Kathmandu is known as a living museum city. The capital city is packed with vibrant temples and palaces. In the good old days, it was said that Kathmandu had more temples than there were houses. Imaginably, it was factual some decades ago.
The Kathmandu Valley boasts of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites within its city limits. The city has both natural beauties and man-made landmarks that can leave anyone visiting the city in total awestruck.
1. Pashupatinath Temple
Probably the best time to visit Pashupatinath Temple is during the festival of Shiva Ratri. People generally come and visit the main temple but there is more to it. If you walk over the bridge and get on the stairs which leads to the top of the hill where other small temples are located. The other side of the hill has another famous temple named “Guheswari Temple”.
2. Swayambhunath
Swayambhunath or colloquially known as ‘Monkey Temple’ is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill. Not only this place has a great architecture to watch but also a brilliant ambiance. You will love the “Om Mane Padme Hum” chants echoing around the temple complex. You can also have a birds-eye view of the Kathmandu Valley from this location.
3. Boudhanath
This Stupa is one of the largest in the world. This Boudha stupa was built just after the demise of Lord Buddha and is the largest single Chhorten in the world. Adequate kilograms of gold were used in the decoration of this holy structure.
4. Sanga Mahadev
The statue is 144 feet (44 m) high and made using copper, zinc, concrete, and steel. Kailashnath Mahadev Statue is the world’s tallest Shiva statue.
5. Seto Gumba
Seto Gumba (White Monastery) also Druk Amitabha Mountain is a Buddhist monastery in Nepal. It is located at Ramkot VDC of Kathmandu District. It is located outside the ring road of the Kathmandu Valley to the North West.
6. Changu Narayan Temple
This shrine is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is held reverence by Hindus. This temple is considered as the oldest temple constructed in Nepal.
7. Narayanhiti Palace
The Royal Palace at Narayanhiti is the jewel on the crown of Kathmandu. The splendid royal palace reflects the majesty of the Shah dynasty.
8. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the town of Bhaktapur, traditionally known as Bhadgaon, which lies 13 km east of Kathmandu. While the complex consists of at least four distinct squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square), the whole area is informally known as the Bhaktapur Durbar Square and is a frequently visited site in Kathmandu Valley.
9. Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square is situated at the center of the city of Lalitpur in Nepal. It is one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, all of which are enlisted at UNESCO World Heritage sites. One of its attractions is the ancient royal palace where the Malla Kings of Lalitpur resided.
10. Hanumandhoka Durbar Square
Hanuman Dhoka was the Royal Palace of the Malla dynasty and also served for the Shah dynasty as an official residence in the late 17th century. It is spread over five acres. The Hanuman Dhoka Palace gets its name from the stone image of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god, that is mounted at the main entryway.
11. Kaiser Library
Field Marshal Sir Kaiser Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, GBE was a highly decorated officer in the Royal Nepalese Army. He was the third son of Maharaja Sir Chandra Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana, the fifth Prime Minister of Nepal of the Rana dynasty.
12. Garden of Dreams
The Garden of Dreams, a neo classical historical garden is situated in the Kaiser Mahal complex. The Garden is famous as the garden of Six Seasons which was created by late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana in the early 1920s. After the completion of this Garden, it was considered as one of the most sophisticated private gardens of that time.
13. Godavari Botanical Garden
This is the place for people who would love to watch different species of plants. Moreover, this place perfect to be from the hustling of the city. Nepal is often marketed as “Naturally Nepal.” You can trek or visit this place on local transportation. It is a perfect getaway for nature lovers.
14. Nagarkot
Witnessing the sunrise from Nagarkot is a magnificent experience. This place should definitely be on the top priority of anyone visiting Kathmandu.
15. Kakani
16. Dhulikhel
17. Shivapuri
