Kathmandu- A Beautiful Destination for Spending Holidays

Are you planning your holidays?

Are you still confuse where to visit in holidays?

Not finding correct destination for spending holidays?

Historial Background:

Then here is the perfect solution of all your worries, let’s visit to the capital of Nepal popularly known as Kathmandu, in Sanskrit it is known as Kastha Mandap which mean a temple which is made up of wood. The city was also named as Kantipur in the medieval time which is named on the name of Lord Lakshmi, Kanti is another name of Lord Lakshmi and pur means the place. This is the city which is famous for an ancient temples, god pagodas, and deities of gods which are very inspiring and spectacular. Kathmandu city also provide an opportunity of trekking as here are many valleys which offers the perfect destination for trekking. While trekking people can enjoy beautiful peak of popular Himalayan.

Kathmandu is one of the best tourist place where a tourist can get all facility as per his feel and need like shops for shopping, luxury hotels for accommodation, casinos for entertainment, restaurant and bars for food and beautiful places for sightseeing. Other services like medical service, transportation is also good. Many unusual gift items are also available in the market of Kathmandu like Nepali paper prints, carpets, bronze casting, wooden art work, metal work, readymade garments and handicrafts.

This city is full of many beautiful monuments such as Taleju Temple this is the temple which is built in 15 A.D. by King Mahendra Malla, this is the tallest temple built by the king among all his structures.

Kathmandu is the city which is surrounded by beautiful mountains and also known as land of gods. Kathmandu Durbar Square that lies in the heart of Kathmandu is also known as Hanuman Dhoka Palace Square locally, which is an ancient seat of Nepalese Royalty on the name of monkey god Hanuman. A huge statue of Hanuman made up of stone and painted with red color is placed on right side just next to the main entrance of the place. It has been believe that Lord Hanuman is the protector of the place Durbar Square. Durbar square is consist of huge royal square on which different variety of temples dedicated to different Hindu goddess and god are imposed.

Orientation:
Kathmandu is the capital of the kingdom, situated in a valley which is an open air museum of famous sites, ancient temples and shrines, golden pagodas and are inspiring deities, is a city of inexhaustible historic artistic and cultural interest. Several beautiful and interesting villages and towns surrounding the valley offer ideal destinations for mini treks. The dazzling Himalayan peaks are visible from several points on the mountains around the valley.

The capital is quite upto date in terms of comfort and convenience boasting luxury hotels, bars, restaurants, shops and casinos. Transportation is convenient and inexpensive. Medical service is quite good. Shoppers may purchase unusual gifts and souvenirs from an interesting assortment of items such as handicrafts, carpets, wooden art works, bronze casting and metal work, thankas, Nepali paper prints and readymade garments.

Places to see

Kathmandu Durbar Square

A very old Hindu text has described Kathmandu as the land of gods surrounded by beautiful mountains around. Some two hundred years ago a western Visitor wrote that there were as many temples as there were houses and many idols as there were people. In fact Kathmandu boasts one of the largest congregations of magnificent historical monuments and shrines ever built. Duly recognized as a world Heritage Site by UNESCO- this particular area best known as Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the heart of this city. Locally also called as Hanuman Dhoka Palace Square-an ancient seat of the Nepalese Royalty.

Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex consists of a huge Royal Square imposing a tremendous variety of temples dedicated to different Hindu gods and goddess. Most of the buildings we see here date from 15th to 18th century.

The entire Palace Complex here is named after a monkey god called Hanuman. One can see a huge stone statue of Hanuman painted all red right next to the main entrance ( the golden gate) of the palace. Hanuman here is regarded as a powerful protector of the entire Durbar Square.

Some of the important monuments to be seen here are:
Taleju temple- tallest of all structures built by king Mahendra Malla in 1549 A.D.

Jagannath temple this temple is the oldest temple of Durbar Square and is famous for its erotic craving available on the roof of the temple.

Kumari Ghar is one of the spectacular temples as it is the perfect example of Nepalese temple craft. This three stories building is fully decorated with reliefs of symbol and god made up of wood carved.

Kal Bhairav Temple is situated in Hanuman Dhoka where largest idol of Kal Bhairav is situated, this idol is 12 foot (3.7 m) high.

Kasthamandap means the shelter covered with wood or it is called as wood covered shelter, this is the three stories temple which is built in Pagoda style. Best part is that the three stories temple is built with just a single tree and is covered with shrine.

Swyambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple)

Located in a lovely little hill rock Swoyambhu Nath Stupa is one of the most fascinating architectural jewels of the world. This great Stoup is said to have been built around 250 B.C.

Generally a holy memorial site Stoup represents a typical Buddhist architecture. Its main feature the white dome is identified with a spotless pure jewel of Nirvana and a thirteen tiered golden spire in conical shape surmounted on the dome. Underneath this towering structure are a pair of all seeing eyes of Buddha painted on all four sides of the Stupa.

The Stupa of Swoyambhunath stands on a typically stylized lotus mandala base-a long time ago believed to have originated

from a legendary lake of Kathmandu Valley.

As the ancient legend goes Kathmandu Valley was a lake a long time ago. Right in the centre of this lake was a full blown lotus with the divine light a top. When Maha Manjushri a saint from China heard about this he came rushing all the way from China to the Valley. He cut through the southern wall hill of the valley with his divine sword. The cleft made by the sword immediately drained the entire lake water making the valley floor open for a close up view of the divine lotus light.

This holy site in fact is the massive stupa complex ever built in Nepal. Hundreds of votive shrines and other historical monuments built in and around this stupa speak a lot about the significance and antiquity of this famed stupa.

It lies about 3k.m. west of down town Kathmandu. There are two different ways to reach for this site. One is from the west side which is relatively a short cut and another is from the east side where it leads to the main entrance with 360 steps leading all the way to the top, where the most venerated Swayambhu Stupa stands-commanding a magnificent view of Kathmandu Valley and the breathtaking panorama of the north eastern Himalayan range.

Boudha Nath Stupa is one of the largest stupa in the world and it is also one of the holiest places for the followers of Lord Buddha. The stupa is very fascinating as it is standing on three mandala style platform which is surrounded by beautiful colored private house.  

Swyambhunath stupa it is said that in the north-west part of the temple holy monkeys live hence it is also called Monkey Temple. This temple is located in the center of the city, this stupa is one best architectural jewel of the world which is also very fascinating.

Budhanilkantha Temple is situated at the base of Shivapuri hill which is located in the valley of Kathmandu at northern side. The deity of Lord Vishnu is located in this temple hence this temple is also known as Narayanathan temple. The deity is 17 ft long and is situated on 43 ft of water tank which looks like the deity is floating on the water.

Pashupatinath Temple is the temple of Lord Shiva which is one of the most significant temples in the world. On the bank of Bagmati River this temple is located which is situated in the eastern part of the city. This temple is beautifully formed in the style of Pagoda having carved wooden rafters also named tundal, the temple is having cubic construction, and roofs are covered with copper up to two levels also covered with gold. The temple has four silver sheeted doors and at the western door of the temple a statue of Nandi is located, this statue is bronze plated.

Balauj water garden is one of the best places for relaxation and resting in the Kathmandu city which is five kilometer away in the northwest direction. The main attraction of the park is twenty two stone water spouts carved with the crocodile head and make a long line. The water garden is consist of many ponds consist of fishes also the garden consist of swimming pool inside it. The water garden also consists of replica of Budhanilkantha statue.