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Around Kathmandu: Temples and Himalaya Views

Once you have seen central Kathmandu set out and explore the treasures around Kathmandu: the historic squares, temples and royal cities. And get up on the hills around Kathmandu for views of the Himalayas, the world’s highest peaks that make Nepal famous. 

Kathmandu has some extraordinary cultural sights right outside the city: the Monkey Temple Swayambbunath in the west, Boudanath and Pashupatinath temples in the east and the ancient kingdom of Patan in the south. All of them make great day trip destinations.

For Himalaya views go south to Chandragiri Hills where you get to 2500 m by cable car. Or take a jeep and travel north to Shivapuri National Park.

The Buddha's eyes, Boudanath temple

Sights around Kathmandu: the Buddha’s eyes of Boudanath Temple

This post will show you where to go around Kathamndu, Nepal. I will show you Swayambbunath, Boudanath and Pashupatinath, Patan Durbar Square, Chandragiri Hills and Shivapuri National Park.

Prayer flags and full moon, Nepal

Nepalese prayer flags at full moon

More to See around Kathmandu

But that’s not all. The Kathmandu Valley has two more places to go, Bhaktapur and Nagarkot. 

Bhaktapur is an ancient city east of Kathmandu and further east is Nagarkot, a mountain village of on the Kathmandu Valley rim that also has fantastic Himalaya views.

To read about Bhaktapur and Nagarkot check out my other post Nepal: Nature, Culture and UNESCO Sights and the same post also shows you Kathmandu city center Thamel and Durbar Square.

Sights around Kathmandu on the Map

The map shows the locations of the temples and Himalaya view points described in this post.

 

For a closer view of the locations zoom out the map.

UNESCO Listed Temples around Kathmandu

A Kathmandu temple

One of the many Kathmandu temples

Nepal is a country with thousands of years of heritage and both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. That’s why small temples and shrines exist in almost every corner. The photo shows one of the many central Kathmandu temples.

However the three biggest temples are around Kathmandu, one in the west and the two others north of the airport. They are Nepal’s finest temples which UNESCO has taken on their World Heritage list.

These fine temples around Kathmandu are Swayambbunath, Boudanath and Pashupatinath.

Swayambbunath, the Monkey Temple

Temples around Kathmandu: Swayambbunath, the Monkey Temple

Visiting temples around Kathmandu: Swayambbunath

Swayambbunath is a Buddhist temple located on a hilltop west of Kathmandu, close to the ring road. It’s in a wooded park and needs climbing stairs.

The park has a monkey population which is why Swayambbunath is also known as the Monkey Temple.

Temple monkey, Swayambbunath, Kathmandu

Temple monkey in Swayambbunath, Kathmandu

The place where the temple stands has a religious background since 2500 years back in time.

They say the Kathmandu Valley used to be a lake from which the Swayambbunath hill suddenly rose. And that’s also what the temple’s Nepali language name tells.

Swayambbunath, Kathmandu

Swayambbunath temple decoration

Swayambbunath has one big white stupa and many small ones that stand for different purposes.

About Buddhist Stupas

To keep the big stupa snow white they paint it every year and at the same time add yellow stripes. The yellow stands for lotus.

This is the temple top:

Kathmandu Monkey Temple spire and crown

 Swayambbunath Temple  top

The spire on the top has 13 levels which stands for the 13 stages you need to take to get to Nirvana. Above the spire stands one more round thing that is an umbrella. The umbrella has its own religious meaning.

And then there are the prayer flags, thousands of them in five colors: blue for the sky, white for the wind, red for fire, green for water and yellow for earth.

Buddhist flags contain text. That is written mantras and the flags spread the mantras and prayers to all.

Monkey Temple prayer flags

Sights around Kathmandu: Monkey Temple and its Buddhist prayer flags

And below that all stares the Buddha out in all four directions:

Dome and spire of Swayambbunath, the Monkey Temple of Kathmandu

Kathmandu city view from Swayambbunath Temple

 Kathmandu view from Swayambbunath Temple

And the Monkey Temple really is a perfect place to stare out in all four directions. You get a good overview of the whole city and evening sunset over Kathmandu skyline also is something to see.

