Hindu Religious Tour 9N/10D

Hindu Religious Tour

is specially design with the aim to let you known more about Hindu Religion. Which have been practicing in Nepal since very starting time of Nepal. According to Hindu Holy books, this is the oldest religion of the world. 15% Out of total population of the world are Hindu. In Nepal, 81% out of total population are Hindu.

Highlights of this tour:

Kathmandu Durbar (Palace Square)

It is believed that around 2500 years ago Kathamndu valley used to be a great lake. Manjushre a follower of Buddha drained the water out of the valley with his magical sword from the place called Chovar. Kathmandu also known as Kantipur (City of glory ) is said to be designed like Khadga (Sword) by King Gunakamdeva around 725 AD, devotee of goddess Kali. The name remains up until 16th century. We will be able to see palaces, temples, stupas and many more during our visit. The temple of Mahendrashwor Mahadev 1562 AD, and Taleju Bhavani Temple 1564 AD by King Mahendra Malla, stone inscription of different languages, statue of Hanuman (monkey god) in fornt of Palace, Basantapur Durbar ( nine storey palace) constructed by King Prithivi Narayan Shah after the unification of small states into a greater Nepal in the year 1770, Jaganath Temple with erotic carvings, also known as love temple, Big Bell 1797 by King Rana Bahadur Shah, statue of KalBhairav found in Nagarjun forest in the 16th century, White Bhairava opens only during the festival of Dashain, Shiva Parvati Temple by Rana Bahadur Shah, Gaddi Baithak 1908 AD, Kumari Ghar didicated to the living goddess Kumari 1757 AD said to the incarnation of Taleju Bhavani Royal diety of malla kings by King Jaya Prakash Malla, 12th century Kasthamandap also known as Maru Sattal said to be built by a single tree, and Freak street or hippi street are major highlights of Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Patan Durbar (Palace) Square

The official name of the city is “Lalitpur” (City of Beauty). It is located about 5 km south of Kathmandu. Patan is one of medival royal cities in the valley. We can see beautiful wood and stone carvings, metal statues, ornate architecture, including dozens of Buddhist and Hindu temples in Patan. The city is known for its rich tradition of arts and handicrafts and as the birthplace of master craftsmen and artist Arniko. It is believed to be designed in third century B.C. by the Kirat dynasty and expanded by Lichhavis in the 6th century A.D. and again by the Mallas in medieval period. The Malla kings ruled the Kathmandu Valley until the unification of small states into a great nation by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1768.
The Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar), built in the 12th Century by King Bhaskar Verma located just north of Durbar square, Machhindranath Temple, Rudra Varna Mahavihar (Buddhist monastery), Kumbheshwor Temple oldest 5 storey temple in Nepal built by Jayasthiti Malla in 1391 AD, 17th century Krishna Mandir by King Siddhi Narashing Malla, Four Ashok Stupas said to be constructed by King Ashoka in 250 BC in four corners of the city (Pulchwok, Lagankhel, Ebahi (on the way to Sankhamul) and Teta (on the way to Lubu Sano Goan)), 14th century Mahabouddha (9999 statues of Buddha in every single brick) by Avay Raj 1564 AD in his own property, 6th centruy Accheshwor Bihar are some of the major highlights of Patan.

Bungamati/Khokana

Bungmati and Khaokana lies 6km South of Patan. They are two medieval village back from the 15th century. It is a open museum with medival lifestyle activities in their day to day life. Most of the people in this locality are Newars. Bungmati is 15 minutes walk from Khokana. We can see typical Newari houses and experience newari culture, religion, architecture, and traditions. Bungmati and Khaokana are popular for chilly and mustard oil. October and November is best time to visit Bungmati and Khokana because the whole village looks colorful with red chilly garland from the top floor to the ground floor of the village. Majority of farmers in Bungmati and Khaokana are involved in oil pressing business. Mustard oil of Khokana is very popular among the inhabitants of Kathmandu valley.

