Kathmandu Heritage Tour – 1 day

Kathmandu Heritage Tour is of a kind travel excursion taking travelers to the most antique and appreciated location of Kathmandu Valley that has been protected by UNESCO for its antiqueness, importance and elegance declaring it as a world heritage site. There are seven places selected from all the antique establishments from Kathmandu which are from the 16^th century to 250 BC old. The Kathmandu Heritage tour can be shortened to one day tour or maximized to three days tour depending upon the stay of the tourist. The Kathmandu Heritage tour takes place in the capital city of Nepal called Kathmandu which was a single kingdom of the last Malla king Yakshya Malla that was divided into three cities by three sons of Yakshya Malla Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur. The Malla Kings came to an end by losing the war to Shah King Prithivi Narayan Shah who again unified these three cities into one city and announced Kathmandu Valley as the capital city of Nepal.

The seven acclaimed UNESCO world heritage sites are collectively known as the Kathmandu Heritage Tour which is listed below and described briefly in the following paragraphs.

1. Swayambhunath Stupa
2. Boudhanath Stupa
3. Pashupatinath Sanctuary
4. Changunarayan Sanctuary
5. Kathmandu Durbar Square
6. Patan Durbar Square
7. Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath Stupa lies on the highest peak of the capital city towards the western side from the center of Kathmandu which is along an antique sanctuary of 250 BC devoted to the Buddhist Religion. This stupa carries the history of 250 BC of ancient Nepal and has been living in Nepal since the early ages when Kathmandu Valley was said to be under a Lake. This stupa is the holy shrine for Buddhists around the world which has four eyes engraved on it denoting the eyes of Buddha.

Boudhanath Stupa

Boudhanath Stupa is one of the oldest Buddhist pilgrimage centers for Buddhists all around the world, especially the Tibetan Buddhist people and sometimes called as little Tibet of Kathmandu. The stupa of Boudhanath is one of the largest stupas in Nepal and South Asia which have four eyes embossed on it representing the Buddha covered with prayer wheels and 108 miniature Buddha statues around it. The Boudhanath Stupa is 10 km far from the center of Kathmandu city towards the northeastern borders.

Pashupatinath Sanctuary

Pashupatinath Sanctuary is the oldest Hindu shrine said to be 401 AD old which is a golden temple of Lord Shiva based on the banks of the holy Bagmati River. This sanctuary is one of the holiest Hindu shrines and is one of the most visited Shiva Sanctuary for homage and pilgrimage by Hindus around the world.  This antique sanctuary is located 5 kilometers far from the center of Kathmandu towards the eastern side. This is a giant temple designed in a three-story pagoda style made from gold-plated metal with four silver doors incorporated with an antique statue of Lord Shiva from 250 BC. This temple was said to be made from gold which was destroyed in the earthquake and later renovated in the 16^th century. This shrine is full of crowds of Hindus around the world during February-March on a festival called Shivaratri.

Changunarayan Sanctuary

Changunarayan Sanctuary is the antique temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu of the Hindu religion established in 320 AD. The temple is the symbol of ancient Nepal art, culture and traditional city located at the highest peak on the borders of Kathmandu city. This sanctuary represents the proud ancient city of Nepal with its live demonstration of establishments of the 320 AD period. The Changunarayan Sanctuary is residing 12 kilometers far from the center of the city on the eastern side.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square is generally marked as the heart of Kathmandu city assorted with wonderful 16th-century establishments of wood, stone and metal in the form of royal residences, statues, junctions, sanctuaries and various forms of craftsmanship. This antique courtyard is also called Basantapur Palace or Hanumandhoka Palace in the local language accompanied by the antique 14^th century Taleju Temple brought from India and Kumari Ghar which is the home of the living goddess of Nepal named Kumari. This traditional courtyard is the center of social, religious, festivals, and economic centers of old and today’s Nepal. The Kathmandu Durbar Square has some important museums of the country which hold antique national artifacts and evidence of history confirming facts of the past.

Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square is the nearest adjoining antique royal courtyard in the south-central part of Kathmandu Valley towards the south side of Bagmati rivers separating from Kathmandu. The purpose of the courtyard is to be the center of art, social, religious, festivals and ecumenical activities in the city. This courtyard has the antique royal residence, junctions, and sanctuaries of 16th-century Nepal along with crafted metal, stone and wood artifacts.

The courtyard too has a museum holding 16th-century artifacts and remains which gives proof of the existence of ancient Nepal. Beside the pagoda-style royal residences, sanctuaries, and junctions this place is accompanied by an ancient temple of Krishna, a Buddhist monastery named Iba Bahi, a courtyard named Dalan, a 12^th Buddhist sanctuary called a golden temple, Maha Buddha, Oku Bahal, Swotha Square, Nagbaha, Nakabahi, Nyakha Chuka, Chyasa and others which are full of antique hindu-buddhist establishments and monuments.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the royal palace courtyard located in the ancient city of Bhaktapur residing 13 kilometers away on the eastern side of Kathmandu city. The city of Bhaktapur also called Bhadgaon and Khowpa is the farthest city from Kathmandu. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is an ancient courtyard in front of a royal residence incorporated with four courtyards named Taumadhi Courtyard, Dattatreya Courtyard, Pottery Courtyard and Durbar Courtyard. This fascinating ancient courtyard is incorporated beautiful and antique artifacts like the 55 Window Palace (Pachpanna Jhyale Durbar) from 1754 AD, a national art gallery, Nyatapol temple, Dattatreya temple, a national woodworking museum, a brass and bronze museum, Siddha Pokhari along with various sanctuaries of pagoda style crafted from wood, metal and stone.