Everest is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Traveling through Nepal. Tours from Nepal to neighboring countries Bhutan and Tibet

As of July 6, 2012, there are 962 sites on the World Heritage List (including 745 cultural, 188 natural and 29 mixed), located in 148 countries. Among the objects there are individual architectural structures and ensembles, for example - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, historical city centers - Warsaw and St. Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square; and there are also entire cities - Brasilia, Venice along with the lagoon and others. There are also archaeological reserves - for example, Delphi; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. States on whose territory World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.

In this photo collection you will see 29 objects from different parts of our planet that are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

1) Tourists examine the Buddhist sculptures of the Longmen Grottoes (Dragon Gate) near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. There are more than 2,300 caves in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. Buddhism was first introduced to China in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. (China Photos/Getty Images)

2) Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are more than 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, which range from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel/AFP - Getty Images)

3) One of the parts of the archaeological site of Al-Hijr - also known as Madain Salih. This complex, located in the northern regions of Saudi Arabia, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (1st century BC - 1st century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dating back to the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, which was the center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Pre-Nabatean period. (Hassan Ammar/AFP - Getty Images)

4) "Garganta del Diablo" (Devil's Throat) waterfalls are located in the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2000 species of plants and 400 bird species Iguazu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984 (Christian Rizzi/AFP - Getty Images)

5) The mysterious Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure consisting of 150 huge stones, and located on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

6) Tourists stroll at the Bafang Pavilion at the Summer Palace, the famous classical imperial garden in Beijing. The Summer Palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and restored in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. (China Photos/Getty Images)

7) Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", which was given to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig/AP)

8) "Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally included on the World Heritage List in 1978, but were listed as endangered in 2007. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP - Getty Images)

9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the area of the Kinderdijk mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk has the largest collection of historic mills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decorating holidays taking place here with balloons gives a certain flavor to this place. (Peter Dejong/AP)

10) View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The site was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentine part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. (Daniel Garcia/AFP - Getty Images)

11) Terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa surround the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, founder of the Baha'i faith. Here is the world administrative and spiritual center of the Baha'i religion, the number of professers of which worldwide is less than six million. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008. (David Silverman/Getty Images)

12) Aerial photography of St. Peter's Square in. According to the World Heritage website, this small state is home to a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano/AFP - Getty Images)

13) Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem is home to the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)

14) Camels rest in the ancient city of Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al Khazneh or the treasury, believed to be the tomb of a Nabatean king carved from sandstone. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, and Phenicia. Petra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. (Thomas Coex/AFP - Getty Images)

15) The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was designated a World Heritage Site in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP - Getty Images)

16) Rock paintings made by the San people in the Drakensberg Mountains, located in eastern South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg region for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible rock art in the Drakensberg Mountains, which were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. (Alexander Joe/AFP - Getty Images)

17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All the houses here are built of clay bricks; approximately 500 houses can be considered multi-story, as they have 5-11 floors. Often called "the world's oldest skyscraper city" or "Desert Manhattan", Shibam is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa/AFP - Getty Images)

18) Gondolas along the shore of the Grand Canal in Venice. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice is a seaside resort, a center of international tourism of world importance, a venue for international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice was included in the UNESCO World Heritage program in 1987. (AP)

19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues made of compressed volcanic ash (moai in Rapa Nui) at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island, 3,700 km off the coast of Chile. Rapa Nui National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program since 1995. (Martin Bernetti/AFP - Getty Images)

20) Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds to defend against invading tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP - Getty Images)

21) Temple in Hampi, near the South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara - the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi and its monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP - Getty Images)

22) A Tibetan pilgrim turns prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex that was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP - Getty Images)

23) Inca citadel Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands that the number of tourists per day be reduced to 800. (Eitan Abramovich/AFP - Getty Images)

24) Kompon-daito Buddhist pagoda on Mount Koya, Wakayama Province, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819, the first Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, a branch of Japanese Buddhism, settled here. (Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA)

25) Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the edges of the tower crowning it are depicted the “eyes of Buddha” inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu Valley, about 1300 m high, is a mountain valley and historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)

26) A bird flies over the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum-mosque located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP - Getty Images)

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27) Situated in north-eastern Wales, the 18-kilometre long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a feat of Industrial Revolution-era civil engineering, completed in the early years of the 19th century. Still in use more than 200 years after its opening, it is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte Aqueduct was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a "landmark in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution". This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers and plumbing (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

