With 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Kathmandu Valley is rich in art, architecture & cultural heritage & has many temples, stupas & 3 Durbar Square.

1. Kathmandu Valley
The home of the UNESCO world heritage sites, Kathmandualso
known as Kantipur is the capital of Nepal and Kathmandu Durbar
Square was the palace.Here you’ll find ‘The Living Goddess’
acknowledging the greetings ofdevotees from the balcony of her
temple residence;DurbarSquare with an array of temples overlooked
by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace,with its sitting place called
Kasthamandap (from which the name Kathmanduwas derived).It is
said that Kasthamandap was made from the timber of a single tree.
This whole area reflects the ancientplace of the Nepalese Royalty.

2. Swayambhunath:
UNESCO world heritage site: Swyambhunath is located approx. 4 km/2.5 miles
away from the center of the city lays this Buddhist stupa which is said to be 2000
years old. The stupa which forms the main structure of this stupa 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 demonstrates the mosaic arts of small
Chaityas and Pagoda temples.
Pashupatinath:
UNESCO world heritage site Situated 5 km east of the center of
Kathmandu. Pashupatinath temple is one of the holiest temples dedicated to the
Hindu Lord Shiva. Located amidst a lush green natural setting on the bank of the
sacred Bagmati river, the temple built in pagoda style has a tilted roof and richly
carved silver doors. Visitors will be permitted to view the temple from the east
bank of Bagmati river, as the entrance into the temple is strictly forbidden to all
non-Hindus. Pashupatinath is the center of an annual pilgrimage on the day of
Shivaratri which falls in the month of February/March. Behind the temple is the
cremation ground that many Hindus in Kathmandu chose for their funeral
ceremony.

3. UNESCO world heritage
site Boudhanathstupa located 8 km eastof Kathmanducity is one of
the biggeststupas in the world.It stands with four pairs of eyes in the
four cardinaldirectionkeepingwatch for righteous behavior and
human prosperity.This Buddhiststupa was built by King Man Deva at
the advice of the Goddess ManiJogini.It is built on an octagonalbase
inset with prayer wheels.The shrine is ringed by housesof Lamas or
Buddhistpriest.
Patan:
UNESCO world heritage site, this ancient city of Patan also known as
Lalitpur or the city of fine arts is about five kilometers southeast of
Kathmandu.Thecity is fullof Hindu temples and Buddhistmonuments.
The major tourist attractions of Patan are:
Patan Durbar Square:
Patan DurbarSquare,situatedin the heartof the city, is the main focus
and visitor's attraction. The square is full of ancient palaces, temples
and shrines, noted for their exquisite carvings. The Patan Durbar
square consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul
Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk. The Sundari

4. Chowk holds in its center a masterpiece of stone architecture, the
Royal bath called Tushahity.
Krishna Temple:
Built in the seventeenth century, the Krishna Temple holds a
commanding position in the palace complex ofPatan.It is supposedto
be the first specimen of Shikhara style architecture in Nepal. It is
the only temple in Nepal having 21 spires and is completely made of
stone.
Golden Temple:
This three-storey golden pagoda ofLokeshwar in Patan wasbuiltin the
twelfth century AD by King Bhaskar Varma.Located in the courtyardof
Kwabahal,this temple is in a class of its own. A golden image of Lord
Buddha and a big prayer wheel can be seen on the pedestal of the
upper part of the Car while intricate decorative patterns on its outer
walls add charm to the mellow richness of the shrine.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:
Situated at an altitude of 1,401m,Bhaktapur is a unique old town. This
city is divided into 24 traditional localities and covers an area of 5 sq
km. Founded by King Ananda Dev in 889 AD, Bhaktapuris said to have
been builtin the shape ofconch shell: a sacred symbolofLord Vishnu.
The word Bhaktapur means "the city of devotees". Some of the
interesting places at the Bhaktapur Durbar Square are:
TheGoldenGate:
The Golden Gate is said to be the most beautiful and richly molded
specimen of its kind in the entire world. The door is surmounted by a
figure of goddess Kali and Garuda (the mythical man-bird) and
attended by two heavenly nymphs.It is also embellishedwith mythical

5. creatures of marvelous intricacy. In the words of Percy Brown, an
eminent English art critic, and historian, the Golden Gate is the
loveliest piece of art in the whole country. It is placed like a jewel,
flashing innumerable facets in the handsome setting of its
surroundings.
TheFifty-fivewindows'Palace:
This magnificent palace was built during the reign Of King Yakshya
Malla in 1427 AD and was subsequently remodeled by King
Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century. Among the brick walls
with their gracious settingand sculpturaldesign,is a balconywith fifty-
five windows,consideredto be a unique masterpieceof woodcarving.
Changu Narayan
Temple Complex:
Narayan, or Vishnu, is the preserver of creation to Hindus. His temple
near Changu village is often described as the most ancient temple in
the Kathmandu Valley. A fifth century stone inscription, the oldest to
be discovered in Nepal, is located in the temple compound and it tells
of the victorious King Mandev.Thetemple nowcovers sixteen hundred
years of Nepalese art history. The temple, built around the third
century,is decoratedby some of the best samplesof stone,wood,and
metal craft in the Valley. In the words of one tourist guide, "When you
look upon Changu NarayanTemple,you observethe complete cultural
development of the Valley.
Shivapuri National park

6. Popular as trekking,hiking and recreationarea,the Shivapuri National
Park offers the nearest retreat away from the hubbub of city life. The
park was established as a Watershed and Wildlife Reserve in 1976.the
park was declared as a national park in 2003 for the protection of its
unique naturaladornments.Vegetation varieties in the park include its
129 species of mushrooms while animals include 19 species of
mammals include beer, leopard, deer, wild boar, wildcat and langur
monkey.The park alsoboasts of 177 species ofbirds and 102 species
of butterflies. Only 12 kilometers away from Kathmandu, the gateway
to ShivapuriNationalPark is Budhanilkanthawhich is 15 to 20 minutes
drive awayfrom the city.Another optionis via Sundarijalwhichis about
30 to 45 minutes drivefromKathmandu.From bothBudhanilkanthaand
Sundarjal, the park requires trekking uphill. Yet another way to reach
Shivapuriis by driving till Kakanifrom where the park is an hour trek.