Top Destinations In Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu is Capital city of Nepal and the heart of Nepal’s history, art, culture, and economics for many years. The population is multi-ethnic, with a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivals play an important role in the life of Kathmandu residents. Tourism is a significant aspect of the city’s economy. TripAdvisor named Kathmandu third among the top ten upcoming vacation destinations in the world in 2013, and first in Asia. The Durbar Square, Swayambhunath, Boudhanath, and Pashupatinath are all World Heritage Sites in the city, which is considered the gateway to the Nepalese Himalayas.
The Top 5 place to visit in Kathmandu are
1.Kathmandu Durbar Square
In terms of tourism, Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is the most visited of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley. Three of the seven UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu Valley are located in Kathmandu Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, and Patan. The courtyard of the royal palace used to be on the Durbar square. All of the king’s various festivals and celebrations were held here. In some ways, Nepal’s Durbar squares are stewards of the country’s long history. It’s the same with this one. Authentic Newari architecture may be seen in the courtyard of Kathmandu Durbar Square.The main Durbar is located in the western part of the city. Hanuman Dhoka, the entrance courtyard, is located to the northeast. This is the location of the royal palace. From this location, the Mallas and Shahs governed. The name of this area comes from a stone sculpture of Lord Hanuman in the entryway. The royal palace’s apartments can be visited to get a taste of the royal Nepalese way of life. The palace also has two museums, the King Tribhuvan Museum and the Mahendra Museum, both of which exhibit artifacts, coins, weapons, instruments, and other items.
2. Boudhanath Stupa
The most important Buddhist stupa in Nepal is Boudhanath Stupa, with its giant white mandala set against the stunning Himalayan scenery. The original structure dates back to 600 AD. Songtsen Gampo, a Tibetan ruler who converted to Buddhism, is supposed to have built it as a tribute to Avalokiteshvara. According to another legend, the king built the stupa as sin for accidentally killing his father. Mughal armies pillage the Boudhanath stupa in Kathmandu later in the 14th century, leaving it in ruins. As a result, the current structure is a restoration by later kings. The significance of the location, on the other hand, has not been tainted. When the place comes alive at night with lights streaming down from the ceiling. The most important feature of the Boudhanath stupa is the numerous architectural and numerological references to Buddhism. From a distance, the map of Boudha Kathmandu resembles Mount Meru, Buddhism mythological mountain in the center of the cosmos. The four cardinal points of the temple are guarded by four meditating Buddha statues. There are five separate segments that represent each of the five elements of nature from the bottom to the top. The soil, on which the temple is built, is represented by the plinth at the bottom. Water, which sustains life, is represented by the magnificent white-washed dome. Above it is a small square base with eyes drawn all over it. Lord Buddha eyes are reported to be looking over the Boudhanath stupa.
3.Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple, on the banks of the Bagmati River, is one of the most important Shiva shrines in the world, not just in Nepal. This is the home of Nepal’s national deity, Lord Shiva as manifested in Pashupatinath, who is the father of all living beings in the universe. This is not a single monument, but rather a large complex of temples, shrines, ashrams, and a few rock inscriptions all crammed into one. The primary temple in Nepal that houses Lord Pashupatinath Mandir features a pagoda-style gilded dome, silver-covered sides, and well-carved wood throughout. Inside is the sacred Shiva lingam, which is guarded by Nandi Bull, Shiva’s faithful servant.Pashupatinath Temple is one of Kathmandu Valley’s seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Like every Hindu temple, Pashupatinath Nepal too has its own share of history and legends.The temple was constructed by Lichhavi King Shupushpa in the 5th century.Its believe that Lord Shiva himself descended upon the valley in the form of an animal and he liked this place so much that he blessed it with his ‘Lord of all animals’ form.
4.Swayambhunath Temple
The Swayambhunath Temple in Kathmandu is often known as the ‘Monkey Temple’ since it is surrounded by monkeys. It is located northwest of Kathmandu Valley and sits atop a hill, providing visitors with a spectacular panoramic view of the entire Kathmandu city. The place is filled with calm and prayers, and it is possible to achieve harmony here. The glory of Kathmandu began at this point. The location is well-known for the inner calm and harmony that people experience when they visit. Swayambhunath Temple is regarded as one of Nepal’s holiest Buddhist Chaityas. This stupa is one of Nepal’s oldest temples, with numerous shrines and monasteries inside. Swayambhunath Temple, Kathmandu Nepal was built by King Manadeva and was later developed into a centre of Buddhism by the 13th century. According to some sayings, it is believed that the Swayambhunath Temple evolved on its own during the creation of the valley, out of a primordial lake dating back to more than 2000 years ago. Legends believe that Swayambhunath Temple was evolved from a lotus flower which blooms at the centre of a lake which was spread across the Kathmandu Valley.The huge gold-plated Vajra ‘thunderbolt’ that has been erected on the east side of the stupa is one of the major attractions in Kathmandu’s Swayambhunath Temple. The Sleeping Buddha statue and the Sakyamuni Buddha statue are both beautiful. The bronze figure of Buddha at the Dewa Dharma Monastery is well-known, and the monastery also has numerous traditional Tibetan artwork. The Goddess of All Children, Harati, is honored at the Swayambhunath Temple. This temple is stunning, with an appealing layout in the midst of nature and a high location.
5. Thamel
In Kathmandu, Thamel is the most popular tourist destination. When hippie culture spread over Kathmandu in the 1970s and 1980s, the Thamel neighborhood became popular. Unconventional travelers living out of their backpacks descended in droves on the Nepalese capital, and they all made Thamel their temporary home. Thamel Kathmandu has evolved into a bustling shopping, dining, and strolling destination throughout the years. Thamel was proclaimed a vehicle-free zone in 2017 to eliminate honking and make the area safer for pedestrians. In Thamel Nepal, there are approximately 5-6 main streets, as well as dozens of minor veins and arteries that branch out in various directions. You may expect to discover virtually anything and everything under the roof on these streets.Thamel nightlife is something to look forward to the most in Kathmandu. After the day of sightseeing and afternoon shopping sessions are over, the tourists in Kathmandu head towards the various bars, clubs and casinos in Thamel. Funky Buddha and Tom and Jerry and Purple haze are great choices too for live music.Another thing to do in Thamel is natural therapy. There are multiple Thamel massage parlours, spas and salons which cater to tourists for a quick foot massage or a complete back massage to fight jet-lags.