8 Days- Kathmandu and Pokhara Unveiled

We’ll drive around the valley to visit some important religious, natural, and historical sites. We’ll visit the following places:

• Pharping
  Located about 19 km away from the main city, Pharping is a Newari heritage town. During medieval times, it was a thriving city known by the name of  “Shikharapuri Mahanagari (Metropolitan City)”. Now a sleepy old town, Pharping has several religious and historical sites and monuments. Padmasambhava or Guru Rinpoche, who introduced Buddhism in Tibet, meditated at a cave located on the outskirts of this ancient town.
• Dakshinkali Temple
  Dakshinkali Temple, one of the main temples of Nepal, is dedicated to Kali, the fearful form of Lord Siva’s consort, Parvati. The main deity in the temple is the black stone, a six-armed form of Kali, standing on a prostrated figure. Dakshinkali is located 22 km outside Kathmandu, and about 1 km outside the village of Pharping at the south end of the valley between two hills and the confluence of two rivers. Sacrifices – the main way that the goddess is worshiped – are made two times a week at this temple, on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
• Patan Durbar Square (World Heritage Site)
  Patan Durbar Square is an enchanting combination of palace buildings, artistic courtyards, and graceful pagoda temples. The former royal palace complex is the center of Patan’s religious and social life, and houses a museum containing an array of bronze statues and religious objects. One remarkable monument here is a 17th-century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Krishna, built entirely of stone.

A trip to the Tibetan Refugee Camp and the Handicraft Center will also be covered while visiting Patan, where one witnesses the hand weaving of Tibetan carpets and the moulding of metal statues.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast Included.

We’ll spend this day on a guided sightseeing tour in the valley, and in the evening, we’ll head to Nagarkot (an hour’s drive from Kathmandu). The places we visit are:

• Bouddhanath Stupa (World Heritage Site)
  Lies about 6 km to the east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the valley. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design. Buddhanath is also known as Khasti, or dew drops, after an account that builders had to use dew to mix the mortar as Kathmandu was suffering from a severe drought during the construction of Bouddhanath.
• Changunarayan Temple (World Heritage Site)
  Situated on a ridge overlooking the Kathmandu valley, about 12 km to the east of the city. It is dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. It is one of the finest and oldest specimens of pagoda architecture, built in 323 AD by King Haridutta Verma. The temple is richly decorated with sculptures and carvings, and its position above the Kathmandu valley affords a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.
• Nagarkot
  Nagarkot is one of the most scenic spots situated about 35 km east of Kathmandu, from where an excellent view of snow-capped peaks of the Himalayan Ranges in eastern Nepal can be seen (weather permitting). The place is also renowned for spectacular sunrises. There are also some great hiking trails in Nagarkot.

Overnight at a hotel. Breakfast Included

We’ll wake up very early in the morning to watch the stunning sunrise from Nagarkot, which the place is most renowned for. After an early breakfast, we head to Pokhara on a private car, which is about a six to seven-hour drive. The notorious Prithvi Highway, which winds through 206 km of classic Middle Hills countryside, should be seen as more than just a painful ride.

Upon arrival in Pokhara, you are free to explore the city in the evening on your own. A romantic candlelight dinner will be set up for you, lovely couple, in the hotel.

Wake up early to catch the sunrise from Sarangkot Hill.

• Sarangkot
  A drive of 45 minutes with 25 25-minute hike brings us to the viewpoint of Sarangkot. It is the best spot in Pokhara to view the Himalayas. Get mesmerized with the magical sight of the golden sun rising over the white spires of the Annapurna range, Dhaulagiri, and Machhapucchre (Fishtail Peak), including views of the beautiful Pokhara Valley and Phewa Lake. It takes about a 15-minute walk down and 45 45-minute drive to the hotel in Pokhara. Return to the hotel for breakfast.
  Later in the day, we visit these sites,
• Bindhabasini Temple
  It lies in the center of the old bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess Bhagwati, yet another manifestation of Shakti. The park grounds offer a fine picnic and relaxing area.
• Davi’s Fall
  Located in the southern flank of the Pokhara valley, Davis Fall is locally known as ‘Patale Chhanger, ‘ the stream flowing from Fewa Lake collapses and surges down the rock into a deep gorge, leaping through several potholes. This site is hugely popular with tourists and locals alike.
• Gupteshwor Cave
  The revered Gupteshwor Cave is situated 2 km from Pokhara airport. The entrance is right across from Davis Falls, and the cave is almost 3 km long. It has some big hall-sized rooms and some passages where you have to crawl on all fours. This cave holds special value to Hindus since a phallic symbol of Lord Shiva is preserved here in the condition it was discovered.
• Phewa Lake and Barahi Temple
  Enjoy boating on the beautiful Phewa Lake. Situated at an altitude of 800m above sea level, it is the second largest lake in Nepal. With the Barahi Island Temple in the middle of the lake, it is the most important religious monument in Pokhara. Built almost in the middle of Phewa Lake, this two-storeyed pagoda is dedicated to the female force Shakti. The reflection of Mt. Machhapuchhare and Annapurna can be seen in its serene water. A thick forest lies on the adjoining southern slopes of the lake.
• Seti River Gorge
  Carved by Seti-Gandaki, it is one of the natural wonders of Pokhara. K.I. The Singh bridge at Bagar, Mahendrapoole, Ashiling, and the Prithivi highway Bridge near the bus Mahendrapoole, provide a perfect view of the river’s dreadful rush and the deep gorge made by the turbulent flow of white water.
• Tibetan Refugee Camp
  The Tibetan village of ashiling in the south and the Tashi Palkhel village in the north of Pokhara are renowned for the production and trade of woolen carpets and other handicrafts. The original Tibetan settlers in this region migrated to Nepal in the ‘50s.

Overnight at a Hotel. Breakfast Included.

After an early breakfast, we leave Pokhara and return to Kathmandu (6-7 hours drive). Upon arrival, we check in at the designated hotel.

After returning to Kathmandu, you can spend the rest of the day at leisure. Explore Kathmandu on your own. Stroll along the streets of Kathmandu for some last-minute shopping. Evening, enjoy a farewell dinner at a typical Nepalese restaurant with cultural performances.

Overnight at the Hotel. Breakfast and Farewell Dinner Included.

The trip concludes. Our airport representative will drop you at the international airport in Kathmandu for your flight departure from Nepal.