Indrajatra which falls on 03 September 2009, the festival of Indra, the God of rain, is observed with great enthusiasm in Kathmandu Valley. The festival lasts for eight days. The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in procession through the main streets of Kathmandu. The festival is specially noted for the echoes of drums and dancing feet of the masked dancers almost every evening.
The festival tour is combined with the other sightseeing tours of medieval cities in and around Kathmandu , Nagarkot, which is located on the eastern edge of Kathmandu Valley at 7033 ft m and 20 miles east of the valley, offers the panorama eastern Himalayan range and Pokhara which is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s situated at an altitude of 2952 feet in a lush, picturesque valley surrounded by forest rimmed hills and just 30 km to the north is walled in by 86 unbroken miles of the central Himalayan Range including Annapurna and Dhauligiri each above 26000 feet.
- Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu, Explore Thamel.
- Day 02 Tour Temple & Monasteries. Visit Indrajatra Festival, Kathmandu.
- Day 03 Tour Swambhunath, Changu Narayan & Bhaktapur.
- Day 04 Fly to Pokhara.
- Day 05 Morning hike to Peace Pagoda, enjoy the view of Annpurna range
- Day 06 Fly back to Kathmandu. Tour Patan
- Day 07 Visit the festival. Enjoy the mask dance., Kathmandu
- Day 08 Kathmandu - U.S. or an extension
Day 01 Arrive Kathmandu, Explore Thamel.
Upon arrival in Kathmandu a representative of Himalayan Journeys will greet you and transferred to your hotel.
Afternoon at leisure for rest or walk around Thamel which is a popular tourist destination in
Kathmandu Valley. Thamel has been the epicenter of the tourist industry in Kathmandu for over
two decades Thamel is ideally-sized, ideally-located and ideally-organised to make it the perfect
base from which the discovery of Nepal can be planned. Thamel has a vibrant ethnic culture
practised by its core population of the Newar people.
Overnight Kathmandu.
Day 02 Tour Temple & Monasteries. Visit Indrajatra Festival, Kathmandu.
Today you have the full day sightseeing tour of various temples and monasteries, which include
Pashupatinath Stupa, the holiest of all Hindu Temples is dedicated to Lord Shiva-the master of all living beings, the temple with two-tiered golden roof and four silver doors on all sides is famous for its superb architecture.
Boudhanath Stupa, a huge Buddhist shrine surrounded by Tibetan shops. It is a dome-shaped structure with the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha looking out into the four cardinal directions.
Afternoon walk through Asan Tole, the old market area of Kathmandu. A short stroll through this exotic maze of narrow streets in only a prelude to later shopping excursions
Visit Kathmandu Durbar Square from where The chariot of Kumari, the Living Goddess, is taken out in procession through the main streets of Kathmandu.
The Living Goddess, also know as Kumari in Nepali is believed to be the bodily incarnation of the goddess Taleju, and she is selected and installed at a very young age until the time she menstruates, after which it is believed that the goddess vacates her body.
Hanuman Dhoka, the traditional seat of royalty in Nepal. This is the site of the 1974 coronation of His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, the temples in Hanuman Dhoka and the surrounding Durbar Square include some of the finest specimens of Nepalese architecture and many erotic carvings.
Temple of the Living Goddess, the residence of the ling virgin goddess Kumari.
Kastha Mandap, an interesting temple in pagoda style said to have been built from the timber of a single tree. The name of the city Kathmandu, is derived from this structure.
Overnight Kathmandu.
Day 03 Tour Swambhunath, Changu Narayan & Bhaktapur.
After breakfast, visit Swayambhunath, a 2000 year-old Buddhist monument on a hilltop overlooking Kathmandu Valley. Surrounding the hemispherical Stupa are many temples and pagodas and a large band of monkeys.
