The cultural heritage of Nepal is rich and diverse. This multifaceted heritage encompasses the diversity of Nepal’s ethnic, tribal, and social groups. In Nepal, the expression of cultural diversity is expressed through music, dance, art, craft, folklore, literature, philosophy, festivals, and celebrations, as well as foods and drinks.

Many Nepalese are patient and calm and are not overly dramatic people. Their tolerance has made it possible for many different faiths and ethnicities to coexist harmoniously. Much of Nepal’s culture centers on tradition and religion.

The traditional and historical tour of the Kathmandu valley allows the travelers to take a multi-day tour through the ancient trails and villages of Kathmandu Valley, passing through small farming villages, lush green forests, and old temples, and learn about the traditional lifestyle and heritage of the locals. Additionally, you will be able to enjoy views of the Himalayas and stay in authentic local inns and farm stays each night.

Welcome to Kathmandu

With the exception of India, you require a Nepalese visa in order to get to Nepal. However, getting a visa is easy when you arrive in Kathmandu or from a Nepalese Embassy in your country. As you fly into Kathmandu, you’ll see stunning views of the city, the Himalayas, and terraced fields below. Once you have cleared customs, a representative will meet you at the airport and guide you through Kathmandu’s narrow, winding streets so you can check into your hotel.

Strolling through Patan

Depending on your arrival time the next afternoon, you’ll walk through some of Patan’s most hidden alleys and courtyards. We will walk through the ancient courtyards of the city of Newar, where artisans live, and you’ll get to learn about the design and heritage of this historical city and gain a unique insight into their lives.

You can visit the many noteworthy temples in Patan Durbar Square, such as the Krishna Mandir, the Bhimsen Temple, the Vishwanath Temple, and Taleju Bhawani Temple, as well as the palace itself with its three main courtyards, Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk, and Keshav Narayan Chowk. Furthermore, to the north of the main Patan Durbar Square lies the Rat Temple or Golden Temple.

It will also be possible for you to meet and learn about the highly skilled metalwork artisans who create the stunning brass statues on display and to discuss the ancient art of thangka painting with the artists or making pottery. 

Significant Area in Kathmandu

After breakfast at your hotel the next day, you’ll meet with an English-speaking guide for a full-day tour of Kathmandu Valley, stopping at three of the most sacred cultural and historical sites of Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, and Patan Durbar Square. This tour allows you to see quite a bit of Kathmandu but doesn’t overload you with too many sites. There is plenty of time to spend at each temple (your private tour will last just for you), although most people tend to spend only an hour or two at each of these sites.

After lunch at a recommended local restaurant, return to your Kathmandu hotel in the late afternoon to meet your trekking guide and discuss tomorrow’s adventure.

Heading towards Panauti

On the next day, after visiting the aforementioned temples, we head towards Panauti. After breakfast, you’ll walk ten minutes down the valley to Asapuri to see a small temple before continuing on to Panauti on a jeep road. Finally, you’ll begin the climb up a walking trail which ascends out of the valley.

Upon finishing the climb, you will begin skirting the hills on mostly contouring trails with spectacular views. Afterward, you will descend the hill to Panauti village, where you can spend the afternoon exploring the village.

As the capital of the autonomous kingdom of Banepa in the 13th century, Panauti has retained its historical authenticity and heritage. It remains one of the area’s most important historic villages. Typical of the tradition of the Newar people, the town is built of pink bricks and carved wood, and the village has a peaceful atmosphere – only in September is the rural tranquility disturbed by the ‘Carriage Festival.’

The old part of the town lies at the union of two small rivers, with an important cluster of temples at the confluence. This spot is an ancient PowerPoint, with an invisible third stream also running parallel. An annual festival is held here every twelve years (in January), during which the third stream is believed to appear. During this time, cremations are held here, and a festival is held there. You can stay at a charming old village house in Panauti that has been beautifully restored — a perfect place to spend a night when visiting the ancient town.

Visit NamoBuddha

The next day, you will hike from Panauti through fields, orchards, and villages to Namobuddha. Upon arriving at Namobuddha, you will visit the stupa, where you can learn about Tamang Buddhist heritage and how it compares to Tibetan Buddhism. Siddhartha Gautama’s selfless act of offering his body to a hungry tigress is the inspiration for this stupa, which is believed to have aided him on his path to enlightenment and, ultimately, Buddhahood. Then climb to the top of the hill and visit the newly built Tibetan Buddhist monastery perched on the hilltop above the stupa to learn about the significance of this place and its place in local Tamang culture.

In just a few minutes, you’ll be at your mountain retreat, which offers great views of the Himalayas as well as an intriguing architectural style that makes it a wonderful place to relax and experience the feeling of being in the Himalayas. Arrive around mid-afternoon and simply relax or check out the sunset from a nearby lookout point.

