Kathmandu Ancient City Tour
- 1
day
Take a walk around the ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites and see the history come alive. Kathmandu Ancient City Tour lets you explore some of the city’s ancient heritage sites. Discover the medieval cities of Patan and Bhaktapur and visit Nepal’s oldest Hindu temple, Changu Narayan. The city of Kathmandu is made up of three medieval cities – Patan, Bhaktapur, and Kathmandu. While Patan is also known as the ‘City of Artisans’, Bhaktapur is the ‘City of Devotees’. The Durbar (royal) Squares of these ancient cities hold some of the finest and well-preserved pieces of traditional art and architecture.
Take a leisurely stroll around the splendid Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Once the power centers of the Malla dynasty, the two palace squares are filled with pagoda-roofed temples and palaces, latticed wooden windows; ornately carved pillars, doorways, arches, and statues. Krishna Temple, Patan Palace Museum, Golden Temple, etc. are the attractions at Patan Durbar Square. Bhaktapur’s cultural gems include the five-tiered pagoda-roofed Nyatapol Temple, Palace of 55 windows, Bhairavnath Temple, Pottery square, etc. These old cities are full of ancient wonders and mysticism. Wind up your Kathmandu Ancient City Tour with a delightful drive to Changu Narayan Temple. Set deep in the woods, this hilltop Hindu shrine is Nepal’s oldest temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple’s grounds are filled with ornately sculpted wooden, stone and metal artifacts. Here you will find the oldest inscription in the country dating back to 464 AD. Come and explore these ancient wonders by booking this Kathmandu Ancient City Tour! Take a walk around these ancient UNESCO World Heritage Sites and see the history come alive.
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Departure Time: |
9 AM |
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Duration: |
1 day (6 hours approx.) |
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Starting & Ending Point: |
Your hotel |
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Destinations Covered: |
Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Changu Narayan Temple |
Fabiola Bellucci
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December 22, 2019
Mason Theodore
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December 22, 2019
Rohan Carr
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July 10, 2019
Michael Alderson
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August 20, 2018
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Kathmandu Ancient City Tours, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktpur Durbar Square and Changu Narayan Temple Visit |
Our guide will be there at your hotel in the morning. Take a drive to the ancient city of Patan. Also known as the ‘City of Artisans’, temples and stupas in various shapes, sizes, and antiquity fill this old city. The city is populated by Newars considered as the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley. After some time you reach Patan Durbar Square is where the main highlights of this tour start. The grey stone temple of Krishna Mandir dominates the entrance of the square. Dedicated to Lord Krishna, this is one of the most significant Hindu temples. The Patan Palace Museum is the former palace of the Malla kings and now houses a museum. Admire the gold, silver, and bronze artwork at the Golden Temple of Hiranya Varna Mahavihar.
Bhaktapur, known as the ‘City of Devotees’ has a rustic charm. This city takes you back in time. The royal square is divided into three squares- the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, and Dattatreya Square. The brick-laden walkways lead you to temples with intricately carved-out woodwork. As you reach the square witnessed the only five-tiered pagoda-roofed temple in Nepal, Nyatapol. It was built in the 17th century. Walk ahead and peek from the latticed wooden windows of the Palace of 55 Windows. Gaze in wonder at the wonderful metal repousse work of Golden Gate. Further ahead you access the inner areas of the palace. The abundant pagoda-styled temples and monuments that dot the square, give a perfect example of the expressive and complex design of Nepalese architecture back in the middle ages. Stroll around pottery square and observe the potters busy at work - spinning their wheels, firing their kiln, and molding clay into beautiful artifacts.
Drive further to the ancient Hindu temple of Changu Narayan. Located deep in a verdant forest the temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple dates back to the Licchavi period (450 AD-750 AD) and is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Vishnu. The temple’s grounds are filled with ornately carved wood, stone, and metal artifacts dating back to Licchavi and Malla periods. Here you will find the oldest inscription (464 AD) found in Nepal. Carved in a stone pillar, the inscription is in Sanskrit and describes an episode from the Licchavi King Manadeva’s life. The temple lies in a secluded and peaceful area. Walk around and soak in the peaceful ambiance, gazing at the historic works of art. Finally, wrap up your tour with a drive back to your hotel.
| No. of People | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 - 1 | USD 109 |
| 2 - 4 | USD 65 |
| 5 - 12 | USD 44 |
| 13 + | USD 33 |
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