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Mad About Malaysia |
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Mad About Asia |
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Nepal > UNESCO
Heritage Site |
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POPULAR
CITIES
I
PARKS
&
RESERVES
I
RURAL
TOURISM |
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UNESCO
HERITAGE
SITES
I
PILGRIMAGE
SITES |
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Seven
World
heritages
sites
located
in
the
Kathmandu
valley
are
found
within
radius
of
20
kms.
Easy
access
from
one
to
another
makes
people
visiting
a
site
go
for
rest
others.
Swayambhu,
Bouddhanath,
Bhaktapur
Durbar
Square,
Changunarayan,
Pashupatinath,
Kathmandu
Durbar
Square,
Patan
Durbar
Square
and
Lumbini
are
placed
in
Cultural
World
Heritage
Sites.
While
Chitwan
National
Park
and
Sagarmatha
National
Park
are
placed
in
Natural
World
Heritage
Sites. |
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 World
Heritage
Sites
(Cultural):
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Kathmandu
Durbar
Square
Kathmandu
Durbar
Square
is
in
the
heart
of
old
city
Kathmandu
in
Basantapur.
The
complex
was
residence
to
Nepal's
family
before
the
construction
of
the
Narayanhiti
Palace.
The
founding
of
the
Palace
dates
back
to
Licchavi
times.
With
considerable
renovations
by
Malla
rulers
and
later
the
Ranas,
construction
was
accomplished
progressively
over
many
centuries.
There
are
around
50
temples
in
the
vicinity
including
the
temple
of
titular
deity,
Taleju
Bhawani.
The
Durbar
is
divided
into
two
courtyards,
the
outer
comprising
Kasthamandap,
Kumari
Ghar,
and
Shiva-Parvati
Temple,
and
the
inner
consisting
of
Hanuman
Dhoka
and
the
main
palace.
It
also
houses
two
museums.
Important
ceremonies,
including
the
coronation
of
the
Nepali
monarch,
are
held
in
the
Kathmandu
Durbar
Square.
Most
parts
of
the
palace
premise
are
open
for
tourists
throughout
the
week
during
office
hours.
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Bhaktapur
Durbar
Square
Bhaktapur
Durbar
Square
is
located
in
the
center
of
Bhaktapur.
The
Square
is
one
of
the
most
charming
architectural
showpieces
of
the
Valley
as
it
highlights
some
of
the
finest
medieval
arts
of
Nepal.
The
main
items
of
interest
in
Bhaktapur
Durbar
Square
are
the
Lion
Gate,
the
Golden
Gate
and
the
statues
of
kings
on
stone
monoliths.
The
Golden
Gate
was
erected
by
King
Ranjit
Malla
as
the
entrance
to
the
main
courtyard
of
the
Fifty-five
Windowed
Palace.
The
Palace
of
Fifty-five
Windows
was
built
during
the
reign
of
King
Yakshya
Malla
in
A.D.
1427
and
was
remodelled
by
King
Bhupatindra
Malla
in
the
seventeeth
century.
The
art
gallery
of
Bhaktapur
Durbar
Square
contains
ancient
paintings
belonging
to
the
Hindu
and
Buddhist
traditions
of
various
periods.
This
gallery
is
open
everyday
except
Tuesday. |
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Patan
Durbar
Square
Patan
Durbar
Square
complex,
situated
in
the
center
of
Patan
city,
houses
the
residence
of
the
former
family
of
Patan.
The
Square
and
its
surroundings
provide
very
good
example
of
ancient
Newari
architecture.
The
palace
has
three
main
courtyards
the
central
and
the
oldest
is
Mul
Chowk.
To
the
west
of
the
complex
are
a
dozen
free
standing
temples
of
various
sizes
and
styles.
Krishna
Temple,
Bhimsen
Temple,
the
Golden
Temple
of
Hiranya
Varna
Mahavira
and
Sundari
Chowk
mark
the
architectural
excellence
of
its
era.
The
Sundari
Chowk
with
the
sunken
bath
of
Tusha
Hiti,
contains
exquisite
woodcarvings,
stone,
and
metal
sculpture.
