Seven monuments of Kathmandu
Seven Monuments of Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. It is the dream city of many Nepalese people. Kathmandu is the biggest metropolitan city. Lalitpur and Bhaktapur are two sister cities of Kathmandu. In short, Kathmandu is also called (KTM). As it is a capital city, almost all sorts of facilities are provided here. That’s why Kathmandu is a very advanced city among other cities. The Kathmandu valley is the most developed and populated place in Nepal with 1.5 million people.
This valley is a bowl-shaped valley. Most of the offices and headquarters lie in this valley. The Kathmandu valley is the economic hub of Nepal. The Himalayas Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri surround it. Kathmandu is the gateway to tourism in Nepal. It is also the nerve center of the country’s economy. It has the strongest infrastructure, so all the main economic works are finished inside the valley. Kathmandu is famous for exporting handicrafts, artworks, garments, tea, etc. Every year Kathmandu receives 170 billion of income. As Nepal is full of cultural diversity, most of the cultural programs are held here. Kathmandu is described as the ‘massive treasure house of art and sculpture’. Kathmandu is also known as the city of temples as lots of famous temples lie in this city. The temples of Kathmandu are the major attractions for tourists. Kathmandu is full of art and culture which attracts tourists more. The Kathmandu valley is 1400 m above sea level.
As Kathmandu is very famous for temples or religious sites, it is called the city of temples. The majority of the temples in Kathmandu are listed in the world heritage sites. Some of the famous monuments of Kathmandu are described below:
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest and most important temple for every Hindu. It is constructed over a huge area in Kathmandu. This temple is devoted to Lord Shiva. This temple is located at the bank of the Bagmati River. Most elderly people come to this temple to meet their death a few weeks before their last breath. It is believed that people who die at this temple will be reborn as humans in the next life. This temple is listed in UNESCO world heritage sites. Even Hindu people from India come here. This temple is very famous for the festival of Shiva Ratri. Over 1 million devotees visit here on that occasion. This temple has four main doors plated with silver, and the roof is plated with gold. This is the reason there is a lot of security in the temple. This temple is a living museum of the country. As this temple is huge, there is a main temple where only Hindu people can go, and also there are lots of other sites within the premises for foreigners. People believe that worshipping Shiva in Pashupatinath temple makes the wishes come true.
Some of the main attractions of the temple are as follows:
Western Cremation Ghats: It is the place where dead bodies are burned. Despite being full of waste garbage and black water, dead bodies are also burned. So it is an extremely sacred river.
Eastern Ghats: This Ghats lies on the eastern side of Pashupatinath Temple. This Ghat is also famous for funeral ceremonies.
Shiva Shrines: Shrines are made in every big and small temple of the Pashupati temple. Every shrine is made in different styles.
Viewpoint: This is the place from where you can see all the stupas and temples with a beautiful scene.
Religious Market: The religious market contains religious pots, ornaments, prasads, etc. Especially Rudraksha mala is famous here.
Swayambhunath Temple
This temple in the Kathmandu valley is the most glorious temple. It is a very important and religious temple, especially for Buddhist people. This temple is also known as the Monkey Temple as lots of monkeys come there. The monkeys are also treated well there because they resemble the faces of the god Hanuman. This temple is on the top of a hill from where visitors can see the Kathmandu valley. Lots of people from abroad come to visit this temple because it is very famous for Buddhism. It is believed that this temple was founded before 2000 years ago. This temple contains lots of symbols like the white color in that temple means the womb of creation. The sleepy eyes of Buddha mean he is looking to all. Likewise, the golden stripes in the eyes mean steps towards enlightenment. And the question mark-like symbol means number one which shows the unity of Nepal. Mainly this temple celebrates two festivals in a grand way: Buddha Jayanti and Lhosar. These two festivals are mainly celebrated by Buddhist people. This temple lies on the west side of the valley and plays a vital role in attracting tourists. It is listed in UNESCO world heritage sites. Here Buddhist as well as all the Hindus come to visit. Lots of holy monks have been here since ancient times. They perform meditation there.
Boudhanath Stupa
It is the 36 m high stupa which is the major attraction for tourists. It is the largest stupa in South Asia so it is one of the famous heritage sites. It is 8 km east of downtown the Kathmandu valley. It is the most important landmark of Kathmandu valley with the surroundings of countless monasteries. It is known as the holiest temple ground in Kathmandu. The interior temple is decorated by hanging clothes with a wide variety of colors. It hosts several religious ceremonies for different people as it is a center of Buddhism. It has over 50 monasteries and servants living there for the security and betterment of the stupa. If you come to visit this temple you will be much more familiar with the unity of Nepal and Tibetan. Visiting this temple enlightens your mind and soul with positive thoughts. Lies are strictly forbidden in this religion. The symbolism which is found in this temple cannot be found elsewhere in Nepal so this is the reason why many people want to visit this place. This temple represents unity and peace. Seeking monks' blessings is also very famous. As Buddhist people show very holiness they believe in blessings, miracles, and healings. As it is the ultimate ground of the Buddhist religion it is the best place to seek blessings related to religion. Similarly, the Boudhanath area is very peaceful and friendly. If you come to visit this temple you will find all the people very friendly like visitors, monks, and shopkeepers. Also, you can take beautiful photographs of yourself. You will also get to see the countless pigeons outside the temple inside the premises of the temple which is also an attraction for tourists. Boudhanath temple is the primary destination for all Buddhism followers. It will be more fruitful to you if you come to visit this temple if you want to get more information about religion.
