Nepal Tourist Map

As a melting pot of Asian civilization, Nepal is home to various ethnicities, diverse cultures and different religions. Dominating Hinduism, pervasive Buddhism, ancient temples, palace buildings and beautiful natural scenery endow Nepal with incomparable advantages in global traveling.

Reputed as the "Switzerland of Asia", Nepal is a great paradise for tourists. You can choose to trek Everest Base Camp, take a jungle walk in Chitwan National Park, or enjoy your carefree days at Phewa Lake. Below are the top ten attractions in Nepal.

Cultural Highlights in Kathmandu Valley and its Surroundings

In Kathmandu Valley

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Map of Nepal Attractions

Thamel
Thamel is the year-round destination for international tourists to stay in when traveling to Kathmandu. Popularized in the 1970s, it is located in the north of the city, and has become quite commercial over the last 40 years. However, the small streets with their multitudes of shops are a fascinating place to visit, and it is the best place to get gear for trekking at lower prices than at home.

Palaces of Durbar Square
This ancient square in Kathmandu is filled with palaces and temples, the earliest dating back to around 1,000 AD. The most popular UNESCO World Heritage Site in Nepal, the square also contains the current incarnations of the famous “Wooden House, known in Nepal as the Kasthamandap Temple, from which the city and valley get their name. - Enjoy the classic Nepal tours available.

Kathmandu Durbar Square is one of the major attractions in Kathmandu Valley.

Towering Stupa of Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)
Swayambhunath Temple, the oldest relic in Kathmandu Valley, has attracted the world's eyeball. It's said that Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, once came here. And for Tibetans and followers of Tibetan Buddhism, it is second only to Boudhanath. Since many cute monkeys are living here, it's also named as Monkey Temple. Don't forget to take a photo with Kathmandu at the top of the hill.

Swayambhunath Temple also named as Monkey Temple

Boudhanath Stupa (Tibetan Buddhist culture)
Boudhanath Stupa is not only a UNESCO world heritage site but also the world's largest spherical pagoda. Along with Swayambhunath, it's one of the hot tourist attractions in Kathmandu area. The most famous feature is the giant eyes watching the surroundings silently. It's worth your time to appreciate elaborate religious decorations. When praying in the Buddhist temple, you'll encounter numerous pilgrims reciting scriptures with pray wheel spinning in hand.

Boudhanath Stupa, the world's largest spherical pagoda

In Patan

Durbar Square of Patan
Located on the Mangal Bazaar, Patan Durbar Square is not so huge as Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares. However, the historical buildings here are more concentrated. The superb building art makes it stand out from the world's architecture and gain the reputation as a great “open-air museum”. You can wander around the local bazaar to buy some local specialties and souvenirs for your family and friends.

Patan Durbar Square, one of the three Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley.

Golden Temple (Kwa Bahal)
The only temple in Patan that you need to pay to enter, this awesome construction from the early 15th century is covered in gold and silver decorations, and has a number of excellent statues of the Hindu gods in bronze. Many of the decorations actually pre-date the temple by hundreds of years.

Golden Temple is also a must-visit attractions in Nepal.

Patan Museum
Located in the Royal Durbar Square of Patan, the Patan Museum is the sole display location of the traditional sacred arts of Nepal. In its illustrious setting in an old residential court in one of the royal palaces of the former Malla Kings of the Kathmandu Valley, the museum’s exhibits cover the history of Nepal and its culture, and holds some of the rarest treasures in the country.

Patan Museum displays the traditional sacred art of Nepal.

In Bhaktapur

Durbar Square of Bhaktapur
Among Nepal's Durbar Squares, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the widest and most tranquil. It houses numerous temples and tourist sites, including the 55 Window Palace, Batsala Temple, the Statue of Bhupatindra Malla, Nyatapola Temple, Bhairava Nath Temple, the Golden Gate, the Lion's Gate, the Mini Pashupati Temple, etc. In addition, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is known as the best place to feel Nepal culture and the traditional local lifestyle. There will be a fair in the early morning, usually beginning around six o'clock. Besides, the crisp air, historical heritages, unique architectural style, gorgeous costumes and friendly locals are a luxury feast for photographers.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the widest and most tranquil

Golden Gate
The true highlight of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Golden Gate is set into a bright red gatehouse and surrounded by the white walls of the palace. The gate boasts the finest repoussé metalwork in Nepal, and the golden torana above the gate depicts a Garuda wrestling with serpents, with the goddess Taleju Bhawani set below in the center.

