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