Sightseeing in Bhaktapur

It is possible to enjoy gorgeous mountain views during breakfast before saying goodbye to Namobuddha and starting the final walk to Dhulikhel. This is a great way to end your hike as you walk through villages.

The tour starts at Dhulikhel with a look around the old town before you get in the car and drive back to Kathmandu. Along the way, you will stop in Bhaktapur to look at the old city, people, the durbar square, and temples and grab lunch. The Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is where the Bhaktapur royal family once lived.

Khwopa is also known as the ancient city of Newa, and it is a complex containing four different squares. Taumadhi Square, Durbar Square, Pottery Square, and Dattatreya Square make up the collection. Bhaktapur is home to the Bhaktapur royal palaces as well as several temples and other ancient structures dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

In the square, there are many displays of traditional Newari architecture. All the buildings are works of art in themselves; visitors will surely enjoy exploring them. It was severely affected by the 1934 and 2015 earthquakes in Nepal. We will drive back to Kathmandu from Bhaktapur and check in to your hotel.

Concluding the Tour

Whether you visit other popular cities of Nepal, such as Pokhara, Chitwan, or Ilam after the Kathmandu tour or head back to your home country, it is time to bode farewell to Kathmandu. You can spend the last few minutes of your trip in Kathmandu with breakfast at a café, a city stroll, and/or souvenir shopping. A representative will meet you at your hotel and take you to the airport. Please be at the airport two hours before departure.

Cost includes:

• Arrival & Departure transport via private Car/Van/Bus.
• Three meals per day throughout the Trip(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
• Accommodation during the trek.
• Nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu with B/B.
• Guide and a porter with Insurance, food, and accommodations.
• Sightseeing in Kathmandu or Pokhara valley with a car and tour guide
• First Aid kit.
• Trekking permit (Conservation fee).
• TIMS card (Trekking information management system) is like a permit.
• All needed government tax/vat.

Cost excludes:

• International Airfare.
• Your travel insurance.
• Sightseeing entrance fees
• Nepal Visa fee (US$ 50 for 30 days and US$ 30 for 15 days; you should get a visa open your arrival)
• Any kind of drinks, items of personal expenses like hot shower, battery charge, telephone, missing meal, WIFI Porters, etc.
• Tips for Guide and Porters

After you’ve enjoyed the thrilling and joyful heritage tour, you can choose whether to visit other beautiful places in Nepal or head back home. No matter what you choose, we hope you have a fantastic time.

We can accommodate group tours for this trip; however, you may also opt for a private tour according to your liking. We can arrange private trips at any time of the year at any date of your choosing. Please let us know what your preferred travel dates are so that we can accommodate you.

 

The one thing most people think of doing in Patan, Nepal, is visiting every temple in the famous Durbar Square. Yes, there are some fantastic temples there, but there is much more to do here. The city of Patan is to the southeast of Kathmandu and can be reached by either a $4 taxi ride or a bus. We have visited Patan countless times and explored and experienced much more in this quaint little city.

If you have a few days remaining to spare, I recommend spending some time there. There are so many things to do and see, from art studios to archery classes. Here are some of my favorite things that’ll make you love this city as much as we do.

Furthermore, after a trekking trip in the Himalayas or while preparing for such a trip, you can enjoy your time in Nepal while strolling through the street of Patan and visiting the locations mentioned below.

Patan Durbar Square

Despite the fact that Durbar square is one of the main attractions of Patan, it surely deserves its fame. In addition to being one of the three Durbar Squares in Nepal, Patan Durbar Square is best known for its Newari architecture that dates back to 1637 and features intricate wood carvings and brickwork. You could easily pass many hours looking at them.

An important temple and a former king’s residence are located in the area, undergoing extensive construction after the earthquake of 2015. Although some buildings have scaffolding, you can also observe the rebuilding effort, which will feel fascinating.

The Golden Temple

In the twelfth century, the Golden Temple was built in praise of its golden color, hence its name. However, it’s also a monastery, so you’ll see lots of monks coming and going from here. Throughout Kathmandu, I’ve seen Hanuman depicted in many places, including within the temple’s courtyard and around its prayer wheels. In Hindu culture, Hanuman is the monkey god, so you can enjoy seeing monkey statues throughout the city.

Patan Museum

If you present your Durbar Square entry ticket, you do not need to pay to enter the Patan Museum. It is a fascinating and interesting place to explore, and you might as well adore the little garden behind the museum. You’ll enjoy the serene atmosphere, and a cute little cafe is also there. It’s a nice change of pace from the city’s sweltering heat, dust, motorbikes, and noise.

