Cultural sightseeing in Nepal. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

It will take much time to see all the major landmarks of Nepal because the country has so many of them. Even several days spent in this country will bring you enough memories for a year. If you have never heard about Nepal before, prepare for new amazing discoveries and unforgettable places. First of all, it is important to mention that eight Himalayan mountains higher than 8,000 meters are located in Nepal. Of course, Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world (8,848m), is one of them. Everest is like a magnet for all alpinists.

Things to do in Nepal - active leisure

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Many tourist routes start in the city of Pokhara on the west of the country. The majority of popular routes are suitable for leisure tourists and beginner alpinists. Visitors can rent all equipment they need and hire guides here. Lakeside, one of the main tourist hubs in the country, is famous for its numerous hotels and restaurants. Pokhara is located not far from the Phewa Lake. There is a popular landmark on the shore of this lake – the World Peace Pagoda. Built 1,103m above sea level, this pagoda offers fantastic views of the picturesque Himalayas and the city lying below. When the weather is good, it is easy to see white tops of such mountains as Machapuchare, Annapurna, and Dhaulagiri. The latter two mountains are higher than 8,000 meters.

There are several national parks in the country (Chitwan, Sagarmatha, Annapurna, Makalu, etc.). Northern parks are mountain ones, while southern parks offer safaris. In the jungles, visitors can see unique animal species that are not present anywhere else in the world such as the great Indian rhinoceros or the flat river crocodile that eats only fish. The national flag of Nepal has an unusual shape – two triangles placed one above another. The country has its own calendar that is 57 years ahead of the Gregorian and Julian calendars. This means that it is the year 2077 in Nepal when in Europe and America it is the year 2020. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

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The main shrine of Shiva in the world is located in Nepal. This is the Pashupatinath Temple that was built for the first time in approximately 400 AD. This temple is also a crematorium. Elderly Hindu people from Nepal and India come to this temple to spend their last days here (local astrologists can tell the exact date of their death). The deceased end their journey in the funeral pyre in a sacred place on the bank of the Bagmati River. This is a unique place that looks very unusual for tourists from Europe or America, so a visit to the Pashupatinath Temple is an unforgettable cultural experience.

Gautama Buddha, the legendary founder of Buddhism, was born in the village of Lumbini in Nepal in approximately 563 BC. Lumbini is a famous pilgrimage site with numerous monasteries for temples. Maya Devi Temple is one of the most famous. In the capital of Nepal – Kathmandu – tourists can also visit famous Buddhist temples and monasteries such as Kopan, Boudhanath, and Swayambhunath. Kopan is located at some elevation above the city, offering amazing panoramic views of Kathmandu. Kopan is a place of serenity and tranquility. This monastery has a giant mediation hall, a fantastic library, a café, and is open for everyone. The monastery has rooms that are available for visitors. Tourists can spend some time in the monastery and attend meditation courses.

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Swayambhunath is a central location for all pilgrim tourists in Kathmandu. This is an ancient Buddhist temple complex built on a high hill. It offers fantastic views of the capital. To reach the temple, visitors need to overcome 365 steps. However, there is one more stair that is not so hard. The entrance is paid. Just like Buddhists, tourists can also rotate the praying drums. Beware of numerous monkeys – if they see any food in your hands, these swift animals will certainly steal it. Boudhanath is a cultural and even somewhat entertainment center that offers comfort to foreign guests. The namesake stupa has a central role in this complex. There are monasteries, meditation schools, souvenir shops, cafes, and restaurants around the shrine.

Lalitpur (Patan) is an ancient city that is located not far from Kathmandu. It is possible to reach it on foot from the capital. The two cities grow continuously, and so they merge steadily. In Lalitpur, don’t forget to visit Durban Square with its almost ten temples dedicated to different gods. One of the monasteries in this city is the place where the coronation of Nepal’s rulers traditionally takes place. The city of Bhaktapur is famous for its numerous architectural landmarks. The most notable attractions include the Royal Palace, Krishna Temple, and the National Art Museum. Bhaktapur has one more unusual peculiarity – this is home to a living Hindu goddess – Kumari, the incarnation of the great goddess Taleju.

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Only girls from the Shakya caste can become Kumari. Hundreds of small girls are potential candidates for the role of a living goddess. A successful candidate must have 32 perfections of the goddess. It is believed that a girl can have all these perfections only when the goddess Taleju chose her to be her vessel. A new girl is selected for this role when the existing Kumari has her first menstruation. Young Kumari lives in her three-story castle, Kumari Ghar. Naturally, this place attracts tourists who want to see not only the castle but also its divine owner. The Nepalese also spend hours near the palace, waiting for Kumari to appear for a second as they believe this brings good luck.

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Nepal guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Nepal

Extreme Guinness-type places in Nepal

Panch Pokhari

From the series “The Highest Mountain Lakes of the Planet”

Nepal is one of the world's top runners after the number of beautiful high mountain lakes. The system of five lakes, the Panch Pokhari, is located on the territory of the large Makalu-Barun nature reserve. Five crystal clear lakes, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks, are at an altitude of 5,494 meters. The route to the lakes is relatively easy. Even the tourists without any physical preparation can walk in the company of the guide in the mountains.

It is noteworthy that few small settlements are located not far from the lakes despite the enormous distance from civilization and the complicated climate. The aborigines have begun to settle this area centuries ago. The Hindus consider Panch Pokhari lakes to be sacred, so there are many pilgrims among the guests of this area. The … Read all

The Last Resort Bridge

From the series “Thrilling Points for Bungee Jumping”

In Nepal is the real spa resort for extreme sports fans - The Last Resort. There is a deep ravine on the territory of the 'Kurzone', on the bottom of which flows the river Bhote Koshi. Above this ravine was the steel bridge, which is used today for the jumps. The height of the bridge is 160 meters. On the bottom of the ravine there are always a few people waiting to take the jumpers and to help them get free after the jump.

Bunjee-Jumping is not the only breathtaking entertainment available to spa guests. You can ride the boat on the stormy mountain river, try the attraction swing and fly over the canyon, as well as try a lot of other ways that will help to overcome the altitude. The price of the jump is relatively low and makes about 90 USD. As a reminder of the breathtaking adventure, … Read all

All unique sightseeing Nepal

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20.04.2024

Cultural sightseeing in Nepal. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Nepal

Extreme Guinness-type places in Nepal

Panch Pokhari

The Last Resort Bridge

Famous sites of culture and history of Nepal in photoset