Overview

World heritage site tour in Nepal:

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas, the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage property is inscribed as seven Monument Zones. These monument zones are the Durbar squares or urban centres with their palaces, temples and public spaces of the three cities of Kathmandu (Hanuman Dhoka), Patan and Bhaktapur, and the religious ensembles of Swayambhu, Bauddhanath, Pashupati and Changu Narayan. The religious ensemble of Swayambhu includes the oldest Buddhist monument (a stupa) in the Valley; that of Bauddhanath includes the largest stupa in Nepal; Pashupati has an extensive Hindu temple precinct, and Changu Narayan comprises traditional Newari settlement, and a Hindu temple complex with one of the earliest inscriptions in the Valley from the fifth century AD.

If you are in group, cost is as foollow, and this cost is per vehicle cost not per person cost.

1. Car: you can adjust 1 to 2 person: $355

2. Jeep: You can adjust 5 to 6 Person: $1100

3. Hiace: You can adjust 13 to 14 person: $2400

A: Syambhunath Stupa: Tour of one hour with short drive:

One of the main landmarks of the country located on a green hilltop west from Kathmandu city, also known as Monkey Temple due to many monkeys (of Rhesus species) that dwells and plays around the Stupa premises. Old Swayambhunath a Buddhist Stupa of more than 2,600 years old history, and popular pilgrimage sites for both Buddhist and Hindu religions. An ancient Stupa or Chaitya of Asia and a major symbol of Nepal’s Buddhist heritage, Swayambhunath represents Primordial Buddha or Adi-Buddha.  The hilltop where Swayambhunath Stupa built is called Padmagiri, Vajrakuta, Goering, Gopuchha, Samhegu, and Simbhu, listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site. Swayambhunath area offers grand views of whole Kathmandu valley with distant snow-capped peaks.

B. Bouddhanath Stupa:

Large dome Stupa of Bouddhanath, the place also called as ‘Little Tibet’. Little Tibet known due to large numbers of people around this area are of Tibetan origin with similar traditions and culture of Tibet interwoven to Tibetan Buddhism known as Mayana sect. Bouddhanath stands as the largest Buddhist shrine of South Asia, the ancient colossal Chorten / Stupa built around 6th century A.D. by King Man Deb. A monument with a series of three terraces looking from bird's eye view it’s a relevant shape of a lotus flower which indeed remains a very holy object for all world-wide Buddhists devout. The Stupa known as Chorten / Stupa surrounded by a circular market with four pairs of Buddha's eyes giving a stunning flash around four cardinal directions, as a diligent watch over the people and their commitments. The Stupa embraces authentic philosophy of Mahayana faith of Buddhism which is known as Lamaism in Nepal, Sikkim, Ladakh, Bhutan and Tibet. With time here for lunch break enjoy meals in a nice terraced restaurant with views of large Bouddhanath Stupa.

C.  Pashupatinath Temple - Pure Hindu of less than hour tour with short drive:

From Bouddhanath a short drive takes you to the famous Hindu temple of Pashupatinath, a holy spot and center of Hindu pilgrimage from all over Nepal as well as India.  A sacred Hindu Temple of pagoda design with gilt roof and richly carved silver doors, the temple dedicated to Lord Shiva close to holy Baghmati River.  One of the most sacred sites of entire Hindu world, Pashupatinath Temple is the nerve center of pilgrimage for millions of Hindu on the auspicious day of Shiva-Ratri (birth anniversary of Lord Shiva) around mid-February as per Hindu calendar. Inside the main temple premises where only Hindus are permitted to enter, non-Hindu and foreign visitors can observe the temple from the east side of the Baghmati River.

