Short Kathmandu and Panauti Tour - 4 days

Welcome to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu. Upon landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport, you will be greeted with the views of the rolling hills and the mountains surrounding the valley. After customs, our representatives from Third Rock Adventure will welcome you and take you to your hotel. The hotel is located in the city's heart, Thamel, located 5km away from the airport.

After refreshment, you can visit our office near the hotel and meet our team. In the afternoon, we will be visiting different cultural heritage sites as the time persists. Your first stop will be Kathmandu Durbar Square, located in Basantapur, commonly known as Freak Street. The courtyards of the Durbar Square have shrines of different Hindu gods and goddesses. There is also a palace which was once the residence of Shah kings of ancient times. It has been transformed into a museum that displays historical items, armory, and daily use items of the kings and queens of the past.

The tour will continue on the north of the city to witness the Pashupatinath temple, one of the holiest Hindu temples in the world. Flocks of tourists and Hindu pilgrims worldwide come to visit the majestic temple. Non-Hindu tourists cannot visit the main temple premises. However, you can visit the vicinity with hundreds of shrines and small temples of different gods. Also, the main temple can be seen from afar, which contains a pagoda-style golden rooftop and a giant bull overlooking the Shivalinga of the main Shiva idol. On Fridays in the evening, you can also witness the great arati (puja) from the banks of the river Bagmati that flows alongside the temple.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Early in the morning, you will be taking a short drive to Panauti town on the city's southeastern outskirts. The town is located just about 32km from the city of Kathmandu. As one of the oldest towns in Nepal, it has been named in the UNESCO tentative site list as the town has preserved Newari culture. There are many important religious and cultural sites you will visit on this day. 

In the center of the town, you will visit the Panauti Durbar Square, which was once the palace of the Malla Kings. There are different shrines and statues of religious and historical significance in the courtyards. You can also visit the Indreshwar temple, one of the largest and tallest pagoda-style temples in Nepal. It is believed that there was a lingam in the site, which was later transformed into the temple in 1294. The woodcarving and architectural pots and pans hung over the temple add cultural significance and beauty.

It sits at the confluence of Roshi and Punyamati rivers, both known to cleanse the body and free the soul of sins and anxiety if a person bathes in it. There is also a picnic spot where locals are often seen celebrating themselves on a hill nearby.

Panauti is also known to have many Jatras during festivity celebrations. One of the most famous is the Panuati Jatra, a Chariot festival that takes place annually in the month of May-June during the monsoon. The locals perform cultural dances, sing songs, and eat unique food for three days during that time. After an exciting day, you can interact with the locals and enjoy the authentic Newari dishes prepared by them.

Overnight stay in Panauti.

On this day, you will be bidding farewell to the lovely locals of Panauti and heading to Kathmandu. On the way, you will stop at the Bhaktapur Durbar Square in the Newai town of Bhaktapur. The Durbar square is one of the three main squares in the Kathmandu valley. It was the abode of Malla Kings and has a palace that has now been turned into the National Art Museum and the Brass and Bronze Museum.

After visiting the museums, you can also visit the nearby temples, golden gate, Nyatapola temple, 55 Window Palace, and more. Following the visit, make sure to try the local 'King Curd.' From there, take the ride back to Kathmandu. In the evening, head out to the streets of Thamel to enjoy parties, music or try different Nepali cuisine. Moreover, if you like, you can also buy pashmina, dream catchers, Dhaka hats, and caps to take back home as souvenirs.

Overnight stay in Kathmandu.

Today is your final day in Kathmandu, so bid farewell to the team after breakfast, and we will drop you off at the airport. The fantastic journey has come to an end. However, there are many more adventures to come in the future in Nepal. If you wish to extend your tour or revisit Nepal in the future, feel free to get in touch with our representatives to plan the trip accordingly.