KATHMANDU ( Capital) Kathmandu Durbar Square
The Square teems with life as vendor?s children tourists and other crowed around the temple of the Living Goddess Kumar Goddess Taleju and the Kastamandap Resthouse.
The Hanuman Dhoka
The Hanuman Dhoka complex was said to have been founded late in the rule of the Licchavi dynasty but it was during the Malla era that much of the construction took place.
The Kumari
The Kumari is selected from the most beautiful and physically faultless young Newar girls, usually from four to six years old.
Gaddi Baithak
Gaddi Baithak stands out very conspicuously, or rather, incongruously, in the same square with its neoclassical European architecture. Built in the early years of the 20th century during the Rana period, its balcony overlooking the square is from where the king witnesses the pageantry of the Indra Jatra festival.
The Big Bell
The Big Bell was erected by the son of Prithivi Narayan Shah, Rana Bahadur in 1797. The ringing of this bell is said to drive away evil spirits, and is rung on occasions when ceremonies are held at the Degu Taleju Temple.
Kasthamandap
Located near the temple of Kumari , it is said to have been built by King Laxmi Narsingha Malla in the beginning of the sixteenth century. It is said to be constructed from the wood of a single tree. The city of Kathmandu derives its name from this temple.
Thamel
Thamel is the tourist center of Kathmandu and said to be one of the finest concentrations of tourist facilities and amenities in the whole of Asia . It is a maze of streets lined with hotels, restaurants, and book, curio and music shops. It is also a melting pot of international cuisines.
Boudanath Temple
Boudhanath is a colossal stupa north east of Pashupatinath and lies a further two 2 kilometers by road. The origin of this stupa is rather obscure. A legend says that a woman named Kangma was banished from heaven by Indra for stealing flowers and was reborn on earth as a swineherd?s daughter. Rearing and selling geese, Kangma accumulated a considerable amount of wealth. One day, she went to request the king for a plot of land to build a temple dedicated to the Buddha Amitabha. She asked that she be given land the size which a buffalo?s hide would cover. The king agreed to what he thought was a harmless request, but Kangma very shrewdly cut the hide making it into one very long strip of leather. Stretching it out to form a very large circle, she asked for and was given this huge plot where Boudhanath stands today.
Swayambhunath Temple
Swayambhunath Temple is a best place to observe religious harmony between Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus. The stupa is one of the most ancient in this part of the world and its worshippers come from diverse ethical backgrounds. Situated on the top of a hill. It provides an excellent view of the Katmandu Valley. Huge prayer wheels and fine Buddhist paintings are displayed in the monasteries as well as the largest Buddha statue in the country. Special butter lamps can be ilt after monetary gifts are offered to the images.
Pashupatinath Temple
The holiest Hindu pilgrimage place in Nepal pashupati has received the attention of worshippers for at least fifteen hundred years. Dedicated to shiva the lord of Destruction the temple is situated on the banks of the Bagmati river. A circuit of the Pashupati area takes visitors past a sixth century statue of the Buddha an eighth century statue of Brahma the Creator freshly painted skeletal images guarding temple gates, and other magnificent temples dedicates to various deities in the complex.
Kirtipur
Kirtipur, a sleepy and ancient Newari town is located on the top pf a small hillock. A bastion of genuine Newari traditions this old fortress is famous for the bravery they displayed in the wars with Conqueror Prithivi Narayan Shah. A visit to kirtipur is cultural rewarding as well.
Chobhar
Chobhar - on the way down, stop at Chobhar gorge. It is the place where Manjushree cut a slash to empty the lake that was once the Kathmandu Valley . To the south is Taudaha Lake that Manjushree created as a home for the serpents who lost their home when the lake was drained.
Dakshinkali Temple
The temple of Dakshinkali is situated about two kilometers south of Shekha Narayan. Dakshinkali is regarded as one of most important Hindu goddesses. Pilgrims visit this temple to offer their prayer and animal sacrifices to the goddess. Besides, this place has been developed as a popular picnic spot also. The Hindu temple of Dakshinkali is a very popular place of worship. Located 22 km from the city on the southern rim of the Valley past Pharping village, the shrine is especially crowded on Tuesdays and Saturdays when animal sacrifices are offered.
Budhanilkantha
Budhanilkantha lies 9 km from downtown Kathmandu at the foothills of Shivapuri towards the northern end of the valley. The image of the Hindu god Bishnu rests reclining on the coils of an 11-headed serpent in the middle of a pond. The image dates from the Lichchhavi period and draws large numbers of pilgrims and devotees on Balachaturdashi in November.
BHAKTAPUR Durbar Square (World Heritage Site). This former royal palace complex offers the elegant 15th-century Palace of 55 Windows, artistic courtyards, the Golden Gate, a masterpiece in repousse art, and an entrancing medley of pagoda temples scattered all over. Taumadhi Square lies to the east of Durbar Square reached by a brick-paved lane. The five-roofed Nyatapol temple (built in 1702) here soars gracefully into the sky from atop a five-level plinth. The stairway leading up to the temple is flanked with stone figures of deities and mythical beasts. Tachapal Square or Dattatreya, at the hub of a maze of streets lined with richly ornamented houses, presents an entrancing ambiance. The heart of uptown, it is the original center of Bhaktapur. The Peacock Window is set into the wall of a Hindu monastery here known as Math. Potters' Square. A two-minute walk to the south of Durbar Square brings you to Bolachhen, also known as Potters' Square. Here you can watch potters molding wet clay into different kinds of earthenware. It has a display of fresh pottery left out to dry in the open.
Changunarayan Temple
A couple of hours drive from kathmandu takes you to the hilltop temple of changu Narayan. The temple built around the third century was made in honour of lord Vishnu the preserver some of the best samples of stone wood and metal craft in the valley are found in the temple compound devas and griffins stare from the walls and steps.
PATAN Patan Durbar Square
The streets in this region are homes to metal sculptures of the present day and some of the best pieces of sculpture are in the Golden Temple. This place is a monastery with wall painting fourteenth century statues and ancient scriptures also to see are the Krishna Mandir, Bhimsen Temple the Mahaboudha Temple in terra cotta and oku bahal.
