Kathmandu Valley 7 World Heritage Sites Tour

Hotel Pickup

Your exciting Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour will start after our representative picks you up from your hotel. For your convenience, a staff from Nepal Recreation will pick you up directly from your hotel and take you to the rejuvenating starting point of this day tour. We also offer flexibility for the exploration, so you can join the group exploration for the period that is most suitable for you.

Visit to Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple)

Drive Duration: 25 to 30 minutes

Exploration Duration: Around 1 hour

During the first part of this day’s exploration, you will head toward the Swayambhunath Stupa, which is also known as the Monkey Temple. This is one of the most significant Buddhist sites in the world and is an ancient relic of its type. The name of this stupa, ‘Swayambhunath,’ literally translates to ‘Self-Existent.’ It is believed that this stupa came into existence from a lotus in the middle of the Kathmandu Valley, which once was a grand lake surrounded by hills. Swayambhunath Stupa is not just an incredible religious landmark that has withstood the leap of time throughout the centuries but is also a monument that represents the harmony of faith in the country.

Besides the monasteries and stupas, you will also find several Hindu temples at the premises of this Buddhist Site. The stupa has a pair of big eyes on each side of the stupa that faces four directions, and it is a representation of god’s all-seeing perspective. You will take your time to learn more about the history of this spiritual site and relish its spiritual ambiance before heading further.

Set of Activities and Highlights

• Enjoying the panoramic views of the Kathmandu Valley and the pristine Himalayan range

• Exploring the huge Golden Vajra on the east side of the stupa

• Two story pagoda style Harati Temple on the northwestern side of the stupa

• Pratappur and Anantapur Temples

• Exploring the 7th-century statue carved from a single piece of stone, Dipankar Buddha

• Dewa Dharma Monastery

• World Peace Pond

Visit to Kathmandu Durbar Square

Drive Duration: 30- 35 minutes

Exploration Duration: Around 1 to 1.5 hours

After completing the sightseeing of Swayambhunath Stupa, you will then proceed further to explore the next part of your Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour. The next phase of your sightseeing will take you to the Kathmandu Durbar Square, which is the historical site and is believed to have been built in the 12th to 18th century. King Pratap Malla then extended the premises of the property significantly during the 17th century. The royal family of Nepal, from Malla to the Shah dynasty, have resided in this historic palace.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is also known a the ‘Museum of Temples’ due to the large number of temples present in its premises. The world-renowned home of the Living Goddess Kumari ‘Kumari Ghar/Temple’ is also at the premises of this historic royal palace. Some of the other prominent temples that you will explore in this sightseeing part are Taleju Bhwani, Shiva-Parvati Temple, Jagannath Temple, Narasimha Statue, etc.

Set of Activities and Highlights

• Royal palace Hanuman Dhoka

• The rectangular courtyard of Itum Bahal

• Home of the living goddess in Nepal, Kumari Temple

• Taleju Bhawani Temple and Jagganath Temple with unique architecture

• Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple

• Tana Deval Temple and Bhagwati Temple on the norterhwest side

Visit to Patan Durbar Square

Drive Duration: 30 minutes

Exploration Duration: 1 to 1.5 hours

Moving further with the historic site exploration, you will then head toward the city of art and architecture, Patan. The prominent site of this beautiful district, Patan Durbar Square, is world-famous for the statues, shrines, monuments, woodcraft, and metal crafts in artistic design. Lalitpur is the second-largest district in the Kathmandu Valley, and Patan Durbar Square, which is in the core part of the district, is just located 5 km southwest of Kathmandu. Significantly influenced by Buddhism and Hindu culture, the arts, architecture, and inscriptions on this site share a history with the epic of both religions.

Like the Kathmandu Durbar Square, which was home to the kings of Kathmandu, the kings of Lalitpur resided in Patan Durbar Square. The artistic courtyard, temples at its premises, pagoda-style architecture, ancient stupas, refined metalwork, and woodcraft display the pinnacle of the Newari culture during the Malla regime. The boundary of the ancient Patan kingdom has been marked by ancient Buddhist Stupas that were built by King Ashoka in 250 BC; they stand firmly at Gwarko (eastern side), Pulchowk (western side), Kumbeshwor (northern side) and Lagankhel (southern side).

