World Heritage Sites in Nepal - Sightseeing in Nepal - Alpine Asian Adventure Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal


LUMBINI (Birth Place of Buddha):
This site is famous for Hindus and Buddhists, located in the mid western terai. It is 250 kilometers far from Kathmandu. Lumbini, where Gautam Buddha himself was born over 2,500 years ago, is religious place having historic importance for all. There are many monasteries of different countries on the side of the main site. There are numerous buildings of religious significance. The most important of which is a massive stone pillar erected by the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 250 B.c; it was discovered only in 1895. The shrine of Maya Devi, said to be located at the exact place where the Buddha was born in the palace garden, contains a stone relif. Depicting Gautama’s nativity scene. There is also a rectangular pond said to be the remains of a scared pool. The brick foundations of a ruined monastery contains some small votive stupas and several large plinths. In the area are modern Buddhist shrines and an older gompa.

KATHMANDU DURBAR SQUARE:
Marvelous ancient temple, palace courtyards and streets grace Kathmandu Durbar Square, or Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex. The Royal complex was the residence of royalty until the last century. Even to date, many important ceremonies are held in one or the other courtyards within this complex. The coronation of the Nepalese monarch also takes place here. It is also called Basantpur Durbar because of a towering palace added to the complex by King Prithvi Narayan Shah.
The Durbar is divided into two principal chowks (courtyards). The outer chwok consists of the Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar, and Shiva-Parvati Temple, among other important landmarks. The inner chowk consists of the Hanuman Dhoka and the principal durbar. There are other chowks such as the Nasal Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Mohan Chowk. The Durbar complex also consists of four towers -Basantpur, Kirtipur, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur. The palace complex is located in the heart of old Kathmandu City. It also houses two museums- one the open-air museum, and the other being King Tribhuvan Memorial Museum. Most premises of the Durbar are open for tourists, and can be visited throughout the week between office hours. Parts of the Durbar are used for national festivals, and are open only to the King and certain priests. Taleju Mandir (Temple). The Temple of Taleju is the most famous of the three Taleju temples. Built by King Mahendra Malla, this particular shrine is situated in Trishul Chowk. The temple stands over 36.6 meters high, and rests on plinths of 12 stages. Mul Chowk It is shaped very much like a Buddhist monastery, or vihar. It is a square courtyard surrounded by two-storeyed quadrangle of buildings. In the center of the courtyard, there is a low post set in the ground where animals are sacrificed during Dashain.

PASHUPATINATH:
Pashupatinath temple, one of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, is about five kilometers northeast of Kathmandu. The two-storied pagoda style temple houses a sacred lingam, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Through the eastern Nepalese Kiranti rulers established the temple before 4th century, it was given the present shape only in the early 18th century. The temple, noted for its gold-plated roofs and silver-coated doors, is open only for Hindus. The temple has remained the presiding deity of ruling Nepalese Royalty. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River, this two-tiered magnificent golden temple with four triple silver doorways is unique example of the Nepalese temple architecture. It is one of the largest Hindu temple complex in'South Asia with hundreds of Shiva lingams, shrines icons of various Hindu god and goddess insides. This temple site occupies an area of 281 hectors in total.

PATAN DURBAR SQUARE:
The Patan Durbar Square is a cluster of marvelous monuments within a limited space. Besides the old royal Palace, which is ful of old royal palace, which is full of grace and grandeur, there is the 17th century Krishna Mandir, entirely made of stone in unique Shikhara-style structure with 21 pinnacles. The marvelous Tusha Hiti, Sundari Chowk, Taleju Temple, the Keshav Narayan Chowk are the other landmarks within the square. The Hiranya Varna Maha Vihar (Golden Temple), Rudra Varna Maha Vihar and the terra cotta Shikhara temple of Maha Bouddha are the consummate masterpieces in the vicinity.

BHAKTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE:
The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the best preserved of the Kathmandu Valley's three Durbar Squares. It is a conglomeration of pagoda and shikhara-style temples grouped around the splendid palatial complex known as 55-window palace, built of bricks and wood. The Golden Gate, Lun-Hiti (Golden Spout), the Taleju Temple complex and Nyatapole, the Five-Storied temple in the nearby Taumadi Square, are the other charming artistic masterpieces of Bhaktapur. Tfhe world famous peacock window at Tachapal, the 15th century Dattatreya Temple, and Nepal's largest Shiva Lingam (Phallus) at Hanumanghat are also enshrined in this artistic city.

SYAMBHUNATH:
This is one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas. It is said to be 2000 years old. Painted on the four sides of the spire bases are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It is 3km west of Kathmandu city and is situated on a hillock about 77m. above the level of the Kathmandu Valley. Located in a lovely little hill rock Swayambhu Nat Stupa was built around 250 B.C. Generally a holy memorial site Stoup represents a typical Buddhist architecture. Its main feature the white dome is identified with a spotless pure jewel of Nirvana and a thirteen tiered golden spire in conical shape surmounted on the dome. Underneath this towering structure are a pair of all seeing eyes of Buddha painted on all four sides of the Stupa. The Stupa of Swayambhunath stands on a typically stylized lotus mandala base-a long time ago believed to have originated from a legendary lake of Kathmandu Valley.

CHANGU NARAYAN TEMPLE:
The Changu Narayan Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the preserver. It is the oldest pagoda-style temple complex in Nepal. Situated over the peninsular hilltop at about 6kms north of Bhaktapur, its premises are paved with brick. There is a stone inscription that is believed to be the oldest written record in Nepal. The two-storied temple's main entrance is an excellent example of repousse art while the many artworks scattered in and around the temple are in themselves consummate masterpieces in wood, stone and metal. Narayan, or Vishnu, is the preserver of creation to Hindus. His temple near Changu village is often described as the most ancient temple in the Kathmandu Valley. A fifth century stone inscription, the oldest to be discovered in Nepal, is located in the temple compound and it tells of the victorious King Mandev. The temple now covers sixteen hundred years of Nepalese art history. The temple, built around the third century, is decorated by some of the best samples of stone, wood, and metal craft in the Valley.