The 5 Best Places to Enjoy Sunsets in Nepal. The golden hours of the day, the sunset, can’t possibly be more pleasing to the senses. At this golden time, nature is at its most magnificent. The sun’s dazzling rays cast a bright hue on the clouds, fields, mountaintops, and valleys. The hilltops and valleys appear to be bathed in yellow light, allowing visitors to appreciate the sun’s reddening splendor. If you’re traveling to Kathmandu, take your camera so you can snap the best sunset views.
1. Boudhanath Stupa
The architectural structure of Nepal’s temples is one of a kind; these temples often amaze visitors with their beauty and peacefulness. The Boudhnath Stupa, the world’s largest stupa, is the ideal place in Kathmandu to see the sunset. You can enjoy a cup of coffee while you watch the sun setting.
2. The Garden of Dreams
The Kaiser Mahal Garden, located just across the street from the former Royal Palace at the entrance to Thamel, Kathmandu, is a tranquil sanctuary in Kathmandu’s hustle and bustle.
3. Nagarkot
Nagarkot, at an elevation of 2195 meters, is the most well-known hill station near Kathmandu for watching Himalayan ranges, sunsets, and sunrises. You’ll see 8 of the 13 large panoramic views of Nepal’s Himalayas ranges. The Annapurna range, the Manaslu range, the Ganesh Himal range, the Langtang range, the Jugal range, the Rolwaling range, the Everest range, and the number range are all included. The sunset vista, as well as the nearby valleys and woodlands, are very appealing.
4. Swayambhunath Stupa
The Swayambhunath Stupa in Nepal is the country’s earliest prehistoric Buddhist stupa. “Monkey Temple” is another name for it. It is located two miles west of Kathmandu City on a hillside. This is one of the world’s most magnificent and well-known Buddhist chaityas, dating back over two thousand years. This stupa never ceases to amaze visitors from all over the world. The soothing music, the enticing fragrance of incense, and the undeniable beauty enchant many souls.
If you arrive early, have a cup of tea on one of the temple’s terraces. Watch the sunset and then go with the monks to light all of the candles.
5. Kopan Monastery
The Kopan Monastery is one of Kathmandu’s most magnificent sights. This is a Buddhist Monastery with incredible architecture. It is a tourist attraction that attracts followers of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism. This location offers one-of-a-kind architecture as well as the ideal setting for watching the sunset. Kopan Monastery should be on your “Must Visit List” if you wish to see the best of Kathmandu’s heritage attractions.
Kathmandu is a city that was founded in a vast valley after draining a large lake as per the legends say and where the ancient traditions of this city are passionately conserved while embracing the modern technological advancements. This is a city where one gets a chance to witness the unity in diversity as many people from different caste, ethnicity, and religion, race living together in harmony and where the Gods and people share the same street. Truly a city of monuments, temples, stupas in every chowks and street. A city of various political influence and cultural embrace.
In this ever so culturally and traditionally rich place one has many options to go to and soak in and learn the historical past and tradition of those places. Here is the list of the places that you need to visit while inside the Kathmandu Valley.
1. Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square is enlisted in the “UNESCO World Heritage Site” and is also popularly known as Hanuman Dhoka square. It is one of the major attractions in Kathmandu Valley as most of the cultural centers of Nepal are concentrated around the Kathmandu valley; Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square among those cultural sites is the most important one. The statue of Hanuman established by his majesty King Pratap Malla at the entrance of the royal palace in 1672 A.D was what influenced “The name Hanuman-dhoka Durbar”. The famous Basantapur Durbar Palace was built under the reign of the great “Shah Dynasty” ruler King Prithvi Narayan shah in 1770 which is also known as Kathmandu Durbar Square. It is located at the heart of the ancient city in Kathmandu and is surrounding both Hindu and Buddhist temples. Most of the monuments that date back to the 15th to 18th century are mostly embellished in pagoda style with very intricate exterior carvings. The religious and culturally rich life of the people is emphasized with its historic palaces, temples, and traditions. Other interesting things which cannot be missed once you’re in Kathmandu are “Kumari (The Living Goddess) Gar” “Kastha Mandap” Maru Ganesh, Mahadev Temple, Shiva Parvati Temple, Bhagwati Temple, Old Palace, Saraswati Temple, Krishna Octangular Temple, Big drums, Kal Bhairav, Jagannath Temple, and Taleju Temple, etc.
