Ashoka Stupa

The most remarkable feature of the town of Patan is its four Ashoka Stupas that are testimony to an ancient architectural tradition. The historians have agreed that these Stupas might have been erected in connection with the foundation of Patan towards the end of the 4th century AD. Because of its circular base and hemispherical dome it can be safely said that these Stupas have not been constructed in accordance with the Buddhist architecture. Among the four Stupas of Patan, the southern mound is known as Lagan Khel Stupa or Lagan Thura Stupa. It is the largest among the four, measuring 47.40 meters in diameter and 11.80 meters in height. The mound is crowned by a recent structure, a miniature cenotaph added on the top. The shrines of Tathagatas were presumable added in 1878; even as others were added to the eastern mound in 1846.An inscription tell us that on the western Stupa the Tathagatas were already in place by 1455.

Gorkha

Gorkha is a picturesque hill- town that has a rich history of its own. The place is situated on a small mountain at the height of 3500 feet and offers a magnificent view of the Himalayan Peaks. King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who unified the Kingdom of Nepal during eighteenth century and got an upper hand over the Ranas, was born here. Actually king Drabya Shah founded this kingdom in the year 1560 and since then, the place has acted as the den for the Shah dynasty. In the war of throne with Ranas, the Gorkhas had the last laugh as the Gorkha soldiers succeeded in conquering the Kathmandu valley. The capital of the Nepal was shifted to Kathmandu since then. But this beautiful township has always remained as the center of attraction for many Nepalese as well as foreign visitors.Among the sites to visit, Gorkha Durbar tops the list. This historical palace is a one-hour walk from the downtown Gorkha. The palace is strategically located over a fortified hillock. On the southwestern side of palace lies the temple of Goddess Gorakhkali. A cave that claims to shelter the statue of Gorakhnath, the Tantrik sage, adjoins it. The place is picture-perfect to have a view of Mansalu and Himalchuli peaks of Himalayas. Nevertheless, the best place to have a view of the palace and peaks is Upallokot, a viewpoint made on a pedestal over the hill at the height of some 5000 feet.

Birgunj

Birgunj is situated in the southeastern part of Nepal near the Indian border town of Raxaul. Situated just 3 kilometers from the Raxaul, Birgunj is the major entry point to Nepal from India for routes such as Calcutta and Patna. It is undoubtly the biggest transit point in Nepal in terms of volume. Almost 60% of the total imports in Nepal comes from Haldia port at Calcutta and shipped through Raxaul in Birgunj. After that, the shipments are moved to other cities such as Kathmandu, Biratnagar and Bhaktapur. Birgunj has come as a respite to the landlocked Nepal. Birgunj is an important land entry point for goods to Nepal. Apart from being a transit point, Birgunj is known for its dynamism and multi-cultural outlook. The city is becoming a hub for the multi lingual and multi ethnic groups. The most commonly spoken languages in this city are Nepali, Maithali, Newari, Bhojpuri, Awadhi, Urdu and Hindi.

Fewa Tal

Pokhara is situated at about 827 meter from sea level. The magnificent city is located about 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu and can be reached both by aircraft as well as bus. The journey duration is 35 minutes and 5 hours respectively. As far as adventure trips are concerned, Pokhara is the next destination after Kathmandu. Pokhara is often called the enchanting Himalayan valley with a heart of major actions and adventures.

Surrounded by beautiful snow-caped mountains with a magnificent lake of crystal-clear pure Himalayan water; the Pokhra is a dream come true. An all-year round pleasing weather and friendly inhabitants will greet you with smile and leave you with the most unforgettable moments in your life. So pack up your bag, load your camera, and get ready for Pokhara experience!

Janakpur

Janakpur is the birthplace of Sita, the Hindu goddess and wife of Lord Rama. It is also the capital of ancient Mithila kingdom and is the home of the unique Mithila artifacts in Nepal. Janakpur, also called Janakpur Dham, is about 135 kilometers from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.

