Nepal Cultural Sightseeing tours

Nepal is not famous for adventure and mountain tourism but it is more famous for its cultural diversity.  Nepal cultural sightseeing tour gives a valuable and rich experience with insight into Nepali lifestyles tradition, religion, festivals, ethnic groups, Language, colorful arts visiting most of UNESCO heritage site out of 10 in Nepal, sacred pilgrimage sites and historical monuments. Our professional tour guides will take you around culturally affluent cities and settlements in and around Kathmandu Valley where people from different religious backgrounds, caste and cultures are living in peace and harmony. Our Nepal cultural tour includes extra excitements of white water rafting, mountains, wild-life safari in nature, sunrise / set over the Himalayas. Holiday Mountain Treks invites and welcomes travel enthusiasts from all countries of the world to experience and enjoy personally all the time of the year. Simply ask us to customize the tour itinerary that best suits your interest, travel time and duration. 

THE KATHMANDU VALLEY:

This verdant valley was once a huge lake, legend dictates that in the middle of the lake was a brilliant flame emanating from a Lotus flower. People would come from miles around to wonder and worship the flame. A Chinese disciple Bodhisattva Manjushree, wishing to worship the flame more closely sliced a portion of the hills with his sword draining its waters and thus the fertile Kathmandu valley was created. Chovar gorge where the valley waters drain today remains the focus of the legend. In the years since, the Kathmandu valley has seen many dynasties and empires come and go, each leaving their own mark on the valley's mystique. The valley incorporates three major cities-Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapor with their own distinctive character with outstanding temples, works of art and architecture and a varied calendar of feasts and festivals, their roots in being capital cities of the valleys three principality's in times gone by. Between then, they boast the highest density of World Heritage Sites to be found anywhere in the World, seven in total. There are many other fascinating settlements in the valley offering their own reasons for being there.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN KATHMANDU VALLEY:

Kathmandu Durbar Square

The Capital which begins to show signs of congestion over the past few years, this hardly detracts from its mystery and celebration of life. So much history interwoven and sitting strangely in harmony with the modern Kathmandu. Ancient temples in a medieval atmosphere and living goddess Kumari can be seen in Kathmandu Durbar Squire formerly Royal Palace is crowded with ancient temples and palaces reflecting the religious and cultural life of the people.

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath is one of the most sacred Hindu important temple dedicated to god Shiva located on the banks of Bagmati River on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu. Every day hundreds of Hindu devoties come to this Temple for the worship and dead bodies are brought to be cremated on the banks of the river and travel their last journey with the waters of the sacred river Bagmati, which later meets the holy river the Ganges. It is believed that those who die in Pashupatinath Temple are reborn as a human, regardless of any misconduct that could worsen their karma so some people come here for the last breath who are decleard to die. Tourists are allowed to go around the Temple are and enjoy the atmosphere and take fotoes.

Budhanilkantha Temple

Budhanilkantha situated below the Shivapuri Hill at the northern end of Kathmandu is a Hindu open-air temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The main Statue is a black stone structure carved from a single block of black basalt. The statue stands 5 meters tall (around 16.4 feet) and is positioned in the middle of a recessed pool of water, which is 13 meters (42.65 feet) long. It depicts the deity reclining on the coils of the cosmic serpent Shesha. He holds the Sudarsana chakra, Club, a Conch Shell and a gem in his four hands. He is well adorned with a crown engraved with multiple Kirtimukha images which can often be seen being overlapped by a silver crown. According to one story, a farmer and his wife once struck a figure while plowing the field, which caused it to start soaking blood into the ground. This turned out to be the figure of the lost deity of Budhanilkantha, which was recovered and placed in its present position.

Changu Narayan Temple

The temple of Changu Narayan was originally built in the 4th century during the Lichhavi Dynasty itself, the Changu Narayan Temple has a history that dates back to around 3000 years on a hill standing majestically over the rice fields of Bhaktapur, around 22 km away from Kathmandu. The temple was badly effected from the earthquake in 2015 but it is already renovated. The Changu Narayan temple is a double-roofed temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Narayan decorated with ten incarnations of the Narayan. Garuda, half-man, and half-bird is the vehicle of the Vishnu. A life-size stone statue of Garuda kneels in front of the west face of the temple. In front of the temple’s main entrance, in an ornate cage, there are smaller statues of King Bhupatindra Malla and his queen. Along with Lord Shiva Parivar statues and 12 Shivalingas including the Kailashnath Mahadev shivalingas temple.

Valeshwor Temple

One of the oldest statues of the Shiva Valeshwor Mahadev Temple at Chandragiri Hill is located in the South West of Kathmandu Valley 7 km away from Thankot, 2551m above sea level. The Chandragiri cable car has a gondola lift transportation system. A short cable car ride from Thankot will take you to the top of the hill. It is connected with the Hindu religion with the holy Valeshwor Temple. Chandragiri Hill with Holy Valeshwor Temple is considered to be the ideal destination for a day’s escape from the city.

