Kathmandu Valley comprises the three ancient cities of Kathmandu,
Patan and Bhaktapur, which were once independent states ruled by the Malla
kings from the 12th to the 18th centuries. The three cities house has been listed
as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture). The valley is also the home to
hundreds of other exquisite monuments, sculptures, artistic temples and
magnificent art – reminders of the golden era in Nepal’s architecture.The history shape
Kathmandu as a huge lake surrounded by Verdant Mountain until one fine day,
saint Manjushree, the Bodhisatva, raised a mighty sword and in one fell swoop,
cut open the side of a mountain at a place now known as Chobar. The water in
the lake was then all gone living behind a fertile land which turned into a
valley with large urban settlement. The Gopala and Kirati dynasties were the
earliest rulers here followed by the Licchavi (300-879 A.D.), under who
flourished trade and crafts. But the valley’s remarkable cities with their
the superbly crafted pagodas and the monumental stupas are testimony of the
artistic genius of the Newar craftsmen who were the original inhabitants of the
valley, whose skills were championed by the Malla kings and appreciated even by
the Mongol rulers of 18th century
China.
KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Situated in the heart of
old Kathmandu city at Basantapur, Kathmandu Durbar Square never fails to
impress first time visitors with its ensemble of palaces, courtyards and
temples built during the Malla period. Kumari Ghar, the residence of the Living
Goddess, Kumari; the Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace, the historic seat of the
royalty; the magnificent Taleju Temple towering more than 40 meters; Ashok
Vinayak, also called Kathmandu Ganesh, a temple without a filial ; and Kal Bhairav,
the God of Wrath are the major highlights of Kathmandu Durbar Square. The name
“Kathmandu” has emerged from the giant pagoda of Kasthamandap, which is said to
have been built out of a single tree. Since the time of the Malla kings, the
Durbar Square has been the city’s social, religious and political focal point.
AKASH BHAIRAV:
The three-storey temple Believed
to have been built in the 12th century, enshrines Akash Bhairav, a ferocious
manifestation of Lord Shiva, with tiled roofs, a hanging balcony, gilded and
latticed windows and an artistic doorway lies in the main market avenue called
Indra Chowk.
Kasthamandap
The three-roofed building was constructed around the 12th century
from the wood of single Sal tree. A center wooden enclosure houses the
image of the god, which is noteworthy since Goraknath is usually
represented only by a his footprints. In the corners of the building are
three images of Ganesh.
Singh Sattal
Built with wood leftover from the Kasthamandap temple, this squat
building was originally called the Silengu Sattal( silengu means ‘left
over wood’ and a sattal means pilgrimage hostel) until the addition of
the golden-winged singh (lions) that guard each corner of the upper
floor.
Ashok Binayak
On the northern side of Kasthamandap, at the top of Maru Tole, stands
this tiny golden shrine. Its small size belies its importance, as this
is one of the four most important Ganesh shrines in the valley. It’s
uncertain how old the temple is, although the gilded roof was added in
the 19th century.
Maru Tole
This tole leads you away from durbar square down to the Vishnumati
River, where a footbridge continues the pathway to Swayambhunath.
Maju Deval
A pleasant half-hour can easily be spent soaking the up the
atmosphere on the steps of this Shiva temple, especially at dawn and
dusk. The temple dates from 1690 and was built by the mother of
Bhaktapur’s king Bhuaptindra Malla. The temple has a Shiva lingam
inside(phallic stone) inside.
Trailokya Mohan Narayan Temple
Te other temple standing in the open area of the square is this small
five-roofed temple just to the south. This powerful stone figure was a
later addition, erected by King Prithvibendra Malla’s widow soon after
his death.
Shiva-Parvati Temple
Shiva-Parvati Temple is arranged in the external quadrangle of the
Durbar square in Kathmandu, alongside Kasthamandap and Kumari Ghar. This
is one of the numerous Hindu sanctuaries in Kathmandu devoted to Shiva
and Parvati. Shiva, the divine force of pulverization and revival, is a
major Hindu god. Parvati, the second partner of Shiva, is thought to be
the preeminent Goddess. At the point when this few is portrayed together
they both have generous structures.
Kumari Ghar
Kumari Ghar is a royal residence in the core of the Kathmandu city,
beside the Durbar square where a Royal Kumari is chosen from among a few
Kumaris. Kumari, or Kumari Devi, is the custom of worshiping youthful
prepubescent young girls as indications of the divine female power or
devi in South Asian nations. In Nepal the choosing process for her is
extremely thorough. Kumari is accepted to be the real incarnation of the
goddess Taleju (the Nepalese name for Durga) until she menstruates,
after which it is accepted that the goddess empties her body. Genuine
ailment or a significant loss of blood from a harm are likewise
foundations for her to return to normal status. The current Royal
Kumari, Matina Shakya, matured four, was introduced in October 2008 by
the Maoist government that supplanted the government.