The main attraction of the city is its Janaki Temple. The Temple is dedicated to Goddess Sita who was married to Rama and was the central character of the Hindu epic, Ramayana. This temple was built in 1911 and is in many aspects reminiscent of Islamic architecture. Another landmark of Janakpur are the numerous sacred ponds for ritual baths that are scattered all over the city. The 2 most important ones are close to the Janaki temple and are known as Dhanush Sagar and Ganga Sagar. Nearby is another temple that is called 'Sita-Ram vivah mandir'. The temple is said to be built at the place where Lord Rama was married to Sita. Marriage anniversary of Ram and Sita is observed every year here through a festival that is also observed throughout Nepal. The place is very popular among the Hindus all over the world.

Lumbini

Lumbini associated with the birth of Lord Buddha is of immense archeological and religious importance and also a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. It is said that Prince Siddhartha Gautam, who later became Buddha the ‘Enlightened One’, was born in the gardens of Nepal’s Lumbini in 623 B.C. The main shrines of Lumbini are the newly restored Mayadevi Temple, the Ashokan Pillar behind the temple and the Lake Shakya Puskarini where Mayadevi is said to have bathed before delivering the little Buddha into the world.
Several other places near Lumbini are linked with stories connected to Buddha and Buddhism. Lumbini is about 300 kilometers south-west of Kathmandu. Buses and flights to Bhairahawa which is about 22 kilometers from Lumbini, are available from major cities. From Bhairahawa transport services to Lumbini are easily available. There are sufficient hotels and restaurants in Lumbini and Bhairahawa.

Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square complex is perhaps the most photographed of the three durbar squares. Located in the heart of Patan city, this was once the palace of the kings of Patan. The square is a display of Newari architecture that had reached its pinnacle during the reign of Malla kings who were great builders and patrons of the arts. The palace has three main courtyards: the central and the oldest is Mul Chowk. To the west of the complex are a dozen free standing temples of various sizes and built in different styles. A masterpiece in stone, the Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, the Golden Temple of Hiranya Varna Mahavihara and Sundari Chowk mark the artistic brilliance of the Newar craftsmanship of that era. The Sundari Chowk with the sunken bath of Tusha Hiti, showcases exquisite woodcarvings, stone and metal sculpture. Like the other palaces, Patan Durbar Square also houses a temple dedicated to Taleju Bhawani.

MT. Everest

The official altitude of the world's highest peak is 29,029 feet (8,848m). However, the National Geographic Society has determined the height to be 6 feet taller, 29,035 feet, but the Nepali government has not yet been made this new altitude official. Shifting tectonic plates continue to push Everest upward, along with the whole Himalaya mountain range, at 1.6 to 3.9 inches (4 to 10 centimeters) per year. Everest is part of the Himalaya mountain range along the border of Nepal and Tibet. It is located 27° 59' North latitude, 86° 55' East longitude.In 1841, Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843, first recorded the location of Everest. It was subsequently named "Peak XV". In 1865, it was renamed Mt. Everest to honor Sir George.

Sagarmatha National Park

  The Sagarmatha National Park is the highest national park in world, located above 3000 meters i.e. 9700 feet. The park comprises the upper catchment areas of Dudh Kosi and Bhote Kosi Rivers. Most part of the landscape is rugged terrain and gorges of the high Himalayas.
   The Park is located amidst the peaks which are counted among the tallest in the world. Mount Sagarmatha is none other than Mt. Everest itself. Other well known peaks such as Lhotse, Thamerku, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachyung Kang are also located nearby. More than 118 species of birds and 26 species of butterflies reside in the park.

Royal Chitwan National Park

   
       For a country known for its beautiful mountains, the Gangetic flat lands of the Terai that stretches through out the southern part of Nepal provide a wholly different experience. (See the separate section on the Terai for more details.) A visit to Nepal remains incomplete without seeing the beauty of the Terai. 
       

And Chitwan is the best place to do so. The Royal Chitwan National Park, established in 1973, provides a great wildlife experience with its rich flora and fauna –read further for more details. The wildlife and the landscape are not as breathtaking as those found in Africa but still, the experience will stand out.

Chitwan is only 150m above the sea level. The place gets steamy from March-June, with peak temperatures reaching 43°C in the shade. Short grass makes Feb-May the best game-viewing season, but the autumn months are gorgeous, with Himalayan views, and in winter (December-January), Chitwan is pleasantly warmed compared to Kathmandu. The monsoon season (July-August) is intense, with pounding rain, swollen rivers, and luxuriant vegetation. While the rain isn't constant, the humidity is all pervasive.