Dakshinkali Temple

Dakshinkali Temple situated 21 km in the deep gorge of a small stream is a famous Shaktipeeth of Hindu people where worshippers sacrifice animals such as birds or goats to the Hindu goddess Kali. Crowded worshipping days are Saturday and Tuesday and you will encounter hundreds of locals gathered there for blessings and animal sacrifice. On the way up the mountain to this temple, you will pass by many colorful small outdoor shops selling trinkets and offerings like flowers and coconuts to be brought to the temple.

Bouddhanath Stupa

It is a World Heritage Site which lies eight km east of the center of Kathmandu. This ancient colossal Stupa is renovated after and resized after the Earthquake in 2015 but one of the biggest in the World and the centre of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.

Swyambhunath

This is one of the world’s most famous Buddhist Chaityas. The 2000 year old Chaityas is commonly known as the ‘monkey temple’ because of its resident population of apes. This spectacular Buddhist Stupa, from which the Buddha’s eyes gaze serenely down, lies on a hilltop only 2 km from the centre of Kathmandu. The views of Kathmandu and the surrounding valley are superb from here.

Namo Buddha

The Buddhist pilgrimage site of Namo Buddha highly esteemed by the visitors which is located on slightly elevated land is about 42 km from Kathmandu. All the harmonious conditions needed to practice samadhi are present at this sacred site. Merely coming here inspires one’s faith; renunciation and weariness with samsara naturally arise. As it is said: “In the supreme place of a solitary mountain retreat, any activity is virtuous. After a king named Great Charioteer (Shingta Chenpo) being offered his body in generosity to the tigress, people found it difficult to travel through the region for fear of all wild animals, so they developed the practice of reciting “Namo Buddhaya” to dispel their anxiety. To this day, the local inhabitants call the area Namo Buddha. The ancient stupa has become a special place to accumulate merit through activities such as circumambulation and making offerings.

Kopan Monastery

Kopan a Monastery in the Gelug tradition of traditional of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism under the guidance of Lama Zopa Rinpoche lies in the Kopan hill just above the Bouddha, which rises up out of the terraced fields of the Kathmandu valley and is visible for miles dominated by a magnificent Bodhi Tree. It is the home of 360 monks, lamas, teachers and workers from Nepal and Tibet with ages ranging from seven to sixty years old. They have devoted their lives to the study and practice of the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni, with special emphasis on the teachings of Lama Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelug Lineage.

Pharping Monastery

Pharping Monastery situated amidst lush forest hill is as sacred to practitioners of Vajrayana Buddhism as Bodhgaya is to Buddhism as a whole, for it was here that Padmasambhava, the 8th century Tantric sage, achieved enlightenment. The renowned Tibetan lama and meditation master, Namkha Drimed Rabjam Rinpoche, stayed in retreat at the Asura Cave in Pharping, Nepal – one of the most sacred “power places” in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. For centuries Pharping has been a center for spiritual practice and, besides the two caves where Padmasambhava and his consort Shakyadevi meditated, the area boasts many monasteries, temples, and residences of revered Tibetan masters. The rocks surrounding the caves continue to manifest an extraordinary phenomenon called rangjung, in which sacred forms arise spontaneously from the living rock due to the intensity of spiritual energy that pervades this area.

Lumbini

Lumbini, (the birthplace of Lord Buddha) is situated on the South-Western plains of Nepal. Lumbini gardens, dotted with holy Shrines, Stupas, Monasteries and the Temple of Maya Devi, the mother of Lord Buddha, are the principal attractions. A great pillar from 250 B.C. carries an inscription signifying the birth of Lord Buddha. Beside the Maya Devi temple to the south is a sacred pole where Lord Buddha received his first purification bath. Close to Lumbini is Tilaurakot an archaeological site over 2000 years old.

Kirtipur

Kirtipur is situated 10 km southwest of Kathmandu. The ancient Newar Township is a natural fortress and has a proud and courageous history. With its easily defendable hilltop location, the town bears a significant historical and cultural significance in Nepal’s unification drive as a nation-state during the 17th century. The Chihuahua Stupa and the temple of Bagh Bhairab are major sights here. Kirtipur offers quaint streets lined with artistic houses and temple squares. The people are known for their skill in building and weaving.

Patan

Patan is situated on the southern bank of the holy river Bagmati some five kilometers southeast of Kathmandu. Patan Durbar Square is full of ancient Hindu and Buddhist temples palaces and shrines noted for their exquisite carvings. The square consists of three main chowks (courtyards). The central Mul Chowk Sundari Chowk and Keshav Narayan Chowk. The Sundari Chowk holds in its center a masterpiece of stone architecture, the Royal bath Tushahity.

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur is situated 14 km east of Kathmandu and is the least developed of the three cities in the valley with its narrow brick paved streets harbor hidden shrines and statues around every corner. Bhaktapur is famed for its woodcarvings, pottery and cloth weaving. The main square of the City contains innumerable temples and other architectural showpieces. The lion gate, the statue of the King Bhupatindra Malla, the National Art Gallery The palace of 55 Windows and the bell of the barking dogs are but a few of the sights to visit in the square.

