Most people come to Nepal because of the mountains but not everyone wants to trek for weeks. All visitors spend at least some time in Kathmandu or surrounding areas, which are an amazingly rich treasure of history, art and architecture interwoven with the complex culture of Nepal which is an adventure of the spirit and a journey into the soul. The incredible pride and genuine warmth of its people, the richness of its culture, the depth of its tradition and the diversity of its landscape are the other reasons to come to Nepal.;

Kathmandu Valley - The Magnificent Seven World Heritage Sites
Kathmandu, the capitol of Nepal, is a small valley situated at an altitude of between 1,200 to 1,500 meters with an area of only 570 square kilometers. The Kathmandu valley comprises the three royal cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur which share amongst themselves seven World Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO, a fact unrivalled anywhere in the world! The seven man-made wonders are the milestones of Nepal's past and are a living museum.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: Kathmandu derives its name from Kasthmandap or "house of wood", a pagoda-style temple. A few steps away is the Temple of the Living Goddess, where the clients may catch a glimpse of the Kumari Devi at one of the open windows overlooking the inner courtyard. All around the splendour of historical monuments is the hustle & bustle of the market place. Vegetable vendors, trees of flutes, salesmen with their wares displayed on their person, souvenir hawkers, street shops selling imported goods and tucked away in a quiet corner the glittering bead market for custom made bead necklaces.

Patan Durbar Square: Patan is also known as Lalitpur or the "city of fine arts" and is the oldest city in the valley. This Buddhist City is said to have been founded by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. Patan is the cradle of arts and architecture of the valley, a great center both of the Newari Buddhist religion and of traditional arts & crafts with 136 bahals or courtyards and 55 major temples. Well known among these are the Krishna Mandir, Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, Kumbheshwar temple, Jagatnarayan temple and the Mahabouddha temple. Patan is enclosed within 4 Buddhist stupas set on the four-corners of the outer boundaries of this ancient city. A tour of Patan would also include a visit to the Tibetan refugee village to witness the hand weaving of Tibetan carpets using age-old methods of dyeing and finishing. Three or four persons are at each loom weaving traditional designs, chatting and singing as they work.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square: Bhaktapur, meaning the "city of devotees", lies 14 km east of Kathmandu. It is the home of medieval art and architecture and still retains its rich medieval flavor. A city of farmers, Bhaktapur is also known for its pottery and weaving. Bhaktapur is the most charming and the best preserved of the valley’s three cities. The intricately carved temples, alleyways and timeless atmosphere of this place are simply intriguing. The major sightseeing places in Bhaktapur include Durbar Square, the Golden Gate, Palace of 55 windows, Bell of the Barking Dogs, Nyatapole Temple, Bhairavanath Temple, Dattatrya Temple and Pujari Math.

Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath Temple, one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, is about five kilometers northeast of Kathmandu. The two-storied pagoda style temple houses a sacred lingam, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Through the eastern Nepalese Kiranti rulers, the temple was established before the 4th century, and it was given the present shape only in the early 18th century. The temple, noted for its gold-plated roofs and silver-coated doors, is open only for Hindus. The temple has remained the location of the presiding deity of ruling Nepalese Royalty. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River, this two-tiered magnificent golden temple with four triple silver doorways is a unique example of the Nepalese temple architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in South Asia with hundreds of Shiva lingams and shrine icons of various Hindu gods and goddess insides. This temple site occupies an area of 281 hectors in total.

Syambhunath Stupa: This is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas. It is said to be 2000 years old. Painted on the four sides of the spire bases are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It is 3km west of Kathmandu city and is situated on a hillock about 77m above the level of the Kathmandu Valley. Located on this lovely little hill, Swayambhunath Stupa was built around 250 B.C. Generally a holy memorial site, the Stupa represents typical Buddhist architecture. Its main feature, the white dome, is identified with a spotless pure jewel of Nirvana and a thirteen tiered golden spire in conical shape surmounted on the dome. Underneath this towering structure is a pair of all seeing eyes of Buddha painted on all four sides of the Stupa. The Stupa of Swayambhunath stands on a typically stylized lotus mandala base, which was believed to have originated from a legendary lake of the Kathmandu Valley a long time ago.

Bouddhanath Stupa: Bouddhanath is among the largest stupas in South Asia, and it has become the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet. Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950’s, many of them decided to live around Bouddhanath. They established many gompas, and the "Little Tibet" of Nepal was born. This "Little Tibet" is still the best place in the valley to observe Tibetan lifestyle. It is the biggest stupa in the valley. The stupa, well known as Khasti, is also known as a World Heritage Site. There are more than 45 Buddhist monasteries in the area. It lies about 6 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu. The Bouddha Area Preservation & Development Committee runs an information center.

