Kathmandu Durbar Square
Centered in & around Kathmandu, Kathmandu Durbar Square has Hanuman Dhoka, Degutale Temple, Taleju Mandir, Nasal Chowk, Nine storey Basantapur Tower, Panch Mukhi Hanuman Temple, Mul Chowk, Mohan Chowk, Sundari Chowk, Tribhuvan Museum, King Mahendra Memorial Museum and Kal Bhairab temple in its vicinity. Hindu Mythology boasts that if a person interprets 17th century stone inscriptions written in 15 different languages on the walls of the palace of Hanuman Dhoka, there would be instant flooding of milk from the wall. Hanuman Dhoka was the former Royal Palace occupied by the Malla kings and was later passed onto the Shah dynasty after Kathmandu was conquered. The Royal family lived in the Hanuman Dhoka palace till 1886 and thereafter shifted to Narayanhiti palace. However, the palace is still used for rituals and ceremonial occasions. A new King is always crowned inside this palace & no where else. The palace has a 17th century statue of Hanuman to the left of the palace entrance and an amazing sculpture of Lord Narasimha. The palace bears the historical reminisce of Royal family, culture and religion of Nepal. Museums inside the palace lets one explore the culture, religion, custom, tradition, architecture, & the history of Royal palaces etc. An entrance fee has been set for entering into the museums. International tourists are charged Rs. 250 as entrance fees. Museums remain open for 7 days in a week with the exception of Tuesday from 10.30 am to 3 pm in the winter and from 10.30 am to 4 pm in the summer. On Friday one must visit the museums from 10.30 am to 2 pm.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur lies on the Eastern part of Kathmandu valley. Also known as Bhadgaon or Khwopa & this ancient picturesque town is regarded as the abode of ancient Nepali culture, customs and alluring arts pieces of excellent craftsmanship. Each historical monument represents medieval culture, religious and customs of historical Nepal. The Newari populace has largely dominated Bhaktapur. And this old historical town is the only place in Nepal which has remained untouched by western culture. Lion Gate, Golden Gate, Art Gallery, Statue of King Bhupatindra, Nyatapola Temple and the fifty-five windowed Malla palaces are the untouched pride of Bhaktapur. This tourist haven houses some of the finest restaurants and hotels that cater to the needs and requirements of tourists. For entry into Bhaktapur Durbar Square, foreign tourists pay $10 as an entry fee and Rs 50 is charged for nationals from SAARC - countries and China. Bhaktapur is a delight to behold & is a treasured Heritage site.

Patan Durbar Square
Lying connected to the 5 kms South-East side of Kathmandu Valley by the Bagmati River, 459 hectares of Patan is bound by 4 stupas built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC as recorded in the history of Nepal. Patan is also called Lalitpur. There are several legends attached to the origin of the term, Lalitpur. One such legend says that in the ancient times Kathmandu was engulfed with severe drought and three people were assigned to summon God Red Machhendranath from Karamus Kamachhya, a place in Assam, India, into the valley for rainfalls. Among the three people one was a farmer named Lalit who is believed to have made a significant contribution to this effort. When rain finally poured into the valley, people as a sign of gratitude sanskritized the valley after his name and the term 'pur' meaning township and was finally named as Lalitpur. Another tale boasts that the valley was named after king Yalamber. Patan people refer to Patan as Yala. History has it that Patan was founded in the 3rd century by the Kirat dynasty and later was modeled into perfection by Lichhavis in the sixth century followed by the Malla dynasty. At present Lalitpur sub metropolitan city has been categorized into 22 wards. This city presents a potpourri of finest traditional crafts and rich artistic heritage. Patan Durbar Square, Mahaboudha Temple, Kumbeshwor temple, Krishna Temple, Golden Temple or Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, Mulchowk, Jagat Narayan Temple, Big Bell, Pillar of Yognarendra Malla, Hari Shanker temple, Vishwanath temple, Bhimsen temple, Marga Hiti, Mani Mandap, Café Pagoda, Rato Machhendra Temple, Minnath, and Rudra Varna Mahavihar etc are the major attractions of this old historic town of Patan.