Kumari Chowk
Kumari Chowk was constructed in the year 1757 by the King Jaya
Prakash Malla. It was named after Kumari goddess that is recognized as
an incarnation of Taleju goddess. The Kumari Chowk is a three-storied
quadrangle sumptuously enriched with fine woodcarving. It is the spot
where throngs of individuals take the most direct path to get the look
of Kumari and get her heavenly endowments.
Jagannath Temple
Jagannath Temple is the oldest established building in this piece of
the Durbar Square, in Kathmandu. Jagannath Temple is generally known for
the exotic embellishments cut on the top struts. King Pratap Malla is
proclaimed to have created this sanctuary amid his rule; however the
sanctuary could likewise have been constructed by king Mahendra in 1563.
The sanctuary has two stories, a three-layered stage and three
entryways, however only one of them opens.
Hanumandhoka Palace
Hanuman Dhoka is an intricate structure with the Royal Palace of the
Malla kings and of the Shah tradition in the Durbar Square of focal
Kathmandu, Nepal. It is spread in excess of five acres of land. The
eastern wing with ten yards is the most ancient part dated to the mid
sixteenth century. It was extended by King Pratap Malla in the
seventeenth century with numerous sanctuaries. Sundari Chowk and Mohan
Chowk in the north piece of the structure are both shut. In 1768, in the
southeast piece of the castle, four lookout towers were included by
Prithvi Narayan Shah. The regal family existed in this castle till 1886,
where after they moved to Narayanhiti Palace. The stone engraving
outside is in fifteen dialects and legend expresses that if all the 15
are read, milk would spring from the center of stone tablet.
Degu Taleju Temple
Degu Taleju Temple is an another triple roofed sanctuary created by
Shiva Singh Malla that is likewise committed to Taleju. Mul Chowk,
committed to Taleju Bhawani, is a yard with two-storied structures all
round that are selected spots for religious rituals. Taleju Bhawani is
the tutelary goddess of the Malla Dynasty. Taleju Temple with a golden
torana (formal entryway) is found to the south side of the patio. Amid
the Dasain celebration, the symbol of Taleju is moved to this sanctuary.
The passageway to the sanctuary is flanked with pictures of the river
goddesses Ganga and Yamuna.
Kakeshwar Temple
Kakeshwar Temple was created in 1681. On the other hand, after the
1934 earthquake, the sanctuary was adversely affected and had to be
repaired. The pitch of this sanctuary is a bizarre blend of structural
styles - Newari style for the establishment, Indian shikhara style for
the upper floors , kalasa(water vase) like tower on top of the
sanctuary. Sadly, after the remaking, the building was mostly changed.
Tana Deval Temple
Tana Deval Temple is arranged before the prevalent Taleju Temple. It
is encompassed by a divider that differentiates the Tana Deval Temple
from the Durbar Square. In the courtyard, past huge columns of stalls,
you can see the consecrated building. It has various entryways and
struts on which the Mother Goddesses - Ashta Matrikas – are cut.
Likewise, in the court you have the opportunity to buy brilliantly
shaded Tibetan thangkas
ASAN:
Asan has been one of the city's main marketplaces since ancient times.
The trade route is diagonally aligned, and the section within the city extends
from Kathmandu Durbar Square to Asan and to the northeast. At Asan, there are six roads radiating in all directions.
The three-storied pagoda style Annapurna Temple of Annapurna, the Goddess of
Grains, presides over the ever-lively bazaar. Asan is still an important
shopping center and one of the busiest market places with shops selling
anything from imported spices to kitchenware, fresh vegetables, Chinese goods,
hardware and clothes.
SWAYAMBHUNATH STUPA (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
Stupa
of Swayambhunath is a Buddhist stupa on the western edge of Kathmandu. It sits on a
site where 2500 years ago the legendary patriarch Manjushri found a lotus on an
ancient valley lake. Swayambhunath is also known as the
Monkey Temple, due to the numerous macaques that roam the
temple grounds. Swayambhunath has been an important Buddhist learning centre
for centuries. On the four sides of the stupa are the famous painted eyes of
the Buddha gazing in the four directions. This stupa is the oldest of its kind
in Nepal and has numerous shrines and monasteries on its premises.
PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
The Pashupatinath Temple is a famous 5th century Hindu temple dedicated
to Lord Shiva (Pashupati). The temple as it stands today was built in
the 19th
century, although the image of the bull and the black four-headed image
of
Pashupati are at least 300 years old. Situated
5 km east of Kathmandu, the temple of Lord Shiva is considered one of
the most
sacred Hindu shrines in the world. The two-tiered pagoda with golden
roofs and
silver doors houses the sacred linga, or phallic symbol, of Lord Shiva.
Chronicles indicate the temple existed before 400 A.D. Along with the
main temple, there are numerous temples
dedicated to different gods and goddesses in and around the
Pashupatinath
temple area. The temple situated at the banks of consecrated (holy)
Bagmati
River is the hot spot for Hindus where millions of pilgrims come to pay
deep
respect to Lord Shiva every year. Near the
Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River lies Guheswari,
where,
according to mythology, a portion of Sati Devi, Lord Shiva’s consort,
fell when
a grief-stricken Shiva wandered aimlessly across the earth carrying her
dead
body on his shoulders following her self-immolation.
