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Bhaktapur
Kathmandu was once 1 of the 3 equal cities while the other 2 were
Bhaktapur and Patan. Bhaktapur is known as the ‘temple
city’, situated 12 kilometres or 7.5 miles from Kathmandu in
the eastern region of the valley.
The Kathmandu Valley’s
cultural and natural heritage has moved UNESCO to list 7 World
Heritage Sites in this region.
The National Art Gallery, set within the old Malla Palace
includes remarkable colorful animal paintings on the 2nd floor
that are well worth seeing.
In Bhaktapur museums, you can visit the National
Woodworking Museum, with fine examples of Newari woodcarving
for which the city is famous for, and the Brass and Bronze
Museum which are in Dattatreya Square.
Patan
Patan, renowned for its silverware
and bronze is set at the southern tip
of the Kathmandu Valley.
The city has a number of ancient historic and artistic places, which include Patan Durbar Square (as well as the situation for the attractive Patan Museum), the Royal Bath, Krishna Mandir,
the Kumbheshwor Temple and the Golden Temple.
The Jawalakhel Zoo houses
unusual but interesting
South Asian animals.
Elsewhere
There seems to be sanctuaries for nearly all purposes in the valley, such
as the Shrine of Ganesh the Elephant God, said to bring good
luck. 4 Ganesh temples are located within the valley, each with a masterpiece
of Nepalese architecture. The 1st one is in Kathmandu’s Durbar
Square, the 2nd is in Chabahil, the 3rd is in Chobar and the last one is
near Bhaktapur.
Lumbini is the birthplace
of Lord Buddha and 1 of the world’s most
important pilgrimage sights.
Nepal’s first national park, the Royal Chitwan National
Park is a jungle with a variety of
flora and fauna. Lodges are also available and provide accommodations, canoeing, elephant riding and
white-water rafting.
Nagarkot Village, located on rice
steps in the majestic rural area offers
marvellous views of Mount
Everest, mist permitting.
The hill village of Gorkha is the ancestral home of the Shah
Dynasty and home of the original Gurkha soldiers.
There is a bustling market/bazaar and the Royal Trek to Pokhara
starts here. The isolated Pokhara Town is 200 kilometres (125
miles) west of Kathmandu in central Nepal on Lake Phewa.
There is no other place in the world providing such a view of the Himalayas.
It is a starting area for trekkers and mountaineers, and was at
one time the home of JRR Tolkien. |
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