Kathmandu at Glance

Arrive in Kathmandu. Meeting and assistance at airport upon arrival and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is free. Overnight at Hotel.

Morning, visit the temple of Pashupatinath, situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati river, temple of Lord Shiva. Pashupatinath, with a tiered golden roof and silver doors, is famous for its superb architecture and is the holiest of Hindu shrines in Nepal. Proceed further to one of Nepal's largest Stupa of Bodhnath. This Stupa, set in a pattern of a "Mandala" is encircled by houses and monasteries where Rinpoches (Buddhist monks) reside. Around the base is a ring of 108 images of the Buddha and 147 insets containing prayer wheels. Afternoon, commence on a sightseeing tour of Kathmandu city with its stone paved lanes. Visit includes Kathmandu Durbar Square with Museum, Kumari Ghar, Hanuman Dhoka and many other temples dotted inside Durbar Square area. Continue to Swoayambhunath stupa situated west of Kathmandu with the eyes of Buddha painted on its pinnacle overlooking righteous behaviour of the valley inhabitants. Overnight at Hotel.

Morning, drive 14 Km east to old Bhaktapur town. Entering the Durbar Square (palace square) through the Royal Gate, the sparseness of the temples is immediately apparent, compared to the profusion in the durbar squares of Kathmandu and Patan. Many of the highly decorated buildings and shrines were destroyed in the 1934 earthquake. However, the main square still contains a few temples and other architectural show pieces; the Lion Gate, the statue of Bhupatindra Malla, the Palace of 55 windows, the Bell of the barking dogs, the Batsala temple, the Nyatapola temple and the replica of Pashupatinath temple. Afternoon visit Patan city also known as Lalitpur or the "city of beauty". Patan is well known for its intricately carved temples, narrow lanes and quaint shops. See the intricately stone-carved Krishna temple, Patan Durbar Square and Hiranyavarna Mahavihar (golden temple). Overnight at Hotel.

Transfer to Kathmandu airport in time to board outbound flight.