Nyatapola Temple
An amazing five-roofed temple over five floors in Bhaktapur, the Nyatapola Temple is built in the traditional pagoda style of the ancient Newari architecture of the country. Constructed by the Malla king, Bhupatindra, in the early 18th century, the temple is dedicated to the Tantric Lakshmi, Siddhi, who bestows auspiciousness on pilgrims.

Nyatapola Temple, one of the tallest buildings in the Kathmandu Valley

Moving to Nagarkot for Enjoying Himalayan View

Lying around 32km to the east of Kathmandu, Nagarkot is one of the top spots in Nepal for the amazing views of the Himalayas. A small village packed with hotels along the ridge to the south, this unique place affords some of the most outstanding views of the Himalayas from anywhere in the world. Covering a vista of eight mountain ranges, including the Annapurna, Manaslu, Ganesh Himal, Langtang, Rolwaling, Numbur, and Sagarmatha Ranges, it is best visited from October to December and March to April for the clearest views.

Views of the Himalayas in Nagarkot

Sightseeing Highlights in Pokhara

Phewa Tal （Boating, Machhapuchhare view, Varahi Mandir）

Lying in the south of the Pokhara Valley, Phewa Lake is known as Nepalese royal resort. Together with majestic Annapurna Mountains, the charming Phewa Tal has attracted a great number of tourists from all over the world. The royal residence sits on the south lake shore. The core area extends from northern palace to the base camp. Hotels, restaurants, bookshops and souvenir stores are scattering around the main streets and narrow alleys. Renting a colorful sailboat to enjoy lake views has become extremely popular among travelers.

Phewa Lake, the biggest lake in the Pokhara

Sarangkot (Sunrise over Himalayas)

One of the most fantastic experiences for viewing the stunning Annapurna Range is at Sarangkot, where the panoramic sweep of the Himalayas stretches from Dhaulagiri (8,167m) in the west to the perfect pyramid of Machhapuchhare (6,997m), and the peak of Annapurna II (7,937m) to Mount Lamjung (6,983m) in the east. The best time is at dawn or dusk when the sun picks out the peaks in a variety of colors from purple and pink to celestial golds.

Viewing the stunning Himalayas sunrise in Sarangkot

World Peace Pagoda (Forest trail, Overview of Pokhara)

Situated on the south hill of Phewa Lake, the bell-shape temple was built by Buddhists from Japan, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka for the world peace. Here you can not only see the delicate Sakyamuni Buddha statues but also the stunning lake and boundless snow peaks. Walking down the mountain, you can pay a visit to breathtaking Devi's fall and tranquil Tibetan villages.

A Buddhist pagoda-style monument in Pokhara, Nepal

Paragliding

Pokhara, six hours from Kathmandu, is the center of paragliding in Nepal, and the sport is hugely popular. A wide range of companies offer the experience of floating high above the Himalayas, and the 30-minute flight can cost as little as 7,500 rupees.

Pokhara is the center of paragliding in Nepal

Jangchub Choeling Gompa

Probably the newest temple in Nepal, the gompa was built on the site of the home of a venerable master of Tibetan Buddhism, Drubthob Rinpoche. The gompa is also the site of the holy stupa of Shi-Kala, which is said to have flown there from India and is believed to contain the skull of the foremost disciple of Buddha, Saritputra.

Jangchub Choeling Gompa is a Tibetan monastery in Pokhara, Nepal

Devi's Falls

Also known as the Patale Chhango, Devi’s Falls, or Davis Falls, is a narrow waterfalls that disappears into an underground stream. Made famous by the alleged death of a Swiss traveler who plunged into the falls with his girlfriend, disappearing into the sinkhole, the falls are one of the most beautiful in Nepal.