D: Patan / Lalitpur City of maximum one-hour tour:

With interesting moment around Pashupatinath temple, drive leads towards the south of the city to enter Patan also called Lalitpur which means the city of great art and masterpiece handicrafts. Patan / Lalitpur city in early days was a separate kingdom around 6th to 17th Century, tour begins from Patan old Durbar Square teemed with full of local traditional activities. Entering inner premises witness ancient buildings of masterpiece architecture with intricate carving of fine arts, where most of the old monuments listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Places around Patan-Lalitpur of great interest to visit for an hour around ancient culture and heritage sites. Patan Durbar Square, Mul Chowk (royal court yard and verandah), Sundari Chowk), Keshav Narayan Chowk, Krishna Temple, Mahaboudha, Kumbheshwor, Jagat Narayan Temple, Rudra Varna Mahavihar, The Asoka Stupas, Patan Industrial Estate with time permitting visit Tibetan Refugee Camp.

E. Changunarayan

1500-Year-Old Changu Narayan Temple – Oldest Temple in Nepal

Located 12km east of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, Changu Narayan temple is the oldest temple in Nepali history. The temple is also known as just ‘Changu’ or ‘Dolagiri’ and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple gathers important histories and religious values.

The History of Changu Narayan temple:                         

The recorded history, however, has it that the temple was built by Licchavi King Haridatta Varma around 4th Century A.D. It was then rebuilt in 1702 after a major arsenic disaster. Since then, it has undergone many reconstructions over the year.

Interesting story about Changunarayan:

There used to be a cow herder, known as Gwala during the time, who bought a cow from a Brahmin in the ancient times. The Gwala took the cow to Changu for grazing and the cow could produce large quantities of milk. Changu then was forest filled with Champak trees. One day, that cow only went to one tree in particular for grazing. That evening, the cow produced a very small amount of milk, and that continued for several days. The Gwala could do nothing about it, so he called Sudarshan, the Brahmin he bought the cow from. Both the Gwala and Sudarshan observed the cow’s activities when they took her to graze in the forest. They were surprised when they saw a small black boy coming out of the tree and drinking the milk from the cow. They thought the boy was a devil, so they decided to cut down the champak tree. Astonishingly, human blood started flooding out of the tree. Both of them got worried thinking they committed a crime in cutting the tree. When they were crying, Lord Vishnu emerged and told them that it was not their wrongdoing.

Vishnu mentioned that he had committed a great crime when he unintentionally killed Sudarshan’s father while hunting in the forest. Lord Vishnu was then cursed to wander the earth on his mouth. As Garuda, he eventually descended on the hill at Changu. Nobody knew he was there, and there was no way he could free himself of the curse. He survived on the milk of stolen cow. When they cut down the tree, they freed him from the sin as he was beheaded.

Hearing this, both Sudarshan and the Gwala started to worship the spot and established a Vishnu temple there. Since then, the site is considered to be sacred. The priests in the temple are the descendants of Sudarshan. 

F. Nagarkot Visit

Nagarkot is a village located about 25 miles east of Kathmandu, Nepal. It is on the northeastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley at an elevation of close to 6,800 feet above sea level. It is one of the most scenic spots in the region, renowned for its sunrise views of the Himalayas. You can see Mount Everest with its snow-topped peaks, and there is an observation tower at the very top of the village’s hills. This early morning tour begins when your guide and drive meet you at your hotel and it concludes 3-hours later when they bring you back to your hotel.

Nagarkot is also a famous hill station for the short hikers, biking tour for a day. Nagarkot is magnificent place to view the panorama of major peaks of eastern Himalayan ranges including Mt. Everest on clear days.

G. Bhaktapur City Tour

Bhaktaur is an ancient newar community situated in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley, the distance to the Bhaktapur is approximately 13 km from the Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is also called as an open museum, it is home to some of the best preserved historical monuments including courtyards, palaces, temples, mountains, craftwork, hand crafted windows, pagodas.  It has listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO among seven monument zone.

Popular things of Bhaktapur: marvelous crafts including Pottery, weavery, Thanka, Masks, Mask dance,

Some inside of Bhaktapur:

The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is an area of cultural and historical value. Major attraction of Bhaktapur could be 55-window Palace, National Art Gallery, Big Bell, Golden Gate, Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Pashupatinath Temple and the Vatsala Devi Temple.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is said as ‘Layaku’ in Newari language, is one of the World Heritage Site by UNESCO located in Bhaktapur. It is a historical plaza in front of the royal palace of old Bhaktapur Kingdom and is one of the most visited tourist sites of the Kathmandu Valley.