Walking around the Temple

Buddhists walk around their temples and the rule is to walk clockwise. And as they walk they touch the long rows of prayer wheels around the dome.

Walking around Kathmandu Monkey Temple

Kathmandu Monkey Temple prayer wheels

Kathmandu Monkey Temple prayer wheels

And as I mentioned there are small side temples. They have the same form as the big one:

Swayambbunath, Kathmandu after sunset

Kathmandu Monkey Temple, more prayer flags

A side temple of Swayambbunath, Kathmandu

Kathmandu Monkey Temple bell

Monkey in Swayambbunath, the Monkey Temple of Kathmandu

Monkey Temple monkey

The Monkey Temple is one of Kathmandu Valley’s eight UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites.

How to get to Swayambbunath: walk across Vishnumati River from the city center or take a taxi. The temple is next to the ring road in the west.

Read more about the Monkey Temple:

Discover Nepal. The official tourism website for Nepal: Swayambhunath

More Temples around Kathmandu: Boudanath

Boudanath and the Buddha's eyes

The dome of Boudanath also has the Buddha’s eyes

The next UNESCO temple Boudanath is located 5 km north east of the city in the middle of a busy suburb. The temple is on flat land and inside a block so you can’t really see it from the street. But look for a decorated gate where people go in and out.

Yet this is Nepal’s biggest stupa and the dome is gigantic. This one too is shining white and has prayer flags in five colors hanging from the top.

And painted Buddha’s eyes gaze out on all four sides:

The Buddha's eyes, Boudanath temple

The painted eyes of the Buddha watching you

Boudanath prayer flags

Boudanath Stupa prayer flags

Boudanath Stupa prayer flags

A sight around Kathmandu: Boudanath Temple prayer flags

Buddhist Stupa on a European Square

Boudanath stands on a round square that has pastel painted houses around it. And the houses look just like old European town houses!

The square is full of people. In evenings thousands of locals gather here to walk around the stupa. It’s a ritual and they all walk clockwise. It’s impressive that so many people walk together and many of them keep walking for hours.

Sights around Kathmandu: Boudanath stupa square

Square around Boudanath stupa, Kathmandu

Boudanath Stupa prayer flags and surrounding townhouses

Square around Boudanath stupa, Kathmandu

There are many  Tibetan monks among the walkers. They live in monasteries around Boudanath which is one of the world’s main centers of  Tibetan Buddhism.

The history behind that is that as Boudanath was located on the old trading route to Tibet Tibetans wanted to stop here and pray before heading out to the Himalayas.

Boudanath temple elephants, Kathmandu

Boudanath Stupa, Kathmandu

Boudanath Stupa, a UNESCO sight around Kathmandu

So Boudanath Temple is one of the eight UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites around the Kathmandu Valley and absolutely needs a visit.

How to get to Boudanath: by taxi. If you are visiting Boudanath and Pashupatinath at the same time you can walk between them.

Read more about Boudanath Temple:

Discover Nepal. The official tourism website for Nepal: Boudhanath

The Third Temple Around Kathmandu: Pashupatinath

Temples around Kathmandu: Pashupatinath

Pashupatinath Temple on the holy Bagmati River

As Swayambbunath and Boudanath were Buddhist this is a Hindu temple. Pashupatinath is Nepal’s main Hindu temple and dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Shiva. It is also a sacred place for all Asian Hindus.

Pashupatinath temple grounds are huge, this the largest single temple area in Nepal and a lot bigger than Boudanath’s area in size.

Pashupatinath Temple is a walking distance from Boudanath so it’s a good idea to visit them both on the same day. We however came here twice and it happened to be a cloudy day at Pashupatinath.

Pashupatinath stalls

Pashupatinath stall

Stalls selling religious stuff on the way to Pashupatinath 

The area of Pashupatinath doesn’t look attractive at all when you arrive. There is a dusty plain, a huge parking area and then these rows of stalls selling religious stuff.

But go in, Pashupatinath is going to touch you and you will learn about Hindu habits. To learn even more take a private guide, they will approach you at the gate.