Devi's Falls is a waterfall in Pokhara.

Jungle Safari in Chitwan National Park

Chitwan National Park is the first national park in Nepal. Known as Asia's best wildlife viewing park, it was inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1984. Covering an area of 932 square kilometers, Chitwan National Park is a prefect habitat for diverse animals and plants. You'll have the opportunity to see more than 450 species of birds. - Look for the18-day in-depth tour from Tibet to Nepal.

Elephant safari

Riding on elephant's back to stroll round or watching one-horned rhinoceros, crocodiles and Bengal tigers must be the great experience you shouldn't miss. Seated high on the back of an Indian elephant, it is the safest way to enter the jungles of Chitwan, and the best way to explore the safari park.

Elephant safari is the best way to explore the Chitwan park

Jungle walks

Covering periods of one, two, and three days, jungle treks in Chitwan have become a popular tourist experience. Most of the hotels in the area have guided tours of the jungles, with experienced and professional guides, though it is advisable to avoid the monsoon season. However, it is important to choose the company carefully, and check tourist reviews, and look for guides that do not get too close to the wild animals.

Canoeing

One of the best ways to relax in the wilds of the Chitwan Safari Park is to take a canoe out on the river for a calm and serene experience. Guides are the ones paddling the open canoes, and the trip gives you the chance to get a little closer to the river creatures of southern Nepal, including crocodiles and the many waterfowl that crowd the banks and sandbars.

Worship the Birthplace of the Buddha at Lumbini

Maya Devi Temple

An ancient Buddhist temple in Lumbini, in southern Nepal, the Maya Devi Temple is the main temple on the site of the birthplace of Lord Buddha. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the current temple, which is dedicated to the mother of Gautama Buddha, lies in the same location as a brick construction by Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE and a timber shrine that was dated to be from around the 6th century BCE.

Devi Temple, the main temple on the site of the birthplace of Lord Buddha

World Peace Pagoda

Lying outside the main compound of Lumbini, the World Peace Pagoda is noted as one of the greatest stupas in the world. Easily accessible from the compound by bicycle, the pagoda was built by Japanese Buddhists at a cost of more than a million dollars. The base of the pagoda also features the grave of a Buddhist monk that was killed by extremists during its construction.

The other Peace Pagoda in Lumbini, Nepal

Best Treks in Nepal

EBC Trek from Kathmandu

The EBC trek in Nepal is often rated as one of the greatest treks of all time, and is an amazing 12-day hike from Lukla to Everest Base Camp on the southern slopes of the world’s highest mountain.

Everest Base Camp trek is one of the popular trek routes in Nepal

Passing through some of the most outstanding landscapes of the Khumbu Region of Nepal, this spectacular experience is completed by thousands of trekkers every year, and the trails can get busy in the peak seasons. While this is the best time to trek, you will have fewer crowds if you go either side of the peak seasons. The trek starts at an altitude of 2,860 meters and rises to 5,380 meters at EBC.

Annapurna Circuit

The Annapurna Circuit Trek in Nepal is one of the most popular treks in the country, and ranges from 160 kilometers to around 230 kilometers, depending on where you start and finish the trekking. Crossing two wide river valleys, the trek circles the Annapurna Massif, reaching its highest point at Thorung La Pass at 5,416 meters. The route is traditionally trekked in an anti-clockwise direction, as the daily altitude gain is more gradual in this direction, leaving the steeper slopes for the descent. The trek is best done from April to May and October to November, but can still be done in winter, and parts of the trek can even be done in the summer monsoon season.

Enjoying thebreathtaking view of Himalayans during Annapurna trek in Nepal

Conclusion

Traveling to Nepal is one of the most multi-cultural and widest experiences in the world. This unique country, set in its small strip of land between India and the Himalayas, has a varied culture, a mixture of religions, and a widely diverse number of activities to try out. With something for everyone, including those that like to just sit and relax, Nepal could be one of the ultimate holiday destinations.