Patan
Durbar
Square
also
houses
a
temple
of
Taleju
Bhawani.
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Swoyambhunath
Swoyambhu
literally
means
'Self-Existent
One.'
Swoyambhunath
is
believed
to
have
been
established
more
than
2,500
years
ago.
An
inscription
dated
460
A.D.
states
that
the
construction
was
carried
out
by
King
Manadeva.
By
the
thirteenth
century
Swoyambhunath
had
developed
into
an
important
Buddhist
learning
site.
The
history
of
Kathmandu
Valley
is
said
to
have
started
with
the
beginning
of
Swoyambhu.
The
largest
image
of
the
Sakyamuni
Buddha
in
Nepal
is
in a
monastery
next
to
the
stupa.
Behind
the
hilltop
is a
temple
dedicated
to
Manjusri
of
Saraswati
-
the
goddess
of
learning.
Statues
and
shrines
of
Buddhist
and
Hindu
deities
dot
the
stupa
complex.
Large
numbers
of
Buddhists
and
Hindus
alike
visit
Swoyambhunath.
Swoyambhu
is
perhaps
the
best
place
to
observe
the
religious
harmony
in
Nepal.
The
stupa
is
atop
a
hill,
and
requires
considerable
walk.
There
is
also
a
road
that
leads
almost
to
the
base
of
the
statue.
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Pashupatinath
Pashupatinath
is
one
of
the
four
most
important
religious
sites
in
Asia
for
Shiva
devotees.
Pashupatinath,
dedicated
to
Shiva
the
Destroyer,
is
the
holiest
Hindu
pilgrimage
destination
in
Nepal.
Although
the
Pashupatinath
Temple
was
only
built
in
the
fifth
century
and
later
renovated
by
Malla
kings,
the
holy
site
is
said
to
have
existed
from
the
beginning
of
the
millennium.
A
gold-plated
roof,
four
silver
doors,
and
wood
carvings
of
the
finest
quality
decorate
the
pagoda
temple
of
Pashupatinath.
Temples
dedicated
to
several
other
Hindu
and
Buddhist
deities
surround
the
temple
of
Pashupatinath.
Nearby
is
the
temple
of
Guheshwori
dedicated
to
Shiva's
consort
Sati
Devi.
Behind
the
temple
is
the
River
Bagmati.
On
the
banks
of
Bagmati
are
raised
platforms
used
as
cremation
sites
for
Hindus.
Only
Hindus
are
allowed
inside
the
Pashupatinath
courtyard.
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Bouddhanath
Bouddhanath
is
the
center
of
Tibetan
culture
in
Nepal.
The
36-meter-high
stupa
of
Bouddhanath
is
one
of
the
largest
stupas
in
South
Asia.
Bouddhanath
Stupa
was
renovated
by
Licchavi
rulers
in
the
eighth
century.
The
mandala
design
in
Bouddhanath
is a
copy
of
the
one
in
Gyangtse
in
Tibet.
The
stupa
is
located
in
the
area
of
ancient
trade
route
to
Tibet
where
Tibetan
merchants
rested
and
offered
prayers
for
many
centuries.
When
refugees
entered
Nepal
from
Tibet
in
the
1950s,
many
decided
to
live
around
Bouddhanath.
Hence,
a
complete
township
has
developed
around
Bouddhanath.
The
stupa
is
said
to
entomb
the
remains
of a
Kasyap
sage
venerable
both
to
Buddhists
and
Hindus.
Smaller
stupas
are
located
at
the
base.
Gompa
monasteries,
curio
shops,
and
restaurants
surround
Bouddhanath.
Because
of
its
location
and
size,
it
seems
much
larger
than
the
Swayambunath
Stupa,
with
the
same
hemi-spherical
dome
symbolizing
the
emptiness
from
which
everything
emanates.
On
top
is
the
harmika
painted
on
each
side
with
the
eyes
of
the
Buddha
symbolizing
awareness,
and
above
the
spire
with
its
13
stages
to
the
canopy.
At
ground
level
there
is a
brick
wall
with
147
niches
and
108
images
of
the
meditational
buddha
inset
behind
copper
prayer
wheels.
