Enchanting Kathmandu and Pokhara

Breakfast at hotel

AM: Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath

Kathmandu City: The seat of royalty till the last century, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a wondrous cluster of ancient temples, palaces, courtyards and streets. Kumari, the living Goddess, the stone carved statue of ferocious Kal Bhairav, erotic carvings glorifying the art works in the temples, the giant temple of the Goddess Taleju and image of Shiva and Parvati peering outside through the window are just a few of the most noteworthy attractions in the area. One can’t help but admire the exceptionally attractive woodcarvings, statues and buildings that are cluster in the area.

Continue to Swayambhunath Stupa: A golden spire crowning a conical wooded hill, Swayambhunath Stupa is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu valley. Its lofty white dome and glittering golden spires are visible from many miles and from all sides of the valley. Historical records found on a stone inscription give evidence that the Stupa was already an important Buddhist pilgrimage destination by the 5th century AD.

PM: Visit to Patan city

Patan City: Nowhere else can be seen such a compression of marvelous monuments within a limited space like in the Patan Durbar Square. Besides the old royal palace, which dominates all others in grace and grandeur, here is the 17th-century Krishna Mandir. Entirely made of stone, this shikhara-style structure with 21 pinnacles is dedicated to Lord Krishna, a savior deity in Hindu pantheon, and is equally noted for rare stone carvings on its walls, which depict various episodes of the epic wars of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Other landmarks within the Square are Tusha-hity (water spout), Sundari Chowk, Taleju Temple and the Keshav Narayan Chowk. The Hiranyavarna Mahavihar (Golden temple), Rudravarna Mahavihar and the terra-cotta temple of Mahabouddha are other highlights in the vicinity.

Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu (B)

Breakfast at hotel

AM: Proceed for sightseeing tour to Bhaktapur city

Bhaktapur City: Situated at an altitude of 1,401 m and covering an area of four square miles, it still retains the medieval charm and visitors to this ancient town are treated with myriad wonders of cultural and artistic achievements. Of the Valley’s three Durbar Squares, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the best preserved one. This splendid palatial square has its gems in such artistic masterpieces as the 55-Windows Palace, the Golden Gate, Golden Sprout, the Taleju temple complex and Nyatapola-the five-storied temple -in the nearby Taumadhi Square. The 15th-century Dattatreya temple and the world famous Peacock Window at Tachapal, are also there to keep visitors spellbound.

PM: Visit Pashupatinath and Boudhanath

Pashupatinath temple: One of the most sacred Hindu shrines in the world, Pashupatinath lies in the bank of river Bagmati. The two-storied pagoda houses a sacred lingum, or the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva. Although the temple dates back to the 4th century, it was brought into its present shape in the early 18th century. The temple is most noted for its gold-plated roofs and silver-coated doors. Sadhus and sages, who follow the lifestyle of Lord Shiva, are seen covered with ashes and loincloths. The banks of the river Bagmati, is also considered one of the holiest places in which to get cremated and cremations can be witnessed here. All tourists are requested that certain respect is shown for the grieving.

Continue to Boudhanath, possibly the world’s largest Buddhist Stupa and a site of great veneration for Buddhists.

Boudhnath is situated 8 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu, Boudhnath, is one of the most imposing landmarks in Kathmandu, visible as soon as you land at the Tribhuvan International Airport. It is the largest stupa in the Kathmandu Valley. The 36-meter-high stupa of Boudhnath is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. With countless monasteries surrounding it, Boudhnath is the center of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal.
Built in the shape of a mandala designed to replicate the Gyangtse of Tibet, the stupa was renovated by Licchhavi rulers in the 8th century. The location of the stupa is interesting as it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet and it was here that Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for centuries.
On each side is a pair of the all-seeing-eyes of the Buddha symbolizing awareness. The canopy has 13 stages. At ground level there is a brick wall with 147 inches and 108 images of the meditational Buddha inset behind copper prayer wheels.

Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu (B)

Breakfast at hotel

Drive to Pokhara and transfer to the hotel. 