Hindu Cremations Going On

Bagmati River and Pashupatinath

Cremation by the holy Bagmati River, Kathmandu

Pashupatinath Temple cremation

Cremations by the holy Bagmati River, Kathmandu

Pashupatinath Temple stands on a river bank and the area is full of smoke – from cremations. The river looks grey and dirty, yet it is the holy Bagmati River that flows to Ganges. For that reason many Hindus are cremated here and there are always many fires.

Family members gather around the body and make the fire and at the end the ashes are spread into the river. There are separate areas for low and high caste cremations and a place where Nepalese royal cremations used to take place. You can stay and watch cremations going on if you feel like that.

Or you can take the stone steps up to the hill and watch from there together with monkeys. But  monkeys are not the least interested in what’s going on down by the river. They are interested in getting your food if you have any with you.

The hill has a long row of identical monuments:

Pashupatinath Hindu Temple and temple monkey

Pashupatinath temple guided tour

Pashupatinath temple monuments in a row

Monkey and monumets on the hill

The holy Hindu temple itself is on the other river bank. It’s the one that looks like a pagoda and has a golden roof. You can go closer to it but only Hindus can go in.

Sadhus, the Holy Hindu Men

Our guide was talking all the time and we learned a lot from him, also about these men. They are holy men, sadhus and we saw many of them around. The holy men are followers of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god for whom this temple is.

Sadhus typically wear simple sack clothing and they paint their faces with ashes and bright colors. And many of them have an extremely long hair.

These holy men are monks that have left normal life behind and now concentrate in meditating. They are trying to reach the final stage of life.

Holy man on Pashupatinath temple stairs

Holy man of Pashpatinath Temple, Kathmandu

Holy men of Pashpatinath Temple, Kathmandu

Sadhus are not just meditating, they are doing good things in their community. They arrange food for hundreds of poor people every day.

We sat down with the holy men and they blessed us with a red mark that they gave on the forehead.

Blessed by the holy men of Pashpatinath Temple

Blessed by the holy men of Pashpatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is a third one of the 8 UNESCO Cultural Heritage Sites of Kathmandu Valley.

How to get to Pashupatinath: taxi is by far the easiest way. If you are visiting Boudanath and Pashpatinath at the same time you can walk between them.

More information and sunny photos of Pashupatinath Temple:

Discover Nepal. The official tourism website for Nepal: Pashupatinath Temple

Therse were the temples and now Patan:

Patan Durbar Square

Taleju Temple and Royal Palace, Patan Durbar Square

Taleju Temple and Royal Palace, Patan Durbar Square

From Pashupatinath you can follow the Bagmati River to Patan, an ancient kingdom 4 km south of Kathmandu.

Patan is also called with its old Sanskrit name Lalitpur . Lalitpur means the beautiful city which is right, that’s what Patan is. It’s a city of artists and craftsmen which you can tell from the buildings. Houses, temples and palaces have fine decorations and not just in the old city but also around it.

During centuries generations of Nepalese kings used to rule from here the last ones of which were the Mallas. So Patan has really had a big role in Nepal’s history.

Pagoda on Patan Durbar Square

What to see around Kathmandu: pagodas on Patan Durbar Square

Patan’s Durbar Square (where durbar means palace) has an old royal palace and temples spread in front of it. Since these temples have so much decoration they look very different from the ones in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur. These ones are also better preserved. Yet the 2015 earthquake damaged Patan as well and destroyed some fine monuments.

Some photos from Patan Durbar Square, the gate, temples and the royal palace building:

Patan Durbar Square bell tower

Chyasin Dega, Patan Durbar Square

Royal Palace, Patan Durbar Square

Sights around Kathmandu: architecture of, Patan Durbar Square

What to see around Kathmandu: architecture of Patan Durbar Square

Patan Museum

A part of the Royal Palace has been made a museum of religious art. Patan Museum has hundreds of deity statues from the valley and they show them in a very good, informative exhibition.

Monkey-god Hanuman, Patan Museum

Patan Musem wood carvings

Monkey-god Hanuman and old wood carvings, Patan Museum

Durbar Square is the city center and from there there are four main streets to north, south, east and west and all these streets lead to a big stupa.

