Kathmandu, Janakpur, Pokhara & Muktinath

After your breakfast at the hotel of your stay, we will take you out for a daylong sightseeing tour of some of the UNESCO world heritage sites in Kathmandu valley, that includes visit to:

Pashupatinath Temple: Pashupatinath temple is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal. It is situated in eastern side of main city of Kathmandu on the banks of Holy Bagmati River. This temple is the holiest of all the Shiva shrines in Nepal and is the abode of Lord Pashupatinath, the guardian spirit of Nepal.

A temple dedicated to Lord Shiva existed at this site in AD 879. However, the present temple was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1697. A gold-plated roof, silver doors, and woodcarvings of the finest quality decorate the pagoda construction. Next to Pashupatinath is Guheswari Temple, restored in AD 1653, represents the female "force". It is dedicated to Satidevi, Shiva's first wife, who gave up her life in the flames of her father's fire ritual.

A circuit of the Pashupati area takes visitors past a sixth-century statue of the Buddha, an eighth-century statue of Brahma the creator and numerous other temples. Some other places to visit are Rajrajeswari Temple, built in 1407, Kailas with lingas more than 1,400 years old, Gorakhnath temple, and the courtyard of Biswarup. The Bagmati River flows close by and the Arya Ghat cremation grounds are here. Those of Hindu faith only may enter the main Pashupatinath courtyard only.

Boudhanath Stupa: Boudhanath is among the largest stupas in South Asia, and it has become the focal point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal. The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet, and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many of them decided to live around Bouddhanath. Many people believe that Bouddhanath was constructed in the fifth century, but definite proof is lacking. The stupa is said to entomb the remains of a Kasyap sage who is venerable both to Buddhists and to Hindus.

Kathmandu City: Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, is one of the world’s oldest cities. It is also known as Kantipur. Here one can find distinctive pagoda-roofed temples, stone sculptures, and old monasteries and histories monuments. Here you will visit the temple of the Living Goddess, who acknowledges the greetings of devotees from the balcony of here temple residence Kasthamandap – the source of the name Kathmandu and supposed to be made from the timber of a single tree and Durbar Square are with its array of temples overlooked by the Hanuman Dhoka Palace, the ancient place of the former Nepalese Royalty.

Kathmandu Durbar Square: This complex of palaces, courtyards and temples, built between 12th and 18th Centuries, used to be the seat of ancient Malla Kings of Kathmandu. It is the place where kings of Nepal are crowned and their coronations solemnized. An intriguing piece here is the 17th century stone inscription set into the wall of the palace with writings in 15 languages.

Kumari Temple: Kumari temple is the residence of the Living Goddess. Kumari, known as Virgin Goddess has some specialties, she must be chosen from a typical Newari cast with no body marks & injuries & will be replaced by another Kumari after puberty. Kasthamandap: Kasthamandap is believed to be constructed from the wood of a single tree in the sixteenth century situated near to the Kumari Temple. The name Kathmandu was named after this.

Swoyambhunath Stupa: The four seeing eyes of Swoyambhunath Stupa watch over the valley from the top of 77-m high hillock on western side. This most glorious Stupa in the world is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of Kathmandu valley out of a primordial lake. The surroundings of the Swoyambhunath are covered with small Chaityas & monasteries as well as some Hindu temples. The National Museum and the Museum of Natural History are situated at the foot of the hill.

Overnight stay at hotel in Kathmandu.

After your breakfast at the hotel of your stay, drive to Janakpur –225 kilometers / 6-7 hrs. under normal road condition (by B.P. Highway).

Janakpur: Janakpur, the gateway to Mithila, is the capital of an ancient state of Mithila-a well-known Hindu kingdom and the centre of Maithili culture during the Treta Yug, or period, nearly 12,000 years ago. It is the birthplace of Sita (Janaki) where wedding ceremony of Sita and Ram were held. Sita and Ram are the two central characters of great Hindu epic Ramayana.

Named after the legendary King Janak, Janakpur has become a great pilgrimage site for Hindus today. Besides the religious importance, Janakpur is also the center for the revival of the ancient Mithila art and craft.