Seeing Hands Clinic

Seeing Hands is a social enterprise that helps blind people in Nepal become masseuses. I visited the location in Jawalakhel without an appointment and walked in. The sports massage I chose was amazing. My masseuse found and massaged every single sore muscle until I forgot it even existed.

Even though the massage was a real challenge, I could tell the masseuse knew what she was doing, and by the time I stood up, a lot of the pain in my shoulders and back had disappeared. You, too, will appreciate this detour you can choose while in Patan.

Strolling Around

When wandering around Kathmandu, it’s easy to stumble upon areas that are littered with garbage and devoid of beauty, but in Patan, it’s almost impossible to stumble upon a bad place. You can discover small beautiful squares with small places of worship in these little streets just off the main road.

You’ll love getting off the main road and going down tiny alleyways barely wide enough for a motorbike. You can get lost in these streets for hours on end without ever getting bored. Some lead you to little parks; others only lead you to turn after turn until you stay on the main road.

The Local Project Nepal

The emphasis at The Local Project Nepal is shopping from local companies with a conscience. I entered the store intending to take a few photos but bought three items. The items available there are reasonably priced considering the high quality.

House of Palates

In the next building to the Local Project Nepal, you will find the House of Palettes. A little art studio is open daily from 12 pm to 7 pm. The best thing about House of Palettes is that you can buy any size canvas (starting at 800 rupees) and use the space free of charge.

The studio is attached to Evoke restro (a restaurant and bar), so you can indulge in snacks and drinks while you work on your masterpiece. You can come back multiple times to finish your work without a time limit.

The Pimbahal Pokhari

There’s a pond off the beaten track called Pimbahal, and the temple behind it, Chandeswari temple, dates back to 1663. It’s a great place to relax and watch ducks swimming in the pond. You can also watch people at the temple as locals come and go.

If you visit in the morning, before it gets too hot outside, you’ll be able to sit and relax while you observe the daily life of Patan. I recommend you try the different flavored chips available in a shop near Pokhara.

Jawalakhel Handicraft Center

You can watch the rugs being woven by hand at Jawalakhel Handicraft Center. The center is attached to the Tibetan Refugee camp. The collection includes Tibetan rugs you can purchase if you wish.

Besides a community building with small handmade knickknacks, there is also a section with yak wool shawls and beautiful scarves. I bought a small jewelry box from the community building for 200 rupees, roughly $2. As the money goes to refugees, it’s a good place to buy souvenirs, and even small donations make a difference.

Mangal Bazaar

There is a street on the southeast corner of Patan Durbar Square, which sells a variety of local goods. You will find everything from metal dining sets to spices and traditional clothing. It’s a vibrant, beautiful street that’s bustling with people as locals buy everything they need for their homes.

Besides having these really interesting items, it is also a great place to find interesting items like Buddha statues, genie lamps, and bright fabrics. And the prices aren’t as high as the tourist shopping areas.

Labim Mall

You might wonder why to visit a mall. They’re available everywhere. Visiting a mall in another country may seem strange to you, but if you’ve traveled the world for so long, sometimes it’s nice to feel at home again. Additionally, it’s less intimidating than looking for something in Kathmandu or Patan’s narrow streets.

Perhaps you need a haircut from someone who speaks fluent English to avoid a bang disaster. Sometimes you need an ordinary pair of sneakers or a T-shirt that won’t lose its shape after a couple of washings. There’s always a time when a mall comes in handy.

Gallery Mcube

A cute little art gallery in a residential neighborhood near Patan Dhoka (the entrance to Patan), Gallery Mcube showcases local artists from Nepal. On arrival at the exhibition, most of the art on display was modern art, which provided a nice change from the typical street art one usually finds in tourist areas.

Artwork is available for sale, so if you want something unique and a bit less traditional to take home, this would be an ideal place.

Cost includes:

• Arrival & Departure transport via private Car/Van/Bus.
• Three meals per day throughout the Trip(Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
• Accommodation during the trek.
• Nights’ accommodation in Kathmandu with B/B.
• Guide and a porter with Insurance, food, and accommodations.
• Sightseeing in Kathmandu or Pokhara valley with a car and tour guide
• First Aid kit.
• Trekking permit (Conservation fee).
• TIMS card (Trekking information management system) is like a permit.
• All needed government tax/vat.

Cost excludes

• International Airfare.
• Your travel insurance.
• Sightseeing entrance fees
• Nepal Visa fee (US$ 50 for 30 days and US$ 30 for 15 days; you should get a visa open your arrival)
• Any kind of drinks, items of personal expenses like hot shower, battery charge, telephone, missing meal, WIFI Porters, etc.
• Tips for Guide and Porters

Finally, the trip to Patan can be an extraordinary experience because of the stunning scenery, stellar views, thrilling Journey, and the warm hospitality of the locals. We hope you enjoy and take in every moment that you spend there.