4 Days Kathmandu valley Hindu Pilgrimage Tour

You will have a wonderful flight into the Kathmandu Valley with glimpses of the Himalaya and terraced valley. Upon your arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Nepal, a representative from Bold Himalaya will greet you and transport you to your hotel.

Today, you will have a delicious breakfast at your hotel. After that, our guide will pick you up for a full-day tour of the Kathmandu valley. You will be visiting four sacred sites: Swoyambhu, Budhanilkantha, Pashupatinath, and Boudha. We will start our tour with the early morning Pashupatinath temple visit. It is the biggest Hindu temple of Lord Shiva lies on the bank of holy river Bagmati. In the day time, you will visit Budhanilkantha and Boudha. Budhanilkantha temple is open-air Hindu temple devoted to Lord Vishnu, and Boudha is one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal.  After that, we will visit the ‘Monkey Temple’- Swoyambhu. After visiting all these places we head back to the hotel room. You will have a wonderful night at Kathmandu.

Swoyambhu

Situated in the northwest of Kathmandu valley, Swoyambhu is amongst the oldest religious sites in Nepal. The beauty of Kathmandu Valley is said to have risen from this point. The stupa of Swoyambhu stood as a symbol of faith and harmony for centuries for Hindu temples and idols incorporated in this Buddhist site. The place is considered Buddhist, but it is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, numerous Hindu monarch followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple. King Pratap Malla held for the creation of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.

Moreover, Swoyambunath includes a variety of temples and shrines, some dating back to the Licahhavi period. Swoyambhu is also named the `Monkey Temple.’ Because numbers of monkeys run around the Swoyambunath temple at night after the pilgrims and priests have left. Swoyambhu is an important site for Hindu pilgrimage. Shiva lingams and a popular Hindu temple dedicated to Harati, the Goddess of smallpox, and others are also around the stupa. But, Shiva lingams are now changed as Buddhist chaityas and decorated with the faces of the Dhyani Buddhas. And the residence of the Harati Devi temple implies the intermingling of the pantheons of Hinduism and Buddhism in the growth of the religious trends of Nepal. You can also find Saraswati Temple here.

Furthermore, on all four sides of the main stupa, there is a large pair of eyes on each. It represents Wisdom and Compassion. There are also called Wisdom Eyes. Between the two eyes, there is a curly symbol, symbolizing the nose. This depicted looks like a question mark. It is a Nepali sign of number figure one. This sign symbolizes the unity of all things existing in the world as well as the only path to enlightenment by the teachings of Buddha.

Budhanilkantha

Budhanilkantha Temple also recognized as the Narayanthan Temple. It is a Hindu open-air temple devoted to Lord Vishnu. The Budhanilkantha statue of the Hindu god Vishnu placed around 10 km from the center of Kathmandu. It is at the base of Shivapuri Hill. The Budhanilkantha statue is 5 meters in length. And, the main statue of Budhanilkantha temple is regarded as the largest stone carving in Nepal. It lies in a reclining position inside a recessed tank of water (symbolizing the cosmic sea) that is 13 meters in length. The statue of Lord Vishnu is created from a single block of black basalt rock of unknown origin.

Furthermore, though the temple is named Budhanilkantha, its name does not appear from the Buddha. Budhanilkantha stands instead for ‘Old Blue Throat.’ The statue signifies Lord Vishnu, which is considered one of the Trimurtis along with Brahma and Shiva.  Moreover, called Jalakshayan Narayan or the Sleeping Vishnu, the statue represents the deity resting on the twisting coils of the cosmic serpent Shesha. Shesha is the eternal, multi-headed king of the serpent goddesses known as Nagas. Shesha is also the servant of Vishnu. In the statue, Vishnu’s legs are crossed, and the eleven heads of Shesha cradle his head. Likewise, Vishnu’s four hands hold objects that are symbols of his divine qualities. A chakra or disc represents the mind, a conch-shell represents the four elements, a lotus flower represents the moving universe, and the club represents primaeval knowledge in his hands. So, in Budhanilkantha you will be praying at one of the most revered Vishnu shrines of the valley.

Pashupatinath

A sacred and popular Hindu temple complex, Pashupatinath is located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Pashupatinath Temple is one of the four most significant sacred sites in Asia for believers of Shiva. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. It is around 5 km north-east of Kathmandu in the eastern part of Kathmandu Valley. Moreover, Pashupatinath Temple inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list since 1979. This ‘great Hindu temple precinct’ is a sprawling gathering of temples, ashrams, images, and writings accumulated over the centuries.

