BHAKTAPUR NEPAL

BHAKTAPUR NEPAL

WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN NEPAL

Bhaktapur is only 13 KM from Kathmandhu and  a good side trip by taxi that should cost about $US 8 one way. There is an admission fee of Rupees 1,500 but worth it.Stay in Kathmandhu and a great place is:

FAIRFIELD by MARRIOTT.

It is well located just on the edge of Thamel and close to all the sites and is located in a quiet dead end street and has a very good restaurant.

BHAKTAPUR

Allow  at least 3-4 hours to walk the streets of Bhaktapur and you will not be disappointed.It is a feast of rich culture, temples and wood and art work as well as the ancient streets and interesting people.

KATHMANDU NEPAL

KATHMANDU 

FASCINATING CHAOS

Map Courtesy of Lonely Planet

It started with the airport and ended with a somewhat disorganized (perhaps over organized) approach to security. Allow time to check in and board your flight out.

The next aspect that is interesting, sometimes frightening is the traffic where it is first in wins and where there are no rules. dd the quality of the roads and the volume of cars, motor bikes and people you usually have chaos. Having said that we did not see one accident or mishap which in itself is truly amazing. The next item to plan carefully is your hotel, its quality and location . We found the following hotel excellent on the edge of Thamel in a quite dead end street.

FAIRFIELD MARRIOTT

Map Courtesy of OLD JACK

When planning your visit to Kathmandu be sure to incorporate visits to:-

• Walk the crowded  fascinating streets of Thamel
• Visit the Durbah Square Hanuman Dhoka
• Walk the streets and square of Patan
• Visit Lalitapur (Bouhda) and see the local Tibetan's as they lived in Tibet
• Visit Bhaktapur Durbah and World Heritage sites
• Climb up to the Stupa of Swayambhunath and battle the monkeys (Monkey Temple)
• Visit Nagarkot for views of the Himalayas-35 KM  of really bad roads

Walking around Kathmandu if you stay near Thamel is easy if you dodge the traffic and crowds and most other places are accessible via taxi for R 500- R 1,000 but negotiate.

Map Coming.

The Great Boudha Stupa

Asia's Largest Stupa In Boudnahath Nepal

The Stupa in Bodnath or Bouda is located 7 KM north west of Kathmandu and is 100 feet in diameter and 141 feet high and has the claim as the largest Stupa in Asia.

For those that are interested Stupa means  HEAP' in Sandskrit and hence a Stupa is a mound like structure containing relics like the remains on Buddhist Monks and is used as a place for meditation

Stay in Kathmandu and take a taxi for Rupees 500 to get to the Stupa through crazy traffic so close your eyes and have fun.A good hotel just outside Thamel is 

Fairfield By Marriott.

This is where you will see real Tibetan Buddhism and the place abounds with red robed Tibetan monks who roam the streets. Historically the Stupa was an important place on the road between Lhasa and Kathmandu and after the 1959 issues in Tibet a large number immigrated and settled in this area. This is an important place for pilgrims and has many tourists daily. There is a Rupee 400 fee for tourists to enter the Stupa and the area around it

 

Himalaya Views From Nagarkot Nepal

HIMALAYA VIEWS 

You can get some great views of the Himalaya's from hotels in Nagarkot. One of the best is at 

CLUB HIMALAYA

Nagarkot is only 35 KM from Kathmandu but the roads are bad and it can two plus hours by taxi. The cost is around $US 30.00 - $US 35.00  if arranged by a hotel (probably less on the street). It is best to stay in Nagarkot as the best views are early morning and if you take a tour from Kathmandu you may spend most of the time on the bus and miss the best time for views.