UNESCO has declared 10 World Heritage Sites, 7 inside
Kathmandu Valley & 3 outside; Lumbani including
Kathmandu Valley are Cultual Heriage & Chitwan National
Park & Sagarmatha National Park as Natural Heritage
Sites. These seven World Heritage Sites are all amazing
man-made wonders still standing majestically – some of
them as old as 2500 years.
Kathmandu Durbar Square:-
Lies in the heart of the capital and is popularly known
as the Hanuman Dhoka Palace - the Gateway of Hanuman -
an ancient seat of Nepalese Royalty. The Palace consists
of the huge Royal square imposing a tremendous variety
of the temples dedicated to different Hindu Gods and
Goddesses. Most of the buildings were constructed from
the 15 th – 18 th centuries. The Palace is named after
the Hindu Monkey God, Hanuman , and is painted
completely red right next to the main entrance (the
Golden Gate) of the Palace. He is regarded as the
protector of the entire Durbar Square.
Patan Durbar Square:-
Situated on a little plateau across the river Bagmati
river, Patan is only 7.8km south-east of Kathmandu city.
This city is considered one of the oldest among the
three cities of Kathmandu Valley.
The city was founded in 3 rd century by King Veera Dev
and has the distinction of being the home of the finest
Newari craft. The finest Hindu and Buddhist monuments
are scattered around but the most important monuments
are in the square or close by.
Other features like the Golden window, the royal bath of
Sundaru Chowk, the Taleju Temple, and Keshab Narayan
Chowk are worth visiting. The four stupas, located in
the four cardinal directions, were errected by Indian
Emperor Ashoka the Great.
Bhaktapur Durbar Square:-
This is a unique city located east of Kathmandu at
1,400m above sea level. With an area of 5 sq. kms. this
unique city is divided into 24 traditional localities.
It was founded by King Ananda Dev in 889 A.D.
Bhaktapur in supposed to have been built in the shape of
a conch shell, a scared symbol of Lord Vishnu. The world
Bhaktapur means The City of Devotees.
Bhaktapur; at one time an independent city, was ruled by
the Malla Kings. They were very religious and gave
importance to their artistic heritage which is evident
throughout the city. Some of the significant momuments
here are:
The Lion Gate: Built by King Bupatindra Malla in 17 th
century A.D.
Golden Gate: The main entrance to the famous 55 Window
Palace and Royal Taleju. Constructed in 1754 A.D.
The statue of King Bupatindra Malla.
55 Window Palace: This architectural structure dominates
the entire Bhadgaon Durbar Square. It is worth admiring.
Vastala Temple.
Nyatapole Temple.
Bhairav Nath Temple.
Swayambhunath:-
A Buddhist stupa on a western hills of Kathmandu. The
2,500 year old monument is a holy site replete with
symbols. The mound represents the four elements of
earth, fire, wind and water. The 13 gilded rings of the
spire symbolize the 13 steps of the ladder leading to
Nirvana, the final salvation. The shrine is bedecked in
colorful prayer flags. Pilgrims and tourists pass to
Swayambhumath's holy premises through a path of 365
steps.
Close to the stupa is the Dewa Dharma monastery, noted
for bronaze icon of the Buddha and traditional Tibetan
paintings.
Below are some important dates when pilgrims visit this
holy site to take part in religious activities.
Buddha Purnima, the birth of Lord Buddha – full moon day
of Baisakh (April-May)
Gunla, the holy Buddhist month, according to Newari
calender (August – September)
Kojagrath Purnima (September – October)
Samyak Day of the Magh (January – February) every 12
years!
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Boudha Nath Stupa:-
One of the oldest and the biggest Buddhist monument ever
built in the Himalayan Kingdom it is 36m high. The stupa
is unique with its three level, mandala style,
platforms. The structural features of the stupa is
somewhat similar to the Swayambhunath stupa. It was
built around the 5 th century A.D.
What Mecca is to the Muslims, this Boudhanath Stupa is
for Tibetan Buddhists. Every year thousands of pilgrims
flock here from all over the Himalayan region.
During the Buddhist festivals, listed with Swayambhunath
above, pilgrims gather to celebrate with great reverance
to all Buddhist deities.
