It is quite common that when people think about Nepal, they think about trekking in the Himalayas, but the country offers much more than treks. There are so many interesting, wonderful places to visit and these are the ones you will see if you choose to travel with Time in Nepal Tours.
- Patan- Once one of the independent kingdoms of the Kathmandu Valley, Patan is also the oldest existing Buddhist city in the Valley. Despite its proximity to the capital Kathmandu, its ‘preserved’ ancestral culture distinguishes Patan as a unique place to experience. Patan is also known as Lalitpur, “The City of Beauty”, and its unique Durbar Square is surrounded on all four sides by awe-inspiring temples and shrines.
- Bhaktapur is probably the most visited of the three historic cities of the Valley. It is a medieval town locked in centuries-old beliefs and traditions. The city is famous for its glorious architecture, sky-high temples, like the awesome Nyatapola Temple, Nepal’s tallest ancient structure, fine clay pottery, and royal courtyards where devotees, still today celebrate their pre-historic festivals.
- Bandipur - Situated between Kathmandu and Pokhara, Bandipur is a Newar town with its age-old flavor still intact. Well preserved, the village offers travelers culture, mountain views, and hiking. Bandipur has maintained its age-old cultural attributes – temples, shrines, sacred caves, innumerable festivals, and its wonderful Newari architecture.
- Pokhara - Nepal’s number 1 adventure and leisure destination, Pokhara is one of the most famous paradises for hikers who love trekking. It rises right at the foot of the mountains and is the second-largest city in Nepal. The town is located in the Gandaki area, which is lush and green, rich in hills, valleys, and lakes (even large ones) that develop along the valley bottom. Precisely these lakes have given Pokhara the friendly name of the City of 7 Lakes, a property thanks to which the area is full of itineraries, hiking trails, and ideas for cultural visits.
- Palpa Tansen is a small town on the road that connects Pokhara with the Nepal-India border. Palpa Tansen is rich in culture, tradition and is an excellent base for visiting some places, including the Taj Mahal of Nepal. Still little frequented by foreign tourism, it is a real pearl that retains all its authenticity.
- Rani Mahal - Also known as the Taj Mahal of Nepal, it is the most famous monument in the area It is a large baroque building, built in 1893 by an exiled aristocrat, Khadga Samsher Rana, in honor of his missing wife. The position of the Rani Mahal dominating the meeting point of two rivers immersed in the forest makes it undoubtedly very fascinating. In the early 1900s, his ambitious builder made another unsuccessful attempt to come to power, and this time he was exiled to India, abandoning his much-loved palace.
- Lumbini is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha in 540 BC, and one of the most important and sacred pilgrimage sites in the world. In 1978 Lumbini Development Zone was created and nowadays it is possible to visit over 25 Buddhist monasteries built by different countries, study Buddhism, and meditate. Mayadevi Temple is the most sacred place in the Lumbini Gardens where the archaeologists have identified the exact spot where Lord Buddha was born.
- Chitwan National Park - It is the oldest national park in Nepal and is situated in the subtropical inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal. The park was established in 1973 and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1984. It has a particularly rich flora and fauna. Wildlife includes wild elephants, Bengal tigers, the endangered single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros, leopards, deer, wild boars, etc….and there are over 450 species of birds in the park.
- Bardiya National Park - Bardiya National Park, the largest untouched wilderness is one of the most famous destinations to experience real wilderness adventure in the Terai region of western Nepal. It is one of the largest protected areas that has covered 968km2 (374sq mi) area of Terai. Around 70 percent of the area is filled with beautiful Sal trees and the rest of the 30 percent is with whispering grassland, savannah, and riverine forest. This beautiful National park is boarder with the stunning Geruwa and Karnali Rivers which is spectacular to explore. Bardiya National Park is a home place to the rare and endangered Royal Bengal Tiger and One-Horned Rhinoceros. In this National Park, more than 30 different mammals and 250 bird species have been recorded. This amazing and exciting journey will provide you an opportunity to encounter various endangered wildlife including, Tiger, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and five species of deer. Apart from this National Park, you can also visit Karnali River and witness and enjoy Gigantic Dolphins and two Crocodile species. This tour also offers you to meet with the native ethnic people called Tharu and observe their unique culture and tradition.
