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Organic Farming Trip (Permaculture) |
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| Permaculture, then, is a design system that encompasses both "permanent agriculture" and "permanent culture." |
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Nepal is an independent country landlocked between Tibet (China) to the north and India to the south, east and west. A land of diverse topography, climate, ethnicity and biodiversity, Nepal is a country of amazing extremes. The world's highest peaks including the mighty Sagarmatha (Everest) tower over the terraced foothills sparsely populated by over 36 distinct ethnic groups. Thick jungles where elephants, rhinos and tigers roam. White-water rivers cascading from their glacial origins high in the Himalayas. A personal Shangrila awaits every visitor who travels to this enchanted wonderland.
Nepal is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and altitude variation. The elevation of the country ranges from 60 meters above sea level to the highest point on earth, Mt. Everest at 8,848 meters, all within a distance of 150 kilometers resulting in climatic conditions from sub-tropical to arctic. This wild variation fosters an incredible variety of ecosystems, the greatest mountain range on earth, thick tropical jungles teeming with a wealth of wildlife, thundering rivers, forested hills and frozen valleys.
Within this spectacular geography is also one of the richest cultural landscapes anywhere. The country is a potpourri of ethnic groups and sub-groups who speak over 93 languages and dialects. Nepal offers an astonishing diversity of sightseeing attractions and adventure opportunities found nowhere else on earth. And you can join in the numerous annual festivals that are celebrated throughout the year in traditional style highlighting enduring customs and beliefs.
For the last 50 years Nepal has been the haunt of hippies and trekkers exploring the stunning topography with its amazing wildlife. The world's tallest mountain, Everest, is located here providing a robust challenge to all who dare to climb it. This magical, mysterious destination welcomes you with its time-worn temples, ancient Buddhist and Hindu culture and spectacular scenery.
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Kathmandu Valley |
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The Kathmandu Valley has an exotic setting. It is surrounded by tier upon tier of green mountain walls above which tower mighty snowcapped peaks. It consists of three main cities of great historic and cultural interest Kathmandu, Lalitpur (Patan) and Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon). The Kathmandu Valley covers an area of 218 sq. miles. It is situated at 1336 m above sea-level. From the air, the oval shaped Kathmandu Valley, the hub of the Country looks like a large chess board with the sacred river Bagmati and its tributary Bishnumati wending their way to the south. Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is named after Kasthamandap, an imposing pagoda near Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The city was built in its present form by Gunakama Dev in 723 AD. |
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Singha Durbar |
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It is a grand imposing palace built on the neo-classical style. Once the private residence of Rana Prime Ministers, now it is the Secretariat of His Majesty's Government of Nepal. Some years ago, major part of it except the facade was destroyed by fire. All portions of it have already been rebuilt.
Durbar Square: |
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Patan Durbar Square |
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It is situated in the heart of the city constitutes the focus of visitor's attraction. The square is full of ancient palaces, temples and shrines noted for their exquisite carvings. One can rummage for treasures in the various shops around the square. The main attraction of Patan Durbar Square is the ancient Royal Palace itself. It consists of three main chowks or courtyards, the central Mul Chowk, Sundari Chowk and Min Keshab Narayan Chowk. In the north eastern corner of the courtyard is the triple rotted octagonal tower of Taleju Bhawani Temple built by King Shree Niwas Malla in 1667. The Sundari Chowk holds in its centre a masterpiece of stone architecture, the Royal bath called Tushahity. Between the central Mul Chowk and Main Keshab Narayan Chowk there is a temple of Degu Taleju. |
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Swyambhunath |
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This is one of the world’s glorious Buddhist Chaityas. It is said to be 2000 years old. The Chaitya which forms the main structure is made of a solid hemisphere of birch and clay supporting a lofty conical spire capped by a pinnacle of copper gift. Painted on the four sides of the spire bases are the all seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It is there kilometers west of Kathmandu city, and is situated on a hillock about 77m about the label of the Valley. The hills are a mosaic of small Chaityas and pagoda temple. |
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Bouddhanath |
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The Stupa of Bouddhanath lies eight kilometers east of Kathmandu. This colossal and ancient Stupa, one of the biggest in the world, has the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. It was built by Lichchhavi King Ma Na Dev in the fifth century AD. It is built on an octagonal base inset with prayer wheels. Ratna Park and Shahid gate are the main bus stops for Bouddhanath. |