Changu Narayan Temple

Changu Narayan Temple, the oldest temple in Kathmandu valley came in existence in 4th century. The temple is adorned by some of the best specimen of stone, wood, and metal craft in the valley. The temple stands as the epitome of culture, religion, history and faith of the Kathmandu valley.

Bhaktpur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the center of Bhaktapur. The Square is one of the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights some of the finest medieval arts of Nepal. About 10 km east of Kathmandu is a town called Bhaktapur, meaning the city of devotees. It covers an area of 5 sq. km and was founded by King Anand Dev (889 A.D) in the shape of a conch shell, which is a sacred symbol. Bhaktapur was once ruled by the Malla's who built magnificent temples, statues, etc Bhaktapur Durbar Square 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 valley as it highlights the ancient of the kings perched on top of stone monoliths, the guardian deities looking out from their sanctuaries, the wood carvings in very place – struts, lintels, tympanums, gateways and windows – all seem to form a well orchestrated symphony. Bhaktapur’s Durbar Square is much larger and more spacious than Kathmandu’s and much less crowded with temples than Patan’s. Victorian illustrations show the square packed with temples and buildings, but the disastrous earthquake of 1934 destroyed many of them and today empty plinths show where some of them once stood a

Shyambhu

The history of the Kathmandu Valley, according to legend, begins with Swayambhu, or the "the self-existent." In times uncharted by history, Bodhisattva Manjusri came across a beautiful lake while traveling. He saw a lotus, with thousand golden petals, diamonds pistils, ruby anthers, and lapis lazuli stalk. It emitted brilliant light at the lake's center, so he cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the waters to worship the lotus. Men settled on the bed of the lake and called it the Kathmandu Valley. From then on, the hilltop of the Self-Existent Lord has been a holy place. Later on, Boddhisattva Vajrasatva, covered Swayambhu with a stone slab fearing that its jewels would be stolen by people in the coming Kaliyuga, modern times. Some say that Swayambhu's light was covered in time because few could bear its intensity. Then Santikarcarya, the king who turned into a Bhikchu, monk, raised the first stupa on the holy site.
Though no one is sure how old the stupa is, King Vrisadeva (fifth century AD), the great grandfather of Manadeva I, was well known for his devotion to the stupa. A stone inscription from about that century points out that Swayambhu had been built by that time. In the following years the stupa went through a number of repairs after suffering from lightning, earthquakes, war, and neglect for its upkeep. Reported restorations were done on the stupa during the Licchavi period (300-879), however, the first dated repair is known to have occurred in 1129. Swayambhu was completely destroyed in 1349 when Muslims raided Kathmandu and left most of the Holy shrines in ruins. During the time of King Arjunadeva and his successor, Sthiti Malla, around 1372, the stupa was reconstructed. This time, major modifications to the original structure's form were made to envelop Lord Buddha's power and gave it the basic structure of Swayambhu as we see today, a dome shape achieved with a central beam. Further restorations followed and each project added to the changes of its appearance. The yasti, central wooden beam, the finial surrounding it, and the top parasol needed frequent alterations. The yasti was repaired by Jyotir Malla, and then by his son, Yaksa Malla born in 1408 and died in 1482. In 1565, it was replaced by devotees from the Malla Kingdom of Patan and again after thirty years by Sivasimha (1578-1619), while making an offering. It was broken by lightning fifteen years later and Sivasimha again replaced it. During the time of Laksminarasimha (1621-1641), Sivasimha's heir, Swamarpa Lama coming from Tibet replaced the yasti. Pratap Malla (1641-1674) repaired the whole stupa, and placed a huge vajra mandala, a bronze vajra on a stone mandala, at the top of the stair at the East side. Most of the sculptures at the vicinity of Swayambhu are from the Malla period as the earlier images must have been destroyed during the Muslim raid in the fourteenth century. In 1751 repairs were again started under the supervision of a Tibetan lama, which required 39 kg of gold, 3,500 kg of copper and sponsored was by Jayaprakash Malla and Prithvi Narayan Shah. Other repairs have been recorded in 1808, 1826, and 1928.
