Trip Overview
Bhaktapur Durbar SquareBhaktapur, the City of Devotees, has many names and even more facets. Also known by the name of Bhadgaon, Khwopa, and Khwopinggram in earlier days, this ancient Newar city, which used to be a Malla kingdom until towards the end of the 15th Century. The core palace area, known as the Bhaktapur Durbar Square is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bhaktapur is home to ancient traditions, festivals, colorful celebrations, wooden and stone craftwork, and temples displaying excellent medieval local architecture. Additionally, beautiful ponds, masked dances with typical Newari music, narrow stone-paved gallis (streets), and a well-knit neighborhood are the special attributes of Bhaktapur. Nyatapola or Panchatale Mandir (Five-storied temple), 55-windowed palaces, Dattatreya Square, Pottery Square locally Known as ‘Kumari Chowk’ or ‘Tachapal Tole’, and Taumadhi Square are some major places of interests.Changu Narayan TempleThe Changu Narayan Temple, located about 7 kilometers north of Bhaktapur is one of the oldest shrines in the valley. Sitting atop a ridge at the northern edge of Bhaktapur, the pagoda-styled, two-storied temple is dedicated to the Hindu god ‘Narayan’. It is also enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage.Patan Durbar SquareThe picturesque Patan, also known contemporarily in Nepali as ‘Lalitpur’ and as Manigal and Yala in the local language, was founded by the Kirats around the 3rd Century BC. The Malla dynasty ruled the town between 1200 to 1800 AD and made significant contributions to the area, evident even today. Siddhi Narasimha Malla and Yog Narendra Malla are a few notable kings who contributed to the current architecture and monuments that Patan is well-known for. The Patan City is designed in the shape of a Dharma Chakra, which is a shape that exhibits paths to enlightenment based on the teachings of Buddha. Patan is the center of exquisitely ancient craftwork in the midst of urbanization.The Patan Durbar Square features intricately stone-carved temples like Krishna Mandir, the freshly renovated Bhimsen Temple, Vishwanath Temple, and the famous Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihara). Patan Museum, Banglamukhi, and Kumbeshwar Mahadev Temples also incite fascination among visitors.
Full Itinerary
Our day tour of Patan and Bhaktapur starts at 9 AM. You are picked up from your hotel and transferred to Patan Durbar Square. It is a short drive (about 7 km) from the core of the capital city of Kathmandu. Take a trip down history lane with our master tour guide. Prepare to unravel mysteries of the diverse cultures of Nepal, particularly the Kathmandu Valley.
Next, we drive to the Changu Narayan temple. Located about 20km from Patan, it is tucked away from the capital city and placed at a hilltop, north of Bhaktapur. Built as early as 325 AD; Changu Narayan is the oldest known Vishnu temple. Displaying the masterpiece of Nepalese Pagoda architecture, the temple has a private museum nearby where you will see an impressive exhibition of ancient Nepalese crafts, coins, arts and architecture.
We then head to Bhaktapur. Alienated from the other Kathmandu and Patan, Bhaktapur is an old city where you get to behold the traces of ancient civilizations and their marvels, actively preserved by the locals.Towards the evening, you are transferred back to your hotel, ending the day's tour.
Cost Includes
- Accompany of Licensed, highly experienced, English-speaking tour guide with salary and all personal expenses covered
- A comfortable, air-conditioned car with a professional, friendly driver for the tour
- Pick-up from your hotel and drop-off at your hotel after the tour
- All applicable monument entrance fees and permits during the tour as per itinerary
- All applicable government charges and taxes
Cost Excludes
- Nepal Visa and International air-tickets
- Travel Insurance: medical expenses and hospitalization, and Trip Cancellation charges
- Personal equipment, meals, accommodations and any other personal expenses such as beverages, confectionaries, laundries, etc.
- Tips to your guide, porters, driver and other field staff as a token of appreciation
- Any other expenses or charges not mentioned in the “Trip Includes” list
