Overview

Spend the afternoon in Kathmandu visiting two of Kathmandu’s popular landmarks, the Swayambhunath Stupa also known as ‘The Monkey Temple’ situated atop hill overlooking the Kathmandu City.  A massive white dome surmounted by a 13-stage spire, the stupa is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal. It is said to be 2000 years old. Its origins are linked to the creation of the Kathmandu Valley by Bodhisattva Manjushree. Legend has it that the site of the present day city was originally a huge lake. Swayambhu was manifested in the lake as a brilliant light emanating from a lotus and Manjushree let the water out by slashing a passage through the surrounding hills to facilitate paying homage to the deity, thus making the valley habitable.

We’ll ease our way on to Kathmandu Durbar Square, home to the ancient palaces of the Malla and Shah Dynasties, and a vast courtyard of fascinating Newari architecture and ornately decorated temples. Located nearby is Kumari Ghar, which houses the Kumari Devi or “Living Goddess” – a young girl who is worshipped as a source of supreme power in a tradition has continued from ancient times to the present.