Pashupatinath

Pashupatinath is a famous, sacred Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and is located on the banks of the Bagmati River 5 kilometres east of Kathmandu Valley. This temple is considered one of the sacred temples of Hindu faith .This holy place is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites’s since 1979 AD. It was said to be in existance since 400 B.C. constructed by Lichchhavi king Supuspa Deva mentioned in stone inscription erected by Jayadeva 11 in the courtyard of Pashupatinath in 753 AD and being renovated by and modified by different kings. The head priest are Bhattas (Vedic Dravida Brahmin Scholars) appointed by Adi Guru Shankaracharya. Bhandari are the treasurers, temple caretakers, and assistant priest of the temple but are not allowed to touch the God. A lot of devotees visit Pashupatinath on Monday since it is called the day of worshipping Shiva but people worship Pashupatinath everyday. We can see a lot of monkeys in the premises and deers on the deer park. The most important festival is the Maha Shiva Ratri on the month of February, Bala chaturthi, and Teej. The major hightlights of Pashupatinath is cremations on the bank of Bagmati River seen everyday, Deer park (where Lord Shiva used to be an antelope), Ram Mandir, evening Ganga arati, Ananta Narayan, Kali, Dome style Laxmi Narayan Temple, residene of holy Hindu monks popularly known as Sadhus, School of vedic rituals and so on.

Changu Narayan

Changu Narayan, 18 km east of kathmandu is 1541 meters above sea level. This place is named as Dolagiri, Dolparvat, Dolasikhar, Chapakaranya, Champapur Mahanagar, and Champak Narayan. Changu Narayan is worshipped by Hindus as Lord Bishnu and Hari Hari Hari vahan Lokeshwor by Buddhist. Stone inscription of king Mandeva back from the (464 AD) 3rd centruy is said to the be 1st written histroy of Nepal with archeological evidence. Garuda (Holy mount of Lord Bishnu), Statue of King Bhupalendra Malla and Queen Bhuvanlaxmi back from the 17th century, statue of Chanda Narayan (Garuda Narayan) back from the 7th century depicted in Nepalese RS 10 Note, Statue of Sridhar Vishnu with Laxmi and Garuda from 9th century, Vaikuntha Vishnu back from 16th centruy, Chinnamasta Temple, Living elephant, statue of Vishworup from 7th century, Statue of Vishnu Vikrant from 3rd century, statue of Lord Narasimha dated back to 7th century, and Kileshwor Mahadev temple and the major highlights of Changunarayan.

Being an ancient holy place with masterpieces of stone carvings as well as an open meuseum Changunarayan was listed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site  in the year 1979.

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur, city of devotees. During the Lichhavi period in about 3^rd century, it used to be a prosperous village known by the name of Khowpring or Khowpo or even as Badagaun in Newari Language. The city was originally designed like a conch shell in the 12^th century by King Ananda Dev. There were 99 courtyards out of which only 6 remains. It lies 13 km east of the Kathmandu and 1400 meters above sea level. Lifestyle in Bhaktapur is different than that of Kathmandu with unusual cultural and religious heritage sites. It is known as the cultural capital of Nepal and enlisted in the UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE since 1979. Master piece of 17th century Medieval art and architectures are well preserved and renovated exactly as they were before.

Highlights

Siddhapokhari: (Holy pond constructed by King Yakshya Mall in the 15^th century).

Pottery Square: Experience traditional way of making household utencils with black clay specially found in Bhaktapur using spinning wooden wheels. We can observe the process of making clay pots in different forms and drying in the pottery square each day.

Taumadi Square: (18 th century Nyatapol Temple or 5 storey temple is one of the tallest temple in the country which was safe during the great earthquakes in the past. Goddess Siddhi Laxmi is the main diety enshrined in this temple. Kashi Bairav 15 th century along with Betal pati an sattal)

Darbar Square: (Golden Gate, Statue of Bhupatindra Mall, National Art Gallery,  Master piece Stone Statue of Ugrachandi, Bairav, Narasingha, Hanumanta Bairav), 55 windows palace, Vatsala Temple, Krishna Temple, Chyasingh Mandap, Taleju Temple, Water spout, Yakshyashwor Temple etc.. most of them were constructed during 17th century.