2. Swayambhunath Temple
The
name “Swayambhunath” is termed after the word “Self-Created” and history
mentions the stupa is from back 5th century when the valley was made out of an
out of an antiquated lake. Most usually uttered as “Monkey Temple” the
Swayambhunath is one of the excellent landmarks on Kathmandu valley which is
enrolled at the world heritage site. Arranged on a peak, this wonderful holy
spot showcases a constraining white stupa with entrancing Buddha eyes and a
sparkling golden spire. One of the most prominent spots in the city, The
Swayambhunath viewpoint also recommends the shocking landscape of the Kathmandu
valley.
3. Patan Durbar Square
Patan
Durbar Square is the next fabulous destination which is one of the three Durbar
Squares in Kathmandu Valley, incorporated into UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Durbar Square is a wonder of Newar architecture with a tiled floor using red
blocks. There are numerous sanctuaries and symbols in the area and most
meaningful structures are the Golden Temple of 14th century, the octagonal
Krishna sanctuary of 16th century and the Shankar Narayan sanctuary with two
elephants at its passage. The acclaimed Patan Museum displays bronze and copper
statues of gods from both the Buddhist and Hindu conventions.
4. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur
Durbar Square is another spectacular space which is one of the three Durbar
Squares in Kathmandu Valley, incorporated into UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The
recorded landmark on around displays medieval age culture and convention of
Nepal and this old city is occupied by the indigenous Newar community of huge
gathering. While the attractions comprise of no less than four unmistakable
squares (Durbar Square, Taumadhi Square, Dattatreya Square, and Pottery Square)
the entire domains are casually identified Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
5. Pashupatinath Temple
Pinpointed
on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, Pashupatinath is an exceptionally
sacred Hindu temple erected of two-storied in the 15th century back where you
can glimpse stunning the heavenly men known as “Sadhus” in an extraordinary piece
of clothing. This “extensive Hindu sanctuary domain is a sprawling gathering of
sanctuaries, ashrams, pictures, and engravings raised throughout the hundreds
of years. Vaishnava temple with a Rama sanctuary from the 14th century and the
Guhyeshwari Temple built in the 11th century likewise lies throughout
Pashupatinath.
6. Kopan Monastery Gumba
The
monastery was primarily established by the FPMT’s authors, Lamas Thubten Yeshe
and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, who bought the property from Nepal’s regal astrologer
and set up around the 19th century. Without any doubt, it is reflecting it’s
identity as Kopan Monastery pursuing the Tibetan influence. Monastery situated
on the top of the hill is a pleasant place where you can investigate and gain
knowledge about Buddhism along this monastery is considered an excellent point
for its books on Buddhist psychology and philosophy.
7. Bouddhanath Stupa
The
most appreciated spot to explore all through Kathmandu valley is “Boudhanath
Stupa” (One among the largest stupas in the planet) which was constructed back
during the 14th century. It is additionally enrolled on the rundown of the
world heritage site as well. The vast Buddha eyes on stupa and the colorful
praying flags creates distinctive eye-catching outline all through stupa.
Amazing belief and Buddhist text declare that Boudhanath stupa dominates the
skyline. From throughout the world, this destination is identified as the
imperative destination for whole Buddhist minions.
8. Royal Botanical Garden
Royal
Botanical Garden established back in the 18th century is a garden dedicated to
the collection, cultivation, and showcase of an extensive variety of plants
displayed with their botanical names along with conservation of birds. It
contains authority for plant collection, and it displays huge desert flora and
fauna, herb gardens, plants from specific parts of the world, et cetera. The
place is interesting and incredible for strolling along with its goal for
instructive presentations, workmanship shows, book rooms, outside dramatic and
melodic exhibitions, and other stimulation.
9. Thamel Street
Displaying
core populace of Newar community Thamel is Kathmandu’s extraordinary hotspot
holding unique boulevards holding narrow streets decorated with colorful
praying flags and completed with international and local restaurants serving
whole assortments of dishes including Nepalese nourishment and liquors with
live music band exhibitions moreover souvenir shops loaded up with Nepal unique
melodic instrument, handcrafted customs, tattoo corners, religious antiques
like singing bowl are magnetic. Additionally, Thamel is a definitive place to
chill out in the city.
10. Garden Of Dreams
The
delightfully established garden pronounced as “Swapna Baigicha” is recognized
as “Garden of Dreams”. It’s a well-known destination all through the crowded
city for investing time to get out of stress for finding peace in Kathmandu to
visit offers rest and restoration from the worries of the world. It is a
standout amongst the most stunning spots on the planet, holding marble
engraving, lovely wellsprings and lakes, hidden garden and countless moreover.
The garden was worked in the 1920s and has been brought back into life by the
Austrian financed group and still.