Set of Activities and Highlights

• Royal palace of the king of Lalitpur, Patan Durbar

• Patan Museum, which houses a collection of artifacts and paintings

• Exploring Golden Temple, which is also known as Hiranya Varna Mahavihar

• Mahabuddha Temple at the heart of the city is referred to as ‘The Temple of Thousand Buddhas’

• The artistic Krishna Temple, which is believed to have been built from a single rock

• Five-story Kumbeshwar Temple

• Three courtyards of the royal palace: Keshav Narayan Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Mulchowk

• Banglamukhi Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Parvati

Lunch Break

Lunch Duration: Around 1 hour

After completing the exploration of Patan Durbar Square, you will then take a lunch break before continuing your Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour. You will enjoy your lunch at a traditional restaurant in Patan, which is also popular as the city of flavors. You can enjoy a wide range of delicacies at the restaurant and take your time to relax before continuing your sightseeing tour.

Visit to Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Drive Duration: 30- 45 minutes

Exploration Duration: Around 1.5 to 2 hours

For the next part of your exploration in this Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour, you will head toward the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Bhaktapur is another artistic city in Kathmandu Valley that showcases incredible Newar arts and architecture. This beautiful city is located 12 km east of Kathmandu and this historic site houses 33 temples in its premises. Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the royal palace of the ancient Bhaktapur Kingdom and the buildings on this site date back to the 13th century to the 18th century. The palace with 55 carved windows, known as ‘Pachpanna Jhyale Durbar’ and the entry gate ‘Golden Gate,’ which is made of gold, are some of the prominent sites of this palace.

Besides the historic landmarks, the cultural experience of this traditional Newar city is something of an exhilarating expereince. There are a lot of temples in front of the palace: the giant stone pillar with a statue of King Bhupatindra Malla, the stone temple of Batsala Devi, the bronze bell at the terrace of the temple, also known as the ‘Bell of Barking Dogs’ built of King Ranjit Malla in 1737 are some not-to-miss highlights of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Set of Activities and Highlights

• Royal Palace of Bhaktapur, Bhaktapur Durbar Square

• 55 windows palace, which is the most ionic structure of the royal palace

• The National Art Museum which has preserved Nepali art, culture, and over 4,000 pieces of artifacts

• The gate which is made out of gold, Golden Gate is also referred to as ‘Swordadwar’

• Guardian deity of the Malla dynasty, Taleju Temple

• Shikhar-style temple, Siddhi Laxmi Temple

• Royal Bath Pond, Naga Pokhari

• Nyatapola Temple which is a five-story temple with 33 steps and is 33 meters high

Visit to Changu Narayan Temple

Drive Duration: 30- 35 minutes

Exploration Duration: Around 1 hour

As you are in Bhaktapur, you will continue toward another major highlight of this Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour, which is located in the same city, Changu Narayan Temple. This beautiful temple, listed in the world heritage site, is perched at the top of a small hill on the eastern side of the valley. This temple is dedicated to one of the prominent Hindu deities, Lord Vishnu. During the Harishayani Ekadashi during Ashad and Haribodhini Ekadashi in Kartik, a large number of devotess visit this temple. The stone statue of Garuda on the front of the temple dates back to the 5th century of the Lichhavi period. Erected in two-tier pagoda style, this temple is rich in wood and stone carving. Now, what you see is the new design of the temple; it was rebuilt after a massive fire destroyed the old temple in 1702.

The main courtyard of the Changu Narayan Temple has several temples and idols of gods and goddesses. A stone tablet of Shilapatra that is within the vicinity of the temple has a stone inscription and is the oldest of its kind, dating back to the 5th century. You will also find several other exceptional monuments in the temple that dates back to the 5th to 12th century, making the temple one of the highest concentrations of ancient arts and crafts in the entire country.

