The exotic valley of Kathmandu is one of the world's oldest cities, surrounded by green hills above which, to the north, tower the mighty snow-capped peaks. The oldest part of the city, with narrow medieval streets and lovely little shrines, centers around the Durbar Square. Here one can find distinctive pagoda-roofed temples, stone sculptures, old monasteries and histories monuments.
Hanuman
Dhoka
Probably the most interesting part of Kathmandu is the ancient
Hanuman Dhoka Palace complex in the missle of the old city.
Built during the Malla Period, Kathmandu's Durbar Squre
contains many of the finest temples, sculptures and monuments
in the valley. The attraction of Hanuman Dhoka are The image
of Hanuman, The golden door, Nasal chowk, Mohan chowk, Basantapur
chowk, Taleju mandir, Mul chowk, Kumari chowk, Trailokya
Mohan temple, Kastha mandap, Bhagavati temple, The image
of Kal Bhairav etc.
Tundikhel
The Tundikhel is the uge field that flanks one entire side
of the okd city. it is used for parades, mational celebrations,
numerous colourful festivals and also foe sports and general
exercise. At one end is a popular garden know as Ratna Paek
and at the other end are army barracks.
Singha
Durbar
Singha Durbar is a grand, imposing palace built in the neoclassical
style. it was once the private residence of Rana Prime Ministers
and is now the official seat of government . it used to
be a huge building with many courtyards; however, most of
it was destroyed by fire and only the western half das been
rebuilt.
Dharahara
Also know as Bhimsen Stambha (Tower), Dharahara is a 50.5
meter tower built by prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa in 1832.
Situated near the General Post Office, the tower is one
of Kathmandu's best-known monuments. From the top of the
tower, one has a panoramic view of the whoke Kathmandu Valley.
It is noe open for the public.
Kaiser
Library
Located near the Narayanhity Royal Palace, the Kaiser library
has a huge collection of books and manuscripts gathered
during the early years of this century. it also offers an
opportunity to have glimpse of the interior of the public
during normal office hour
 |
|---|
Narayanhity
Royal Place
This is the present Royal Place. At the south there is the
famous historic water - spout of Narayanhity from which
the Place derives its name. special permission has to be
obtained to go inside the Royal Palace compound.
Martry's
Memorial (Shahid Gate)
Located on the way to singha Durbar, the memorial archcontains
the statues of the Late King Tribhuvan Bir angelnepal Shah
and other four martys; namely Sukra Raj Shastri, Dharma
Bhakta, Dashrath Chand and Ganga Lal whe led the foundation
for the democratic sustem on 1950-5.
Patan
The ancient name of Patan is Lalitpur meaning, city of beauty.
it is indeed a city of beauty and grace and is planned on
a circular format with Buddhist stupa at each of the four
points of the compass. The city is three kilometres south-east
of Kathmandu across the river Bagmati. Like Kathmandu, its
center of attraction is its Durbar Square complex, situated
right in the middle of the market place. The city is full
of Buddhist monuments and Hindu temples with fine bronze
gateways, guardian deities and wounderful carvings. Noted
foe its craftsmen and metal woekers, it is believed to have
been built during the reign of Vira Dev in A. D. 299.
Patan
Durbar Square
The whole square is a cluster of fine pagoda temples and
stone statues. it is at the same time the business hub of
the city. At every step comes across a piece of art or an
image of a deity, testifying to the consummate skill of
Patan's anonymous artists. The ancient palace of the Malla
kings and the stone baths associated with various legends
and stone temple of Lord Krishna and the Royal Bath (Tushahity)
masterpieces in the same vicinity.
Hiranya Varna Mahavihar
This three-storey golden pagoda of Lokeshwar was built in
the century A. D. by King Bhaskar Varma. Located in the
courtyard of Kwabahal, this temple is in a class of its
own. A golden image of Lord Buddha and a big prayer wheel
can be seen on the pedestal of the upper part of the Vihar
while intricate decorative patterns on its outer walls add
to the mellow richness of the shrine.
Kumbheshwor
This is a five-storey pagoda-style temple of Lord Shiva.
Inside the courtyard is a natural spring whose source, it
is said, is the famous glacial lake Gosainkunda. This temple
was built be King Jayasthiti Malla while the folden finial
was added later, in A. D. 1422. He also cleaned the pond
near Kumbheshwor and installed various images of Narayan.
Ganesh, Sitala, Basuli, Gauri, Kirtimukh and Agamadevata
around the pond and in the courtyard. Ritual bathing takes
place here every year on the day if janai Poornima.
Krishna Temple
 |
|---|
The temple of Lord Krishna holds a commanding position in
Patan'a Palace complex. Though its style is not wholly native,
it is one of the most perfect specimens of Nepalese templecraft.