Continue to Changdu Narayan, which is said to have been build in 323 by King Hari Dutta Varma. This, the oldest existing Vishnu Temple (built at about the same time as the Pasupatinath Temple), is richly decorated with metal, wood and stone sculptures and carvings and is still an active place of worship and is one of the holiest of temples in the valley. The triple roofed structure pagoda depict Vishnu’s ten incarnations. The temple compound contains smaller shrines dedicated to Krishna, Siva, images of Buddha, demi-gods, Linga, Asta Matrika, Several forms of Vishnu. is It is situated about 153 m above the level of the Kathmandu valley and offers a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside
Afternoon tour of Bhaktapur, The City of Devotees”, which retains much of its ancient architecture and is by far the best preserved of the valley’s three ancient cities. The tour includes:
Durbar Square, the main palace square of the city containing many temples and other architectural showpieces, including the Golden Gate, described as the finest piece of art in the Kingdom.
Nyatapola Temple, The five-storied pagoda style temple built in 1708 AD. the largest and the most famous example of Nepalese pagoda architecture.
Dattatraya Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built in 1427 AD. Nearby is the monastery with exquisitely carved windows, which now serves as the National Works Museum.
Overnight Bhaktapur.
Day 04 Fly to Pokhara.
Transfer to airport for the flight to Pokhara which is one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s situated at an altitude of 900 meters in a lush, picturesque valley surrounded by forest rimmed hills and just 30 km to the north is walled in by 140 unbroken kilometers of the central Himalayan Range including Annapurna and Dhauligiri each above 8000 meters. The horizon however is dominated by a far smaller, but infinitely more spectacular peak – Macchapuchhare or “Fish Tail” which seems ot rise off the same valley floor and spectacularly ends in “Fish Tailed” peak.
Evenings in Pokhara has its own charm especially in the Lake Side district, dotted with fancy restaurants facing the Phewa Lake, lazy shops and simple guest houses with lush gardens that bloom year round.
Afternoon relax in the hotel or optional boating in the lake.
Overnight Pokhara.
Day 05 Morning hike to Peace Pagoda, enjoy the view of Annpurna range
This morning your guide will meet you at the hotel lobby and take you for a hike to Peace Pagoda, located on the hill top just across the beautiful Phewa Lake. The hike will take about 2 hours, depending on your pace.
Enjoy the beautiful views of many mountains including Annapurna range and Phewa Lake from the top.
Afternoon visit International Mountain Museum. Living museum outside the building and within the Museum premises shows the real setting of the culture of indigenous people.
Overnight Pokhara.
uch oo� s ��5�^0rchitecture and is by far the best preserved of the valley’s three ancient cities. The tour includes:
Durbar Square, the main palace square of the city containing many temples and other architectural showpieces, including the Golden Gate, described as the finest piece of art in the Kingdom.
Nyatapola Temple, The five-storied pagoda style temple built in 1708 AD. the largest and the most famous example of Nepalese pagoda architecture.
Dattatraya Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva built in 1427 AD. Nearby is the monastery with exquisitely carved windows, which now serves as the National Works Museum.
Overnight Bhaktapur.
Day 06 Fly back to Kathmandu. Tour Patan
Morning flight back to Kathmandu.
On the way to hotel sightseeing tour of Patan is also known as “Lalitpur” literally the city of fine arts is perhaps a living museum as she still retains her medieval air of the ancient times and almost half the inner city residents are craftsmen in their own right.
Patan was one of the major Buddhist cities in Asia by the 7th century as pilgrims, scholars and monks from India, Tibet and China visited the city. It is said that at one stage the entire population of Patan city was comprised of monks and craftsmen only. The city is full of Hindu Temples, Buddhist monuments and structures with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful Metal and wood carvings
Overnight Kathmandu.
Day 07 Visit the festival. Enjoy the mask dance., Kathmandu
Morning at leisure.
Afternoon visit Kathmandu Durbar Square where you come across the mask dances with the echoes of drums and music.
Overnight Kathmandu.
Day 08 Kathmandu - U.S. or an extension
At an appointed time, transfer to airport and fly to U.S. or an extension trip to India, Bhutan or Myanmar.