Set of Activities and Highlights

• The majestic testament of the Nepali art and architecture, Changu Narayan Temple

• Sculpture of Vishnu Mounting Gaurda on the northern corner

• Artistic idol for Vishhnu Vishwarup

• Changu Museum, which preserved cultural musical instruments, art, artifacts, and historic documents

• The Living Traditions Museum

• A pillar with the legacy of Mandeva

• Other Hindu temples and smaller sculptures dedicated to Lord Vishnu

Visit to Pashupatinath Temple

Drive Duration: Approximately 1 hour

Exploration Duration: Around 1 hour

After completing the exploration of two of the major UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bhaktapur, you will then continue your trip toward the remaining sites in Kathmandu. You will first head toward one of the major religious sites that you will explore on this Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour, Pashupatinath Temple. This incredible temple situated at the bank of the Bagmati River is one of the most revered Hindu temples in the entire country which is dedicated to both the creator and destroyer of the universe, Lord Shiva. Only the Hindus can enter the main temple in the site, which is complex meanwhile, the non-Hindus are free to explore the other temples on the site.

This magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva receives a large number of devotees during Maha Shivaratri, which is also referred to as the ‘Night of Lord Shiva’ and Teej, one of the significant festivals for the women and girls of Hindu communities. Pashupatinath Temple is built in two-story gilt roofed pagoda style and there are more than 500 temples in its vicinity. The religious foundation of this site dates back as early as the 5th century, and you will see wonderful metal, artwork, statues, and sculptures all around the main temple that share the same level of religious norms as the main temple.

Set of Activities and Highlights

• The most significant Hindu pilgrimage site in Nepal, Pashupatinath Temple

• Gorakhnath Temple which is dedicated to the sect of yogi and their guru

• Guhyeshwari Temple, which is dedicated to the Ad Shakti

• The sacred deity of the Kirati People, Birupakshay, also known as ‘Kirateswor Mahadev’

• The holy river of Bagmati

• Cremation Ghats at the banks of the Bagmati River

• Bachhareshwari Temple, which is dedicated to the goddess Bachhareshwari

Visit to Boudhanath Stupa

Drive Duration: 20- 25 minutes

Exploration Duration: Around 1 hour

Like Swayambhunath Stupa, Boudhanath Stupa is another major Buddhist site in Nepal. This will be the last sightseeing destination in your Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour. This religious site is the largest stupa in the valley and the center hub for Himalayan Buddhism. The Boudhanath Stupa is believed to have been built by the Lichavi King Sivadeva during the period of 590 to 604 CE. Meanwhile, some literature suggests that it was built by the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo during his conversion to Buddhism. The first stupa in the premises of Boudhanath Stupa was built around 600 AD when the Tibetan King, Songtsen Gampo, converted to Buddhism. This site ranks foremost when it comes to the terms of grace and purity of line for conserving and teaching the ways of Buddhism.

Boudhanath Stupa is built in a three-story mandala style and is erected at a height of 26 meters. Its unique architecture is quite distinct; there are 108 small images of Dhyani Amitabha Buddha that surround the base of the stupa. Surrounding the stupa, there is a set of four to five prayers in a total of 147 niches, and pilgrims go around the stupa spinning the wheel in a clockwise direction. It is believed that spinning the wheels around the stupa is equivalent to reciting the mantras inscribed on them eleven thousand times.

Set of Activities and Highlights

• The largest spherical stupa in Nepal, the Boudhanath Stupa

• Praying wheels around the stupa with mantras

• Spiritual atmosphere

• Monasteries where they teach meditation and mindfulness

• Traditional Tibetan Art and Tangka paintings

• Mandalas and eyes of Buddha, which represent the omnipresent nature of Lord Buddha

Return to Hotel

After completing your exciting Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Sites Tour, a representative from Nepal Recreation will drop you back at your hotel. Depending on the starting time of the tour and the time spent at each world heritage site, you can expect to return to your hotel in the late afternoon or early evening. After getting some rest and remembering the incredible experience, you will have enough time to stroll the colorful streets of this beautiful capital city in the evening.