he Kathmandu Valley has an exotic setting. It is surrounded by a tier of green mountain wall above which towel mighty snow-capped peaks. It consists of three main town of great historic, artistic and of cultural interest: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur. The Kathmandu Valley covers an area of 218 sq. miles. It is situated 4,423 ft. above sea-level.

The ancient Swasthani scripture telI of Lord Shiva, supreme among Hindu gods, who came down to the Kathmandu Valley to escape boredom. e came as a tourist, if that is the apropriate word, but he was neither among the first nor the last of the gods to visit the Valley. Visitors have come to Nepal since times forgotten. And though the country is much different today than it was in ancient times, it has not diminished in charm; the increase in the number of visitors over the years is a living proof. Those who come to the Valley today will appreciate a lot more than Lord Shiva did in his tour. The architecture started here by the Lichhavi and Malla kings is one such example. Much of the greenery that Lord Shiva saw is gone, but the forests surrounding Pashupati, where he stayed, are still intact. The seven World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley - designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - are the highlights of the Valley.

After seeing one or all of the monuments of the Kathmandu Valley, the visitor needs to realize that, of course, the World Heritage Sites are only the tip of the iceberg. There are countless other monuments to see in the Kathmandu Valley, as there are shrines, statues, and religious images in almost every alley. Only the gods know how old most of these are. There are many pleasant walks and hikes around the Valley, with the Himalaya as a grand backdrop. And the original charm which lured Lord Shiva still welcomes you. Welcome to Nepal, the country where the gods come to holiday!

Cities of Kathmandu Valley
Kathmandu : Patan : Bhaktapur : Other Cities : Valley Destinations

Kakani. Lying to the northwest of Kathmandu and only an hour's drive away from the capital, the hill top is recommended for its quiet surroundings and skyline views of Gauri Shanker, Langtang, Choba Bhamare, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu, and Himalchuli.

Nagarkot. At a height of 2,099 meters above sea level, the hill top is visited for viewing beautiful sunrises and sunsets and visitors take delight in the layout of the Kathmandu Valley below. On a clear day Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Gauri Shanker, and Everest can be seen from here. Lodges and resorts are open throughout the year and visitors can extend their sojourn to explore the countryside.

Dhulikhel. This old Newar town lies beyond the eastern rim of the Valley with comfortable lodgings for extended trips. Mountain bikers will appreciate the route that takes them up to Dhulikhel, to Namobuddha shrine, and down to the old town of Panauti. The ride can be completed in one day.

Sankhu. Sankhu is a sleepy town beneath the Gum Bihar religious complex. Within the complex is the temple of Bajra Yogini built in the 17th century. The area has been an important religious site since the 4th century and has excellent woods and bird-life as well as charming monkeys and pigeons in the temple area. Visitors may wish to bike up to Nagarkot and come down biking to Sankhu.

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OTHER VALLEY DESTINATIONS
Carnivals, Parks & Temples

Balaju Water Gardens. The Balaju Water Gardens have been the focus of several Nepali folk songs. The fish farm, the forests, the water falls and the plants here are beautiful, and the 22 sea-dragon spouts are a site of religious festivals. Located at the foot of Nagarjun Hill, it has plenty of water resources and is a favorite picnic spot.

Budhanilkantha. The Vishnu statue at Budhanilkantha was found buried in the ground in its original state. The statue is estimated to be about a thousand years old and shows Vishnu lying on the cosmic water before the universe was created. Shivapuri looms over Budhanilkantha and visitors find much peace there. You will be able to observe local people perform puja every morning and evening.

Chobhar Gorge. Manjushri came upon a huge lake eons ago and saw a huge lotus emanating bright light at its center. So he cut a deep gorge in the wall of the lake and let the water out in order to observe and worship the lotus. The bed of the lake became Kathmandu Valley and the place where he cut the lake is said to be Chobhar. An intricate cave is located there as well as a Ganesh temple.

Dakshinkali. The temple at Dakshinakali is dedicated to the ferocious mother goddess who has much energy and power. It is said that she gives strong will power and energy to those who come to her and she loves sacrifices. The temple is tantric in nature and is a favorite worship place of the Hindus. Saturdays are good days to visit as there is always a massive crowd of worshippers who come from all parts of Nepal to offer prayers.

Jawalakhel Zoo. The zoo has improved a lot over the years and contains fine samples of Himalayan animal species. Tourists who may have problems seeing the one-horned rhino and the Royal Bengal tiger in the wild will have no problems observing them close-up at the Jawalakhel Zoo. The zoo is managed by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation.

Godavari Royal Botanical Garden. This is perhaps the most popular picnic ground for the Kathmandu people. The plants are of wide variety and the flowers, when in bloom, make the atmosphere sparkle in colors. In fact, most of the Nepali film songs and dances are shot here. You may wish to visit the Nau and Panch Dhara ponds or take a hike up the 2,700 meter Pulchowki Hill nearby.