Khokana/Bungmati Villages

Khokana, a traditional and tiny Newari Heritage Village with valley’s rich art and culture lies about 8 kilometers south of Kathmandu (on the outskirts of Patan). Khokana is mainly known for the production of rich mustard oil since ancient time. It was also the first town in Nepal to be lit with electricity in 1911 AD during the reign of Rana Prime Minister. Strolling around, taking photos, talking to the locals in this ancient traditional Newari village surrounded by green paddy fields is an extraordinary experience for the travelers. Nearby is another medieval village, Bungamati a home to the city’s rain god or Rato Macchhindranath. This is where the idol of the rain god comes to rest after the Machhindranath Jatra (chariot festival) held in Patan every year. This picturesque village lies next to the Bagmati River and is filled with Newari traditional homes. Wood and stone carving workshops line the village streets. The artists at work are descendants of the unnamed artists whose works are showcased at the city’s heritage sites.

Chobar

Chobar is the Village located about 8 km on the way to Pharping and Daksinkali. There is the myth about Chobar that deity Manjushree cut with his sword a hill, which let out the water of a lake. When all water was out, the fertile land left became what is nowadays Kathmandu. Chobar gorge between the hill cut in half where the water of the holy Bagmati river flows. Over the gorge is a suspension bridge for pedestrians built by Scottish in 1903. From this bridge, you have a great view over and in the gorge. Furthermore, there are some caves and temples in the area and a small park gives the whole place more attraction now.

PLACES OF INTEREST OUTSIDE OF THE KATHMANDU VALLEY:

Nagarkot

Nagarkot at 2229 m. is a hill station for Mountain and sunset/sunrise views. It is about 32km. east of Kathmandu between the Kathmandu valley in the west and Indrawati in the east and nowadays there are from the simple guest house to 5 star standard resorts and hotels providing luxury accommodation and verities of dishes for the travelers. Mountain views seen from here to the north from west to east are great attractions.

Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel about 35km from Kathmandu is one of the best places to observe the panoramic views of high Himalaya from the edge of the ridge, a stunning panorama of peaks unfolds, from northwest Langtang Lirung (7227m) Dorje Lakpa (6966m), the huge bulk of Gauri Shankar (7134m), Melungtse (7181m), and as far as Number (5945m) in the east. It is also famous for sunset views over the Himalayas. Sunset views seen from here is one of the best attraction for the tourists.

Daman

Situated at 2100m. above sea level and 80 km from Kathmandu. From Kathmandu, Daman is known for its views of Himalayan peaks Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Dorje Lakpa , Gauri Shanker, Cho Oyu, can all be seen. The viewing tower offers an amazing panoramic view of 300 miles of the Himalayan range.

Gorkha

This was the home of Gorkha Kings— The Kings of the Shah dynasty that expanded itself into modern Nepal. The Shah dynasty of Nepal descended from the Gorkha. Located some 160 km west of Kathmandu and Gorkha soldiers were originally from this area. Points of interest include here are ornate ancient temples and Mandu, Gorkha is a picturesque hill sport steeped in ancient history.

Bandipur

Bandipur situated at 1100m elevation 145km west from Kathmandu and 85km east from Pokhara is one of the most charming towns, a living museum of Newari people’s culture and it has preserved the Newari architecture of its buildings lined with traditional row houses which are now using for lodges, cafes and temples. Main attractions here are the Bindyabashini temple, the library in the village centre, Thani Mai, Tindhara (Three Taps” washing place at the southeastern outskirts), Raniban (Queen's Forest), the downhill trek to the Siddha Cave and a hike to Ramkot village.

Pokhara

Pokhara 200km west from Kathmandu; is one of the most beautiful city surrounded by impressive mountains backdrop anywhere on earth. Pokhara provides a perfect setting to prepare for and relax after your trek and access to the mountains is easy and fine for a couple of day tours around. It is also an ideal place to do very little in but relax perhaps some boating on the huge lake or just relaxing in one of the many lakeside restaurants.

Lumbini

Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha is situated on the South-Western plains of Nepal. Lumbini gardens, dotted with holy Shrines, Stupas, Monasteries and the Temple of Maya Devi, the mother of Lord Buddha, are the principal attractions. A great pillar from 250 B.C. carries an inscription signifying the birth of Lord Buddha. Beside the Maya Devi temple to the south is a sacred pole where Lord Buddha received his first purification bath. Close to Lumbini is Tilaurakot an archaeological site over 2000 years old and worth to visit?

Tansen

Tansen is the most famous ancient hill town situated at 4300 min the western Himalayan region of Nepal. It is about 295 km from Kathmandu via Butwal and about 325 km from Kathmandu via Pokhara located on the way from Pokhara to Lumbini. Major attractions here are the ancient culture, magnificent mountain views, Tansen Durbar, Ranighat, Bhairabsthan temple, Bhagwati and Amaar Narayan temple and Shreenagar hill.