The Golden Temple of Patan

Take the street north and walk a little within the world heritage zone  and you will find a special building that has the name Hiranya Varna Mahavihar. It’s the Golden Temple, a Buddhist monastery very well decorated in copper and metalwork.

The Golden Temple of Patan, Nepal

The Golden Temple of Patan, Nepal

This is pataka, a metal streamer that serves as a ladder. The ladder is there to make it easier for deities to come down and meet us.

Here you can see two bronze elephants that are guarding the gate to the Golden Temple:

Golden Temple gate, Patan

The Golden Temple of Patan, monkey statue

Golden Temple of Patan

Sights around Kathmandu: The Golden Temple of  Patan

More Patan Sights

But there’s more to see in Patan so go out from the heritage zone. Like this gate. It’s Patan Dhoka, one of the old city gates.

Patan Dhoka

Patan shopping mall

Things to see around Kathmandu: old and modern Patan 

But Patan is not just history. It is a modern, living Nepalese city that has newer temples as well. Like this shopping heaven we visited on the Valentine’s Day. That’s why the hearts are there.

And as you can guess Patan Durbar Square is one more UNESCO Site around Kathmandu.

How to get to Patan: taxi is by far the easiest way but there are also buses. The city is small enough to explore on foot.

Read more about Patan:

The official tourism website for Nepal: Patan

Cable Car to Chandragiri Hills

Chandragiri Hill cable car

Places to go around Kathmandu: Chandragiri Hills by cable car

Now about the nature sights around Kathmandu. To see the Himalayas make a day trip to Chandragiri Hills. The hills are just a short way south from the city and one of the best places to take in mountain views.

We took a taxi to the lower cable car station which is above the village of Thankot and then the cable car up to 2520 m.

The Chandragiri cable car line is pretty new, it was opened in 2016. The line is 2,4 km long and built by a Swiss Austrian company. The ride is nice, silent and smooth, just like cable cars in Europe.

Cable car to Chandragiri Hills

Entering Changdagiri cable car atthe lower station

Or Hike to Chandragiri?

Before the cable car was opened the only way to get up was to hike. Which you can still do. The trail still stands there and follows the cable car line. So why not hike one way and take the cable car the other way?

Chandragiri Hill mountain view

Chandragiri Hill mountain view

As Kathmandu air often is grey and polluted you don’t see much of the mountains from the city. But once you get higher up the situation is different. If you go up to Chandragiri on a clear day you can see the Himalaya range, the Middle Hills and of course the city of Kathmandu and the valley.

We however had bad luck. It was sunny and super clear skies in Kathmandu as we left but it all changed while we were sitting in the taxi. There was a thunder storm, rain, clouds and more clouds.

In other words I can’t show you what the Chandragiri Himalaya view is like at its best. We only saw the nearest mountains and a little bit of the Himalayas. But you can trust all other people’s great Chandragiri photos don’t lie.

Snowing on Chandragiri Hill

Chandragiri Hills snake statue in a snow storm

Chandragiri is developing its services on the hill and the hilltop is already full of eateries and beer houses. There’s also a new view tower that costs extra and a modern plastic children’s playground. Those things were not for us but we went to see a temple, Bhaleshwor Mahadev.

Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple

Visiting Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple, Chandragiri

Places to visit around Kathmandu: Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, 2550 m.

Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple is a Hindu pilgrimage site and has always a lot of locals Hindus visiting. The temple is one of many around the country where the story tells parts of a holy body fell. That makes pilgrims’ dreams get fulfilled.

The hilltop temple new but looks much older. It’s very pretty and so are its cow, elephant and dragon statues that all shine in gold.  Look at this golden cow and other temple details:

Bhaleshwor Mahadev, Chandragiri Hill

Golden cow of Chandragiri Hindu Temple

Chandragiri Hill temple roof

View of Chandragiri Hill temple area

Bhaleshwor Mahadev, Chandragiri Hills

Bhaleshwor Mahadev temple statue

Chandragiri Hill temple decoration

Bhaleshwor Mahadev ribbons

Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple on Chandragiri Hills, 2500 m

How to get to Chandragiri: take a taxi to the cable car station and cable car up (USD 22 return, 2019). You can also hike up the 2500 m hill along a marked trail from the cable car station.