The three-storey stone temple continues to elicit high praise
from lovers of art and beauty. It was built by king Siddhi
Narasingha Malla in the sixteenth century A. D. Important
scenes from the Mahabharat and Ramayana epocs have been
craved in bas-relief work clearly show the hifh level that
the art of stone varving attained in the sixteenth century.
Mahaboudha
The temple of Mahaboudha is a masterpiece of terra-cotta.
Like the Krishna Mandir, it reveals am artistic tradition
which evolved outside ofyet shows hoe native Nepalese craftsmen
have been able to do justice to an unfamiliar art form.
The temple was built by Abhata Raj, a priest of Patan and
is sometimes referred to as the temple of a million Buddha
because every single brick bears a small image of Buddha.
There is am astonishing total of nine thousand bricks. it
was leveled to the ground in the great earthquake of 1933
but was rebuilt exactly to the original specifications-proving
the templecraft is still one of the living arts of Nepal.
Rudra
Varna Mahavihar
This is one of Patan's oldest Buddhist monasteries. Adjacent
to the monastery there is a temple that contains a fine
image of Lord Buddha. The courtyard of this temple is a
gallery of exquisite bronze and stone art work.
Ashokan
Stupas
Popularly believed, though not proven without doubt to have
been built by Ashoka, the Buddhist Emperor of India, these
stupas stand at four different corners of Patan, giving
the whole city a monastic character. All these Buddhist
mounds were built in A.D. 250 at the time when Buddhism
was making headwy in the Kathmandu Valley.
Machchhendranath
Temple
The temple of Red Machchhendranath is another center of
attraction in Patan. The temple lies in the middle of a
wide, spacious quadrangle just at the outer rim of the market
place. A fine clay image of Red Machchhendranath Avalokiteshwar
is housed here for six months every year, after which it
is taken round the city of Patan in a colorful chariot festival
beginning in April-May and lasting sometimes for several
months.
The
Tibetan Camp
An attraction of a different kind is the Tibetan Camp on
the outskirts of Patan. The small Tibetan population living
here has set up a number of shrines and stupas as well as
several souvenir shops offering authentic.
Bhaktapur
 |
|---|
Bhaktapur or Bhadgaon as the city is also known, is a museum of medieval art and architecture with many fine examples of sculpture, woodcarving and colossal pagoda temples consecrated to different gods and goddesses. The city is shaped like a conch shell-one of the emblems of the god Vishnu and was founded by King Ananda Deva in A. D. 889. The city is 1,402 meters above sea level. Pottery and weaving are its major traditional industries. The city lies fifteen kilometers to the east of Kathmandu.
Siddha
Pokhari
This is a big rectangular water pond located near the mail
city gate. It was built during the reign of king Yakshya
Malla in the early fifteenth century and is associated with
a number of myths. From this spot a wide range of snowy
peaks is visible on clear days.
Bhaktapur
Durbar Squar
Bhaktapur Durbar Squar is a conglomeration of pagoda and
shikhara-style temples grouped around a fifty-five window
palace of brick and wood. The square is one of the most
charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights
the ancient arts of Nepal. The golden effigies of kings
perched on the top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities
looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood cravings in
the every place-struts, lintels, uprights, tympanums, gateways
and windows-all seem to from a well-orchestrated symphony.
The main items of interest in the Durbar Square are:
(a) The Lion Gate
(b) The Golden Gate
(c) The Palace of Fifty-five windows
(d) The picture Gallery
(e) The Statue of King Bhupatindra Malla
(f) Batsala Temple
(g) The Pashupati Temple
Nyatapola
Temple
This five-story pagoda was built be king Bhupatindra Malla
in A. D. 1702. It stands on five terraces on each of which
squat a pair of figures: two famous wrestlers, two elephants,
two lions, two griffins and Baghini and Singhini- the tiger
and the lion goddesses. Each pair of figures is considered
ten tines stronger than the ones immediately below, while
the lowest pair, the two strong men Jaya Mall and Phatta
Malla, were reputedly ten times stronger than any other
men. This is one of the tallest pagoda temples in Kathmdndu
Valley and is famous for its massive structure and subtle
workmanship.
Bhairav
Nath Temple
This is another pagoda style temple dedicated to Lord Bhairav,
the dreadful aspect of Shiva. It stands a short distance
away from the temple of Nyatapola and was originally constructed
by King Jagat Jyoti Malla on a modest scale. It was later
remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla, a zealous lover of
the arts, into what is now a three-story temple.
Dattatraya
Temle
The temple of Dattatraya is as old as the palace of Fifty-five
Windows. Consecrated by king Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427,
this temple, according to popular belief, was built out
of the trunk of a single tree. It was subsequently repaired
and renovated by King Vishwa Malla in A. D. 1458. just beside
the temple is a monastery (Math) with exquisitely carved
Book This Tour/Trek
With Best Regards,
Angel Tours and Trekking Operator - Nepal, Tibet, India
http://www.angelnepal.com
Ph: 977-1-4700040, 977-1-9851049206
info@angelnepal.com