Swayambhunath
It is 3kms away from the West of Kathmandu. Ancient tale has it that thousands of years ago Swayambhunath was an island. Later, a stupa was built. King Manadeva contributed in the making of the stupa in 460 AD. After the Mughal invasions, it was distorted and had to undergo renovation in the 14th century. King Pratap Malla in the 17th century further enhanced the architecture and also added a stairway to get to the stupa. At present, the stupa is a solid hemisphere of brick and clay, supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gilt and has Lord Buddha's eyes adorned on all the four sides of the spire base. Buddhists regard this stupa to be a holy shrine. Swayambhunath also offers a majestic view of the entire Kathmandu valley.

Pashupatinath
As the name indicates, Pashupatinath temple is a temple of Lord Shiva and is the holiest place for Hindus. The sacred temple lies on the banks of sacred Bagmati River 5 kms east of Kathmandu city. Non-Hindus are strictly prohibited from entering the temple. It has a two-tiered roof and four silver doors. Devotees from all over the world come here to pay homage to lord Shiva.

Boudhanath
Boudhanath epitomizes Tibetan Buddhism. It is based 8 kms East of Kathmandu and was built by the Licchavi King Man Dev in the 5th century AD. This colossal and ancient stupa is regarded as one of the world's biggest stupas and has been built on a stepped octagonal base and inset with alcoves representing Buddha and his teachings. After the Chinese invasion in 1959, Tibetans in thousands came to this famous Buddhist Chaitya and energized the stupa. The stupa is surrounded by various temples or 'gompas'. The atmosphere of the whole place lightens up with zest as fragrance of incense drifts through the air. The Chanting of monks and creaking of prayer wheels can be heard while strolling around the base. It is one of the prime sites for pilgrims and tourists in the country.

Changunarayan
Two-tiered Changunarayan temple is 15 kilometers away from Kathmandu city. Since this is the temple of Lord Vishnu, it is also called Narayan and is situated near Changu; for so has the temple been named. A Stone inscription of 464 A.D and other architectural master pieces featured in the temple showcase ancient history of Nepal. The temple also bears the sculptures of Vishnu's ten incarnations; Vishwaroop, Vishnu Vikranta, Vishnu riding gods and goddesses are also present in the vicinity of Changunarayan temple. The temple provides an awesome view of Manohara River cascading through lush green vegetation seen all around.

Lumbini
Lumbini lies in the southern Terai plains of Nepal and is about 300 kilometers Southwest of Kathmandu. It is the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam Buddha and is therefore regarded as a sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists. In 250 BC, Emperor Ashoka built a large stone pillar containing an inscription about the birth of the Buddha. Lumbini bears not only historical and religious significance but also cultural significance. The famous Lumbini Garden, Maya Devi Temple, Tara Foundation, World Peace Pagoda, China Temple, Thai Monastery, Burmese (Myanmar) Temple, Nepal Buddha Temple and the Dharma swami Buddhist monastery are the major attractions of Lumbini. There is a museum and a research center for Buddhism. It is also considered an ideal birding destination as it houses a variety of rare bird species. Many high quality hotels, restaurants and lodges are available in Lumbini for the convenience of tourists.

Chitwan National Park
The Royal Chitwan National Park stretches across an area of 932 sq. kilometers and lies in the inner Terai belt of Chitwan. The park offers a very worthwhile excursion through jungle safaris. With nature at its best you will come across the rarest species found in the eco-system. Canoeing through the lake of the park will have you encounter with crocodiles and more fun-filled adventure. During your stay in one of the resorts of the park, you will be guided on a cultural tour that represents the lifestyles of the Tharu community, the original inhabitants of Chitwan. Adventures here also include riding on the back of an elephant & viewing animals in the wild. In the evening and at night, you can indulge in some of the most exotic events of your choice.

Sagarmatha National Park
The Sagarmatha National Park, situated at the foothills of the Himalayas has occupied an area of 1,148 sq. kilometers. It offers the most magnificent views of rugged snowcapped mountains, glaciers, valleys and rivers. The park houses an amazing array of plant species, birdlife and exotic animals. Plant species like the blue pine, silver fir, rhododendrons and birch etc have glorified the beauty of the inner sanctums of the park. On venturing into the park, one may encounter rare species like the snow leopard, pandas, and the lynx etc. Birdwatchers can have the best sightseeing experience while viewing rare bird species like the snow cock, pheasant, and snow pigeon etc. In a nutshell, Sagarmatha National Park is a literal storehouse of Himalayan natural resources that is protected within this beautiful park

Should you have any further queries & would wish to do a trip to these unique sites, please feel free to contact us directly at Zenith Adventures.