Here is a comprehensive travel-plan featuring day-to-day activity and major highlights of this Kathmandu valley pilgrimage package. You will visit major Hindu shrines of the valley, UNESCO heritage sites and a temple at a suburb of the valley.
Total duration of the package= 4 days
Day 01 – Arrival at Kathmandu
As soon as the jet you are flying on lands at the airport of Kathmandu, you will be approached by tour staffs and escorted to your hotel. Later, you may want to enjoy the night-life around the tourist-center Thamel or rather take a rest to relax your travel exhaustion.
Day 02 – Visit to the major temples of Kathmandu
Your first holy destination is Pashupatinath which is one of the most revered Shiva temples in the entire subcontinent. This ancient temple built circa 400 AD seats the hallowed phallus of Shiva where devotees throng from an early hour (even 4 AM!) to worship the deity of “transformation” or “salvation”. The enormous complex apart from the main temple houses several other shrines of other deities and Shiva himself, the chief and most pious cremation-site of Nepali Hindus at the banks of Bagmati River, an artificial habitat for deer- Mrigasthali and much more.
After traveling around the religious complex or waiting in the queue to receive the sacred sandal-paste, you will leave to Baudhanath. Baudhanath is the major religious spot for the Tibetan Buddhists of Nepal but is visited by a number of tourists of any religion. The grand stupa embellished with prayer flags rests upon a mandala shaped structure. From Baudhanath, your religious journey parks at Budhanilkantha- a manifestation of lord Vishnu. The large full-sized statue of Vishnu reclines on the platform of entwined sheshnaga (serpents) in the middle of a pond. Associated with several interesting legends, this statue dates back to 11th -12th century AD (unverified data!). A remarkable fact about this shrine is that this is the only temple where the kings or immediate royal members cannot visit, a tradition strictly followed after a medieval king was threatened by a deity in his dream. The former and last king of Nepal has abided by this prohibition despite of his no longer association with the kingship. The temple is not crowded like Pashupati except during special festivals so you need not wait for the veneration.
In the late afternoon, you will visit the renowned Durbar Squares of Kathmandu. Durbar square is common term for UNESCO heritage site where the royal palace of medieval kings the Mallas was situated. Here, you can observe ancient temples with inimitable structures and architecture. There is also a 500 year old temple built of a single tree trunk – the kasthamandav, after which Kathmandu got its name. The places worth visiting here are Kumari (living goddess) temple, 9-storey palace, Taleju Bhawani temple, Hanuman Dhoka palace, the fierce statue of Kal Bhairabh and several other temples and statues.
Day 03 –Two More Durbar Squares and Chobhar
Your sightseeing begins at Bhaktapur which is the smallest district of Nepal and the third city of Kathmandu valley. Bhaktapur was once a powerful kingdom before being annexed into modern Nepal by a Shah King. The city still preserves its medieval architecture that is evident from the buildings with a traditional touch. The major townsfolk of Bhaktapur are Newars and compared to the sister cities Kathmandu and Lalitpur, culture is well conserved here. The Durbar square- major tourist attraction of Bhaktapur is enlisted in the UNESCO world heritage roster which comprises of soaring temples erected centuries ago. Some of the main monuments in the courtyard are 55-window palace with art gallery, Taleju temple, Siddha Laxmi temple etc. The siddha laxmi temple was built by a Malla king who was said to possess Tantrik powers (siddhi = accomplishment of a certain tantric ability). Adhering to the Durbar square are two other squares Taumadhi and Dattatreya boasting with medieval temples that astoundingly resisted two devastating earthquakes of 1933 and 1990. The guide will elaborate the details to you.
From here, you will be escorted to Patan. The district, officially known as Lalitpur, is separated from Kathmandu district by the holy river-Bagmati. The chief tourist attraction of Patan is also the Durbar square. The place was resided by Malla kings during the medieval period of Nepal who were the rulers in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur also. So, the temples are quite similar to what you observe in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Apart from the temples and museum around Patan Durbar square, you will also visit a 14th century Buddhist monastery which is the center of rituals of Newar Buddhists of that area. Their ritual is quite different than that of Tibetan Buddhists.
Now you will move to the last destination of your tour- to the comparatively unexplored but beautiful suburb of Kathmandu valley. The place holds a religious and a legendary significance for the Hindus, Buddhists and the overall denizen of Kathmandu. According to legends, Kathmandu valley was once a pond and a Chinese bodhisattva Manjushree after noticing a lotus drained the water out of the gorge of Chobhar and thus making the valley livable. There are few temples in Chobhar, the notable one being Adinath Lokeswar Mandir. The beautiful pagoda temple is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. There is another temple of Lord Ganesh known by Jal binayak Temple which is an important shrine for the followers of Ganesh as well as normal Hindus. The natural caves are also worth visiting, though exploration is not advised.
From here, you will be transported back to your hotel.
Day 04: Departure or prolongation of stay (as your wish!)
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