Country Guides - Nepal
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Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Durbar Square is the religious and social heart of Kathmandu's old city and is a complex of palaces, temples, shrines, statues and courtyards built between the 12th and 18th centuries by the ancient kings of Nepal. The square is a queer assortment of the old and the new - elaborately carved architectural features and curving roofs provide shelter for cows, beggars and weary tourists; Brahman priests and painted Sadhus perform rituals and pose for photos, while souvenir sellers and rickshaw drivers compete for attention among the crowds. Stone lions guard the gates to the Old Royal Palace that contains a number of courtyards and several museums. Set into the palace wall is a 17th-century stone inscription written in 15 languages; it is believed that milk will flow from the spout below if anyone deciphers the entire inscription. On the other side of the square, the Kasthamandap temple is an open pavilion topped by a pyramidal tower, said to be created from the wood of a single tree. It is purportedly the Valley's oldest building, and the city of Kathmandu derives its name from this ancient temple.
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Opening times: Durbar Square: daily 8am to 5pm. Old Royal Palace: Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 3/4pm
Swayambhunath Stupa
The golden spire of the 5th-century Swayambhu stupa is adorned with a colourful fluttering of prayer flags; it crowns a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley and offers fantastic views over the city of Kathmandu. Swayambhunath is one of the most recognisable symbols in Nepal and the painted eyes of Buddha watch all those who ascend the worn stone steps. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal, and is at the source of the Valley's mythical beginning. Legend has it that the history of the Valley began with the draining of an ancient lake by an Enlightened Being to reveal the Valley and a lotus flower was transformed into the hill and the shining light became the stupa itself. Swarms of pilgrims and red-clad monks circle the complex, spinning the prayer wheels, while the scores of monkeys that give the temple its nickname, Monkey Temple, prance about in irreverent groups. Interestingly the temple complex is scattered with shrines and statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities and the assortment of pilgrims from both faiths characterises the country's unique religious harmony.
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Annapurna region
The most popular trekking region in Nepal, the Annapurna region passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, with deep valleys and close up views of mountains over 22,966ft (7,000m) tall, ancient stone settlements, Tibetan culture, and Buddhist temples and monasteries. Excellent lodges line the main routes of the Annapurna Circuit, the Annapurna Sanctuary, and the Jomson trek to Muktinath. The Circuit is one of the most walked treks in the country and is one of the most exceptional trekking routes on earth, crossing Thorong-La pass at 17,769ft (5,416m) and requiring about three weeks. The Sanctuary requires about 10 days and is a direct route straight to the heart of the Himalayas, where tremendous sheer-walled peaks of 19,685ft to 26,247ft (6,000 to 8,000m) encircle the reverent trekker at the Annapurna Base Camp. Easily accessible via a short flight from Pokhara or Kathmandu, Jomson is a town situated between two gigantic mountains in the Kali Gandaki Valley, at the bottom of the world's deepest gorge. From Jomson there are options to walk in either direction along the Circuit - the trek to the holy shrine at Muktinath is very popular and follows the ancient trade and pilgrimage route across the Himalayas.
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Everest region
Many trekkers and adventurous mountaineers are drawn to the sight and challenge of the highest mountain in the world within the Sagarmatha National Park. Most fly to the airstrip at Lukla at an altitude of 9,350ft (2,850m) from where the trek begins to Everest Base Camp at the foot of the ice-covered giant. Highlights en route include the famous Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar and the Tengboche Monastery. By flying in and out, the trek requires about two weeks; it is also possible to walk in, but this requires more time.
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Cities & Regions: Pokhara | Himalayas | Kathmandu
The most popular trekking region in Nepal, the Annapurna region passes through some of the most spectacular scenery in the country, with deep valleys and close up views of mountains over 22,966ft (7,000m) tall, ancient stone settlements, Tibetan culture, and Buddhist temples and monasteries. Excellent lodges line the main routes of the Annapurna Circuit, the Annapurna Sanctuary, and the Jomson trek to Muktinath. The Circuit is one of the most walked treks in the country and is one of the most exceptional trekking routes on earth, crossing Thorong-La pass at 17,769ft (5,416m) and requiring about three weeks. The Sanctuary requires about 10 days and is a direct route straight to the heart of the Himalayas, where tremendous sheer-walled peaks of 19,685ft to 26,247ft (6,000 to 8,000m) encircle the reverent trekker at the Annapurna Base Camp. Easily accessible via a short flight from Pokhara or Kathmandu, Jomson is a town situated between two gigantic mountains in the Kali Gandaki Valley, at the bottom of the world's deepest gorge. From Jomson there are options to walk in either direction along the Circuit - the trek to the holy shrine at Muktinath is very popular and follows the ancient trade and pilgrimage route across the Himalayas.
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Everest region
Many trekkers and adventurous mountaineers are drawn to the sight and challenge of the highest mountain in the world within the Sagarmatha National Park. Most fly to the airstrip at Lukla at an altitude of 9,350ft (2,850m) from where the trek begins to Everest Base Camp at the foot of the ice-covered giant. Highlights en route include the famous Sherpa village of Namche Bazaar and the Tengboche Monastery. By flying in and out, the trek requires about two weeks; it is also possible to walk in, but this requires more time.
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Cities & Regions: Pokhara | Himalayas | Kathmandu
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