On arrival at Janakpur, check in hotel. In the evening, you will visit:

Janaki Mandir: Queen Brisabhanu Kunwar of Tikamgargh built one of the top attractions of Janakpur, in 1898 AD. It reflects a fine blend of Indo-Islamic architecture. The dome of the temple is designed in the fashion of a palace in Rajasthan. The doors are ornately decorated with silver. In addition, it is said that the statue of Sita, the presiding deity of the temple, was found in the Sarya River near Ayodhya.

Ram Sita Bibaha Mandir: It is another important place of interest in Janakpur. Almost next door to the Janaki Mandir, this rather bizarre temple marks the spot where Rama and Sita were married. This is actually a pagoda built in the traditional Nepalese form. Apart from these, you will also find the statues of the brothers of Rama. This pagoda was built to commemorate the wedding of Rama and Sita.

Ram Mandir: Ram Mandir, another must visit temple in Mithila, is the oldest temple in Janakpur. It was built by the Gorkhali general Amar Singh Thapa. It is in pagoda style and is located to southeast of the Janaki Mandir. Ram, the Prince of Ayodhya, is the presiding deity of the temple.

Dhanushadham: Dhanushadham, situated 18 km north-east of Janakpurdham, is believed to be the place where the broken remains of the divine Shiva bow fell after Ram broke it to obtain Sita’s hand in marriage. A fossilized fragment of the broken piece is still believed to be present here. Every Sunday in the month of Magh (January/ February), a Makar Mela takes place – a tradition that has been continued since Vedic times. Tens of thousands Hindu devotees from around the world flock here to pay homage to this place.

Overnight stay at hotel in Janakpur.

After your breakfast at the hotel of your stay, drive to Pokhara – 365 kilometers / 8-9 hrs. under normal road condition (by East West Highway).

Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty.  At an elevation lower than that of Kathmandu, it has much more tropical feel to it; a fact well appreciated by the beautiful diverse flowers that prosper in this environment. The enchanting city with a population of around 95,000 has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. The valleys surrounding Pokhara is home to thick forest, gushing rivers, emerald lakes and of course, the views of world famous Himalayas. The serenity of the lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic.

Rest of the evening is at leisure.

Overnight stay at hotel in Pokhara.

After your early breakfast at the hotel of your stay, we will drive you to Pokhara airport for flight o Jomsom. On arrival at Jomsom airport, transfer to your hotel.

Later, we will drive you to Muktinath Temple.

Muktinath : Muktinath (Or Chumig Gyatsa to Tibetan Buddhists) is a sacred place for both Hindus and Tibetan Buddhists. Situated at an altitude of 3750 meters at the Annapurna Circuit, Muktinath is a sacred place of salvation. Hindus believe that bathing in the waters here guarantees salvation after death. The Hindu god, Brahma, is said to have lit the eternal flames that burn at Muktinath. To Buddhists, Muktinath is a place where the great sage guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) came to meditate. The area is a perfect place to find fossilized ammonites, known locally as Shaligram, which are found all along the upper reaches of Kali Gandaki.

One Hindu Guru connected to Muktinath is Lord Shri Swaminarayan, Satguru of Sabij Yoga, the goal of which is the realization of and service to God Supreme. At the end of the 18th century, this Satguru practiced severe penance in Muktinath for two and a half months and attained the highest degree of proficiency in Nishkamvrat.

After Muktinath temple visit, we will drive you back to the hotel in Jomsom.

Overnight stay at hotel in Jomsom.

After your breakfast at the hotel of your stay, fly back to Pokhara. Check in hotel.

In the afternoon, you will be taken for a day long sightseeing tour of Pokhara city, that includes visit to:

Devi's fall: Locally known as Patale Chhango (Hell's fall), Devi's fall is an amazing waterfall lying about 2 km south-west of Pokhara airport on the highway to Tansen. It was named after Devi, a Swiss woman who was swept away when the floodgates were accidently opened, never to be seen again.

Seti Gorge: Seti Gorge is one of the important places to visit in Pokhara. The Seti Gandaki flows right through the city. The river flows underground at many places and up to 250 meters deep at some places. There is a local myth that the entire Pokhara valley floats on the Seti River.