28) A herd of elk grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes, to the left, and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In Yellowstone National Park, which occupies almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage program in 1978. (Kevork Djansezian/AP)

29) Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon promenade in Havana. UNESCO added Old Havana and its fortifications to the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded to a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of Baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and courtyards. (Javier Galeano/AP)

Sights of Nepal

1. Lumbini

The main place of pilgrimage for all Buddhists of the world is in Nepal, Lumbini, the place where Buddha was born. It is here that Buddha's mother, Maya Devi, near a tree in the garden gave birth to a boy Siddhartha Buddha. Crowds of Buddhist pilgrims are a daily sight in Lumbini. Archaeological finds at Lumbini have been dated to around 550 BC. Lambini, one of the main attractions of Nepal, which attracts scientists and ordinary tourists from all over the world.

2. Janakpur

Situated in the southern part of the country on the Terai plain, the city of Janakpur is a tourist attraction of Nepal, it was once the capital of the Indian kingdom known as Mithila and the Maithili culture still flourishes here. Hindus believe Janakpur is the place where Rama married Sita, also known as Janaki, and thousands of Hindus from all over the world flock to the Janaki Mandir temple every year to celebrate their marriage anniversary. This temple is one of the largest in Nepal. Janakpur is also famous for having more than 100 sacred pools and ponds scattered throughout the city.

3. Nagarkot

Ideal for travelers who want to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Himalayas. Nagarkot is known for having some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, overlooking the mountains and valleys of Kathmandu. Situated on a high ridge northeast of Bhaktapur, the town has a population of about 4,500. Nagarkot, the best place to admire the sunrise over the Himalayas, one of the most spectacular views in the world.

4. Khumbu

Every year, thousands of climbers fly to Nepal to conquer Everest, and after the airfield they end up in an area called Khumbu, in the area where the base camp for climbing Everest is located. located mainly in the Sagarmatha National Park. Khumbu is home to the village of Namche Sherpas, who mainly accompany climbers on Everest.

5. Chitwan National Park

Of the 14 national parks and reserves in Nepal, Royal Chitwan National Park is the oldest and most popular among travelers. It is one of the best national parks in Asia. Royal Chitwan National Park is located in the subtropical lowlands of the Tarai and is home to endangered species such as the horned rhinoceros and the Royal Bengal tiger. Also inhabited here are leopards, wild elephants, Indian bison, crocodiles, pythons, monitor lizards, lizards, and more than 400 species of birds. The terrain is mostly flat, consisting of dense jungle, swamps and grasslands.

6. Pokhara

Imagine immaculate triangular mountains whose peaks are covered with dazzling white snow, whipped by the icy wind of the Himalayas. Add a tranquil lake that perfectly reflects the mountains, and place a small town amidst this natural splendor. This will be Pokhara - the main tourist center of Nepal, after Kathmandu, of course. It is from here that many continue trekking through little-explored areas of the Himalayas, in which a sleeping bag becomes the best and only bed. For those who have finished their long journey through the mountains, Pokhara will be an ideal place where you can find like-minded people who will never tire of admiring the natural beauty with you. This is confirmed by numerous lovers of paragliding, observing the settlement from a bird's eye view.

Pokhara is the second largest city in Nepal, it is located 200 kilometers from Kathmandu. Pokhara is a popular resort in Nepal, attracting tourists from all over the world with its authenticity and stunning countryside scenery. The city stands on the shore of a lake with views of the mountains. The city is also famous for having three of the ten highest peaks in the world, Daulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu, within 15 kilometers.

7. Patan

Situated on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Patan or Lalitpur, one of the most beautiful cities in the world with many attractions. Most of Patan's palaces and temples date back to the 17th century. Patan is one of the best places in Nepal to buy gorgeous handwoven silk sarees that were once the attire of the country's royalty and aristocracy.

The entire city of Patan was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979 and is the center of both Buddhist and Hindu culture in Nepal. With Patan being home to over 1,200 unique historical monuments, tourists are spoiled for choice. Among them are the Krishna Balaram Mandir Temple, this stone temple with magnificent friezes, built in the 16th century, is a central tourist attraction in Nepal, it is one of the most beautiful temples in the region.

8. Bhaktapur

Lying 35 kilometers east of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, a unique tourist attraction of Nepal, also known as the City of Devotees, is one of the three ancient capitals in the Kathmandu Valley. Bhaktapur was the capital of the Kathmandu Valley during the 14th to 16th centuries. The entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is filled with palaces, temples, monuments and ancient squares connected by a labyrinth of narrow streets. Bhaktapur is also the center of traditional pottery and weaving industries in the Kathmandu Valley. A visit to Bhaktapur is like stepping into the past of human civilization.

