2 Days day trips in Kathmandu Valley
Day 01: Cultural tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Bodhnath, Monkey temple
Your tour guide for the day will meet you at your hotel after breakfast. Your first stop will be Nepal’s most important Hindu sight, Pashupatinath. This site sits on the banks of the holy Bagmati River and is used as a cremation ground.
Our next stop will be Bodhnath, the largest Buddhist stupa in Asia. This is your chance to see some of the thousands of pilgrims who gather to walk around the dome each day. Climb up to one of the many rooftop cafes for lunch and be rewarded with a bird’s-eye view of the entire square.
After lunch we turn to the medieval temples in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square. The Durbar Square, with its old temples and palaces, epitomizes the religious and cultural life of the people. Surrounded by both Hindu and Buddhist temples built in the pagoda style, they are embellished with intricately carved exteriors. Most of the buildings we see here date from 15th to 18th century. Make sure you see “Kumari (The Living Goddess) Gar”.
Our last stop for the day is the Buddhist temple Swyambhunath, mobbed by monkeys and soaring above the city on a hilltop, the ‘Monkey Temple’ is a fascinating, chaotic jumble of Buddhist and Hindu iconography. This is a great place to end the day, so enjoy the view and maybe catch a sunset before heading back to your hotel.
Day 02: Bhaktapur and Patan
Today you will explore the Royal cities of the Kathmandu valley. The first stop will be Patan’s Durbar square, filled with wood and stone carvings, metal statues, ornate architecture, including dozens of Buddhist and Hindu temples, and over 1200 monuments.
Next we head to the beautiful city of Bhaktapur. This place is a museum of medieval art and architecture with many examples of sculpture, woodcarving and colossal pagoda temples consecrated to different gods and goddesses. It 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 carvings in every place possible all seem to form a well-orchestrated symphony. Pottery and weaving are its major traditional industries. Afterwards you will be driven back to your hotel.
Join us tonight for a farwell dinner at a traditional Nepalese restaurant.
Above itinerary can be customized at your request to accommodate your specific requirements.
