Around the Kathmandu Valley
In a courtyard off the north side of the main square, the imposing Bhairab Temple features an incredible armoury of tulwars (swords) and shields belonging…
Must-see attractions in Around the Kathmandu Valley
Patan
West of the Royal Palace, behind the statue of King Yoganarendra Malla are three smaller Vishnu temples, including a brick-and-plaster shikhara temple,…
Nagarkot
If you like climbing Mayan pyramids you will enjoy the steep climb up the stone steps to the garden atop this shrine. The central attraction is a massive…
Patan
This large pond is a hidden gem centred around a charming lakeshore pavilion. On the north side is three-tiered Chandeswari Temple built in 1663. Walk…
Patan
Overlooking the Manga Hiti tank, the two wooden pavilions known as the Mani Mandap were built in 1700 for use in the elaborate ceremonies at royal…
Bhaktapur
Dedicated to Shiva, Kedarnath Temple was destroyed in the 1934 earthquake, rebuilt by a German team in 1990 using original materials, shaken to the ground…
Bhaktapur
This temple, built in 1553 is one of the most sacred temples in Bhaktapur. It is inside the Royal Palace grounds, accessed via Mul Chowk. Only Hindus can…
Pharping
This monastery features an enormous and brightly painted chörten – step inside to see hundreds of miniature chörten and statues of Guru Rinpoche set into…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
Ringed by the former residences of the royal family of Kirtipur, many showing some signs of earthquake damage, this square is now a popular hang-out for…
Bhaktapur
One of the finest carved windows in the Kathmandu Valley. This most famous feature of the old Pujari Math looks to be in remarkably good condition…
Auspicious Pinnacle Dharma Centre of Dzongsar
Pharping
As you enter the town from the main road, take the first right and head uphill, passing a Guru Rinpoche statue in a glass case. Next to the statue is this…
Bhaktapur
On the north side of Tachupal Tole is an open area with a small temple dating from 1654. Backed by a large tank, Ganesh Pokhari, the open temple is…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
From the main square, take a turn right, exiting at the southeast corner of the square to reach the 16th-century stone shikhara-style Lohan Dehar…
Patan
Peer inside this temple to see a very beautiful black-stone relief of Shiva and Parvati in the pose known as Uma Maheshwar – the god sitting cross-legged…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
At the bottom of the hill, follow the left fork of the main road around the base of the hill to this classic Thai-style wat (Buddhist monastery)…
Bhaktapur
Just outside Durbar Sq, head down the path near the hiti that leads down the stairs to this atmospheric Kali temple that was built around a gnarled pipal…
Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park
Around the Kathmandu Valley
The northern part of the Kathmandu Valley rises to the verdant, reforested hills of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. This national park protects the city…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
If you leave the main square by the northern gate, you’ll pass a crumbling Buddhist courtyard monastery and an assortment of chaityas and shrines, then…
Pharping
The large white Ralo Gompa has a brightly painted chörten. It’s located up the hill, past the line of Tibetan restaurants, towards the Drölma Lhakhang.
Pharping
This shrine is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, who identify Saraswati as Tara. It’s accessed via a set of steps to the west of Sakya Tharig Gompa.
Bhaktapur
As you enter the Royal Palace complex there are two enormous war drums, which were used to rouse the city in the event of attack. They are hard to see…
Bhaktapur
East of the Golden Gate is this palace featuring 55 intricately carved wooden windows stretching along its upper level.
Bhaktapur
This two-tiered temple features different incarnations of Vishnu on the ceiling struts and a statue of Garuda on the pillar at the entrance.
Around the Kathmandu Valley
Dominating the small, main village square is this ochre-painted, triple-tiered temple with carved balconies covered by fretwork screens.
Around the Kathmandu Valley
The enormous 40m-high statue of Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) constructed in 2012 overlooks the monasteries of Dollu and Pharping.
Around the Kathmandu Valley
On the narrow lane leading from the town's main square is this low-key, dusty museum displaying cultural objects from the area.
Around the Kathmandu Valley
Built in 1602, Jal Binayak Temple is one of the valley’s most important Ganesh shrines. There was quite some damage from the 2015 earthquake and…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
In the village of Chobar is (or was) the curious Adinath Lokeshwar Temple, originally built in the 15th century. The three-tiered Newari temple and its…
Bhaktapur
The attractive 17th-century stone Siddhi Lakshmi Temple stood by the southeastern corner of Bhaktapur palace until it collapsed in the 2015 earthquake…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
The single brick-paved street in Changu village climbs from the car park and bus stand past the privately owned Changu Museum, which offers a quirky…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
This temple is dedicated to one of the Tantric mother goddesses, and the two large pools before the temple compound are fed by nine spouts (known as the…
Panauti
The junction of the Roshi and Pungamati rivers, just behind the Indreshwar Mahadev Temple, is covered by the shrines and statues of the Krishna Narayan…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
On the hillside above Godavari is an enormous golden Buddha image, created by Buddhists who were inspired by the Japanese Peace Pagoda movement.
Around the Kathmandu Valley
You will have to use your imagination to envision the former glory of the 18th-century gardens at Balaju, now known as Mahendra Park, just beyond the Ring…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
On the east side of the Rato Machhendranath Temple square stood a small temple with a double-tier roof that enshrined a ferocious-looking brass mask of…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
The Naudhara Community Forest is 147 hectares of locally managed woodland, established with support from Bird Conservation Nepal (www.birdlifenepal.org)…
Around the Kathmandu Valley
At the far end of the village, and with impressive valley views, is the golden-roofed Bhairabi Temple. It's used for animal sacrifices during the annual…
