3-Day Cultural Tour of Kathmandu with Durbar Squares and Ancient Towns

• Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, an old palace museum complex where you can see the centuries-old temples of Kumari, the living goddess, and palaces dating back to the 8th century.

• Travel to Swayambhunath, a sacred Buddhist shrine located on a hilltop in the western part of Kathmandu Valley and associated with the formation of the valley.

• Visit Patan Durbar Square, another old palace complex in Patan city near Kathmandu, known for its arts, crafts, and sculpture.

Note: Tour duration is 5-6 hours.

• Visit the Pashupatinath temple complex, a great pilgrimage center for the Hindu world. The complex has more than a thousand temples that carry religious and cultural significance for both Hindus and Buddhists.

• Travel to Boudhanath, also known as Little Tibet. It is the biggest stupa in Nepal and is surrounded by many monasteries.

• Visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the most beautiful and one of the oldest palace complexes still standing. Even after so many years, the palace has been able to sustain its architecture and antiquity. It is also an open museum.

Note: Tour duration is 5-6 hours.

• On the last day of the tour, you will have the option to choose one of the following activities.

• Travel to Khokana/Bungamati, believed to be an ancient town established in the 2nd century. About an hour's drive to the south via Lalitpur offers a breathtaking view of paddy fields and a chance to learn about the lifestyle of villagers. Traditional buildings and temples from the 14th century, along with related stories and myths, will mesmerise you. The famous temples of Bunga do and Karyabinayak of the valley lie in this area. You can also smell the aroma of mustard oil produced from several traditional mills here.

• Or visit Panauti, another beautiful town about an hour's drive to the east. It is famous for its cultural richness and sacredness, as it used to be a royal city. Hundreds of temples and the traditional ways of life of the locals are worth seeing. The famous Indreshwar Mahadev Temple and the Punyavati River are centers of faith for Nepalese Hindus.

• Or visit Sankhu, a popular historical town with the sacred Salikhusi River flowing through it and a unique octagonal temple dedicated to Goddess Sri Swasthani, along with the Bajrayogini Temple on the hilltop. Houses built with intricately carved windows and doors, and numerous stone sculptures of Hindu and Buddhist deities at every nook and corner, further enhance the beauty of Sankhu.

• Or visit Kirtipur, an hour's drive to the south. An attractive rectangular temple of Baghbhairav on the hilltop is the main attraction of this town. Narrow alleys with numerous temples, courtyards, and stone staircases are unique to Kirtipur.

Note: Tour duration is 3-4 hours in any of the destinations.