Overview

A sightseeing program that includes a glimpse of valley’s typical Newari village life as we visit the historic and ancient village of Bungamati and Khokana. Both the villages gives us the insight of their daily chores that takes place more on the streets than inside with mattress makers stuffing cases with cotton, women spinning wool and winnowing rice, farmers baling straw , kids running around elders napping and chatting in the resting areas. Bungamati is a medieval Newari village, famous for traditional woodcarving which is still alive and strong. Witnessing how the villagers turn a piece of wood into fine-looking doors and window frames along with figures of Hindu deities. Bungmati also contains Rato Machhendranath Temple ‘The patron god of Patan’, Bhairab Temple and Karyabinayek Temple. Within a short walking distance is another equally fascinating Newari village of Khokana, particularly renowned as a producer of mustard oil. Shekala Mai Temple also known as Rudrayeni temple is also an attraction of Khokana.

We then move on to Patan, one of Kathmandu’s three ancient kingdoms, home to numerous temples and monuments, and the royal palace area (Durbar square) that has been designated a UNESCO world heritage site. Patan Durbar houses a magnificent 17th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, made entirely of stone, its walls are carved intricately with scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. A short walk from Durbar square will bring us to Kwa Bahal, or the Golden Temple, a 12th century Buddhist monastic courtyard decorated with stunning wood carvings. At the opposite end of the Durbar, we’ll visit Mahabouddha, an oddly intriguing Buddhist monument dating back to the 14th century, with fine examples of terra cotta craftsmanship to behold. Later we’ll visit Oku Bahal, Patan’s most famous place of Buddhist worship – a large golden-roofed building enclosing a stone-paved courtyard and a host of shrines and stone carvings. We’ll stop to enjoy a typical Nepali meal, and watch the shadows stretch across the ancient Durbar square as the sun sets upon a splendid day.