Places to visit in Nepal
Nepal is land of wonderful natural and cultural heritages. There are numerous places to visit during your stay in Nepal. Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Changunarayan Temple are the seven monument sites under Kathmandu Valley. The birthplace of Guatam Buddha -Lumbini, is also under the list of UNESCO World Heritage Cultural sites. Whereas, the Sagarmatha National Park and Chitwan National Park are under UNESCO World Heritage Natural sites. Besides the UNESCO listed sites, there are several many historically and culturally important places to visit in Kathmandu and inside the Kathmandu valley.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur is an important Newari town and the third-largest city in the Kathmandu Valley. It was the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom. The kingdom lasted until the second half of the 15th century.
Down the hill of Changunarayan lays the former kingdom of Bhaktapur. The city is famous because the Durbar Square has well restored: the Palace of 55 Windows, the Taleju Temple, and the Royal Bath.
Bhaktapur is also the land of the Nyatapola Temple. Nyatapole, a five-pagoda temple of 35 meters high, one of the most beautiful examples of Nepalese architecture is an icon of Bhaktapur. The pottery art being practiced for centuries is the famous part of Bhaktapur city.
Bhaktapur is famous as a heritage city. It has well-preserved the ancient city and is home to traditional art and architecture, historical monuments and crafts, pottery and weaving industries. The town has successfully preserved its rich local culture, festivals, and mystical music traditions.
You will admire the temple’s magnificent artworks created in metal and wood. The inscription proves the establishment time of the sacred site of Changu Narayan was 5th century A.D. It is one of the finest examples of Nepalese architecture. The first epigraphic evidence of Nepalese history found in the temple dates to the reign of the first historical king of Nepal, Licchavi King Mandeva in 464 A.D.
Changu Narayan Temple
It takes approximately 45-minute time by a private vehicle to reach the ancient hilltop temple of Changu Narayan from the center of Kathmandu. Based on the evidences, the Changunarayan temple is the oldest temple of Nepal. The temple is notably famous for the woodcarvings which decorate the two pagodas. From Changunarayan one can see a large panorama on the Himalayan Range if the weather is clean. Changu Narayan Sightseeing tour is the best program to experience the essence of historical sites of Nepal.
Lalitpur also known as Patan Durbar Square
Budhanilkantha
The famous temple of Budhanilkantha lies at the northern outskirt of Kathmandu which is approximately 11 km from city center. Budhanilkantha is a huge and unique monolithic statue of sleeping Vishnu on the Shesh Saiya (snake bed) existing since 6-7th century during Lichchhavi period. However, Budhanilkantha is a Baisnav Temple, Shaiva and Baisnav sect of Hinduism and Buddhist jointly worship it. Buddhist people worship the idol of sleeping Vishnu as sleeping Buddha.
Bouddhanath
Bouddhanath is one of the largest stupas in Nepal. It is located at the northeastern outskirts, just 11 kilometers away from the heart of Kathmandu. The stupa in constructed at the middle of massive mandala. Bouddhanath stupa is one of the largest stupas in the world. It is also known as the Khasa Chaitya, Khasti in Newari language and Jarung Khasor in Tibetan language.
The stupa has got an unique architecture. The flapping prayer flags decorates the giant stupa tied from its pinnacle to the edges. Its view dominates the skyline luring the visitors. The stupa entombs the relics of Kassapa Buddha, people believe. Kassapa Buddha is third Buddha of current Bhadrakalpa. The stupa is one of the major attractions for foreign tourist to Nepal
Swayambhu
Swayambhunath includes a Buddhist stupa as main temple. It has got several buildings and monuments in it. The most ancient Swayambhunath Hillock is older than the Kathamndu Valley itself. The natural rocky hillock is regarded as self originated stupa. It is older than Buddhism itself.
According to Swayambhu Purana, the entire valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning “Self-Created.” The name comes from an eternal self-existent flame (swayaṃbhu) over which a sūpa was later built.
Why do people call Swayambhunath the Monkey temple?
Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple. They are holy because Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning, was raising the hill which the stupa stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice transformed into these monkeys.
Manjusri had a vision of the Lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. Seeing that the valley could be a good settlement, and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, he cut a gorge at Chovar. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The Lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower became the stupa.
