Kathmandu is a beautiful city which has to offers many wonderful things to do. Gateway to the wonderful landscapes of Nepal, this city is no less amazing. There are many historical monuments that represent the culture, tradition, and history of the whole country. The temples, stupas, and palaces will let you dive deep into the fascinating world of Nepal hidden in the chaos of Kathmandu. Explore different aspects of the city and surroundings while visiting Kathmandu. Here are some of the best things you can do in Kathmandu.
Sightseeing Tours
There are numerous cultural and historical monuments in Kathmandu city. The city is also known as a city of temples where you can find Hindu temples every next step.5 of the UNESCO world heritage sites lie in Nepal. You can visit them and learn many things about the country, its history, and its traditions. You can explore the unique architecture of temples and palaces, and explore paintings, statues and wallpapers kept in temples and stupas.
Pasupatinath Temple
Pasupatinath Temple is one of the most famous pilgrimage sites for Hindus. It is a temple complex situated on the bank of the Bagmati river. Even though it is the temple of Lord Shiva, there are lots of temples within the temple complex that are built to worship different deities from the Hindu religion. The architecture of the pagoda styled temples is fascinating to observe with the arts carved in the buildings. You can spend the day exploring the temple area, enjoy the Evening Arati and interact with Yogis who reside in the area. Talking with them and learning about their philosophy and lifestyle is an amazing experience.
Bouddhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is the Buddhist religious site and the largest stupa in Nepal. It is a beautiful place to spend the day exploring around the stupa. You can see the lifesize statue of Gautam Buddha, paintings and wallpapers on the wall and light the oil lamps as well. You can spend your time in a serene environment listening to the chants and observing people. You can explore various shops around there and try local dishes.
Swyambhunath Stupa
Swyambhunath Stupa is also one of the cool places to hang out. In this Buddhist Stupa, you enjoy the soothing chants, observe the monks praying, and explore Buddhism if you are interested in religious history. Apart from that, you can get an amazing view of the Kathmandu valley from there. Enjoy the surrounding view from the top of the Swyambhunath also known as the monkey temple.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square is the ancient Palace built in the reign of Malla Kings. It showcases brilliant architectures and Kastamandap ( Building made of wood only). You can see many artistic pictures carved on those buildings. You can also visit Kumari Ghar which is the home of the living Goddes Kumari.
Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square is also one of the ancient palaces situated in the Lalitpur district. It is an amazing place to spend your day exploring the fascinating Newari architecture of the buildings, exploring paintings and art carved in the buildings etc. You can try different local dishes while visiting Patan.
Other places
Apart from these UNESCO world heritage sites, there are plenty of cultural and historical places you can visit in Kathmandu. You can visit temples, you can also go to Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changunarayan Temple which are also UNESCO world heritage sites situated in the Bhaktapur district. You can visit Dachhinkali Temple which is also a scenic place to visit with the Hindu Temple. You can also visit the Budhanilantha Temple to witness the lifesize statue of Lord Vishnu.
Shopping
Shopping is an interesting way to kill your time in Kathmandu. You can stroll around the streets of Kathmandu where you can buy things you want. You can buy handicrafts, handmade clothes, paintings, and many other local products. The streets of Thamel and Mangal Bazaar are major places to look for while shopping. Apart from that, you can try many local and traditional food dishes.
Hiking
Hiking to nearby places and viewpoints of Kathmandu is another cool thing you can do. Kathmandu is surrounded by beautiful hills covered in lush forests. A few hours of hiking through the jungles to the top of the hills can be a great experience. Hiking is also an easy escape from the chaos of Kathmandu city. You can spend some time in the serene environment at the top of the ridges. You can also expect to see the Himalayas range in the distance from the viewpoints.
One of the most famous trekking destinations in Nagarkot. It is famous for its heartwarming sunrise and sunset views. The view of the Shivapuri National Park jungle and the mountains of the Everest range, Annapurna range, Manaslu range, Ganesh range, Langtang range, Jugal range, Rolwaling range, etc looks amazing from Nagarkot.
Another famous destination is the peak of Chandragiri. 2/3 hours of a hike through the beautiful jungles takes you to the Chandragiri peak. You can get an amazing view of the whole Kathmandu valley and the mountains on a clear day.
There are some other beautiful hikes such as the Namobuddha hike, Sundarijal hike, Nagarjun hike, etc which will let you have the beautiful experience of the landscapes surrounding Kathmandu valley.
Helicopter Tours
Helicopter tours are the hottest adventurous activities you can do while in Kathmandu. A few hours of Everest helicopter tours will let you experience the majestic landscapes and snow-capped mountains of Himalayan regions. During the trip, the thrilling bird’s eye views of the landscapes can be seen. It is ideal for those who want to explore the beauty of the Himalayas but don’t have enough time and strength to pursue days of trekking. You can enjoy this beautiful experience with the ease of a chopper.
One of the most famous tours is the Everest Base Camp Helicopter tour which takes you to the foothill of mt Everest and provides you with a landing opportunity. Apart from that, there are other helicopter tours such as Annapurna Base Camp helicopter tour, Langtang valley helicopter tour, Muktinath helicopter tour, etc.
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