Cultural Wonders of Kahtmandu Valley

Skipped over by many trekkers in Nepal are theyou'll want to see are the big bell, the Golden Gate, the
cultural gems of the Khatmandu valley. The culturesfive-tiered temple of Nyatapola, the Bhairab Temple,
and religions of Nepal have molded the philosophicaland the Dattatreya Square where you visit
outlook of numerous civilizations for over a thousandwoodcarving and metalwork museums.
years. While many travelers arrive in KhatmanduThe capitol of Nepal is Kahtmandu and it sits at an
staying just a single overnight before leaving on theirelevation of 4521 feet in a valley that is surrounded by
trek, anyone who loves culture and history will want togreen terraced hills, which are caped in the distance, by
spend several days exploring these surrounds.some of the world's tallest mountains. Khatmandu itself
An ancient city, Khatmandu was first settled in theis home to a UNESCO heritage site and hundreds of
eighth century. The valley of Kathmandu is actuallyBuddhist monasteries and Hindu temples. Sites worth a
composed of three royal cities, Kathmandu (thevisit include Durbar Square, the Temple of Kumari,
capital), Patan & Bhaktapur. Each of them haveSwayambhunath, Bouddhanath Stupa and
their own unique qualities.Pashupatinath Temple.
The ancient city of Patan is just three miles southeastDubar Square is where the kings of Nepal are
of Khatmandu and lies on the banks of the Bagmaticrowned and where their coronations happen. The
river. The religions of Buddhism and Hinduism havesquare is where Taleju Temple, the Gaddi Baithak, the
coexisted in Patan for centuries and Buddhiststatue of King Pratap Malla and the Jagannath Temple
monuments and Hindu temples are everywhere.are located. In addition, the Tribhuvan Museum is inside
Known for its artists, both wood workers and metalthe Hanumandhoka Palace.
craftsman, the bronze gateways, guardian deities andNear the Hanumandhoka Palace is the Temple of
magnificent carvings are extremely detailed and wellKumari. Kumari is said to be a living godess. Her temple
done.has extraordinary wooden balconies and carved
The best example of stone architecture in Nepal is onscreens. Kumari appears on the balconies from time to
Durbar Square in Petan. Here you'll find Krishna Mandirtime, but tourists are warned that no photographs are
built in homage to an incarnation of Vishnu. The scenesallowed.
on the temple walls are from the Mahabharat, Asia'sSwayambhu meaning "the self existent" is the place to
greatest mythological war. In addition to Krishna Mandirexperience the harmony of Nepal's religious practices.
there are temples dedicated to Ganesh, theMonasteries with huge prayer wheels are common
elephant-headed god, Shiva, Narsingha, Taleju, andand Nepal's largest image of the Sakyamuni is in a
others in Patan Durbar Square.monastery that is beside the stupa.
Bhaktapur, which translates to the city of devotes inIf you wish to observe Tibetan culture in Nepal then
Sanskrit was first founded in 889 AD. Kings inyou will want to visit the area around the Bouddhanath
Bhaktapur ruled over the other two cities KathmanduStupa. This 118 foot high stupa is one of the largest in
and Patan from the twelfth to the fourteenth centuries.all of South Asia. It lies on an ancient Tibetan trade
A massive earthquake shook the city in 1934, androute and many Tibetan refugees have settled around
while many temples, monasteries and residences wereit.
destroyed the numerous remaining temples andNepal's most sacred Hindu complex is the temple of
ancient buildings are a testament to the skills of thePashupatinath. Only Hindus are allowed inside.
Bhaktapur craftsman.However from a vantage point across the holly river
Bhaktapur even includes a king among its greatestof Bagmati one can get good views of this complex
craftsman. King Bhupatindra Malla who reigned fromof temples and ashrams. The site goes back at least
1696 to 1722 built the gate to the palace complex into the 4th century AD and some date it back even
the center of the city. The gate may not seemanother thousand years.
massive by today's standards, but it was one of theIf you're going to Nepal for a trek you'll want to leave
largest in the Khatmandu valley.at least a day to tour each of the cities in the
If you're going to visit Bhaktapur you'll want to put theKahtmandu valley. An excellent way to break this up
aptly named Palace of Fifty-five Windows on your listwould be to visit Bhaktapur and Patan before you
of things to see. Not that you could miss it if you'rehead out for your trek. Then when you arrive back in
there as it stands in the square. This Palace wasKhatmandu after the trek you can visit this city's many
home to many of the kings who ruled the city and itsights. Anything less than three days and you are
was here that King Bhupatindra Malla mentionedshorting yourself on some of Nepal's best sights.
above lived. Among the many other attractions that