Manjushree, Kathmandu Valley and the Swayambhunath
According to Swayambhu Purana, the entire valley was once filled with an enormous lake, out of which grew a lotus. The valley came to be known as Swayambhu, meaning “Self-Created.” The name comes from an eternal self-existent flame (swayaṃbhu) over which a sūpa was later built.
Manjusri had a vision of the Lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. Seeing that the valley could be a good settlement, and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, he cut a gorge at Chovar. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The Lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower became the stupa.
Why people call Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple?
As there are holy monkeys living in the north-west parts of the temple, people understand Swayambhunath with the name of Monkey Temple. They are holy because Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning, was raising the hill which the stupa stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice transformed into these monkeys.
Manjusri had a vision of the Lotus at Swayambhu and traveled there to worship it. Seeing that the valley could be a good settlement, and to make the site more accessible to human pilgrims, he cut a gorge at Chovar. The water drained out of the lake, leaving the valley in which Kathmandu now lies. The Lotus was transformed into a hill and the flower became the stupa.
Both Hindu and Buddhist equally visit the area to worship. It showcases a perfect religious harmony in Nepal’s societies.
Attractions and highlights
- The huge gold plated Vajra ‘thunderbolt’ set in the east side of the stupa
- Buddha statue on the west side of Swayaṃbhu
- The Sleeping Buddha
- The Dewa Dharma Monastery, noted for a bronze icon of Buddha and traditional Tibetan paintings
The temple dedicated to Harati, the goddess of all children. Lord Buddha converted her from ogress to be the caretaker of all the children by Lord Buddha. Hinduism followers worship Harati as Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and wisdom.
Lumbini
Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as Enlightened one (the Buddha), was born in Lumbini. After gaining supreme enlightenment in Bodha Gaya, he taught the Dhamma of freedom from suffering for 45 years. According to Buddhism literature, before his Mahaparinirvana he spoke to his disciple Ananda that the four places the sight of which should arouse a sense of urgency in the faithful:
The places where the Tathagata, was born (Lumbini), attained supreme enlightenment (Bodh Gaya), set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma (Sarnath), and entered Mahaparinirvana (Kushinagar)
Significance of Lumbini
The Lord Buddha was born in 623 BC in the sacred area of Lumbini located in the Terai plains of southern Nepal, testified by the inscription on the pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC. Lumbini is one of the holiest places of one of the world’s great religions, and its remains contain important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage centres from as early as the 3rd century BC.
The complex of structures within the archaeological conservation area includes the Shakya Tank; the remains within the Maya Devi Temple consisting of brick structures in a cross-wall system dating from the 3rd century BC to the present century and the sandstone Ashoka pillar with its Pali inscription in Brahmi script. Additionally there are the excavated remains of Buddhist viharas (monasteries) of the 3rd century BC to the 5th century AD and the remains of Buddhist stupas (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD.
Lumbini – the birthplace of Lord Buddha
The site is now getting all the developments and publicity as a Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha form a central feature. As the birthplace of the Lord Buddha, testified by the inscription on the Asoka pillar, the sacred area in Lumbini is one of the
The archaeological remains of the Buddhist viharas (monasteries) and stupas (memorial shrines) from the 3rd century BC to the 15th century AD, provide important evidence about the nature of Buddhist pilgrimage
Now, several countries have constructed monasteries in the premises that reflects their original architects supporting the message for world peace.
Ramagram
After Mahaparinirvana of Lord Buddha in Kushinagar in 543 BC, eight great kings sent their envoys to Kushinara (present day Kushinagar, India) and demanded a piece of Buddha’s relic for their kingdoms. Malla king of Kushinara denied to give any of Buddha’s relic to other kings saying that Lord Buddha came to his kingdom and attained Mahapariniravana, so Lord Buddha’s relics belongs to his kingdom. He asked other kings that if they discover diamonds and golds in their kingdoms, would they share it with other kings. Kings of 7 kingdoms were ready to fight with Kushinara to get piece of Buddha’s relic.
