Sightseeing in Kathmandu - what to see. Complete travel guide

Kathmandu is not only a beautiful city but also the capital of Nepal. It is situated in the valley with the same name. Without a doubt, Kathmandu is the historical, economic, political, and cultural center of the country. This is a vibrant city that is equally active during the daytime and at night. All local people are incredibly hospitable and often try to sell something to tourists. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples in Kathmandu. All of them are different in size, so there are large shrines and small street altars that are installed among residential buildings. As local people say, more than ten million gods live in their home city.

According to scientists, humans lived in the area of modern Kathmandu already in 2,000 BC. We can learn more about the past of this region from numerous myths and legends. First mentions of Kathmandu in historic records date back to the 4th century when the Licchavis came to this land to establish their dynasty here. They became the rulers of the settlement. The first Buddhist monastery appeared in the area approximately at the same time. It got its name after the valley. The city of Kathmandu was established in 723. At that time, it was the main transit stop between India and Tibet. The city started developing and inviting local painters to decorate numerous temples.

The entire valley became the territory of the Gorkha Kingdom in 1768, and Kathmandu became its capital. This is when the first Nepalese style buildings appeared in the city. Many of them have survived until modern days. The kingdom was developing as well, establishing business ties with other countries. At the beginning of the 19th century, Kathmandu got modern fortifications. That being said, the period in the mid-19th century, during the reign of Jung Bahadur Rana, was the time of true prosperity and development of the city. For many local people, Rana was a cruel tyrant but the ruler did so much for the infrastructure of Kathmandu. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Swayambhunath, a famous stupa at the outskirts of the city, is the most popular religious landmark in Kathmandu. Several Tibet monasteries surround the stupa. These monasteries have schools, each of which has its own way of teaching how to be a harmonious personality. As there is also a Hindu shrine nearby, followers of this religion also regularly visit Swayambhunath.

In order to get to the stupa, tourists need to walk three hundred and sixty-five steps. Doesn’t this number sound familiar? This is exactly the number of days in a calendar year. While going up the stairs, people need to think of their actions during the last year. There are many monkeys in this stupa became monks feed them. That is the reason why Swayambhunath is sometimes referred to as “the Monkey Temple”. If you are physically strong enough to reach the top, you will notice a symbol on the stupa – Buddha’s eyes. This symbol is very old, and many believe that it has healing power.

The Garden of Dreams is one more popular landmark in Kathmandu. It occupies almost seven hectares of the urban territory. Are you fond of romantic places? If the answer is yes, you will deeply enjoy a visit to this garden because it has an unforgettable atmosphere of love and romance. Don’t be surprised to see sleeping people in the garden. Simply recall its name. The opening of the Garden of Dreams took place in the 20s of the previous century, during the reign of the Rana dynasty.

The garden’s territory is conventionally divided into four parts, each of which symbolizes a particular time of the year. This unique style is the result of a sophisticated irrigation system and the hard and restless work of numerous gardeners. Having visited the Garden of Dreams, you will feel a special atmosphere of this place that fills the hearts of visitors with happiness, peace, and harmony. Numerous artists and poets visit this place to find inspiration, and locals together with guests of Kathmandu enjoy taking a stroll on the parkways in order to indulge themselves in the enchanting magic of this place.

As a rule, tourists enjoy visiting one more attraction in Kathmandu – the National Museum opened in the 30s of the 20th century. This museum has a structure that is different from typical museums. The National Museum consists of three buildings, namely, the Art Museum, the Buddhist Gallery, and the Museum of Natural History. It exhibits a large collection of weapons of different epochs, ancient coins, archaeological findings, and deities of Buddhists and Hindus.

To get to the capital of Nepal, you need to fly to Delhi first. Upon arrival to this city, make a change to the airplane to Kathmandu. The journey time can be up to one day. A bus ride from Delhi to Kathmandu lasts thirty-five hours. If you plan to travel by train, you need to be prepared for a long and hard journey with numerous changes: first, you need to reach Gorakhpur, after that take a bus to Sonauli, and then head to Kathmandu.