Chandragiri also has a bus service from Kathmandu but at the time we were visiting there was only one bus a day. See the Chandragiri website for bus connections. 

Mountains from Chandragiri Hills

Mountains from Chandragiri Hills, Nepal

Read more about Chanrdagiri cable car on the website of Chandragiri Hills.

Day Trip to Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park valley view

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park north of Kathmandu Valley

After our Chandragiri trip we once more wanted to get close to the Himalayas. As we were wondering how and where our travel agent came with a suggestion. Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is close to the Himalayas and there’s a place called Prakriti Resort and that’s where we should go.

Shivapuri National Park is a bit from Kathmandu and the place we were going to was a three hour drive from the capital, one way. So we could maybe make it as a day trip. Of course it’s better if you can stay the whole weekend but that was out of question this time.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Entering Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepal

Entering Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Entering Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, Nepah

Shivapuri became a national park in 2002 after which its visitor numbers have been growing.

The park is a part of a hundred kilometer long network of hiking routes that has been built around the Kathmandu Valley. It was a foreign aid project with the Finnish organization Suomen Latu and the aim was to help local people, and the resort we were going to was developed in the same project.

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park is a wooded area with rolling mountains, rich birdlife, monkeys, bears and leopards and above all the park has Himalaya views. So we went to Shivapuri both for the nature and for the views.

Jeep Drive to Shivapuri and Prakriti Resort

As roads in this part of Shivapuri require a Jeep our travel agent arranged us one and the next morning we set off on a jeep adventure. That meant six hours jeep travel on soft and super bumpy Nepalese roads that look like this:

Landslide in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Drive to Prakriti Resort, Nepal

Drive to Prakriti Resort, Shivapuri National Park

To be straight, the road was terrible. It had been raining the day before and they were repairing the land slides caused by the rainfall.

But we did it! Or in fact not us, it was our driver who did it. He did a hard work.

Prakriti Resort

Prakriti Resort, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Prakriti Resort Himalaya view

Prakriti Resort in Shivapuri: the resort and the view

So the first part of our jeep adventure was over and we were happy to get out from the jeep into fresh mountain air. The air up here was cool, the place is at 2000 m.

Prakriti Resort is above Sundarijal that is a popular hiking area, it’s a four hour hike from Sundarijal. From the resort you can walk on towards Chisapani or take some other short trails in the area. The place is also connected to the long trail network through Kathmandu Valley but that of course needs many hiking days.

Nepalese prayer flags at 2000 m

Nepalese prayer flags in the wind

It was Sunday and lunch time so we had a Dal Bhat lunch with Nepalese beer on the resort terrace. I always enjoy Nepalese food but here in the mountains it was super delicious.

Lunch at Prakriti Resort, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Dhal Bat in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

Dhal Bat and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park views

As we only stayed one day in Shivapuri there was absolutely no time for any hikes so we only walked to the nearest mountain top for better views. The scenery from the top was fantastic though the Himalayas were partly behind white afternoon clouds.

Prakriti Resort Himalaya Views

This is the resort’s viewpoint on the mountain top and below is the scenery.

Prakriti Resort Himalaya viewpoint

The Himalayas from Prakriti Resort

Prakriti Resort Himalaya Viewpoint

The Himalayas from Prakriti Resort

The Himalayas from national park viewpoint

The Himalayas from Prakriti Resort, Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park

The Shivapuri ridge has views to the whole Himalaya range from Mount Everest region in the west to Mt. Annapurna in the east. I liked the views and I also liked the mountain flower views:

Himalaya flowers

Things to see around Kathmandu: Nepalese flowers

How to get to Prakriti Resort: you need to hire a jeep. Our jeep was USD 120/day and we booked it through Distinctive Nepal which is the local travel agent we used. Another option is to take a car to Sundarijal and hike. 

More information on Shivapuri and the resort we visited:

Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park website

Prakriti Resort website

More on Nepal Travel

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