Boudhanath temple is the primary destination for all Buddhism followers. It will be more fruitful to you if you come to visit this temple if you want to get more information about religion.
Budhanilkantha
This temple is located at the base of the Shivapuri hill. It is located on the northern side of the valley 9 km away from the main city. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is also called Lord Narayan. In the temple, his statue is made where he is lying in the water under the security of Ananta Sesa. This statue is made from a single block of black basalt stone which is the main uniqueness of this temple. It is believed that only Hindu people can touch his legs and can pray whereas foreigners are not allowed to touch his feet. From the period of Pratap Malla, it is believed that if any king visits this temple will die immediately after departure. So till now no king of Nepal has visited there after the dynasty of Pratap Malla. This temple is also known by the name of the sleeping house of Vishnu. Budhanilkantha literally means “old blue throat”. Actually, this temple is a very unique type of temple where kings cannot visit, built from a single block of stone, photographs cannot be taken from close by visitors, not foreigners, etc. The different techniques of worship are also an attraction for visitors. There is a very peaceful environment where there is no restriction for worshiping the god.
Guheswori Temple
This temple is also known by the name of Guheshwori or Guhyeshwari Temple. This temple is constructed for the goddess Parvati, who is also called Sati Devi, and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple is located 1 km east of the Pashupatinath temple. This temple is the major attraction for the tourists who come to visit the Pashupatinath temple as it is nearby. This temple is very important for Tantric worshipers. This temple is also listed in the UNESCO world heritage site list. In the Bagmati River, there are many temples but among them, this temple is the most famous one. This temple lies within the premises of Pashupatinath and also very peaceful temple to visit. It is believed that in ancient times, the goddess Sati was the wife of Shiva. After her father dishonored her husband, she was unable to bear the insults so she committed suicide in the same place where the temple is now. The main festivals celebrated in this temple are Dashain and Teej. These are the main Hindu festivals. This temple is a Shaktipeeth temple which is built in the memory of Sati Devi. This temple is also a very beautiful one which looks like a living palace. It is believed that if unmarried girls come to this temple and pray for a husband their wishes will be fulfilled. The main attraction of this temple is the holy pond which lies within the premises. The statues made in the temple are also a major attraction for visitors.
Hanuman Dhoka
Hanuman Dhoka is an ancient palace in Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is a complex of buildings of Malla kings. This palace is spread over 5 acres and is also called Basantapur Durbar. Hanuman Dhoka is also listed in the world heritage sites of UNESCO. This place is named after Hanuman as the Malla kings used to worship Hanuman as their main god and they used to believe that Hanuman protects them from their enemies. Lots of statues of Hanuman are made in this palace. This palace was made before the 16th century but later on, it was extended by King Pratap Malla in 1672. The entire Durbar Square contains lots of temples which are an attraction for visitors. This is the central attraction of Kathmandu valley. This palace is located in the middle of the city of Kathmandu. A major attraction of this palace is the coronation of the king of Nepal is held there. It contains ancient museums, courtyards, and small ponds which make the place more attractive. At that time Hanuman Dhoka was the administrative center of the king and king used to take important decisions in that place. Also, Hanuman Dhoka is the main attraction for tourists because they get to see the combination of ancient Nepal and the modern period. Especially people from abroad come to visit this place to get to know about the culture and history of Nepal. Some of the main attractions of this place are Nasal Chowk, Mohan Chowk, Mul Chowk, Basantapur Tower, and Tribhuvan Museum.
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square is located in the heart of the capital city of Nepal. It is a very famous place for tourists to visit because it is very ancient and a living museum. It is the central attraction of Kathmandu valley. This palace is also listed in the world heritage sites of UNESCO. The palaces, temples, and courtyards are the major attractions of this place. The Durbar Square was surrounded by beautiful gardens and water ponds. Many tourists are attracted to this place because of the architectural structure. Here you can see the real face of the history of Nepal. This place is also known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square. The Durbar Square area is divided into two parts: the outer area and the inner area. The outer area is very famous for the ancient temples like Kumari Ghar, Kasthamandap, and Shiva Parvati temple. The inner area comprises huge courtyards and places like Hanuman Dhoka, the main palace. People believe that visiting this temple brings peace and prosperity in life. This place is also called Basantapur Durbar Square. The major attraction of this place is the giant statue of Hanuman made by King Pratap Malla in 1672. This place contains lots of temples. The unique structures of the temples are also very attractive. The major attraction of this place is the living goddess Kumari. Every year there is a procession in which the living goddess Kumari goes around the inner and outer areas of Durbar Square. The traditions and cultures are the main ornaments of Kathmandu Durbar Square.