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MAJOR PLACES OF INTEREST / Inside Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Valley

Surrounded by a tier of green mountains, the Kathmandu Valley has an exotic setting. There are main three towns of great historic, artistic and cultural interest: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. Covering an area of 218 miles, the valley is situated 4,423 ft. above sea level.

It is believed that the Lord Shiva, supreme among Hindu gods, had come down to the Kathmandu valley from the mountain area to remove boredom. The charm of the valley has yet to be diminished. The valley has the architecture started by the Lichhavi and Malla kings.

Swayambhunath:

According to legends, the history of the Kathmandu Valley begins with Swayambhunath (the self-existent). It is believed that Bodhisattva Manjushree had come across a beautiful lake with a lotus that emitted brilliant light at the lake's center. So, he cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the water of the lake to worship the lotus. Men settled at the bed of the lake and called it the Kathmandu Valley.

Swayambhunath may be the best place to observe the religious harmony in the country. The stupa is among the most ancient in this part of the world. The largest image of Shakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next to the stupa of Swayambhunath.

Swayambhunath is a major landmark of the Valley and looks like a beacon below the Nagarjan hill. It offers an excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley. Devotees have climbed the steps on the eastern side for centuries. The main attractions of Swayambhu are the statues of Buddha, mini-stupas, monasteries and monkeys.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: There are innumerable monuments such as Kumari, the living Goddess, the ferocious Kal Bhairav, the red monkey god, hundreds of erotic carvings, among others. Visitors can also see a round temple in the pagoda architectural style, the Goddess Taleju and image of Shiva and Parvati peering outside through the window besides among many other monuments. It is believed that the Goddess Taleju used to play dice with King Jaya Prakash Malla.

The buildings at the Kathmandu Durbar Square were constructed during the time of Malla period. The exceptionally attractive woodcarvings, statues and architecture lure the visitors.

Changu Narayan:

The temple of Narayan or Vishnu near Changu village is believed to be the most ancient ones in the Kathmandu Valley. There is a fifth century stone inscription located in the temple compound and it tells about the victorious King Man Dev. Having constructed during the third century, the temple now covers 1,600 years of Nepalese art history. The temple represents the complete cultural development of the valley.

Pashupatinath:

It is believed that one day Lord Shiva got tired of his glittering palace on Mt. Kailash, his armies of ghosts and spirits, and even his beautiful wife Parvati. Then, he moved to a forest near the present temple of Pashupatinath. While staying there, the Lord Shiva earned fame and became Pashupati or Lord of Animals. For the last 1,500 years, worshippers have been paying attention to the place, which is regarded as the holiest Hindu pilgrimage site in Nepal. There are linga images of Lord Shiva along with statues, shrines and temples dedicated to other deities in the Pashupatinath area. A temple of Lord Shiva was built in 879 A. D. However, the present temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1697. The pagoda-style construction is decorated with a gold-plated roof, silver doors, and woodcarvings of the finest quality. There lies the temple of Guheshwari that represents the female force. The temple is dedicated to Satidevi, Lord Shiva's first wife, who abandoned her life in the flames of her father's fire ritual.

Sadhus and sages, who follow the lifestyle of Lord Shiva, are seen covered with ashes and loincloths.

The temple of Pahsupatinath lies close to the Bagmati river. On the banks of the river, dead bodies are cremated. The cremation site is also known as Aryaghat, where the royals are also cremated. Visitors are not advised to take photographs of cremations and bereaved families.

Bouddhanath:

The stupa of Bouddhanath is considered to be the largest one in the entire South Asian Region. The stupa is main attraction of Tibetan Buddhism. It is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet. Many Tibetan refugees have been living around the stupa of Bouddhanath since the 1950s when they entered Nepal.

The stupa is believed to have been constructed in the fifth century. The stupa is also said to entomb the remains of a Kasyap sage, who is respected by both Buddhists and Hindus.

Budhanilkantha:

Budhanilkantha is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site. The main statue of Lord Vishnu is seen reclining on a bed of snake on a pond. The stone sculpture dates back to the fifth century. The site is eight kilometers north of the downtown Kathmandu. The Shivapuri hill is in front of the pilgrimage site.

Natural History Museum: Situated three kilometers west of the downtown Kathmandu and close to famous stupa of Swayambhunath, the museum is the only one of its kind in Nepal. The museum contains about 1400 species of butterflies, fish, birds, mammals and plants from across the country. Visitors can get detailed information about bio-diversity and flora and fauna of Nepal from the museum. The museum remains open everyday, except Saturday, Sunday and other government holidays. Taking photograph inside the museum is strictly prohibited.

Patan Durbar Square:

There are many famous sites besides unique architecture in the Patan Durbar Square. The Krishna Mandir (temple), which is considered to be the best example of stone architecture of Nepal, was constructed to honor an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Scenes from the Mahabharat that are carved on the walls of the temple bring us to the Mahabharat war, Asia's great mythological war.

The temple of Bhimsen is a fine sample of metal craft. Hiranya Varna Mahabihar, the golden temple, is regarded as the best place to visit. The Newar monastery has wall paintings, the 14th century statues and scriptures. The Patan Durbar Square, the best artistic sites of Nepal, has temples of Ganesh, Shiva, Narasingha, Taleju, among others.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square:

In the Sanskrit language, the word "Bhaktapur" means "the city of devotees." The ancient cultural city that was founded by King Anand Dev in 889 A. D. is also known as "Bhadgaon". The palace complex depicts the prosperity of the Malla period and shows how the craftsmen had worked during that time. In the palace complex, the Palace of Fifty-Five Windows stands. The palace was home to many kings of Bhaktapur.

It was King Bhupatindra Malla, who constructed the massive gateway to the Durbar Square during 1696 to 1722. The big bell, the golden gate, five-storey temple of Nyatapola, the Bhairav Temple, the Dattatreya Square with its wood carving and metalwork museums are the other monuments of Bhaktapur. Though the massive earthquake of 1934 destroyed the city, it still reflects the traditional Newari culture and architecture.

Apart from these, there are a number of other attractive destinations in the Kathmandu Valley. They include Chobhar Gorge, Jawalakhel Zoo, Dakshinkali, Balaju Water Garden, Budhanilkantha, Godawari Botanical Garden, Nagarkot, Kakani, Nagarjun, Shivapuri, Chandragiri, Phulchowki, Dhulikhel, Panauti, Banepa and Sankhu.

The Kathmandu Valley is also rich in museums and art galleries. The National Museum is the most popular museum. Located on the way to Swayambhunath hill. It has ancient artifacts and interesting mementos of recent kings and recently used firearms. Other museums worth visiting include the Tribhuvan Museum, the museum of natural history, Keshar library, the national bronze art museum, the national art gallery, the national woodworking museum, the bronze and brass museum, Asha Archives and Patan Museum.

Kirtipur:

Situated 10 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu, Kirtipur is an ancient Nerwari township. It has a proud and courageous history. Major attractions of this township are the Chilamchu Stupa and the temple of Bagh Bhairab. Locals have been able to preserve their traditional cultures and lifestyles.

Gokarna & Sundarijal:

Gokarna is a popular place maong pilgrims and visiting tourists. Lying some seven kilometers northeast of the downtown of Kathmandu, the protected area of Gokarna is also a popular site for seeing wildlife and various species of birds.

Sundarijal is another peaceful place that lies near Gokarna. The meaning of “Sundarijal” is “pure water”. There is a beautiful water fall in the area.

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