In 2015, it experienced a severe earthquake, but fortunately, most of the temples and shrines of the city, which are the main attractions in this place, remained undamaged. It is less crowded and hectic here than in noisy Kathmandu.

9. Kathmandu

The cultural capital of the country, Kathmandu is where most tourists come to Nepal. A crowded metropolis of over 1 million people, Kathmandu is a chaotic mix of tourist shops, unique attractions, narrow streets, hotels, restaurants, Buddhist temples and handicraft shops.

10. Durbar Square

Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Durbar is the religious and social heart of Kathmandu's old city and is a complex of palaces, temples, shrines, statues and courtyards built between the 12th and 18th centuries during the reign of Nepal's ancient kings. The central attractions of the Durbar are the Old Royal Palace with a gate guarded by stone lions and what is believed to be the oldest building in Kathmandu - the Kastamandap Temple. . If you travel to Nepal, be sure to visit Durbar Square.

11. Pashupatinath

One of the holiest Hindu shrines in the world, Pashupatinath is one of the main temples dedicated to Shiva (Pashupatinath) in the Indian subcontinent, attracting thousands of Hindu pilgrims every year. Shiva is the patron saint of Nepal. Pashupatinath Temple stands on the banks of the holy Bagmati River, a tributary of the Ganges, and is famous for its beautiful architecture. It is surrounded by many other temples, shrines, statues and pagodas, forming a large temple complex that can take hours to explore. Pashupatinath Temple is one of the main many unique attractions of Nepal.

Nepal is an ancient mountainous country. Its natural isolation contributed to the long-term preservation of its unique customs, culture, and architecture. Buddhism penetrated into Central Asia through Nepal, and there was an active process of transforming Indian types of religious buildings.

(Nepal), located almost on the border with, has now become a temple complex and a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists from all over the world. The central part of the complex is occupied by the Maya Devi Temple, dedicated to the mother of Buddha. Adjacent to the temple is a column with a memorial inscription, erected at the behest of King Ashoka in the middle of the 3rd century. BC. Around there is an archaeological zone with the remains of buildings of early Buddhism. The complex includes ten Buddhist monasteries, many temples and stupas. There is also a pond where Prince Gautama's mother bathed before giving birth. The ruins of the royal palace were discovered 18 km from Lumbini, where Gautama grew up until he was 29 years old. Lumbini remained the most important Buddhist center until the 15th century, when the Muslim Mongol troops destroyed the temples. The revival of Lumbini began only at the end of the 19th century.

The flourishing of Nepalese architecture is associated with the strengthening of the state's independence in the 13th century. and an influx of refugees from India, which was subject to Muslim conquest. The focal points of Nepal's walled cities are red-bricked parade squares. These squares were lined with palaces and administrative buildings around the perimeter, behind which were hidden gardens and parks. The main temples were also located here, from which the streets diverged radially to the city gates. Large monasteries were built near trade routes. They had powerful fortress walls and fortified gates. In the northern monasteries, chhogangs are built - stupas, equipped with a canopy on pillars around the main volume.

(Nepal) is surrounded by terraced green slopes, overlooked by the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. In prehistoric times, the Kathmandu Valley was the bed of an ancient lake. But the Kathmandu Valley is unique, first of all, due to the many ancient architectural monuments, temples and pagodas, palaces and statues of gods. More than 130 shrines of Hinduism and Buddhism are centers of pilgrimage and worship for both religious groups. The royal palaces of the country's capital Kathmandu (Hanuman Dhoka complex), the cities of Patan and Bhaktapur, the Buddhist stupas of Swayambhunath and Bodhnath, as well as non-
how many Hindu temples display Nepalese art in all its beauty. On every street, in every tiny courtyard here you can see a real miracle - either a delightful temple, or an exquisite statue of a deity. Prayer bells fill the atmosphere of cities with their chimes, and lamps illuminate the path of pilgrims.

(Nepal) is located in the eastern part of the country, in the Himalayas. Here is the highest peak in the world, bearing several names: Sagarmatha, Chomolungma or (height 8848 m). The secluded and majestic beauty of the Himalayan mountains has attracted hermits for hundreds of years. On the territory of the national park there are several Buddhist monasteries, incl. Kunjung, Thame and Diyangboche. Also attracting attention is the ancient culture of the Sherpas, who have lived in these mountains for many centuries.