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal and is situated about 200 km west of the capital Kathmandu. Pokhara is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nepal. Three out of the ten highest mountains in the world — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I, and Manaslu — are situated within 30 miles (linear distance) of the city, so the northern skyline of the city offers a very close view of the Himalayas. Due to its proximity to the Annapurna mountain range, the city is also a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit through the ACAP region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas.

PM: Leisure Time

Overnight at hotel in Pokhara (B)

Breakfast at hotel

AM- PM: Full-day sightseeing tour of Pokhara Valley

Devi’s Fall: Locally known as Patale Chango (Hell’s Falls) also known as Devins and Davids is a lovely Waterfall is about 2 km south West of Pokhara airport on the Siddhartha Highway to Tansen. Legend has it that a trekker by the name of Davy was washed away by the Padi Khola and mysteriously disappeared into an underground passage beneath the fall.

Gupteshwor Cave: This Cave is divided into two parts. The first parts are about 40 meters long; there is a natural cave and a temple of Lord Shiva. In this first part, you are not allowed to take photos. The next parts start after the temple which way goes to the downside of Devi’s fall, the distance of about 100 meters from the second entrance, from there you can see the view of Davis Fall as well as natural rocks, Electric lights are managed for the convenience of the visitor. After the Lord Shiva temple on the second part of this Cave, you are allowed to take photos. The second parts are closed during 4 months of Monsoon (June, July, August, and September)

Seti Gandaki Gorge: Another of Pokhara’s natural wonders is the Seti Gandaki River. ‘Seti’ means White in Nepali and that’s how the famous Seti River got its name with its flowing silver white water.  Flowing right through the city, the boisterous river runs underground at places. Amazingly, at certain places, the river appears hardly two meters wide. However, its depth is quite beyond imagination, over 20m. Mahendra Pul, a small bridge near the old mission hospital, provides a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by its powerful flow.

Bindyabasini Temple: The old Bazaar is also home to one of Pokhara’s most important shrines.    Locally called the Bindhyabasini Mandir, this white dome-like structure dominates a spacious stone–paved courtyard built atop a shady hillock. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park – like grounds offer a fine picnic area, and on Saturdays, and Tuesdays when devotees flock there to offer sacrifices, it takes on a festive flavor.

Mountain Museum: Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), established on 1 Nov 1973, initiated the establishment of the International Mountain Museum (IMM) in Pokhara. The basic objective for its establishment was to record, document, and chronicle the past and present development of mountaineering activities in the world in general and to preserve the saga of the momentous feats in the history of mountaineering in the Himalayan peaks in particular.

Overnight at hotel in Pokhara (B)

Breakfast at hotel

AM: Hike to Thulakot (4-5 Hrs)

Thulakot is a newly discovered place in Pokhara and rarely do travelers know about this place. Thulakot is in Kalika VDC of Kaski and falls in the Royal Trek region of Pokhara. The journey starts about an hour’s scenic hill drive from Pokhara to Kalikasthan (17 km northeast). 

The drive exposes the beautiful landscapes, villages, and picture postcard scenery then, or kalikasthan we need to walk through the village path for about 25 minutes during this walk we will pass through several village houses. Then we will walk up to thulakot (about 15m ascending walk). From this region, one could see the mountain range and eight lakes out of nine lakes of Pokhara. From here The Annapurna Range, Machhapuchchhre Range, Dhaulagiri, and Manaslu’s Mountain peaks could be seen. Phewa Lake and Kamal Lake of Pokhara and Begnas, Maidi, Dipang, Gude, Nureni, and Khaste Lakes of Lekhnath could be seen from this region though apart from Phewa and Begnas, other lakes do not look like a lake today.

The Begnas Lake is another attraction on this trip which we will see from the top of Thulakot and the hike will end at Begnas Lake. 

The 5 hours Thulakot hill hike is a mixed experience with forest, villages, farming, scenery, lifestyle, lakes, and the mountains.

Evening: Leisure Time

Overnight at hotel in Pokhara (B, L)

After having breakfast, we drive back to Kathmandu

Eve: Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant with a cultural program

Overnight at hotel in Kathmandu (B, D)

Free till departure and later, transfer to the International Airport to connect the flight to onward destination.