BOUDDHANATH STUPA (UNESCO World Heritage Site):
The
Boudhanath, is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, along
with Swayambhu. It is a very popular tourist site. The base of the stupa
has 108
small depictions of the Dhyani Buddha Amitabha. It is surrounded with a
brick
wall with 147 niches, each with four or five prayer
wheels engraved with the mantra,
om
mani padme hum.
Situated 8 km to the east of downtown
Kathmandu, Bauddhanath is one of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu,
visible as soon as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport. It is the
largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley and is the center of Tibetan Buddhism.
BALAJU GARDEN:
Three kilometers north-west of Kathmandu lies the Balaju Garden, a
quiet park ideal for relaxation just below the Nargarjun hill. The park has a
line of 22 stone water spouts built in the 18th century, each of which has an
ornately carved crocodile head. During an annual festival, people come here to
take a ritual bath. It consists of a sprawling garden of stone water spouts,
fish ponds, and a replica of the statue of Budhanilkantha specifically for the royal
family who were barred from visiting the real one. Above Balaju lies
the Nagarjun forest (5 km northwest of Kathmandu). The summit (2,096 m) is a two-hour
walk, from where great views of the Kathmandu Valley and a number of Himalayan
peaks can be had. There is a Buddhist stupa and a view tower on the summit.
THAMEL:
Thamel is
the heart of Nepal's tourism. It is the place where tourist get everything they
want. It is a colourful and beautiful mixture of craft shops, boutique cafes,
trekking gear, and rainbow prayer flags.As the tourist district of
Kathmandu, Thamel bustles with activity late into the night. It is a
mere10-minute walk from the center of Kathmandu, yet completely different from
the rest of the city. Thamel caters entirely to tourists with its scores of
hotels, rows of restaurants and bars, book shops, inviting souvenir shops,
cyber cafes and travel agencies. All that a tourist needs can be found here,
even friends and traveling companions.
DHARAHARA:
The soaring landmark of
Kathmandu, the Dharahara tower is 50.5 m high and was built by then Prime Minister
Bhimsen Thapa in 1832. It is open to anyone who can go up after paying the
entrance fee. The 360 degree striking view of the Kathmandu Valley is worth watching
from the top.
GARDEN OF DREAMS:
At the entrance of Thamel,
the Garden of Dreams within the Kaiser Mahal complex has now been renovated and
restored to its former glory. It is a 24-acre garden include neo-classical
pavilions, fountains, decorative garden furniture, Chinese Moon Gate and
European inspired features such as pergolas, balustrades, urns and birdhouses.
Today it is open to the public with a restaurant and bar.
BUDHANILKANTHA:
The temple of
Budhanilkantha also known as temple of sleeping Vishnu has the largest of
Vishnu’s stone statues, Budhanikantha lies at the foothills of the Shivapuri
hills, 8 km north of the Kathmandu city center. The large granite figure of
Lord Vishnu sleeping on a bed of serpents known as ‘Sesnagas’, seems to float
in a pond. This shrine dates back to the 5th century. It is believed that
members of the Royal Family never visit the temple.
KIRTIPUR:
It is situated on a hill 8
km southwest of Kathmandu. The ancient Newar township - with its brick-paved
streets lined with typical red brick houses and tiled roofs, and temple squares
- is a natural fortress. The Chilamchu stupa and the temple of Bagh Bhairav are
major attractions here. Tribhuvan University, Nepal’s premier seat of
education, Tribhuwan University is located at the foothills of Kirtpur.
PHARPING:
Pharping is 18 km south of
Kathmandu on the valley ridge. Pharping is perched on a hilltop with a Buddhist
monastery. The old village, 17th-century temple which houses a glided image of
Goddess Bajra Jogini is the major attraction. Other fascinating sights here
include a cave and a hand-imprint of the Buddhist saint Padmasambhav on the
rock face over its entrance.
DAKSHINKALI:
Dakshinkali is 4
kilometers further south of Pharping on the valley ridge. The temple of
Dakshinkali is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali. On Tuesdays and Saturdays animal
sacrifices are offered to the deity and the temple remain crowed.On the way
lies Chobhar gorge. The Bodhisatva Manjushree is said to have cut an incision
here to drain out the lake which once covered the valley. There is a small but
picturesque temple of Adinath on the top of a hill from where one can have a
panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains.
SHESHA NARAYAN:
The temple of Shesha Narayan is situated between Chobhar and Dakshinkali.
The temple of Shesha Narayan represents one of the four Narayans of the
Kathmandu Valley. The other three Narayans are Changu Narayan of Bhaktapur,
Visankhu Narayan of Patan and Changu Narayan of Kathmandu.
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