Kathmandu Valley Cultural Tour

Day 01: Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal

Welcome to Kathmandu, Nepal. We will meet you at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). Then we will drive to a centrally located Hotel. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 02: Bhaktapur Durbar Square

On the Second day of the tour, we will get the experience of visiting an ancient city in Bhaktapur. A guided tour to Bhaktapur Durbar Square includes a visit to Nyatapola Temple (another five-storey temple built in pagoda style), the Golden Temple. Walking through the cultural gate, passing by the ponds, watching the locals weaving, selling their items on the roadside, and elderly people talking with one another sitting in the spaces of the temples will make you feel that you have come to a cultural city with a heterogeneous mixture of modernity and traditional art, culture and social atmosphere. You could see Newari women wearing Haku-Patasi, a traditional black saree with a red border. Stone-paved open spaces, temples built during the Malla period, along with other ancient artefacts, are among the things you can enjoy during the tour. You could also get to see several men working with stones and wood to give a shape to.
We will get an opportunity to taste Newari cuisines at Nyatapola Café in front of a five-storey temple.

Day 03: Pasupatinath and Boudhanath Cultural Tour

Sights of colourful prayer flags moving with the cool air, smell of incense sticks, people gathering to ignite butter lamps, local people selling items in every nook and cranny around Bouddhanath will astound the visitors with its beautiful white stupa. The visitors will get to experience a combination of both modern and traditional life in the vicinity.  They will enjoy rotating hundreds of prayer wheels as they utter “Om Pani Padme Hum” – the most ubiquitous mantra performed by monks.  They will enjoy watching the stupa’s massive mandala, one of the largest spherical stupas in the country during the afternoon. 

Afterwards, the visitors will be exploring Pashupatinath Temple. Stone-paved clean walking trail, devotees thronging to get a glimpse of the Hindu god, and people selling flowers on the roadside will give the visitors a vibrant feel of the biggest Hindu temple and the love for the Hindu religion amongst the Nepalis. Though the entrance for non-Hindus is not allowed in the main temple, you will be allowed to explore the surroundings, where you will be exploring a full plethora of human life. 

The visitors will get to experience a full spectrum of emotions as there are a number of ghats, areas where the last rites of people are performed on the banks of the Bagmati River. 

The River is not only popular as the ghat but is also a major attraction for the visitors because of its evening aarati. A set of musicians singing with their musical instruments, sounds of bells ringing and eye-pleasing scenes of burning butter lamps will give you immense satisfaction and happiness. Hundreds of babajis sitting and chatting is a regular scene one can explore in the areas around. Rich in art and culture, the wooden carvings on the temples will help the visitors get information about the ancient art in Nepal. 

The trip will have another advantage in it as the visitors will get an opportunity to interact with a Khempo (Buddhist Teacher) where the teacher will explain Basic Buddhism and its Philosophy. The discussion will be fruitful as you will get to know the history and philosophy of Buddhism.

Day 04: Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square

A thirty-minute drive from the hotel will take you to experience the historical artefacts of ancient Nepal. The visitors will get to see and learn about the Malla period, a historical time when the Malla kings ruled in Nepal. The visitors will be taking a tour of the city, rich in its art and crafts. It will also be an opportunity to explore the lives of the local Newars, indigenous people living in the locality. Many of the elderly Newars are seen to be sitting in the spaces near the palaces and museum. Don’t get tensed about the language barrier. The local Newars will definitely teach you to speak Newari language. Beautiful, Eye catching, symbolic images of varieties of postures of the Hindu gods and goddesses will be a thing to enjoy during your visit to Patan Durbar Square and areas around. 

A tour to Krishna temple, stone built temple rich in its artistic design with 21 pinnacles, Mahaboudha, Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, Mani Chowk, Narayan Chowk, Golden temple and stupas around will give you information of Malla period’s art and culture in the area. Passing through the alleys and traditional houses you will enjoy watching the sight from every corner. 

Kumbheshwor temple: one of the valley’s three five-storey temples built in pagoda style, a pond around where the water is supposed to have come from Gosaikunda will give you information about how the people in Kathmandu have links with the mountains.

A small well like structure carries its ancient historical link with the mountains. You will be getting a real feel of visiting Nepal as there are numbers of Newari women performing their daily activities. You will get to see the local Newars balancing their kharpan, a traditional bamboo made weight carrying object as they walk the alleys to sell the green leafy vegetables. You could also get a sight of young boys somersaulting in the pond to beat the heat in Kathmandu.  

Want to know more about Patan? Let’s interact with locals on the cultural aspects of the ancient city. English speaking guides will be accompanying you in the tour. 

The group after a lunch at Café De Patan will go for a one and half hour drive to Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Originally named Kantipur, Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is also known as the city of temples. As a historical centre, the history of Kathmandu is based on the Newar community, the main ethnic inhabitants of Kathmandu valley.

The city flourished during the Malla reign between 12th to the 18th century with clusters of Ancient Temples, Palaces and Courtyards dotted throughout. The nine-storied pagoda style palace is the center of attraction for the panoramic view of Kathmandu city. Until the 19th century, the Durbar Square was the house of the royals and is still a site of significant importance in the Republic of Nepal. This cultural tour offers takes you through the rich architectural monuments, ancient history, and civilization of the capital city.

With other major attractions like House of Living Goddess Kumari, Kasthamandap, Jagannathan Temple (Hippies temple) and many more Kathmandu Valley offer a historically and culturally rich experience not to be missed.

Day 05: Departure

Transfer to the Airport for the flight back to your home with sweet memory of Nepal, Kathmandu, different temples, mountains, nature, peoples and smile.