- Gosaikunda Lake - Gosaikunda Lake is an important religious site; Hindu mythology recognizes it as the abode of the gods Shiva and Gauri. Its sacred water is considered particularly important during the Janai Purnima sacred festival, during which thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India visit the area. According to legend, Lake Gosaikunda was formed after Shiva, tired and ill, planted his sacred trident in the rock, generating three streams. It is located at an altitude of 4360 meters and is considered the pearl of Langtang National Park. It is also said that the water of the lake is carried by a medium directly to the tank at the Kumbheshwar Temple in Patan in the Kathmandu Valley.
- Nuwakot is a famous place located in a historic District of Nepal and this heritage site played a pivotal role in shaping the history of modern Nepal. It was built by the great king Prithvi Narayan Shah. The ancient citadel is situated at an elevation of 900 meters and stands proud, untouched by changing times. The indoors of the Durbar suffered some damage during the recent earthquake on April 25, 2015, but a tour of the premises is still possible.
- Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve - The reserve was established in 1976 and is situated on the flood plains of the Sapta-Kosi and is defined by the eastern and western embankments of the river. The Reserve offers important habitats to a variety of wildlife. The last surviving Asiatic Wild Water Buffaloes are found there. The Reserve consists mainly of sand with a few patches of scrub forest and mixed riverine forest. The Kosi barrage is extremely important as a resting place for migratory birds, such as sarus from Siberia. 485 species of birds have been identified in the park, these include 20 species of ducks, ibis, storks, egrets, herons, the endangered swamp partridges, and Bengal florican.
- Kagbeni - At 2,800 meters above sea level, Kagbeni is a village where the influence of Tibetan culture is tangible, with prayer wheels, a stupa, and a five-century-old monastery. The name of the village derives from “kag” (mass of stone) and “goods” (the confluence of the two rivers. In the past, it was an important stop along the Salt Road. The houses have flat roofs on which wood and hay are left to dry in the sun for the winter and are built close to each other along narrow alleys, which give Kagbeni the appearance of a labyrinth. The main attraction of the place is the Thupten Samphel Ling Gompa, which means “Monastery of the place in which to stop and develop concentration on the teachings of the Buddha” and even today it is the heart of spiritual life for the community.
- Muktinath is a pilgrimage destination for both Hindus and Buddhists. The village lies at the bottom of a valley, at 3,800 meters high, at the foot of the Thorong La pass. Its Vishnu Temple, considered sacred, is one of the oldest Hindu shrines consecrated to the god; inside it is kept a precious golden image representing the God Vishnu almost as tall as a person. The courtyard is adorned with 108 pipes from which a stream of pour holy water comes out.
- Marpha - Unlike other villages, Marpha has preserved its unique heritage and architecture. At 2,680m, wedged between a steep sandstone cliff and cultivated fields that dominate the Kali Gandaki, is an example of the Thakali way of life. The houses have flat roofs built with mud, which is used to dry grains and fruits, and doors and windows outlined by cherry wood panels. Under the narrow cobbled streets runs an extensive drainage system. The area surrounding this stone village is remote.
- Gorkha is a scenic-hill town with great historical significance since it was the ancient capital of the Shah dynasty and is connected with the creation of modern Nepal and the name of the legendary Gurkha soldiers. It is located halfway between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
- Bungamati - It is a typical Newari village, consisting of simple houses of straw and raw bricks. According to the legend, Bungmati was founded during the 7th century. It is here that Rato Machhendranath, the patron saint of the valley and god of rain and compassion, was born. Rato Machhendranath is likewise adored by both Hindus and Buddhists.
- Manakamana is a small village at a top of a hill, where is situated the famous and sacred temple of Durga Bhawani, a Hindu Goddess. It is believed that the Goddess fulfills the wishes of those who worship her with pure heart. Mana means heart and kamana means wish.
- Kirtipur - The village of Kirtipur is located 5 kilometers from Kathmandu and is a beautiful exception in the panorama of Newar settlements on the plateau. It was founded as a military outpost of Patan in the 12th century, then became an independent kingdom and was the last Malla fortress. The town still preserves magnificent examples of carved wooden decorations and brick buildings.
- Kokhana - The village, located about 8 km from Kathmandu, is considered a “living museum” that recalls the medieval period in which Nepal was ruled by the Malla kings. The village begins with a narrow cobbled street. Shortly after is the temple of Shekali Mai, a local mother goddess. A truly timeless place, one of the traditions of the people of this village is to keep the chickens at home. From the windows of the houses hang garlands of chilies. Singular to discover that this was the first Nepalese village to be electrified, even before the city of Kathmandu.