An omniscient Brahmin named Dron who also came to Kushinagar to pay homage to Buddha’s last rites, thought that if war is waged for the sake of Buddha’s relics after his Mahaparinirvana, it was against what Buddha had preached his entire life after enlightenment. So, the monk Dron conveyed the message of Buddha to the Malla King of Kushinara and requested him to equally distribute Lord Buddha’s relics to other kings and prevent a bloodshed. King of Kushinara felt remorse for his selfishness and agreed to distribute Buddha’s relics to other kings and follow the path of Buddha’s non-violence principle.
Distribution of Buddha’s relic
The royal monk asked all the Kings to come to the place where Buddha’s relics were kept. He gave one piece of Buddha’s relics to each of 8 kings in presence of all the kings. One of seven other kings who received Buddha’s relic was Koliya king of Ramagram. He brought relic with great joy and paraded through the city before resting it in a huge stupa. He built great Mahastupa enshrining Buddha’s relic across the Jharahi river in Ramgram.
Only the unopened relic stupa
The Mahaparinirvana sutra says that of the Buddha’s four tooth relics, one was rested in Ramgram. Ramgram Stupa is the only unopened Stupa with Buddha relic. This is the one among 8 relic stupas constructed by eight princes right after ‘Mahaparinirmana’ of Buddha. Emperor Ashoka (302 – 232 BCE) opened all 7 stupas containing Buddha’s relics and built 84,000 stupas to house these relics but when he came to Ramgram to get the relic of Buddha, he witnessed a Naga king guarding the stupa and elephants offering flowers and sprinkling water. Seeing great devotion of the Naga king and wild animals to the stupa, Ashoka decided to leave it untouched.
Among the original eight stupas with Buddha’s relics, Ramgram stupa is the only one which can be seen in its original form. Ramgram was a village under Devdaha kingdom, the maternal home of Lord Buddha. While excavation of the area was going on several other ruins have been discovered.
Devdaha – maternal home of Lord Buddha
Ramgram was a village under Devdaha kingdom, the maternal home of Lord Buddha. While excavation of the area was going on several other ruins have been discovered.
Like many other monuments from Buddha’s time, Ramgram Stupa was also in pity state with just a raised dome visible in the field. The primary excavation have unearthed important evidences of existence and worshiping of Stupa from around the time of Buddha.
‘Lumbini Development Trust’ owns the stupa areas including the surrounding. The trust has well preserved the stupa.The small park has platform to meditate or make offering. One can easily circumnavigate the stupa remains.
The stupa is about 35 km east of Lumbini and about 9 km from the east-west highway. It would be easy to visit the Stupa on the way to Lumbini from Kathmandu or while driving back.
Kapilbastu
Gautama Buddha, a prince who left his luxury in search of solutions that can cure diseases, sufferings and death. A prince who could have enjoyed his royal dynasty, but he chose the path full of thrown, pain and darkness. At the age of 34, he attained the supreme enlightenment at Bodh Gaya. When the prince Siddhartha Gautama left his kingdom Shakya for discovering solutions to make the life free from sufferings, he was just 29 years old.
At Kapilavastu, the Lord Gautama Buddha grew up and led a family life with his wife and son Rahul till he left for Nirvana. The Ashoka Pillar situated at Kapilavastu marks the latter references about the place. This place is located in the Himalayan ranges of Nepal. Kapilavastu is the district and comes under Lumbini Zone, Nepal.
The followers of Buddhism and, the tourists willing to observe the peace and enlightenment always prefer to visit the sacred place. Buddha’s deep philosophy engrosses the site.
Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National Park is the best destination for a wildlife tour in Nepal. Covering an area of 934 sq km, Chitwan is under the list of UNESCO World Heritage Natural site. The national park is home to a wide and rich variety of flora and fauna is a safe shelter for endangered like one-horned rhinoceros. Chitwan National Park houses 544 species of birds and it would demand your two days to explore this national park. The facility of budget to high end resorts serve all kinds of tourists willing to go for wildlife tours. Along with pampering you with all the state-of-the-art services, these hotels and resorts arrange excellent wildlife safaris for their guests. For backpackers on the hand, Sauraha is the place to find accommodation, this small village is replete with budget-friendly hotels that are ideal for anyone on shoestring budget and want to explore Chitwan National Park.