Kathmandu City Tour- A walk through history

I recently came to Kathmandu on a business trip. The deal got wrapped up sooner than expected and I was left with a couple of extra days before my scheduled departure. Since this was my first visit to Kathmandu, I decided to do some sightseeing. I did not want to end up getting lost by going off by myself, so I chose to book a guided tour with an agency. I Googled and came across Third Rock Adventures’ website. The company seemed genuine and reliable and I ended up booking a 1-day tour with them. I made an online booking and within minutes received a confirmation. I also received an email from them informing me that the guide will pick me up from my hotel at 9 AM sharp. The next day, Kamal, my guide arrived punctually at the said hour. We sat down for a briefing and he told me briefly about the places we were to visit. Being a history buff, I couldn’t wait for the tour to begin. First off we drove to Patan, an old city located a few kilometers from central Kathmandu. The Patan durbar square was fascinating. Some of the old temples and palace buildings were badly damaged by the earthquake but restoration work was in progress. Patan Museum showcased some interesting artifacts. I fully recommend a visit to this museum for people interested in oriental culture and Buddhism. There’s so much for you to discover here!

Then we took a long drive to Bhaktapur. The scene at Bhaktapur Durbar Square was somewhat similar to that of Patan. The earthquake had destroyed some of the old temples, but those that were left standing were majestic. The repousse work on the Golden Gate was simply marvelous. I spent a good hour or so studying the stone griffins, pagoda roofs and the filigreed woodwork. Kamal took me to the Potters’ Square where a community of potters was busy making terracotta pots the traditional way. Our last stop was Changu Narayan Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It was saddening to see what the earthquake had done to this historic site. But the main temple was still standing and there were plenty of delightful sights to keep one engaged. It was also good to see that the damaged monuments were getting restored. This was an insightful tour and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Highly recommended for those interested in discovering the city’s heritage and culture