Day 01
Swayambhu Nath Stupa and Kathmandu Durbar Square Walk
- We shall meet at a point such as your hotel, a café, a restaurant, or any place you prefer in the Thamel area or Swayambhu area. The walk to Swayambhu Nath Stupa takes about 40 minutes from Thamel. Swayambhu Nath is the oldest heritage site of Kathmandu. It lies on the top of the hill and is also commonly known as the Monkey Temple. You will see the harmony between Hinduism and Buddhism in the temple complex.
- Visit monasteries, offer a butter candle, enjoy the activities of monkeys, and learn about Buddhist philosophy, which are some of the highlights in this area. Walking up the stairs from the bottom of the hill all the way to the top is interesting as well. If you are interested, you can also learn about THANKA, a traditional canvas painting based on Buddhist philosophy. This is also one of the best souvenirs of Nepal.
- After completing the tour of Swayambhu, we shall walk towards Kathmandu Durbar Square, another 40-50 minutes on foot. In Kathmandu Durbar Square, we shall see ancient palaces such as Hanuman Dhoka, Basantapur, Gaddi Baithak, Kumari Ghar, a museum, Taleju Temple, and different temples. Touring this square takes more than an hour. Here, you can see some of the best examples of pagoda style architecture. If you are lucky enough, you may also see the KUMARI, the living goddess.
- Next, see Kasthamandap, a mandap made of a single tree, from which the Kathmandu Valley got its name.
- Later, walk back to Thamel via Ason, the local market, which takes about 25 minutes.
Drop off at your place, and the tour ends.