World Heritage sites included in the UNESCO special list are of enormous interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural objects make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments that demonstrate the richness of nature and the capabilities of the human mind.
As of July 1, 2009, the World Heritage List included 890 sites (including 689 cultural, 176 natural and 25 mixed) in 148 countries: individual architectural structures and ensembles - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, the historical center of Warsaw (Poland) and St. Petersburg (Russia), Moscow Kremlin and Red Square (Russia), etc.; cities - Brasilia, Venice along with the lagoon, etc.; archaeological reserves - Delphi, etc.; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. States on whose territory World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.

12) Aerial photography of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican. According to the World Heritage website, this small state is home to a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano/AFP - Getty Images)

14) Camels rest in the ancient city of Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al Khazneh or the treasury, believed to be the tomb of a Nabatean king carved from sandstone. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, Syria and Phenicia. Petra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. (Thomas Coex/AFP - Getty Images)

17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east of Yemen in the Hadhramaut province. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All the houses here are built of clay bricks; approximately 500 houses can be considered multi-story, as they have 5-11 floors. Often called "the world's oldest skyscraper city" or "Desert Manhattan", Shibam is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa/AFP - Getty Images)

The vast majority of tourists arrive in Nepal through the air harbor of this country - Kathmandu Airport. Therefore, we start with what you need to visit first in the vicinity of the capital of Nepal - Kathmandu. We are sure that when visiting these places you will plunge into a completely different world, they are so unique. There is an explanation for this - Nepal has been a country lost in the mountains throughout its entire history (in many ways even now). It was inaccessible to many conquerors and was never (!) under the rule of another state. Its own culture and art, unlike others, were born here, and the country’s monuments were not destroyed by conquerors. Unfortunately, on April 25, 2015, the strongest earthquake in 80 years caused significant damage to Nepal.

So, in the Kathmandu Valley there are 7 sites declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Below are photographs I took in 2005 and 2008 and descriptions of these objects. A large number of unique monuments, alas, are lost to humanity forever. See the links to see what they looked like before the earthquake in April 2015.

Squares and streets in Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu Durbar Square in Patan

Also in Nepal, the Chitwan Nature Reserve and the Everest region with the highest peak in the world are under UNESCO protection.

Walking around Kathmandu- the capital of the country with a population of 850 thousand (2005). The city was founded in the 8th century and was called Kantipur. Then it became an independent principality. In 1769, the Shah of the Principality of Gorkha captured the entire territory of modern Nepal and proclaimed Kathmandu as the capital. Earthquakes of 1833 and 1934 greatly destroyed the city. Centuries of isolation helped preserve the city in its original form. Buddhist and Hindu temples, the architecture of houses located on narrow stone-paved streets fill the city with mystical energy. In terms of its simple way of life, the city is a bit like a large village with bad roads, low red brick houses and tiled roofs. The yards are filled with livestock and small animals. The wooden elements of the old houses are covered with fine carvings, and many of the houses are presented in the form of a pagoda. In fact, the capital merged with the neighboring town of Lalitpur - the formerPathanor "city of arts" - founded in 229.See the photo of Patan Durbar Square.

Thamel- areaKathmandu is where most foreign tourists live. Here they find everything they need: restaurants and bars, souvenir shops, bicycle and moped rentals. Many stores sell good equipment for outdoor enthusiasts. Hotels in this area are of different categories. You can find a room even for $7 per night. Most people in the rooms only sleep, as there is so much to see in the surrounding area. It is from here that the road to the foot of the highest point in the world - Mount Chomolungma (Everest) begins.

Durbar Square in Kathmandu IIt is both the center of the capital and the center of the ancient architecture of the city. It is located 15 minutes. walk from Thamel. Paid entrance. There are many temples located in Durbar Square, Royal Palace Narayanhiti, palace and temple complex Hanuman Dhoka 15th-18th centuries. The largest temple in the square is called Taleju in the form of a pagoda of 9 floors and is dedicated to the patron deity of the Malla dynasty. The temple is open only to Nepalese once a year. Beautiful wooden pagoda Katha Mandirbuilt in 1596 From Bhimsen Tower(1834) the entire city can be seen. Wooden royal palace now a museum. The living goddess Kumari lives in a special palace. Since the 18th century, she has protected kings and blessed them for the kingdom. Kumari is chosen from girls aged 4-5 years with special facial features and horoscope. Kumari takes up residence in the palace with her entire family and lives until she reaches puberty, the age until which she is believed to remain innocent and pure. Only once a year is she allowed to go outside, when she is driven across the city. They take care of her, teach her, and have guests visit her. When 10 years later Kumari leaves the palace forever, she is paid a large sum of money and she continues to live as a private person. No one marries her because her ex Kumari brings misfortune.

