7 World Heritage Sites Tour in Kathmandu

One Day Seven World Heritage Sites Private Day Tour inside Kathmandu Valley begins at 08:00 AM in the morning from the visitors hotel. The tour then takes the visitors to a full 8 hours day tour inside this frenetic and enigmatic capital. Moreover, the tour focuses on exploring the historical civilization while getting an insight into seven of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. They include Boudhanth Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple, a highly esteemed pilgrimage site for Hindus, Changunarayan Temple, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Mahachaitya, the famous Monkey Temple and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Boudhanath Stupa

The first halt of the seven heritage sites will be at Boudhanath, the Stupa with the largest mandala. The stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. It is located on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley by the village of Sankhu in the northeast corner and continues to the ancient and smaller stupa of Chabahil named Charumati Stupa, often called Little Boudhanath.

Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers at Boudha Stupa for many centuries. Following the 1959 Tibetan uprising, a large number of the Tibetan refugees migrated to Nepal and settled down around Boudhanath. The influx of the Tibetan refugees has seen the construction of over 50 gompas (Budhhist monasteries) around Boudha. As of 1979, Boudha Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pashupatinath Temple

You will then board the private vehicle to move towards Pashupatinath, one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites of Hindus. The temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is located in Kathmandu, Nepal near the Bagmati River. This temple was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1979. This extensive Hindu temple precinct is a sprawling collection of temples, ashrams, images and inscriptions raised over the centuries along the banks of the sacred Bagmati river. Moreover, it is also one of the seven monument groups in UNESCO’s designation of Kathmandu Valley.

The temple is built on an area of 246 hectares and includes 518 mini-temples and a main pagoda house. The exact date of the temple’s construction is uncertain, but the current form of the temple was constructed in 1692 CE. According to Gopalraj Aalok Bhatta, the temple was built by Prachanda Deva, a Licchavi king. However, the existence of the temple is recorded as early as 400 CE.

Changunarayan Temple

Changunarayan is an ancient Hindu temple, located on a high hilltop that is also known as Changu or Dolagiri in Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur District, Nepal. Moreover, the temple is considered to be one of the oldest temples in Nepal. Additionally, it is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is held in special reverence by the Hindu people. In ancient times, the temple was surrounded by champak tree forest and a small village known as Changu. A Kashmiri king is said to have given his daughter, Champak, in marriage to the prince of Bhaktapur. The temple is considered to be named after her.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur is an ancient city that is both the smallest district and the biggest Durbar Square of Nepal, Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes four other smaller Durbar Squares within. Here, Dattatreya Square is the oldest square among the four and is situated a little separated from the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Additionally, another square known as ‘Pottery Square’ is famous for its name as the place is occupied by the potters mostly. Moreover, the view of live pottery here is a sight to sore eyes. You might as well try it for yourself. Also, Nyatapola Temple is another main attraction here for being the tallest five storied temple all over Nepal. It lies within the Durbar Square itself.

Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square is situated at the center of the city of Lalitpur in Nepal. Moreover, it is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. One of its attractions is the medieval royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.

The Durbar Square is a marvel of Newar architecture. The square floor is tiled with red bricks. Additionally, there are many temples and statues in the area. The main temples are aligned opposite of the western face of the palace. The entrance of the temples faces east, towards the palace. Furthermore, there is also a bell situated in the alignment beside the main temples. The Square also holds old Newari residential houses. A center of both Hinduism and Buddhism, Patan Durbar Square has 136 Bahals (courtyards) and 55 major temples.

Swayambhunath Stupa

The tour then moves towards Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple that features a large Stupa known as the Mahachaitya. The Tibetan name for the site means Sublime Trees, for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However, Shingun may be of Nepal Bhasa name for the complex, Swayambhu, meaning self-sprung. For the Buddhist Newars, in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice Swayambhu occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites. For Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudha. Besides, Swayambhu is a Hindu name. Additionally, the hilltop also offers you a 360 degree view of the valley.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the valley that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Although the construction of the square began in the third century, the major structures within it were added in later periods. The outer complex consists of a number of 16th-century temples built during the reign of Malla kings. These buildings are adorned with meticulously carved facades characteristic to Newari architecture.

The central square is surrounded by palace complexes built during the Malla and Shah periods. The most well-known among them is the Nautale Durbar, a nine-story palace built by Prithvi Narayan Shah to commemorate the Unification of Nepal. A three-story temple called Kumari Chowk or Kumari Bahal is located at the southern edge of the Durbar square. This Malla-era temple is used as the residence of the Kumari, a young girl worshiped as a living embodiment of the Hindu Goddess Durga.

Tour Highlights

Highlights of the trip:

1. Visit 7-UNESCO World Heritage Sites inside Kathmandu Valley
2. Get an insight of the enigmatic capital of Nepal
3. Explore Newari cultures and traditions
4. Visit many of the ancient temples and monasteries inside the valley
5. Chance to sight living goddess ‘Kumari’