Kathmandu Patan Nagarkot Tour

Kathmandu Tour is designed for those who are visiting Kathmandu for a very short period of time. The Kathmandu Tour provides a close glimpse of the country with visits to plenty of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Katmandu, Lalitpur (Patan) and Bhaktapur, which are all cities within the Kathmandu Valley. The trip not only showcases the rich culture of the Nepalese people but also takes you back in time through its architectural marvels. During this trip we will also visit Nagarkot, a village in the hills of Bhaktapur, which is an ideal place for stunning Himalayan views.

Best Season
The best thing about the Kathmandu Tour is that you can take it any time of the season. Monsoon is from June to August with 80 percent of the rainfall only during this period. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most pleasant seasons. Winters begin in December and last till February.

Pashupatinath is the most sacred Hindu shrine in Nepal and one of the 275 Holy Abodes of Shiva on the continent. It is believed to date back to 400 A.D. It is the preferred site of cremation for Hindus, as it is situated along the banks of the Bagmati River; ashes swept into this river eventually reach the Holy Ganges. A yearly festival called Maha Shivaratri brings over 700,000 devotees to Pashupati.

Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple for the great population of monkeys that lives there, is a beautiful monument that represents the coexistence and fusion of religion in Nepal. Both Buddhists and Hindus pay homage there. Climb 365 steps to reach the 5th century Swayambhunath for a birds-eye view of the city.

Boudhanath is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world as well as one of the holiest centers of Tibetan Buddhism outside of Tibet. Thousands of Tibetan refugees have found refuge around this stupa since the Chinese invasion. Shops and gullies around the stupa have a distinctly Tibetan style. The stupa is rich with Buddhist symbolism.

On the 3rd day of the Luxury Tour of Nepal you will cross the Bagmati River to visit Patan Durbar Square. Patan is known also by its Sanskrit name, Lalitpur, which means city of beauty, a fitting name as Patan is a hub of Buddhist and Hindu culture, full of religious art, temples, and monasteries displaying distinct Newari architectural style. In the fascinating narrow streets surrounding the square, there are more than 600 stupas. The Patan Museum is the restored palace of the 17th century Malla King. The gilded doors and windows open to the Krishna Mandir Temple which was built by King Siddhi Narasigh Malla in 1637. The temple has three floors and 21 golden pinnacles. The first floor enshrines Krishna, the second Shiva, and the third Lokeshwor.

In the afternoon you will visit the ancient Newari town of Bhaktapur, about 12km east of Kathmandu. Bhaktapur means City of Devotees, and lives up to this name as it has more temples than either Kathmandu or Patan. Bhaktapur is like a living museum where ancient traditions are still alive. You can meander through cobbled streets (that are traffic-free!) and explore temples, courtyards, squares, wells and watch craftsmen producing their century old arts of pottery and wood carving. It is a great place to buy souvenirs to take home. The old ways of life can be seen on every corner of the town - rice being sun dried, collecting water from communal taps.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is famous for its 55-Window Palace. The windows and doors are elaborately carved. The Golden Gate of the palace opens onto the Taleju Temple, built in 1756, and the bell which has been rung to pay homage to the Goddess Taleju for centuries, and the Royal Bath, with its Golden Faucet. The National Art Gallery houses Buddhist Paubha scroll paintings, palm leaf manuscripts, and stone carvings.

The five-storey Nyatapola Temple is the tallest pagoda temple in Nepal. Dedicated to the Goddess Lakshmi in 1702, its struts, doors, windows, and tympanums are decorated with carvings of divine figures, including a pair of two- meter high stone statues of elephants, lions, griffons and a pair of tantric goddesses.

Your private vehicle will take you another 18km to the hilltop village of Nagarkot. On a clear day the sunset and sunrise at Nagarkot, 2000m, offers one of the most breathtaking views of the Langtang range reaching as far as Daulagiri in the west to Everest in the east. Nagarkot was originally an ancient fort, protecting the Kathmandu Valley from other kingdoms.