Swayambhunath Stupa built ontop of Monkey Mountain. The path for believers to the stupa has 365 steps up. A highway has been built for tourists. Entrance 200 NRs. The top is the best place for a panoramic view of the entire city. It is known that the first large stupas in Nepal were built during the reign of the Indian emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. e. Despite the fact that archaeological research on religious buildings is prohibited in Nepal, there is no doubt that the Swayambhunath stupa is about 2 thousand years old! It is a huge white hemisphere, the upper part of which is decorated with a cube with a cone ringed with 13 belts. The huge all-seeing eyes of Buddha are depicted on all sides of the cube. Between them is a certain symbol denoting virtue. Numerous other buildings located around are temples, columns, small stupas and statues of gods. The walls of the temples are covered with erotic frescoes and sculptures. Bronze figurines depicting a wife enjoying love simultaneously with her seven husbands can be bought on every corner. On the square there are several dozen spinning drums, lined up one after another. The drums are engraved with prayers and inside are packages containing sayings of the Buddha. Believers walk side by side clockwise and spin the drums with their hands, thereby seeming to say prayers.

National History Museum- located behind Swayambhunath Hill. It houses a unique collection of butterflies, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants and various fossilized creatures collected from all over the country.Kaiser Library- is the main center of rare and valuable books and manuscripts. It is open to the public every day except Saturdays and holidays.

Buddhanath Stupa built in the 3rd century. This one of the largest Buddhist shrines in Nepal is located 10 km northeast of Kathmandu and makes an indelible impression. Entrance 100 NRs.

Krishna Mandir Temple was built in 1723 in memory of the eight wives of King Narendra Malla, who took the rite of sati (self-immolation) after the death of their husbands.

Pashupatinath Temple Complex founded in the 8th century. The main temple of the complex is dedicated to Shiva and has a two-tiered golden roof and silver doors. In front of the entrance there is a huge statue of the bull Nandi - the vehicle of Shiva. This is the most revered Hindu temple in Nepal. There are many pilgrims here, but white tourists, unfortunately, are not allowed entry. A ritual of burning bodies is performed near the river near the temple. dead, according to customs. Other temples in Kathmandu are Muktinah and Mahndranath. Budhanilkantha from the 5th century is a stone statue of the god Vishnu lying on the coils of the snake Shesha.

Bhaktapur- second largest city in the valleyKathmandu. Translated from Sanskrit it means “city of believers in Vishnu”. In the 14th-16th centuries, it was the capital of the entire valley, which was reflected in the grandeur of its architectural monuments (mostly from the 17th century), which are perfectly preserved. There are more than ten Vishnu temples in the city, most of which are priceless in their historical significance. In the Palace Square of Bhaktapur there is a former palace of the kings of the Malla dynasty with 55 windows, and not a single window has the same carving pattern. Next to the palace is the Golden Gate, leading to a Hindu temple. Another decoration of the city is the five-tiered Nyatapola Pagoda. Durbar Square entrance tickets are the most expensive in Nepal and cost 750 NRs.

Changunarayan Temple built in honor of the god Vishnu in the 3rd century AD. e. Since Buddhism and Hinduism are largely mixed in Nepal, the temple is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Located 10 km north of Bhaktapur on a hill 1541 m above sea level. It has been documented that Changunarayan is the oldest structure in Nepal. Entrance 100 NRs. There are many shops near the temple where you can buy magnificent products made of wood and metals at reasonable prices.

Nagarkot - mountain resort at an altitude of almost 2000 m above sea level, 37 km. from Bhaktapur. Several hotels have been built here for vacationers (one of them is ****), from the windows or roofs of which you can, in clear weather, enjoy a breathtaking view of the great mountains, including Everest, and breathe the purest mountain air.