Dattatreya Square: It is a open meuseum for wood carving.

Bhimsen Temple: The god of power worshipped by the bussiness community was constructed in 1427 AD by King Yakshya Malla.

Renovated by king Bishow Malla in 1458 AD as well as UNESCO and German colabration in early 70s.

Dattatreya Temple:  Pagoda style (Temple of Trinities) Bramha ( the creator) Bishnu (the Protector) and Shiva (the destroyer).  Datta means to give and treya means three. Combination of Datta, Som, and Durbasa. This temple is also said to be constructed by a single tree like Kasthamandap in Kathmandu.

Pujari Math: 1458 AD by King Bishwa Malla. It was a very powerful hindu monastry. It could even punish kings.  

During the leisure time, the farmers produces household products like clay potteries, straw mattress, cloths like hakupatasi and Black hat (Bhadgaule Topi), and famous king curd (juju dhau).

Kirtipur

Kirtipur is an ancient city of Nepal located 5 km south-west of Kathmandu. The name Kirtipur comes from sanskrit terms Kirti (glory) and pur (city). During 1099 A.D, It was part of Lalitpur. After invasion of the Kathmandu Valley by the Gorkhali king Prithvi Narayan Shah in the 18th century in 1767, Kirtipur was unified to the Gorkha kingdom. He took the town on his third attempt, after entering it by trickery and cut off the noses of men in the city.  Bagh Bhairab temple is one of the most popular temples dedicated to God Bhairab in the form of a tiger. This god is regarded as the guardian of Kirtipur and the locals call it Ajudeu, a grandfather god. Bhairab, the most terrifying form of Shiva is the destroyer on one hand and the guardian on the other hand. Bagh Bhairab is worshipped during ceremonial rituals in relation to the important events of life such as rice-feeding, puberty, marriage and even the construction of houses.

Bagh Bhairab Temple, Shri Kirti Bihar (Theravada Buddhist monastery built in traditional Thai architectural style), Uma Maheshwar temple (locally, Kwacho Dega) 1655 A.D. by Rautra  Vishwanath Babu, son of king Sidhhi Narsinga Malla at the highest point (1414 m) of Kirtipur), Chilancho Stupa (medieval Buddhist shrine with stone inscription of Nepal Samvat 635), and newari culture are the major highlights of Kritipur.

Nagarkot

Nagarkot anciently known as Mandapgiri is  located 32 km east of Kathmandu 2000 m above sea level. This is one of the famous touristic destination where breathtaking panoramic view of snow-capped mountains are presented.  8 Himalayan ranges of Nepal out of 13 can be viewd from here . The ranges include Annapurna range, Manaslu range, Ganesh himal range, Langtang range, Jugal range, Rolwaling range, Mahalangur range (Everest range) and Numbur range with views of the Kathmandu valley and Shivapuri National Park.

Panauti

Panauti is a small town located 32 km Southeast of Kathmandu.  Rosi, Punyamati, and “invisible” river, Lilawati creating a tri-junction (Tribeni dham) makes it important pilgrimage site where every 12 years, a month-long fair is held known as the Makar Mela since 774 Nepal Sambat introduced by King Pratap Malla. During this celebration, hundred and thousands of devotees visit Panauti to cleanse themselves in this sacred water.  The Harisiddhi dance is considered to be the oldest traditional dance in Nepal. This dance was initiated about 2,400 years ago by King Vikramaditya.It is said to use the language of gods and speech of the spirits. Indreshwor Mahadev Temple was  restored in medival period by different rulers and with French aid in 1982-1983, A 16 th century Unmatta Bhairab Temple, Tulanarayan Temple, Sohrakhutte Pati, Lapati, Ghat sattal, Dharmadhatu Chaitya, Umamaheshwor, Stone pillar, Satya Narayan, Laxmi Narayan, Krishana Narayan, Surya Narayan, A 17th century Brahmayani Temple, and Tin dhara are the major highlights of Panauti.