Bhaktapur, Kathmandu

Lying just 22 miles (35km) east of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, also known as the City of Devotees, was the capital of the Kathmandu Valley during the 14th to 16th centuries, and the wealth of fabulous architectural showpieces, soaring pagodas, richly ornamented houses and medieval layout is testament to this period. The whole town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is filled with palaces, temples, statues and squares connected by a maze of largely pedestrian-only streets. The main central square, Durbar Square, boasts many architectural attractions, including the Golden Gate, the 15th-century Palace of 55 Windows and several statues of ancient kings. The second main square of Taumadhi is presided over by the graceful Nyatpola Temple, the tallest in the Valley atop a five-story platform. Bhaktapur is also the centre of traditional pottery and weaving industries in the Kathmandu Valley.

Getting There:
Bus (45 minutes) or taxi from Kathmandu.

Admission:
Foreigners are charged an entrance fee of Rs. 500

Royal Chitwan National Park, Kathmandu

Of the 14 national parks and reserves in Nepal, the Royal Chitwan National Park is the oldest and the most popular safari destination for visitors. Situated in the sub-tropical Tarai lowlands, the jungle is home to endangered animals such as the one-horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger. Other animals include leopards, wild elephants, Indian bison, sloth bears, crocodiles, pythons, monitor lizards, pangolins, and over 400 species of birds. There are different ways to explore the park, but elephant-back safaris are the most popular. Jeep safaris, guided walks, overnight jungle expeditions and canoe trips are also available. There is a wide choice of accommodation ranging from luxury camps or hotels within the park, to budget options on the outskirts.

Getting There:
The Royal Chitwan National Park is an excursion from Kathmandu or Pokhara – it is linked by public bus, tourist coach and air, and is a seven-hour bus journey from Kathmandu or six hours by bus from Pokhara.

Admission:
Daily park entry permit: NPR 500 (extra charges apply for those wishing to fish, canoe, camp or go on safaris).

Swayambhunath Stupa, Kathmandu

The golden spire of the 5th-century Swayambhu Stupa is adorned with a colourful fluttering of prayer flags; it crowns a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and offers fantastic views over the city of Kathmandu. Swayambhunath is one of the most recognisable symbols in Nepal and the painted eyes of Buddha watch all those who ascend the worn stone steps. The Swayambhu Stupa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, and is at the source of the Valley's mythical beginning. Legend has it that the history of the Valley began with the draining of an ancient lake by an Enlightened Being to reveal the Valley and a lotus flower was transformed into the hill and the shining light became the stupa itself. Swarms of pilgrims and red-clad monks circle the complex, spinning the prayer wheels, while the scores of monkeys that give the temple its nickname, Monkey Temple, prance about in irreverent groups. Interestingly the temple complex is scattered with shrines and statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities and the assortment of pilgrims from both faiths characterises the country's unique religious harmony.

Admission:
NPR 50 if entering from the car park, but free if entering via the stairway

Durbar Square, Kathmandu

Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durbar Square is the religious and social heart of Kathmandu's old city and is a complex of palaces, temples, shrines, statues and courtyards built between the 12th and 18th centuries by the ancient kings of Nepal. The square is a queer assortment of the old and the new - elaborately carved architectural features and curving roofs provide shelter for cows, beggars and weary tourists; Brahman priests and painted Sadhus perform rituals and pose for photos, while souvenir sellers and rickshaw drivers compete for attention among the crowds. Stone lions guard the gates to the Old Royal Palace that contains a number of courtyards and the Narayanhity Durbar Museum. Set into the palace wall is a 17th-century stone inscription written in 15 languages; it is believed that milk will flow from the spout below if anyone deciphers the entire inscription. On the other side of the square, the Kasthamandap Temple is an open pavilion topped by a pyramidal tower, said to be created from the wood of a single tree. It is purportedly the Valley's oldest building, and the city of Kathmandu derives its name from this ancient temple.

Opening Times:
Durbar Square: daily 8am-5pm. Old Royal Palace: Tuesday to Saturday 9:30am-4pm.

Admission:
Durbar Square: NPR 1000. Old Royal Palace and museums: NPR 300

Changu Narayan Temple, Kathmandu

Dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu, Changu Narayan Temple is situated on a ridge overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, and is one of the oldest and most impressive examples of pagoda architecture in Nepal, believed to be 1,600 years old. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is known for its incredible woodcarvings, metal inscriptions and stone statues adorning the courtyard, all dating between the 5th and 13th centuries.

Admission:
NPR 20 (extra NPR 20 charged for cameras)

Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu

Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley at about 131 feet (40m) tall, and one of the largest and most important Buddhist stupas in the world. The all-seeing red, white and blue eyes of Buddha are painted on all four sides of the stupa, similar to Swayambhunath, and surrounded by hundreds of fluttering prayer flags, prayer wheels and small images of Buddha. It is central to the Tibetan culture in Nepal and is said to date back 500 years. Buddhist festivals are a hive of activity when thousands of Buddhists join together to join in the sacred rituals, such as the Tibetan New Year, or Lhosar, in February every year.

Admission:
NPR 50 for adults (waived if you are staying at one of the hotels located near the stupa).

Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu

One of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, Pashupatinath is one of the major temples devoted to Shiva (Pashupatinath) on the Indian subcontinent and attracts thousands of Hindi pilgrims each year. Shiva is the patron deity of Nepal. The Temple of Pashupatinath stands on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, a tributary of the Ganges, and is renowned for its beautiful architecture. It is surrounded by numerous other temples, shrines, statues and pagodas making it a temple complex, rather than just a temple.

The complex is home to Kathmandu's funeral ghats, a series of cremation platforms spread along the river where the bodies of Hindus are burnt and the ashes scattered into the holy river. The complex swarms with Sadhus (holy Hindi ascetics) and Shiva devotees daily, meditating and praying on the steps throughout the temple. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pashupatinath is also one of the richest temples in Nepal, having received a great deal of wealth from kings and aristocrats in devotion to the god. The temple buildings are closed to non-Hindu visitors, but the site can be enjoyed by all.

Admission:
NPR 500

Patan, Kathmandu

One of the three royal cities in the Kathmandu Valley, Patan (officially called Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City) has a rich cultural heritage known for its fine crafts, evident in the elaborate architecture, stone carvings, and metal statues found all over the city. A centre of both Buddhist and Hindu culture in Tibet, Patan is home to more than 1,200 monuments. One of the most stunning is the Krishna Mandir, a stone temple with magnificent friezes built in the 16th century. Patan Durbar Square is also a good place to see beautiful examples of palaces, temples and shrines, and the stunning stone carvings in the Sundari Courtyards. The entire city of Patan was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.