Pashupati Nath Temple:-
Pashupati Nath is considered one of the holiest shrines
of all the Hindu temples. It is 6km. east of downtown
Kathmandu. The temple has remained the presiding deity
of ruling Nepalese Royalty.
The two tier magnificient golden temple, with four
triple silver doorways, is a unique example of the
Nepalese temple architecture. It is one of the largest
Hindu temple complexes in South-Asia with hundreds of
Shiva Lingam shrines and icons Hindu Gods and Goddesses.
The temple is spread out over a large area.
The main entrance, for Hindu people only, is on the
western side. Tourists may peak inside, or go on the
other side of the river to have a glimpse of the temple
complex from above. During the festival of Shivaratri
(February – March) 10,000's of devotees and pligrims
(many from India) visit this temple and make ceremonial
fires.
Changu Narayan Temple:-
Situated on a small hillock overlooking the Kathmandu
Valley, this temple is 12km. east of Kathmandu. The
temple is decorated with magnificent art works in metal
and wood. This famous temple was built in the 3 rd
century A.D. An inscription opposite the temple tells
about a historic event which is the first epigraphic
evidence of Nepali history. Some of the important
sculptures here are:
Viswo Roop – 8 th Century A.D.
Vishnu Vikranta – 8 th Century A.D.
Vishnu mounted in his vehicle Garuda – the mythical
manbird.
Nara Singh Vishnu in his half human and half lion form.
Lumbani, the birth place of Lord Buddha:-
Siddharta Gautama, the Lord Buddha, was born in 623 B.C.
at the famous gardens of Lumbini, which soon became a
place of pilgrimage. Among the pilgrims was the Indian
Emperor Ashoka, who erected one of his commemorative
pillars there. The site is now being developed as a
Buddhist pilgrimage centre, where the archaeological
remains associated with the birth of the Lord Buddha
form a central feature.
Chitwan National Park:-
At the foot of the Himalayas, Chitwan is one of the few
undisturbed areas of the Terai region which formerly
extended over the foothills of India and Nepal, with its
very rich flora and fauna. One of the last populations
of single-horned Asiatic rhinoceros lives in the park,
which is also among the last refuges for the Bengal
tiger.
"Chitwan National Park" was added to Unesco's World
Heritage List in 1984. Chitwan is a rich natural area in
the Terai, the subtropical southern part of Nepal. The
park is inhabited by the rare Asiatic rhinoceros and
Bengal Tiger. Besides these, there are many elephants,
birds and butterflies.
Sagarmatha National Park
Area: 1148 sq. km.
Established: 1976
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Location:-
Sagarmatha National Park is located to the north-east of
Kathmandu in the Kumbu region of Nepal. The park
includes the highest peak in the world, Mt. Sagarmatha
(Everest), and several other well-known peaks such as
Lhotse, Nuptse, Cho Oyu, Pumori, Ama Dablam, Thamserku,
Kwangde, Kangtaiga and Gyachung Kang. The park was added
to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.
Features:-
The mountains of Sagarmatha National Park are
geologically young and broken up by deep gorges and
glacial valleys. Vegetation includes pine and hemlock
forests at lower altitudes, fir, juniper, birch and
rhododendron woods, scrub and alpine plant communities,
and bare rock and snow. The famed bloom of rhododendrons
occurs during spring (April and May) although other
flora is most colorful during the monsoon season (June
to August).
Wild animals most likely to seen in the park are the
Himalayan tahr, goral, serow and musk deer. The snow
leopard and Himalayan black bear are present but rarely
sighted. Other mammals rarely seen are the weasel, maren,
Himalayan mouse hare (pika), jackal and langur monkey.
The park is populated by approximately 3,000 of the
famed Sherpa people whose lives are interwoven with the
teachings of Buddhism. The main settlements are Namche
Bazar, Khumjung, Khunde, Thame, Thyangboche, Pangboche
and Phortse. The economy of the Khumbu Sherpa community
has traditionally been heavily based on trade and
livestock herding. But with the arrival of international
mountaineering expeditions since 1950 and the influx of
foreign trekkers, today the Sherpa economy is becoming
increasingly dependent of tourism.
