Kathmandu, the remarkable capital of Nepal, has a rich history dating back to the 12th century. It boosts everything from ancient Buddhist and Hindu temples to spice markets bound to have you sneezing or buying exotic products by the kilo. It’s a hectic, busy and loud city, and there’s a good chance you will either fall in love with Kathmandu, or you’ll just want to escape to the Garden of Dreams. With so many incredible tourist places in Kathmandu you could never be bored here, and when you travel to Nepal you should ensure you spend at least a few days here.
Pokhara is a piece of heaven in the world. It is one of the most scenic and exciting valley in Nepal. The ‘Jewel of the mid-west’, it offers a mild climate and is famous for the natural beauty of its great lakeside location, magnificent views of Dhaulagiri, Fishtail, Manaslu, five peaks of Annapurna and others. This is one of the few places in the world to provide such a dramatic view in a sub-tropical setting.
Meet & greet upon arrival with assistance at Tribhuvan International Airport and transfer to the hotel. Later, start our day with visit to Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), an ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. It is one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Nepal, second only to the great Boudhnath stupa. The Stupa is the most ancient and enigmatic of all the holy shrines in Kathmandu Valley. It has a lofty white dome and a glittering golden spire that are visible from all sides of the valley. The Stupa's surroundings consists of chaityas, temples, painted images of deities and numerous other religious objects. Located on a hill on the outskirts of Kathmandu, the temple affords magnificent views over the city and on a clear day to the mountains beyond.
Later, visit Kathmandu Durbar Square ( "UNESCO World Heritage Site") also known as Hanuman Dhoka - The name came from the statue of Hanuman established by the King Pratap Malla at the entrance of the royal palace in 1672 A.D. storeyed residence built by King Prithvi Narayan shah in 1770. Most of the buildings are built in the pagoda style embellished with intricately carved exteriors date from 15th to 18th century. The major Interesting things to see here are "Kumari (The Living Goddess) Gar" "Kastha Mandap"Maru Ganesh, various ancient Hindu temples, Old palace, and Big drums etc. Evening return to the hotel for Overnight stay.
After Breakfast, proceed to visit Bhaktapur, an ancient city located in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley,. Also known as an open museum, it is home to some of the best preserved historical monuments including palaces, courtyards, temples, pagodas, monuments, craftwork, hand-crafted peacock windows, etc . It has two of the seven monument zones within the Kathmandu Valley listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Afternoon visit Patan- another UNESCO World Heritage Site the oldest of all the three cities of Kathmandu valley. It is the best known for its artistic heritage. It is probably one of the oldest Buddhist City in the world. Another name of Patan, is Lalitpur. The city is surrounded by 4Stupas as 4 corners of Patan, one at each corner of its cardinal points. These stupas are said to have been built by the famous Emperor Ashoka. This is one of the most elegant architectural treasures of which Patan is very proud. Evening return to the hotel for Overnight stay.
Morning drive to Pokhara. Afternoon boat ride in Phewa lake and visit Barahi Temple. Overnight.
Early morning drive to Sarangkot to see sunrise and Mountain view. On the way back visit Bindubasini Temple and Old Bazaar. After breakfast sightseeing of Pokhara valley such as, Tibetian Refugee Camp, Devi's Fall, Gupteshwor cave etc. Overnight.
Morning drive back to Kathmandu. Upon arrival enjoy some free shopping time at Thamel, It is bustling place totally different from the rest of the city, and its numerous cool cafes and art attracts the travellers very quickly. Whether it is handmade jute bags that are trendy and colourful or the hippie clothes or the wooden souvenirs including big international mask or Jewellery. You will find all of them in Thamel. Evening return to the hotel for Overnight stay.
Breakfast at the hotel, later in time transfer to the airport to board your onward journey flight.
Conveniently located at the heart of the capital, Kathmandu, Hotel Shangri-La is a great base from which to explore this vibrant city. The airport is merely 7 kilometers away from the Hotel which is adjacent to diplomatic consulates and offers every guest a private getaway in a bustling city. At Hotel Shangri-La, the traditional touch in the hotel’s interiors fusion with state of the art facilities never fail to make our guests stay worthwhile. Further complemented by other prominent features of the hotel include 24-hour room service, free Wi-Fi in all public areas, 24-hour security, wheelchair accessible, daily housekeeping service. Whatever your reason for visiting Kathmandu, Hotel Shangri-La is the perfect venue for an exhilarating and exciting break away.
Hotel Barahi boasts some stunning views of the Annapurna Himalayas, Phewa Lake as well as easy access to the thriving lake street of Pokhara. We are situated adjacent to the Phewa Lake, a mere 3 KMS away from Pokhara domestic airport. We offer 80 rooms (70-Deluxe,8-Suite Wing Deluxe,2-Suite), swimming pool, restaurants, meeting rooms and SPA decorated with comfort and elegance in mind.
Tucked away in the Himalayan Mountains, this enchanting nation’s natural landscape is dominated by eight of the world’s tallest peaks, including the iconic Mount Everest. In addition to the numerous ambitious climbers who flock here to face the challenge of climbing this majestic peak, Nepal attracts large numbers of eco-tourists eager to experience this intriguing country’s virtually untouched natural wonders including lush subtropical forests home to a range of exotic wildlife. Nepal’s cultural landscape is just as diverse as its natural one, playing host to an array of distinct ethnic groups. Other popular tourist highlights include: the capital city of Kathmandu with its exquisite temples and palaces; the sheer magnificence of Patan’s Golden Temple; Chitwan National Park, for its impressive scenery; and, of course, Bodnath, the nation’s most sacred Buddhist monument.
BANKING AND CURRENCY
The unit of the Nepalese Currency is Rupee. One Nepali Rupee is made up of 100 paisa. Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000. Coins come in paisa 5,10,25,50 Rs. 1 , 2, 5 denominations. Paisa coins are not currently used for common transactions. Foreign currency and travellers cheques can easily be exchanged at banks or authorized agents. In Kathmandu banks have money exchange counters, which are quick and convenient. Nepal has modern banking facilities and some international banks even have offices in Kathmandu. Almost all foreign currencies along with credit cards such as American Express, Visa, and Master card are accepted in Nepal. All visitors are required to exchange their money through the bank or authorized agents. In Kathmandu banks with money exchange counters are found everywhere and most hotels also have exchange counters. These facilities to change money are quick and convenient. It is necessary to ask for receipts when money is changed.
ELECTRICITY AND PLUG STANDARDS
For the most part, electrical sockets (outlets) in Nepal are one of two types: the "Type D" Indian 5 amp BS-546 or the European CEE 7/16 Europlug. The Indian socket is actually an old British standard. The "Type D" Indian plug and socket is not to be confused with the "Type M" South African plug and socket. In pictures, they look very similar, but the South African type is much larger than the Indian type, and they are physically incompatible. If your appliance's plug doesn't match the shape of these sockets, you will need a travel plug adapter in order to plug in. Travel plug adapters simply change the shape of your appliance's plug to match whatever type of socket you need to plug into. If it's crucial to be able to plug in no matter what, bring an adapter for both types.