Taumadhi Square is famous for the Nyatapola Temple and The Bhairav Temple. It is an open place located just south-east of the Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Dattatraya Square is another famous square in the Bhaktapur, that located in east of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Pottery Square is another historical square in Bhaktapur that located in south of Bhaktapur Dubar Square. Major attraction of this place is people make various pots out of clay. The most famous one is the ‘Khutruke’, which is basically a piggy bank. It is very refreshing to witness generations of family at work together.

Siddha Pokhari is also called 'Ta-Pukhu' in Newari. It is a pond located near the mini bus park of Bhaktapur. It was built in the fifteenth century, during the reign of King Yaksha Malla. It is associated with a number of myths, and is a common hangout spot for many people.

H. Dhulikhel, Namobuddha and Panauti tour: Truly highlights your time and holidays in Nepal, besides interesting Kathmandu city tour around world heritage sites, where on this day tour takes you beyond Kathmandu city and valley towards rural farm areas and town. The morning after breakfast our guide will pick you from the hotel for exciting and scenic drive heading due east on old Nepal and Tibet / China Friendship highway also known as Arniko Highway (the first Nepalese artist and craftsmen to travel China with an invitation by Emperor Kublai Khan in 6-7th Century). Where drive leads through rural farm villages and towns to reach scenic view-point hill and town of Dhulikhel, enjoy the super panorama of Himalayan Mountains facing Manaslu, Ganesh, Langtang, Jugal Himal range with peaks of Gaurishankar. Enjoy visiting this old Newar town, the indigenous tribe of Kathmandu valley and of Dhulikhel, this town believed 500 years of history an interesting place and then short drive takes you into the tranquil and serene forest surrounding at Namobuddha. Namobuddha holiest of all holy Buddha sites has known as the ‘Three Stupas in Nepal’, a place where future Buddha sacrificed his body to a tigress. A regarded sacred place where perfect and supreme Buddha-on ancient time on his path of learning-offered his own body without regret to a tigress suffering from great hunger. What follows is a history of this supreme and distinguished sacred site, whose location is unmistaken based on the clear identification given in the ‘Sutra Requested by the Tigress’ and so forth. After a wonderful time around clean mountain air at Dhulikhel, Namobuddha and panauti Tour having most of the day away from hustle and bustle city life of Kathmandu, in late afternoon drive back to Kathmandu or either stay overnight in Dhulikhel to catch sunrise views over a chain of Himalayan peaks.

Speciality of Namobudda:

Walking up the hill from the stupa, one can reach a place where the scene of the Buddha giving his body to the tigress is engraved in stone. According to the oral tradition, this is the actual place where the Buddha gave his body.

Panauti :

Panauti lies in Kavrepalanchok District in Province No. 3 of Nepal located 32 km Southeast of the capital Kathmandu. The town is currently listed as a UNESCO tentative site since 1996. Panauti is a historical city in Nepal, originally it was a small state given by King Bhupatindra Malla as a dowry to his sister. few prominent icons, such as the Indreswor temple and Panauti (Layaku)Durbar square found in the town center. At the end of the 0th Century, Panauti was finally integrated into the unified kingdom of Nepal, along with Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, which are all former capital cities of the Kathmandu valley.

Outline Itinerary:

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu, gretted by one of our airport representative and transfer to hotel.

Day 02 : Visit World Heritage Sites at Kathmandu Swoyambunath Stupa(Monkey Temple), Bouddhanath Stupa, Pashupati Nath Temple and Patan.

Day 03 : Day Hike tour to world heritage site at Bhaktapur, Changunarayan temple, Nagarkot. 

Day 04 : Visit Dhulikhel, Namobudda and Panauti

Day 05 : Drop at international airport to return back to home country or Plan for another trip.

Note* Nepal Highpoint trekking is professional tour operator in Nepal offering World heritage site tour. We have prepared one standard package here. If you wish to modify the itienery according to your time you can mail us at nepalhighpoint@gmail.com