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National Museum |
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Located at Chhauni, two and half kilometers west of Kathmandu, a twenty-five minute walk from Hanuman Dhoka, the National Museum has a splendid collection of weapons, artifacts from ancient, medieval and modern Nepal. Its archaeological and historical displays are worth seeing. The museum is open everyday except Tuesday and government holidays. Museum Hours: Summer: 10:30 am - 4:30 pm (Feb. 13 to Nov. 16) winter: 10:30 am - 3:30 pm (Nov. 17 to Feb. 12) On Fridays: 10:30 am - 2:30 pm round the year. |
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Natural History Museum |
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This Museum, the only of its kind in Nepal is situated three kilometers west of Kathmandu city behind the famous Swyambhunath hillock. Run under the Tribhuvan University this museum has over 14,000 unique collections of butterflies, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants and a variety of fossils collected within the country. Established in 1975, the museum provides detailed information to the tourists about nature observations, study of high altitude birds, alpine flora and fauna, etc. It is open during the office hours every day except Saturdays and government holidays. Entrance is free. Photography inside the museum is strictly prohibited. |
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Pashupatinath Temple |
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Situated five kilometers east of Kathmandu on the bank of sacred Bagmati River, the temple of Lord Shiva-Pashupatinath with two-tiered golden roof and silver doors is famous for its superb architecture. It is a centre of annual pilgrimage on the day of Maha-Sivarati. Entrance to the temple precinct is permitted to the Hindus only however, visitors can clearly see the temple and the activities performed in the temple premises from the eastern bank of the Bagmati River. Bus, minibus, tempos and taxi for Pashupatinath temple are available at Ratna Park. |
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Changu Narayan |
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Situated at the end of the long ridge which runs well into the Valley, it is said to have been built in 323 A.D. by King Hari Dutta Varma. The temple is richly decorated with sculptures and carvings. It is said to be the oldest temple in the Valley. It is situated about 153m above the level of the Kathmandu Valley and affords a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside. An all-weather motorable road connects it with Bhaktapur city. |
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Temple of Kumari (Kumari Ghar) |
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The temple or the residence of Living Goddess Kumari is situated in the vicinity of Hanuman Dhoka Palace. The building has profusely carved wooden balconies and window screens. It was built by Jaya Prakash Malla, the last Malla King of Kathmandu. Though certain aspects of Kumari-worship and her annual festival parade existed among the Nepalese in the ancient times also, the chariot festival in the present form was inaugurated by him in the mid-eighteenth century. The non-Hindu visitors may enter the courtyard, but may not go beyond that. The Kumari acknowledges their greetings from her balcony window. Photography is prohibited. Kumari, who is also known as the Virgin Goddess has got some specialties, that she must be of the Newari Shakya caste, a virgin with no body marks of injuries. When she attends on puberty she is replaced by another Kumari. |
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Machchhendra Nath Temple |
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The temple of Sweta Machchhendra Nath is situated at Machchhendra Bahal between Indra Chowk and Asan. It is a pagoda of considerable artistic beauty. It has two-tiered bronze roof. The temple is built in a courtyard full of votice stupas and statuaries. It is surrounded by residential houses and busy shops. The god within the shrine is Padmapani Avalokiteshwor, worshipped by Hindus and Buddhists. This deity is also called Janmadyo or Machchhendra. |
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Akash Bhairav Temple |
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It is a three-storey temple in the main market avenue, called Indra Chowk. The image of Akash Bhairav is displayed outside for a week during Indra Jatra, the festival of Indra - the God of Rain. |
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Ashok Vinayak |
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The small but a very important temple of Ashok Vinayak is situated behind the Kasthamandap. It is also known as Kathmandu Ganesh or Maru Ganesh. |
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Narayanhity Durbar |
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It is the present Royal Palace. This inherited the name from the temple of Narayan. A famous historic water spout called Narayanhity is situated at the southern corner of the Palace. |
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Budhanilkantha |
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About eight kilometers north of Kathmandu, at the base of Sivapuri hill is a remarkable, colossal statue of Lord Vishnu, reclining on the bed of snakes. This is one of the masterpieces of stone sculpture of Lichchhavi period. This fifth century statue is in the middle of a small pond and seems to float in water. It is a famous place of pilgrimage for Hindus. Buses for Budhanikantha are available. |
