on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, a tributary of the Ganges, and is renowned for its beautiful architecture. It is surrounded by numerous other temples, shrines, statues and pagodas making it a temple complex, rather than just a temple. The complex is home to Kathmandu's funeral ghats, a series of cremation platforms spread along the river where the bodies of Hindus are burnt and the ashes scattered into the holy river. The complex swarms with Sadhus (holy Hindi ascetics) and Shiva devotees daily, meditating and praying on the steps throughout the temple. A World Heritage Site, Pashupatinath is also one of the richest temples in Nepal, having received a great deal of wealth from kings and aristocrats in devotion to the god. The temple buildings are closed to non-Hindu visitors, but the site can be enjoyed by all.
Address: Three miles
(5km) east of Kathmandu, in Deopatan |
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