Changu Narayan Temple: The Changu Narayan Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver. It is the oldest pagoda-style temple complex in Nepal. Situated over the peninsular hilltop at about 6kms north of Bhaktapur, its premises are paved with brick. There is a stone inscription that is believed to be the oldest written record in Nepal. The two-storied temple's main entrance is an excellent example of repousse art while the many artworks scattered in and around the temple are in themselves consummate masterpieces in wood, stone and metal.
Narayan, or Vishnu, is the preserver of creation to Hindus. His temple near Changu village is often described as the most ancient temple in the Kathmandu Valley. A fifth century stone inscription, the oldest to be discovered in Nepal, is located in the temple compound and it tells of the victorious King Mandev. The temple now covers sixteen hundred years of Nepalese art history. The temple, built around the third century, is decorated by some of the best samples of stone, wood, and metal craft in the Valley

Beyond Kathmandu

Lumbini - the Birth Place of Buddha - a World Heritage Site: This site is famous for Hindus and Buddhists, located in the mid western Terai. It is 250 kilometers from Kathmandu. Lumbini, where Gautam Buddha himself was born over 2,500 years ago, is a religious place having historic importance for all. There are many monasteries of different countries on the side of the main site. There are numerous buildings of religious significance. The most important of which is a massive stone pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 250 B.C; it was discovered only in 1895. The shrine of Maya Devi, said to be located at the exact place where the Buddha was born in the palace garden, contains a stone relief depicting Gautama’s nativity scene. There is also a rectangular pond said to be the remains of a scared pool. The brick foundations of a ruined monastery contain some small votive stupas and several large plinths. In the area are modern Buddhist shrines and an older gompa.

Pokhara - nature and culture paradise: Pokhara is situated 200 km west of Kathmandu and is the most beautiful city in Nepal. It is renowned for its natural setting rather than its historical or cultural endowments. It is the starting point of Nepal's most popular trekking destinations. This is a magic city in the sense that you can enjoy very close and exotic views of Machhapuchhre [6977m] from Pokhara city. Moreover, Pokhara offers panoramic views of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Himchuli and more. The valley is famous for natural and cultural beauty that has more than seven lakes, out of them Fewa and Rupa are very attractive for tourists.

Pokhara has some of the country's best accommodations and restaurants as well. There is a batch of Tibetan settlements, a hilltop monastery and the pretty Devi Falls nearby. Day walks can be taken to Sarangkot (1592m), the limestone caves at Mahendra Gufa (Cave) or Rupa and Begnas Tals (lakes). Its quiet lakeside location and proximity to the mountains mean it is an ideal place for recovering from or gearing up for a trek, taking leisurely strolls or simply putting your nose in a good book.

Gorkha - the Historical City: Gorkha, the foundation of modern Nepal, is situated at a distance of 144km northwest of Kathmandu. It is the birthplace of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, ninth of the Shah kings and the founder of modern Nepal. Situated on a hill overlooking the snowy peaks of the Himalaya is a beautiful old palace known as Gorkha Durbar. There are two attractive temples of Gorakhnath and Kali inside the palace precinct. There is a famous cave sheltering the statue of Gorakhnath Baba (sage). It is believed that the name of Gorkha was derived from the name of this sage, whose blessings inspired King Prithvi Narayan Shah for the unification of Nepal. From the top of the hill above the Gorkha palace and from a saddle east of the bazaar, the view of Manaslu and Himalchuli is spectacular. Gorkha can be reached in about 5 hours by road from Kathmandu and 4 hours from Pokhara. A side trip to Manakamana Temple on the way to Gorkha is very enjoyable and interesting.

Hill Towns

Nagarkot: This is a lovely hill town lying at an altitude of 2100m above the sea level and is not more than 32 kilometers directly east of Kathmandu. It is a year round holiday community rich in chlorophyll forestations. As an evergreen area, the pines appear spectacularly beautiful. The panorama of the major peaks belonging to the eastern Himalayas include Mt. Everest, Mt. Lhotse, Mt. Cho Oyu, Mt. Makalu, Mt. Manaslu and Kanchenjunga until the Annapurnas on the west can be viewed from here. It is regarded as one of the best hill towns in Nepal. Breathtaking views of sunsets and sunrises can be experienced staying overnight here.

Dhulikhel: This is an ancient hill town situated 30 km east of Kathmandu on the side of the Arniko Highway leading to the Tibetan border. From here one can have a complete panoramic view of the snowy flanks ranging from east to west. It is also popular in viewing sunrises and sunsets. Once an important link, it has a glorious past which can be seen in the lovely buildings and intricate wood carvings in the shop-lined streets and temples. The pleasant climate is a big attraction at Dhulikhel.