Early
morning
and
evening
are
the
times
to
visit
Bouddha
to
join
the
local
residents
in
kora
(walking
the
pilgrim's
circuit,
sometimes
with
Tibetan
pilgrims
on
their
hands
and
knees).
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Changunarayan
Changu
Narayan
is
the
temple
of
Vishnu,
the
Preserver,
in
the
village
of
Changu
in
Bhaktapur.
The
origins
of
Changu
Narayan
goes
back
to
the
fourth
century.
A
fifth
century
stone
inscription
in
the
temple
proclaims
it
as
one
of
the
oldest
shrines
of
the
Kathmandu
Valley.
The
temple
is
believed
to
be
sixteen
hundred
years
old.
It
is
embellished
by
the
best
examples
of
stone,
wood,
and
metal
craft.
On
the
struts
of
the
two-tiered
Changu
Narayan
Temple,
are
the
ten
incarnations
of
Narayan.
A
sixth-century
stone
statue
shows
the
cosmic
form
of
Vishnu.
Garuda,
half
man
and
half
bird,
is
the
steed
of
Vishnu,
and
his
life-sized
statue
kneels
before
the
temple.
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Lumbini
Lumbini
associated
with
the
birth
of
Lord
Buddha
is
of
extreme
archeological
importance
and
also
a
UNESCO
Cultural
Heritage
Site.
It
is
said
that
Prince
Siddhartha
Gautam,
who
later
became
Buddha
the
Englightened
One,
was
born
in
the
gardens
of
Nepal's
Lumbini
in
623
B.C.
The
main
shrines
of
Lumbini
are
the
newly
restored
Mayadevi
Temple,
the
Ashokan
Pillar
behind
the
temple
and
the
Lake
Shakya
Puskarini
where
Mayadevi
is
said
to
have
bathed
before
delivering
the
little
Buddha
into
the
world.
Several
other
places
near
Lumbini
are
linked
with
stories
connected
to
Buddha
and
Buddhism.
Lumbini
is
about
300
kilometers
southwest
of
Kathmandu.
Bus
and
flights
to
Bhairawa
which
is
about
22
kilometers
from
Lumbini,
are
available
from
major
cities.
From
Bhairawa
transport
services
to
Lumbini
are
easily
available.
Food
and
accommodation
facilities
are
available
in
Lumbini
and
Bhairawa. |
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World
Heritage
Sites
(Natural): |
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Chitwan
National
Park
The
Chitwan
National
Park,
Nepal's
first
national
park
lies
at
the
foot
of
the
Himalayas
in
the
Inner
Terai
lowlands
of
Chitwan.
Covering
an
area
of
932
sq.
kilometers
the
park
extends
over
decidhuhh
uous
forest
foothills
and
river
floodplains.
The
park
is
rich
in
its
variety
of
vegetation
and
wildlife.
The
park
provides
one
of
the
last
habitats
for
endangered
species
like
the
Asiatic
one-horned
rhinoceros
and
the
Bengal
tiger.
Chitwan
National
Park
was
officially
established
in
1973
and
included
as
Natural
Heritage
Site
in
1984. |
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Sagarmatha
National
Park
The
Sagarmatha
National
Park
with
its
rugged
mountains,
glaciers,
valleys
and
crowned
by
the
highest
peak
on
earth
Mt.
Everest
at
8,848
meters
lies
in
Northeast
Nepal.
The
1,148
sq.
kilometers
of
Sagarmatha
National
Park
extends
across
the
region's
river
areas
and
the
famous
Sherpas'
homefront
Khumbu.
Forests
of
rhododendron,
birch,
blue
pine,
juniper
and
silver
fir
are
found
up
to
an
altitude
of
4,000
meters.
Rare
species
of
animals
like
the
snow
leopard,
pandas,
lynx
are
seen
in
the
region.
Rare
bird
varieties
like
snow
cock,
snow
pegion
and
different
species
of
pheasant
are
also
to
be
seen
here.
The
park
was
declared
a
Natural
Heritage
Site
in
1979.
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