Kathmandu Day Tour - 1 Day

Tour of Swayambhunath Temple/Stupa

The Kathmandu Day Tour begins with a drive from your hotel to Swayambhunath Temple in a private vehicle. The type of vehicle will depend on the number of travelers. It's a brief 15-minute drive to reach the temple premises. You'll then walk in an uphill stairway to the main stupa. Swayambhunath Stupa, commonly known as Swayambhu, is located on a hilltop towards the northwest corner of the Kathmandu valley. As it is situated on a small hilltop, you can see a 360-degree view of the entire city from here.

Swayambhu is one of the oldest and holiest Buddhist shrines in Nepal that Hindus equally revere. The temple consists of a big stupa in the middle. The stupa is made out of a dome at the bottom and a cube construction with Buddha eyes painted on it from all four directions. The biggest picture of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal sits on a pedestal on the western limit of Swayambhu. Behind the ridge is a temple committed to Manjusri or Saraswati - the Goddess of learning. Chaityas, statues, and holy places of Buddhist and Hindu divinities fill the stupa complex. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. 

Swayambhunath is also known as Monkey Temple, as many monkeys reside in the forest surrounding the temple. Don't carry any loose food items in your hand or in your bag where it's visible. The monkeys tend to attack for food. 

Tour of Kathmandu Durbar Square

Next on the day tour is Kathmandu Durbar Square, also known as Basantapur Durbar Square or Hanuman Dhoka. The name "Hanuman Dhoka Durbar" originated from the Hanuman statue set up by King Pratap Malla at the passage of the regal royal residence in 1672 A.D. It is one of the 3 durbar squares built in Kathmandu Valley along with Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It was also enlisted in UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1979.

Both tourists and locals are found to be roaming this historic site with enthusiasm. There are several temples, shrines, courtyards, and a palace inside the durbar square that reflect the art and architecture of medieval times. If you're keen on Nepalese history, you can visit the museum present at the site. Small shops in the area sell Nepalese handicrafts that make good souvenirs to take back home. 

You'll find some good restaurants in the area if you want to have lunch here. Or you can drive to Bouddhanath Stupa and have lunch in some rooftop cafes with a view of the grand Bouddhanath. Lunch is not included in our package, so you're free to have anything anywhere.

Tour of Bouddhanath Stupa

The tour then proceeds to Bouddhanath Stupa, which is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Located 8 km toward the east of downtown Kathmandu, Boudhanath is a standout amongst the most imposing tourist spots in Kathmandu. Boudhanath's 36-meter-tall structure is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. Surrounded by countless religious groups, Boudhanath is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.

Boudhanath Stupa suffered significant damage from the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, severely cracking the spire. The entire structure above the dome had to be dismantled. After the reconstruction, the stupa was opened again in November 2016. One of the biggest Buddhist festivals, Buddha Purnima (the birthday of Lord Buddha), is celebrated with great devotion in the Bouddhanath premises.

The stupa is encircled by compact buildings housing shops and restaurants. You'll find multi-cuisine restaurants in the area serving delicious meals. In the shops, you can purchase handicrafts ranging from jewelry to bags, mostly related to Buddhism. 

Tour of Pashupatinath Temple

The last place to visit on our Kathmandu Day Tour for today is Pashupatinath Temple. The Pashupatinath Temple is devoted to Lord Shiva and is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. Built in the fifth century and later redesigned by the Malla rulers, the site itself is said to have existed from the earliest starting point of the thousand years when a Shiva lingam was found here. 

Extending both sides of the holy Bagmati River, Pashupatinath Temple makes Nepal's largest temple complex. The main pagoda-style shrine contains exquisite wood carvings, a gold-plated roof, and doors on four sides that are covered in silver. The main temple is surrounded by several smaller temples dedicated to countless other Hindu and Buddhist deities. 

A large number of Hindus from Nepal and India pay a visit to Pashupatinath every year. Non-Hindus aren't allowed to enter the main temple but can visit the premises. Shivaratri and Teej are the two main festivals celebrated in the temple.

After visiting Pashupatinath temple, the Kathmandu Day Tour is complete, and our guide will drop you at your hotel in Kathmandu. We hope you had a great day with us.