About Kathmandu Day Tour
Kathmandu day tour is a 6 to 8-hour sightseeing program in Kathmandu city, Nepal. It is one of the famous activities tourists can do if they have a free day in the city and do not know what to do. The Kathmandu day tour is a guided program, so one of our professional tour guides will accompany you during the tour and make it a hassle-free and immersive experience.
Also known as the Kathmandu city tour, you will visit the five must-visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites during this tour. Our guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby and drop you off after the tour ends.
We use a private, comfortable four-wheeler as per the group size to drive between the monuments. It makes the tour smooth and saves you some time.
Even though it is a one-day Kathmandu tour, we have well-curated our Kathmandu day tour itinerary from start to end, allowing you to make the most out of the tour. You will explore the historical sites and local markets around it.
Likewise, we'll enjoy local food and beverages and also shop for souvenirs. It will be a fun and exciting tour during which you will get to know Nepal and Nepalese people closely.
What to expect during the Kathmandu day tour?
The Kathmandu day tour involves visiting numerous monuments around the city. You will do a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Our tour guide will explain the historical sites and their importance.
You will get to know about Nepali art, architecture, history, and culture. Likewise, explore the bustling local markets and have meaningful interactions with the locals.
During the tour, you at least get to explore five monuments. They are - Monkey Temple, Pashupatinath Temple, Bouddhanath Stupa, and Patan Durbar Square. Below, we have mentioned in detail about these places:
Monkey Temple
Monkey Temple is known as Swayambhunath in the Nepali language. It is located on a hilltop, approximately 3 kilometers west of the city center. Monkey Temple is one of the sacred Buddhist and Hindu sites in Nepal, whose history dates back to 2,000 years.
The history of this monument is covered with myths and legends. The most famous one is that the temple location was once a lake, and the bodhisattva Manjushri rained the water by cutting a gorge in the hill to drain the water. This resulted in the formation of Kathmandu Valley.
There is one main stupa and several small stupas, shrines, and prayer wheels in the temple complex. The main stupa features a massive white dome with a golden spire on top. As per the Hindus, the Swayambhu Temple is believed to have been built by Vishnu. There are many monkeys around the temple.
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath temple is one of the most famous and sacred pilgrimage sites in Nepal for Hindus. Located on the bank of the holy Bagmati river, the Pashupatinath temple's history goes back to the 5th century. The first major structure of this temple was built by the Lichchhavi King, Bhupatindra Malla, in the 15th century.
Over the years, many renovations and restorations were done. The recent structure dates back to the 17th century under the regime of King Pratap Malla. Pashupatinath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is considered one of the twelve Jyotirlingas. It is also considered a Mokshdham, where one can attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Pashupatinath temple showcases the best example of Nepalese pagodas and shikhara style architecture. The main temple has a two-tiered roof made of copper and embellished with gold. There are four main doors of the temple, which are covered with silver sheets.
Bouddhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in South Asia. It is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal and one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists in the country. The history of Boudhanath Stupa dates back to the 5th century.
The stupa is believed to have been built by King Manadeva of the Licchavi dynasty. Later in the 14th century, the Malla kings renovated the stupas. If we talk about the structure of the Boudhanath Stupa, it is a massive dome-shaped structure, which is 36 meters high and 120 meters in diameter.
The structure is adorned with various symbols, prayer flags, and the Buddha's eyes and Dharma chakra. The stupa is surrounded by bustling markets and many monasteries. Even though the Boudhanath Stupa is located amidst a chaotic market, you will feel a very strange sense of serenity once you enter the site.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square is situated in the heart of Patan, which is also known as Lalitpur. It is one of the three medieval cities in Kathmandu Valley. The Patan Durbar Square used to be a royal residence from the 12th to 18th century. It was built by the Malla kings of Nepal. The Durbar square showcases an intricate blend of Newari, Indian, and Tibetan style art and architecture.
Krishna Mandir is one of the main structures of the Patan Durbar Square. It is dedicated to lord Krishna and presents Shikhara-style architecture with exquisite carvings depicting scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Likewise, Bhimsen temple, Mul Chown, Sundari Chowk, Patan Museum, etc are some of the highlights of the Patan Durbar Square.
You will explore many religious art, sculptures, and artifacts dating back to the Licchavi and Malla periods. Mul Chowk is the main courtyard of the royal palace where grand riyal ceremonies and festivals used to take place. Today, the entire square stands as one of the primary centers of Nepali culture and tradition.
