Heritage Tours in Nepal
Heritage Tour in Nepal, we have four major world Heritage sites listed by UNESCO, out of which two are Cultural heritage site as Lumbini, the birth place of Lord Buddha and Kathmandu valley and two are natural heritage sites as Chitwan National park and Sagarmatha National Park. In Kathmandu valley, the monuments seven sites are Cultural Heritage sites are located inside Kathmandu valley within the distance of 20 KM, which are as: Pashupatinath temple, Bouddhanath Stupa and Swayambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares and Changunarayan temple.
Swayambhunath Stupa
Located approximately 4 km (2.5 miles), Buddhist Stupa this is said to be 2000 years old. The Stupa which forms the main structure is composed of a solid hemisphere of bricks and earth supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt. Painted on the four sided base of the spire are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. This hill is a mosaic of small Chaityas and Pagoda temples.
Bouddhanath Stupa
This Stupa situated 11 km/7 miles from Kathmandu City is one of the biggest in the world of its kind. It stands with four pairs of eyes in the four cardinal direction keeping watch for righteous behavior and human prosperity. This Buddhist Stupa was built by King Man Deva at the advice of the goddess Mani Jogini. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels. The shrine is surrounded by houses of Lamas or Buddhist priests.
Pashupatinath Temple
Situated 5 kilometers east of Kathmandu city, Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, the temple built in pagoda style has gilded roof and richly carved silver doors. Visitors will be permitted to view the temple from the east bank of river Bagmati, entrance in the temple being strictly forbidden to all non Hindus. Pashupatinath is the center of annual pilgrimage on the day of Shivaratri which falls in the month of February/March. Behind the temples are the cremation grounds.
Patan Durbar Square
5 km (3 miles) away from Kathmandu City. Patan also known as Lalitpur is the city of fine arts, enclosed within 4 stupas said to be built in 3rd century AD, by Emperor Ashoka. You will see the Durbar square; the Krishna Temple built by Kind Siddhi Narsingh Malla, Hiranya Varna Mabavihar and Mahabouddha Temple.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
This is one of the most popular tourist destination enlisted in the World Heritage Sites. Clustered around the central Durbar Square is the old Royal Palace (Hunuman Dhoka), numerous interesting temples, the Kumari Chowk or Kumari Bahal (House of the Living Goddess) and the Kasthamandap (wooden house) from which Kathmandu derived its present name. An inquisitive exploration in the Durbar Square reveals the ancient art and Architecture of Nepal which has proved to be a masterpiece to everyone accepting its genuineness.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur is also known as “the city of Devotees”. It is located at a distance of 14 km east of the capital. The ancient city covers an area of four squares miles, which still retains the medieval charms and treats its visitors with many wonders of historical, cultural and artistic achievements. The historic city was the capital of Kathmandu Valley between the 14th and 16th centuries. Much of the town’s great architectures dates from the end of the 17th century during the rule of King Bhupatindra Malla before the valley were divided into three smaller kingdoms (Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu)
Changunarayan Temple
Changu Narayan is the temple of Vishnu the Preserver, in the village of Changu in Bhaktapur. The origins of Changu Narayan goes back to the fourth century. A fifth century stone inscription in the temple proclaims it as one of the oldest shrines of the Kathmandu Valley. The temple is believed to be sixteen hundred years old. It is embellished by the best examples of stone, wood, and metal craft. On the struts of the two-tiered Changu Narayan Temple, are the ten incarnations of Narayan. A sixth-century stone statue shows the cosmic form of Vishnu. Garuda, half man and half bird, is the steed of Vishnu, and his life-sized statue kneels before the temple.
Lumbini
Lumbini associated with the birth of Lord Buddha is of extreme archeological importance and also a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. It is said that Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who later became Buddha the Enlightened One, was born in the gardens of Nepal’s Lumbini in 623 B.C. The main shrines of Lumbini are the newly restored Maya Devi Temple, the Ashokan Pillar behind the temple and the Lake Shakya Pushkarini where Mayadevi is said to have bathed before delivering the little Buddha into the world.
Several other places near Lumbini are linked with stories connected to Buddha and Buddhism. Lumbini is about 300 kilometers southwest of Kathmandu. Bus and flights to Bhairahawa which is about 22 kilometers from Lumbini, are available from major cities. From Bhairahawa transport services to Lumbini are easily available. Food and accommodation facilities are available in Lumbini and Bhairahawa.
Chitawan National Park
It lies 120 km. south-west of Kathmandu with an area of 932 square kilometers. It was established in 1973 and was later declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984. Sub Tropical deciduous riverine forests, wooded hills and grasslands contain one-fourth of the world’s endangered great one-horned rhinos as well as the Royal Bengal tiger, leopards, monkeys, and the splendid gaur bison. More than 440 species of birds are found in this ornithologist’s heaven, including the giant hornbill, the rare Bengal florican and the paradise flycatcher.