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.
KATHMANDU / NAGARKOT (B/L/D)
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.
NAGARKOT : NAGARKOT IS A HILL RESORT 32 KM EAST OF KATHMANDU. THE ROAD PASSES THROUGH TERRACED FIELDS AND STRUTTED HOUSES. THIS ROUTE IS ALSO FUN FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING TOO. OVERNIGHT IN NAGARKOT. NAGARKOT. OF THE POSSIBLE DESTINATION, NAGARKOT (ALTITUDE 2175M) IS BY FAR THE MOST POPULAR. NAGARKOT HAS DEVELOPED INTO FAVORITE WEEKEND GETAWAY AMONG THESE SEEKING MOUNTAIN VIEWS IN COMFORT AND QUIET. AT SUNRISE, THE HIMALAYAN RANGE, STRETCHING FROM DAULAGIRI IN THE WEST ALL THE WAY PAST EVEREST TO KANCHENJUNGA IN THE EAST, EMERGES FROM THE DARKNESS TO GREET THE HAPPY VISITOR WITH ITS AWE - INSPIRING MAJESTY AND BEAUTY.
NAGARKOT / KATHMANDU (B/L/D)
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. SWOYAMBHU 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 DEPARTURE (B)
AFTER BREAKFAST TRANSFER TO AIRPORT CATCH FLIGHT FOR OWN DESTINATIONS.
