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Popular Tourist
Destinations In Nepal |
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Places To See In Kathmandu |
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Kathmandu valley, which is
situated at an altitude of 1336MTR above the sea
level and covers an area of 218 Sq. miles, is
the political, commercial and cultural hub of
the Kingdom. The city is famous for its
Archeological and historical sites. Once a
separate kingdom in itself, it contains four
major fabled cities, Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur
and Kiritipur. The skillfully built temples and
palaces, delicately- engraved stones and metal
images, carved wooden columns and pillars and
the history laden shrines and Chaityas (stupas)
of these four historical citiesstand as paradigm
of the artistic achievements. The valley is rich
in places of both Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage.
These two religions have been quite brotherly
residing within the kingdom since time
immemorial. |
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Some of the Monuments to
be seen in Kathmandu |
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Kathmandu Durbar Square |
It is the historic seat of
Royal family. The Durbar square, with its old
temples, and places, epitomizes the religious
and Cultural life of the people. The kings of
Nepal are crowned and their Coronations
solemnized interesting things to see here are;
Talaju Temple, Kal bahairab Temple, The god of
destruction, Nautale Durbar, Coronation nasal
chowk the Gaddi Bautak, Jaganath Temple, and
status of kings. Duly recognized as a world
heritage site by UNESCO.
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Swayambhu Nath Stupa |
Watches over the Valley from
the top of a hillock on its western side. The
huge stupa is one of the holiest Buddhists sites
in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the
creation of the Kathmandu Valley out of a
primordial lake. Swayambhu is also known as
Samhengu and Monkey temple. The National Museum
and the Museum of Natural History are situated
at the foot of the hill.
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Boudhanath |
Lies about six km to the east
of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa
in the Valley. It looms 36 meters high and
presents one of the most fascinating specimens
of stupa design. Bouddhanath is also known as
Khasti, or dew drops, after an account that
builders had to use dew to mix the mortar as
Kathmandu was suffering from a severe drought
during its construction.
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Pashupatinath |
Pashupatinath is one of the
most sacred Hindu shrines in the world; lies
five km east of the city center. The
richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga,
or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva. Chronicles
indicate the temple's existence prior to 400 AD.
Devotees can be seen taking ritual dips in the
holy Bagmati River flowing beside the temple.
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Kasthamandap |
Located nearby the Temple of
Kumari, this is a unique type of wooden temple
also known as Maru Satal. It was built in 1596
A.D. by King Laxmi Narsingh Malla. They say the
timber used for its relevant construction was
sawed out of a single tree. It is also believed
that the capital of Kathmandu derived its new
name from this very 'Kastha Mandap.' Today it
houses the Hindu God namely Gorakh-Nath.
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Hanuman Gate |
This falls to be the historic
seat of the past royalty, particularly belonging
to the Malla dynasty. The Durbar Square, which
is itself the old Royal Palace Complex dedicated
to the Malla monarchs, is today classified as a
World Heritage Site of Culture. The age-old
temples and palaces epitomize the religious and
cultural life-style of the people. The
interesting things to view include Taleju Temple
built by late King Mahendra Malla in 1549 A.D.,
a gigantic stone figure exposing the fearful
manifestation of the Black Vairab which the
Hindus regard as the God of Destruction, the
tall stone pillar on the plinth-top of which
sits late King Pratap Malla with his two beloved
queens on either sides plus an infant child in
the middle, the colossal image of the White
Vairab the lattice of which is removed for a
week during the Kumari Yatra festival, the
nine-storied Basantapur Palace (literally
meaning the spring season palace), the Gigantic
Bell and the Great Drums. The main golden-gate
is guarded by the Monkey-God called Hanuman . He
is the King of the Monkeys and a faithful
servant to Lord Ram Chandra-the unanimous Hero
of the ancient epic "Ramayan." Being guarded by
a sole protector, the gate itself has come to be
known as Hanuman Gate. With a commercial
umbrella suspended above his head and wrapped in
a scarlet cloak, he squats on a stone plinth to
be respected by hundreds of Nepalese Hindus plus
Indian Hindus. (He is actually blind-folded as
he was a chaste bachelor and wishes not to come
in vision of any female figures.)
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Kumari Temple |
The temple and the holy
quadrangle with a Buddhist stupa at the center
form the residential quarters of the Chaste
Virgin Living Goddess called KUMARI. The
traditional building has profusely carved wooden
balconies and window screens. The non-Buddhist
and the non-Hindu visitors may enter the
courtyard called the 'bahal' but may not proceed
beyond upstairs. The KUMARI acknowledges their
greetings from the central window of the balcony
particularly saved for Her alone and snapshot is
strictly prohibited.
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Budanilkantha |
About 8 km north of Kathmandu,
at the vase of Shivapuri hill is a remarkable
colossal status of Lord Vishnu, reclining on bed
of snakes. This is one of the masterpieces of
stone sculptures of the Lichchhavi period. This
fifth century statue is in the middle of a small
pond and seems to float in water. Sankhu an
ancient town is a little north east of
Kathmandu. It was once a trade route to Tibet.
One can see here the medieval rest houses of
rich traders, shelter of porters, horses,
stables and variety of houses. There are houses
adorned with Greek columns of various designs,
like Corinthian, Doric and Ionic houses built
after the middle of 19th century, decorated with
celestial mumps or cupid with his bow and arrow.
The Vatrayogini temples, which sit in, the
middle of a hill surrounded by green forests.
Many rock and caves exist for Buddhist
mediators. Some of them were cared in monolithic
rock, from as far back as the beginning of the
Christian era.
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Dachhinkali Pharping & Chovar
Gorge |
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Dakshinkali is a tantric
goddess worshiped by Hindus all over the world.
The Buddhist and other Nepalese equally venerate
her. The Kali cut developed after worship of
fertility cult all over the world. Because of
the Tantric influence, she is represented a
Skeleton without flesh and blood, very symbolic.
She represents the eternal time and lives next
to the cremation ground. Near Dakshinkali one
can visit ancient Pharping village offers many
arts objects. It is believed that Padmasamba,
the founder of Lamaistic School of Buddhism in
Tibet. There is Guru Rinpoche's cave where on
can see Guru Rinpoche's residence and reminder
such as hand print, foot print Head print and
other parts of the body. Every day many Buddhist
Pilgrimage visit there. Many Buddhist
Monasteries are built around there. Chovar is
famous of its gorge. Ascending two minutes reach
of the Adinath temple, full of pots and pans
offered, it is strange to see the entire temple
is covered with Brass pot. |
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