Along with the renovation of the Swayambhu, other smaller stupas, chaityas, temples, and rest houses were built around the hilltop. Vrisadeva flattened the top of the hill for the construction of the stupa but left the surrounding trees in their natural state. In the following years, trees were felled and in their place emerged the images of important deities, both Buddhist and Hindu. Around the platform are dharmasalas, secular houses, gonpas, monateries, and five special shrines which are likely to have been made during the transitional period (879-1300). Pratap Malla created a colorful sculpture of Aksobhya at the foot of the eastern slope of the hill and Prithvi Bir Bikram Shah established three similar images on the slope. Pratap Malla also established two tall sikharas dedicating to Vajrayana deities. At the Western side of the stupa is the popular temple of the deity known as Harati to Buddhists and Sitala to Hindus. She is the goddess of protection from smallpox and has many worshippers who pay homage to her at the site. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri, or Saraswati-the goddess of learning. Today, statues and shrines dot the stupa complex.
The fifteen meters high Swayambhu has different components to its form and each part has its separate significance. The huge white dome of Swayambhu is known as the anda, the egg, or garbha, womb, which represents the creation of the earth. The dome may enclose the sacred relics but there is no access to the innermost chamber. Also thought to be within the dome are the five Dhyani Buddhas, or Tathagatas. As in other chaityas and stupas around the Valley, the Buddhas are placed in positions at the periphery of the dome. The establishment of Voirachana, the first of the five meditating Buddhas, at the Southeastern side of Swayambhu is rare because Voirachana is traditionally enshrined at the center of the stupa. However, the other four Buddhas, Amitabh, Lord of the West, Amoghsiddhi, Lord of the North, Aksobhya, Lord of the East, and Ratna Sambhava, Lord of the South are facing their expected cardinal directions in their respective positions. Above the dome is the four sided harmika. On each side is painted a face with eyes looking the four directions. The fashion of painting eyes on the harmika was started only in the fifteenth century. It is said that the set of eyes are that of Buddha's below which lies the whole world while others say that they represent the sun and the moon. Above these eyes is a small eye is interpreted as the third eye, signifying the power of the god. Between the eyes is a symbol resembling a question mark, which some perceive as the nose. In actually it is the Nepali symbol for the number "one," which Buddhists intend to represent that there is only one way out of the earthly suffering, Buddhism. Yet others simply know it as unity. Rising above the harmika is the central spire comprised of a thirteen tiered finial, which is made of copper. The finial reflects that there are thirteen obstacles to transcend in order to attain enlightenment and nirvana such as desire, craving, attached, fear, wrath and dishonesty.
Swayambhu is, perhaps, the best place to observe religious harmony in Nepal. The stupa is among the most ancient in this part of the world, and its worshippers are diverse. From Newar nuns, Tibetan monks, and Brahmin priests to lay Buddhist and Hindus, the Lord is supplicated by all. The largest image of the Shakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next to Swayambhu. Other monasteries here have huge prayer wheels, fine Buddhist paintings, and special butter lamps which may be lit after presenting monetary offerings.
Swayambhu is a major landmark of the Valley resting below Nagrjun Hill. It provides and excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley. Devotees have climbed the steps on the Eastern side for centuries, which is verified by the grooves formed by the feet of countless devotees on the stone steps. Great statues of Buddha, stupas and other religious monuments, as well as monkeys scampering in shadows of tall trees, giving the temple the common nickname of "Monkey Temple" among foreign visitors, make the steep climb worthwhile. Although similar in design to its larger counterpart, Boudha, Swayambhu has a flat top to its dome, whereas, Boudha's is rounded.

Muktinath

Jomsom Muktinath Trekking is situated North of Pokhara, Nepal's spectacular diversity appears at its finest The deep valleys and high mountains encircling the giant Annapurna Himal embrace a wide range of peoples and terrain, from subtropical jungle to a high, dry landscape resembling the Tibetan Plateau. This is the most popular trekking region, attracting over 75% of all trekkers (more than 30.000 annually). It's also among the tamest areas, with excellent lodges lining the main routes. Finding Nepal beneath the flood of trekkers can be difficult, but the scenery and culture are top-notch, and you can avoid the peak-season crush and still get fine weather and views.

The views of the mountains are spectacular, and the route actually crosses to the other side of the main Himalayan range for some unusual views of the northern flanks.