ARRIVAL AT KATHMANDU (D)
ARRIVAL AT KATHMANDU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. WELCOME AND ASSISTANCES AT THE AIRPORT THEN TRANSFER TO HOTEL. DINNER & OVERNIGHT STAY WILL BE AT HOTEL IN KATHMANDU.
KATHMANDU (KATHMANDU CITY TOUR) (B/L/D)
KATHMANDU CITY: DURBAR SQUARE COMPLEX OF PALACES, COURTYARDS AND TEMPLES, BUILT BETWEEN THE 12TH AND 18TH CENTURIES, USED TO BE THE SEAT OF THE ANCIENT MALLA KINGS OF KATHMANDU. AN INTRIGUING PIECE HERE IS THE 17TH CENTURY STONE INSCRIPTION SET INTO THE WALL OF THE PALACE WITH WRITINGS IN 15 LANGUAGES. THE DURBAR SQUARE, PROTECTED AS A UNESCO AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE, IS THE SOCIAL, RELIGIOUS AND URBAN FOCAL POINT OF THE CITY. THERE ARE ALSO MUSEUMS INSIDE THE PALACE BUILDING.
PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE: ONE OF THE MOST SACRED HINDU SHRINES IN THE WORLD, PASHUPATINATH LIES 5 KM EAST OF THE CITY CENTER. THE RICHLY-ORNAMENTED PAGODA HOUSES THE SACRED LINGA, OR PHALLIC SYMBOL, OF LORD SHIVA. CHRONICAL INDICATES THE TEMPLE’S EXISTENCE PRIOR TO 400 AD. DEVOTEES CAN BE SEEN TAKING RITUAL DIPS IN THE HOLY BAGMATI RIVER FLOWING BESIDE THE TEMPLE, ALSO A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
BOUDNATH STUPA: LIES ABOUT 6 KM TO THE EAST OF DOWNTOWN KATHMANDU AND IS THE LARGEST STUPA IN THE VALLEY. IT LOOMS 36 METERS HIGH AND PRESENT ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING SPECIMENS OF STUPA DESIGN. BOUDHNATH A WORLD HERITAGE, IS ALSO KNOWN AS KHASTI. THERE ARE MORE THAN 45 BUDDHIST MONASTERIES IN THE AREA.
SWOYAMBHUNATH STUPA: WATCHES OVER THE VALLEY FROM THE TOP OF A HILLOCK ON ITS WESTERN SIDE. THE STUPA IS ONE OF THE HOLIEST BUDDHIST SITES IN NEPAL AND ITS ESTABLISHMENT IS LINKED TO THE CREATION OF THE KAHTMANDU VALLEY OUT OF A PRIMORDIAL LAKE. SWOYMABHU IS ALSO KNOWN AS SENGU AND IS LISTED AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE.
PATAN CITY: LIKE ITS COUNTERPART IN KATHMANDU, IS AN ENCHANTING MÉLANGE OF PALACE BUILDINGS, ARTISTIC COURTYARD AND FORMER ROYAL PALACE COMPLEX IS THE CENTER OF PATAN’S RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL LIFE, AND HOUSES A MUSEUM CONTAINING AN ARRAY OF BRONZE STATUES AND RELIGIOUS OBJECTS. ONE REMARKABLE MONUMENT HERE IS A 16TH CENTURY TEMPLE DEDICATED TO THE HINDU GO KRISHNA, BUILT ENTIRELY OF STONE.
KATHMANDU ~ CHITWAN
EARLY MORNING AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE TO CHITWAN WHICH IS ABOUT 165 KM AND WILL TAKE ABOUT 5 HOURS DRIVE. ROYAL CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK (932 SQ KM) IS LISTED AS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE AND IS THE MOST POPULAR SAFARI DESTINATION IN NEPAL. IT COVERS A UNIQUE ECOSYSTEM, CONTAINING HILLS, OX-BOW LAKES AND FLOOD PLANS. DOMINATED BY SAL FORESTS, THE PARK HAS 50 SPECIES OF GRASSES. THE 43 SPECIES OF ANIMALS INCLUDE THE ENDANGERED ONE-HORNED RHINO, ROYAL BENGAL TIGER, GHARIAL CROCODILE, GAUR, WILD ELEPHANT,
FOUR HORNED ANTELOPE, STRIPED HYENA, PANGOLIN, MONITOR LIZARD AND PYTHONS.
CHITWAN (B/L/D)
AFTER BREAKFAST FULL DAY WILDLIFE ACTIVITIES. SUCH AS ELEPHANT RIDE, JUNGLE SAFARI, NATURE WALK, CANOEING ETC.
CHITWAN ~ POKHARA (B/L/D)
AFTER BREAKFAST DRIVE TO POKHARA WHICH WILL TAKE ABOUT 4 AND HALF HOURS DRIVE AND IS ABOUT 137 KM. POKHARA IS A PLACE OF REMARKABLE NATURAL BEAUTY. THE SERENITY OF PHEWA LAKE AND THE MAGNIFICENCE OF THE FISHTAIL SUMMIT RISING BEHIND IT CREATE AN AMBIANCE OF PEACE AND MAGIC. AT AN ELEVATION LOWER THAN KATHMANDU, IT HAS MUCH MORE TROPICAL FEEL TO IT, A FACT WELL APPRECIATED BY THE BEAUTIFUL DIVERSITY OF FLOWERS WHICH PROSPER IN ITS ENVIRON. INDEED, THE VALLEY SURROUNDING POKHARA IS HOME TO THICK FOREST, GUSHING RIVERS, EMERALD LAKES AND OF COURSE, THE WORLD FAMOUS VIEWS OF THE HIMALAYAS.
POKHARA (B/L/D)
AFTER BREAKFAST HALF DAY SIGHTSEEING OF POKHARA CITY AND BOATING IN LAKE PHEWA
POKHARA ~ KATHMANDU
BHAKTAPUR CITY: AS YOU WALK IN YOU CANNOT BUT BE OVER COME BY A FEELING OF INNER HARMONY. SUCH IS THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE AND THE SPECIAL LAYOUT HERE. THE 15TH CENTURY PALACE OF 55 WINDOWS, SITUATED TO THE LEFT AS YOU ENTER THROUGH THE CITY GATE, INSPIRE ADMIRATION. THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY IS ALSO HOUSED INSIDE. THE PALACE ENTRANCE, THE GOLDEN GATEIS A MASTERPIECE IN REPOUSSE ART. IN FRONT OF THE PALACE BUILDING IS A MEDLEY OF TEMPLES OF VARIOUS DESIGNS.
KATHMANDU DEPARTURE (B)
AFTER BREAKFAST TRANSFER TO AIRPORT CATCH FLIGHT FOR OWN DESTINATIONS.
