Half-day sightseeing tour of Kathmandu and Swoyambhunath
Kathmandu city is known as Kantipur, the capital of the Kingdom of Nepal. Here you will visit the temple of the Living Goddess Kumari, who acknowledges the greetings of the devotees from the balcony of her temple residence. Kasthamandap - the source of the name Kathmandu - is supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree (now under re-construction following the earthquake of 2015). Discover Durbar Square with its array of temples and monuments followed by a visit to Hanuman Dhoka Royal Palace. Please note that many of these palaces and monuments are covered by scaffolding as retrofitting and renovation works are going on.
Swoyambhunath holds the most ancient and enigmatic of the Valley’s holy shrines with its golden spired stupa of Swoyambhunath atop a wooded hillock. Records of its history date as far as the 5th century, but its origins are believed to be older. It is the Kathmandu Valley’s most sacred Buddhist shrine and whilst its worshippers include the Vajrayana Buddhists of northern Nepal and Tibet. The Newari Buddhists are the original residents of the Kathmandu Valley and are the most fervent devotees.