Moreover, Pashupatinath temple was created in the 5th century by Licchavi King Prachanda Dev. And it is also the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. The main pagoda style temple is located in the fortified courtyard inside the complex secured by Nepal Police and Nepal Army. It also has a police outpost along with a living quarter within. Besides that, there is a huge statue Nandi bull, in bronze in front of the western door. It is along with many temples and shrines of both Vaishnav and Saiva tradition. The Pashupatinath Temple presents a variety of temple designs some of which are Pagoda style, Dome style, Shikhara style, and so on. Each temple has its own collection of ceremonies/rituals to be performed. And every temple has special values and customs.

Boudha

Situated around 8 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu, The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudha is massive and dominates the skyline in the area. Bouddhanath is another UNESCO World Heritage sites in Kathmandu. Further, it is one of the most imposing landmarks in Nepal. The inspiring white dome buzzing with energy, Boudha is the largest stupa in the Kathmandu valley.

Moreover, Boudha is one of the most famous tourist sites in the Kathmandu valley.  Moreover, its massive Mandala names it one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal also the world. Further, no other stupa in Nepal comes close to Bouddhanath in terms of grace and purity of line.  Besides that, from its whitewashed roof to its gilded tower painted by the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha, the monument is perfectly proportioned. Bouddhanath is not only visited by Buddhist people. Hindus and other religious people all around the world wish to visit this holy destination. The holy and peaceful environment around the Boudha makes this tour Boudha worth it. So, Boudha is included in the Four Days Kathmandu valley Hindu Pilgrimage Tour.

The third day of Four Days Kathmandu valley Hindu Pilgrimage Tour starts with a beautiful morning in the Kathmandu. You will have a delicious breakfast in your hotel room. After that, our guide will pick you up from your hotel. Today, you will be visiting Patan, Dhakshinkali, and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Patan Durbar Square and Kathmandu Durbar Square are the UNESCO World heritage sites.It is located just across the Bagmati River from Kathmandu, Patan is a city of 55 major temples, 136 Buddhist monasteries, and its artisans are known for their fine metal works. Patan is one of the biggest cities in Nepal. Durbar Square is the Palace Square of Patan. Patan Durbar Square is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nepal. It is the major attraction with the old royal palace and a host of artistically designed temples all within the square. Further, the Patan Museum inside the palace has a distinct collection of wood carvings, metal crafts, and a precious Malla-era throne. There is the beautiful Krishna temple in the Durbar Square built entirely of stone which is the most important Krishna shrine of the valley. Patan Durbar Square is full of temples, palaces, and statues. Besides that, it has the must-see attraction of the Patan Museum. Patan is a traditional centre of handicrafts. So, it is a great place to purchase jewellery, Buddha statues and masks. Furthermore, Patan holds pride in producing fabulous thangka and Paula painters whose products are exported to many countries.A famous Hindu pilgrimage site, Dhakshinkali is placed at the confluence of two holy streams in a rocky cleft in the forest. It is located 22 km outside Kathmandu. This is dedicated to the goddess Kali. Kali is the most bloodthirsty incarnation of Parvati. Further, the deity in the temple is a black stone, signifying a six-armed Kali standing on a prostrated figure of Shiva. Besides that, animal offerings- particularly of cockerels and uncastrated male goats are the main form that the goddess is worshipped. But, Goddess Kali does not indulge in sacrifice. The practice of sacrifice is encouraged through various myths and superstitious practices of human beings. And this ceremony is mainly seen during the Dashain festival.Kathmandu Durbar Square. One of three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu valley, Kathmandu Durbar Square is also UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Kathmandu Durbar Square is in front of the old royal palace. The Kathmandu Durbar Square included the palaces of the Malla and Shah kings who ruled over the city until the 19th-century. But, the palaces have been turned into museums. Further, there is a square surrounds quadrangles along with these palaces, exhibiting courtyards, and temples. Further, within the inner complex of Durbar Square is the site of the Old Royal Palaces. It is referred to as the Hanuman Dhoka Palace Complex. It is mainly located at the entrance of the palace. Its name is derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram. Additionally, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a meditative, religious site for spiritual seekers. Durbar Square is circled by antique statues, fountains, small ponds, and a series of courtyards such as Sundari Chok and Mohan Chok.

It is your last day In Nepal. Before leaving the beautiful country of Nepal, you can enjoy your last moments in Kathmandu with breakfast, a city stroll, or souvenir shopping. A representative of Bold Himalaya will meet you at your hotel and drive you to the airport for your return flight home. You will be at airport 3 hours before departure.