Himalayas Many eastern classics and books of wisdom have referred to the Himalayas as the abode of the gods and home to the immortals. These descriptions did not stem merely from the majesty and grandeur of the natural surroundings but perhaps alluded to a special environment where communion with the divine was possible through contemplation and meditation. Since time immemorial, ascetics, scholars, philosophers and pilgrim have been drawn irresistibly to these remote and rugged mountains in their personal search for wisdom, inspiration, solitude and happiness.
Kathmandu is the capital and meeting place of a dozen ethnic groups. A wonderful place to tour, Kathmandu, is Nepal's biggest cosmopolitan city. This fabled city has many carved rose brick temples attracting devotees from all over the place. On your tours of Kathmandu you will find that it is a city of endless sightseeing opportunities. The beauty of its natural landscape and traditional architecture, skillfully built temples and shrines are a testimony to its rich heritage. Bhaktapur is one of the three major cities in the Kathmandu valley that you can include in your tour itinerary. It is about 35 km (22mi) south east of Kathmandu's city center and you can easily reach here by bus, minibus or trolley bus. City has a distinct timeless charm with its 17th century architecture. On your tours of the city, you can virtually see the whole city temples, statues and columns on foot in Durbar Square. The second main square is Taumadhi Tole featuring the second highest temple in the valley the Nyatapola and Til Mahadev Narayan an important pilgrimage spot. You can buy clay pots from Potter's Square. Tachupal Tole is another square containing temples and monasteries plus craft museums located in the eastern side of the old city center. This city is aptly called the city of devotees with myriad wonders of cultural and artistic achievements.
Patan is the second-largest city in the valley, lies just across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu. The city proudly displays its temples with the largest display of Newari architecture in Nepal. It includes the Royal Palace and the two-tiered brick Jagannarayan Temple. A few minutes' walk north of the square is the Golden Temple, a Buddhist monastery guarded by sacred tortoises that potter around the courtyard; and the Kumbeshawar, reputedly the oldest (1392) temple in Patan. South of the square is an area of charming streets lined with metal smiths and brassware shops. Patan's other attractions are a collection of four stupas, built over 2500 years ago, and Nepal's only zoo, housing a reasonable assortment of rhinos, tigers, leopards and bird life.You can shop for Tibetan carpets in Jawalakhel, east of the city. It is an easy 5 km (3mi) from Thamel in Kathmandu to Patan and you can get there by bicycle, taxi, bus, or tempo.
The city of Pokhara is a wonderful city to tours in Nepal. Pokhara is renowned for its quiet lakeside location and proximity to the mountains making it an ideal place for trekking, taking nature walks or simply lazing around. Pokhara offers some of the country's best accommodation and restaurants as well. On your tour of Pokhara you can visit the Tibetan settlements, a hilltop monastery and the pretty Devi Falls nearby. You can go for day walks to Sarangkot (1592m), the limestone caves at Mahendra Gufa or Rupa and Begnas lakes. If you are, adventure loving then three to four-day Annapurna Skyline Trek will energize you. There are daily flights between Pokhara and Kathmandu.
The township of Tansen perched on the lap of the spectacular Srinagar Danda (hill) bears a rich legacy of the traditional art and architecture. It offers gorgeous panorama of the Himalayas as well as the plains of Terai.The Terai region offers some of the most fascinating attractions like magnificent Royal Chitwan National Park once the hunting ground of British and Nepalese aristocrats. Experience the thrilling experience of scouting of wildlife on elephant back. Janakpur is an attractive city to tours that bustles with tourists. It is over 135 km (84 mi) from Kathmandu, and a little less than that to the Chitwan National Park. The city has religious significance as the birthplace of Sita. Janakpur is packed with worthwhile sights including temples, pilgrim hostels and tiny sacred ponds. If you are interested in traditional painting and ceramics or the role of women in local society then Janakpur Women's Development Center, a must-see located on the city's outskirts.
The beautiful Devghat and Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, are also important devotional sites in the Terai.There are a number of other fascinating villages, temples and stupas scattered around the valley. One of these is the Buddhist temple of Swayambhunath. The temple is colloquially known as the 'monkey temple. An aureate block featuring the watchful eyes of Buddha tops the soaring central stupa. Set around the base is a continuous series of prayer wheels which pilgrims, circumambulating the stupa, spin as they pass by. Lord Pashupatinath is country's pre-eminent Hindu temple and one of the most significant Shiva temples on the subcontinent lies on the banks of the Bagmati River. Another religious place to tour is the huge stupa of Bodhnath, largest in the country and among the largest in the world. Surrounding Bodhnath is a number of monasteries that you can include in your tour. The valley also offers plenty of opportunities to get off the beaten track, with treks to and from the resort villages of Nagarkot and Dhulikhel, wallowing in Tatopani's hot springs, exploring cloud forests in Pulchowki, and mountain biking in the regions of Chapagaon and Bungamati. Gorkha is a scenic hill town situated on a small hillock offering panoramic view of snow-clad mountains.
Daman is situated southwest of Kathmandu, midway between the capital and Hetauda, 2322 m (7616 ft) above sea level. It claims to have the most spectacular outlook on the Himalaya - an unimpeded panorama of snowcaps from Dhaulagiri to Mt Everest. If you are touring in spring, check out the rhododendron forest on the southern side of the village. There are also great views over the Terai to India from here.
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