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Chabahil |
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The lovely Stupa of Chabahil is built by the side of road to Bouddhanath. This Stupa is older than Bouddhanath and built by Charumati, the daughter of the Indian Emperor Ashoka, in the third century BC after her marriage with a local prince called Devapala. That is why Chabahil is also known as Devapatan. There are some ancient statues around the Stupa. |
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Chandra Vinayak |
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The temple of Chandra Vinayak is situated about 200m west of Chabahil Stupa. This double tiered brass roofed temple houses a tiny image of Lord Ganesh. Chandra Vinayak is one of the four Vinayaks of Kathmandu Valley. The other three are Jal Vinayak of Chovar, Surya Vinayak of Bhaktapur and Karya Vinayak of Bungmati (Patan). |
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Gokarna |
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This lovely Royal Game Sanctuary, also known as Gokarna Safari Park, lies about ten kilometers northeast of Kathmandu. It is situated on the bank of the river Bagmati. Many wild animals such as spotted deer can be viewed in the sanctuary at the gate or by arrangement with a travel agency. On the northern side of Gokarna, on the way to Sundarijal, is a pagoda of Gokarneshwor Mahadev which stands on one side of the Bagmati gorge. |
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Kirtipur |
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It is a small town, eight kilometers southwest of Kathmandu on the top of a hill. Tribhuvan University is located at the foot of the hill. This historic town has many things to offer like old shrines and temples, old houses, the people typically dressed in old traditional costumes, people working on ancient loom, etc. Regular buses and minibuses for Kirtipur depart from Ratna Park. |
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Lalitpur (Patan) |
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This ancient city of Patan is situated on the southern bank of the river Bagmati and is about five kilometers southeast of Kathmandu. The city is full of Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments with bronze gateways, guardian deities and wonderful carvings. Noted for its craftsmen and metal workers, it is known as the city of artists. |
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Krishna Mandir |
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Built in the seventeenth century by King Siddhi Narsingh Malla, the temple of Lord Krishna holds a commanding position in the palace complex of Patan. It is supposed to be the first specimen of Shikhara style architecture in Nepal. It is the only temple in Nepal having 21 shrines and is completely made of stone. Most of the important scenes from the ancient Hindu epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, have been engraved on its friezes. |
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Mahabouddha |
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A little further from Patan Durbar Square lies this Buddhist temple made of clay bricks in which thousands of images of Lord Buddha are engraved. The Terracotta structure is one of the fourteenth century Nepalese architectural masterpieces. It was constructed by an architect named Avay Raj. |
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The Jawalakhel Zoo |
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The Zoo is situated at Jawalakhel. Here are many animals, birds and reptiles, mostly representing the Himalayan fauna. It is the only zoo in Nepal.
There is a beautiful pond inside it built by King Siddhi Narshing Malla. It is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. |
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Tibetan Centre Jawalakhel |
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It is extremely interesting place where one can see the spinning, dying and weaving of Tibetan carpets. This centre has also a well-stocked show room. |
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Bhaktapur (Bhadgaon) |
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Bhaktapur, situated at an altitude of 1401m, is a home of medieval art and architecture. The urban city covers an area of 4 square miles. Shaped like a conch-shell, Bhaktapur means the city of devotees. Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. The city lies about 14 kilometers east of Kathmandu and can be reached by public transport and by trolley buses. The major sightseeing places in Bhaktapur include: |
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Bhairav Nath Temple |
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This temple was first built as a one-storey pagoda during the reign of King Jagat Jyoti Malla, and later changed into a three-storey temple in 1718 A.D. by King Bhupatindra Malla. The temple is noted for its artistic grandeur. It is dedicated to Lord Bhairav - the god of Terror. |
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Surya Vinayak |
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It is a shrine of Ganesh; the elephant headed God, situated in a beautiful surrounding of Bhadgaon, placed in a sylvan setting to catch the first rays of the rising sun. The view of the city of Bhaktapur is seen from here with snow peaks in the background. Nestling in a thick forest, it is a good picnic spot flanked by many attractive landscapes. It is easily accessible by trolley bus. |
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