Mahendra Cave: located north of Pokhara, the area is known as Batulechaur. Regular microbuses and taxis are available to go to Mahendra Cave from Main town of Pokhara. Tourist can hire taxi or book sightseeing from hotels. Mahendra Gufa is one of the most popular visiting spot in Pokhara Nepal. 95% tourists go to visit Mahendra Cave. Tell your Taxi Driver to take you Mahendra Gufa no other Gufa. Mahendra Gufa is completely different from other Gufa.

Bindabasini temple: Bindabasini Mandir is of great religious importance to Hindus living in the Pokhara region. It is a vital hub of religious fervor. The temple itself is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Durga, who is Pokhara’s chosen guardian deity. Durga, also known as Shakti or Kali has numerous manifestations and at the Bindabasini temple, she is seen as Bhagwati, a bloodthirsty aspect of the goddess. Durga appears in the form of a Saligram. A Saligram, according to Hindu mythology is a propitious stone. It is said that the temple was created after the goddess ordered king Khadag Bum Malla to set up her statue here. The Bindabasini temple was then founded in BS 1845. Since its establishment, Bhagwati has been an object of worship here on a daily basis. Animal sacrifices are typically presented at the temple on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The Hindu festival of Dashain sees large numbers of believers coming to offer sacrifices at Bindabasini Mandir. Indeed, there is little space for tourist during the festival of Dashain.

Gupteshwor Mahadev Cave: Gupteshwor Mahadev is a beautiful cave just opposite to David Fall. A giant stalagmite within this cave is honored as a Shiva lingam and the devout flock here to pray. Entry tickets allow you to enter the temple. For some extra money, you can also obtain entry to the tunnel behind, which comes out at a wet cavern right behind the gushing Devi's fall. Once inside the cave, look up at the ceiling and you will see detritus and branches in cracks in the rock. These have actually been pushed up there by floodwaters that fill the cave during the monsoon.

Boat ride on Phewa Lake: Spend a quiet time boating in the ultimate lake where the reflections of Mount Annapurna and Machhapuchhare range falls. You will also see a variety of fishes while boating. An island temple is located at the middle of the lake. Thick forest lies on the adjoining southern slopes of the lake. It is hard to escape the draw of Phewa Lake and any visitor with even a few spare minutes should endeavor to take a boat out on the water to fully experience the wonderful views of the reflected mountains.

Return to hotel in the evening.

Overnight stay at hotel in Pokhara.

After your breakfast at the hotel of your stay, we will drive you back to Kathmandu.

Optional: En route, you will visit Manakamana Temple by modern cable car.

Manakamana Temple: The mythical history of the Manakamana goddess dates back to the reign of King Ram Shah of Gorkha. Every night, the king’s wife would awake and make her way to a nearby hill. Upon finding his kingly bed empty, Ram Shah decided to feign sleep and follow his queen on her nightly sojourn. He soon found himself outside a large hall, guarded by two massive lions. Inside, the hall was lined with various gods and goddesses, waiting for the queen to chair their heavenly meet. Struck with the fact that his queen was possessed of divine power, the king returned home with a heavy heart.

The next morning, he informed his wife of all he had witnessed, claiming that he had seen it all in a dream. No sooner had he revealed his discovery, Ram Shah was struck dead. Back then, the practice of a wife committing Sati by throwing herself on the funeral pyre of her husband was very much in vogue. However, Ram Shah’s personal secretary Lakhan Thapa Magar pleaded with the queen not to go through with the practice. The queen, however, assured Thapa Magar that she would return.

Months after the death of the king and queen, Thapa Magar heard of a stone discovered by a farmer ploughing his field. When struck by the plough, the stone began to leak a profusion of blood and milk. Thapa Magar rushed to the area and believing the stone to be an incarnation of the dead queen, built a temple there and began to serve the goddess Manakamana. Unlike other Hindu temples, where Brahmins are the priests, exclusively the descendants of Lakhan Thapa Magar, who are now in their 17th generation, serve the Manakamana temple.

Overnight stay at hotel in Kathmandu.

After your breakfast at hotel of your stay, or depending on your flight schedule, our representative or chauffeur will transfer you to Tribhuvan International Airport 3 hours before departure of your return flight.