Other interesting cities and regions of Nepal

Mustang or Lo is a kingdom inside Nepal. One of the most exciting and mystical adventures in Nepal. Mustang is located in northwestern Nepal north of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs, on the border with Tibet. The capital of the kingdom is located on a high plateau with an altitude of about 4000 m and is lost among rivers and gorges. It was not until October 1991 that the site was opened to tourists with permission. You can get to Mustang by plane from Pokhara. 20 minutes. flight and you are in Jomsom. Then tourists begin hiking and in 5 days reach the capital of the kingdom of Lo Montang. Along the way, the group spends the night in tents; cargo and food are carried on horses.

Chitwan National Wildlife Refuge since 1973. The reserve covers an area of about 1000 km² and is located between the Narayani and Rapti rivers, 150 km from Kathmandu and 160 km from Pokhara. Chitwan used to be a favorite hunting ground of Nepalese kings. The reserve is home to: about 120 Bengal tigers - now the rarest animals listed in the Red Book, wild elephants, about 400 one-horned rhinoceroses, 4 species of deer, wild boars, antelopes, buffaloes, bears, gharial crocodiles, alligator caimans, monkeys, jackals , wild dogs, mongooses, pythons, cobras and other snakes, several species of hares, jungle cats, squirrels, bats and more than 400 species of birds. The best way to experience jungle life is from the back of an elephant. The smell of an elephant overcomes the smell of humans and wild animals continue to do their business without fear. Car safaris and rafting trips are available. Tourists are invited to spend the night in huts with all amenities. A walk into the jungle of the reserve is absolutely safe.Shivapuri is another national park. Even a leopard and a rare Himalayan bear are found in this reserve.

Excursion to the Chitwan Nature Reserve, departing from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Cost: 2 days and 1 night - 60 $, 3 days and 2 nights - 70 $, 4 days and 3 nights - 80 $. Included: bus transfer, accommodation in a ** and *** hotel, meals, entrance tickets. Additional payment for individual transport. The excursion must be purchased in advance. Buses from Pokhara depart daily at 07:30 am from the Tourist Info Center, near Phewa Lake and the airport.

Pokharais a wonderful city in the very center of Nepal, located at an altitude of 827 m above sea level at the foot of the grandiose Annapurna massif on the shores of the beautiful large Lake Phewa. Pokhara gets a whole pageon our website.

Lumbini is the most sacred place for Buddhists around the world. Lumbini is located in the very south of Nepal on the border with India. Here in the 6th century BC. Prince Sidhartha Gautama or Buddha, the great philosopher and founder of Buddhism, was born. Here you can see ancient stupas, a column of the famous Emperor Ashoka, the ruins of an ancient monastery and images of Buddha's mother Maya Devi. Each Buddhist country contributed to the creation of the memorial park and the construction of Buddhist temples in Lumbini. From Kathmandu you can get here by bus in 7 hours.

Namo Buddha Monastery- another of the many places of worship is located northeast of Kathmandu. According to legend, Buddha fed his flesh to a hungry tigress so that she could feed her cubs. There is a small hotel at the monastery where tourists can stay for a few days.

Tours from Nepal to neighboring countries Bhutan and Tibet

T ibet - an autonomous region of China, which was re-annexed to the country in 1950 after 39 years of independent existence. Tibet is a high mountain region, the birthplace of Lamaism (a branch of Buddhism) and the Dalai Lama, a land with sparse vegetation and many monasteries. The way of life of local residents is truly unique.

The tour to Tibet begins and ends in Kathmandu. It is for 7 days and 8 nights. You go there via Kodari by bus. Return from Lhasa by plane. Price: $905. The price includes: bus and airfare ($420), standard DBL accommodation with breakfast, guided tours, entrance fees to monasteries, Tibetan visa ($60). The visa does not give the right to travel within China. Not included: Nepalese visa if the previous one expires, airport tax of $20, insurance and evacuation in force majeure circumstances, porter. Discounts are available if the group consists of more than 3 people.

Kingdom of Bhutan a land completely lost in the Himalayan mountains. Because it is not known to many people. In 2005, only 13 thousand tourists visited the country. Here, it seems that time stood still 500 years ago and left everything intact. Television appeared here only in 2002! You can plunge into the past world, if we talk about the life of people and at the same time into eternity, meaning the wonderful nature, during a tour with a departure from Kathmandu.

Tour cost (minimum 3 days): $220 per day per person for standard accommodation, $260 for luxury accommodation. DBL number. For single occupancy you will have to pay an additional $40-50 per day. In addition to accommodation, the price includes full board, guided tours, and entrance tickets. Not included: air ticket Kathmandu - Paro - Kathmandu ($455) and visa $30.