India tours and travel takes you on tour to Nepal. Most of Nepal's landmass is mountainous and is situated between India and Tibet on the southern slopes of the Himalayas. The kingdom of Nepal has eight of the world's highest peaks within its 140,797 sq km of area. On your travel to Nepal you can visit the mighty mountains, snow-covered peaks, green valleys, cascading rivers, thick jungles and much more.

Nepal is the original Shangri-La. From its highest mountain peaks the forests on the plains, it is a charming, surprise-filled country. The diversity of the mountain kingdom is showcased in its capital Kathmandu, which has ancient temples and palaces beside glitzy modern hotels and shopping malls. This Valley is made up of the three royal cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.While on Nepal tour you can visit all these places.

The closeness of Kathmandu to India is certainly one of the major reasons to take a flying trip. With good weather throughout the year and a friendly people welcoming you, the royal city of Kathmandu - in fact, the whole of Nepal, makes a perfect holiday destination while on India tour.

Kathmandu's airport, the Tribhuvan International Airport is the only international airport in the country. There are a number of places to see in the capital. To begin with there is the Narayanhity Durbar. The present abode of the royal family, it is open to foreigners on one day of the week. There is a waterspout known as Narayanhity at the southern corner of the palace complex.

Located approximately 10 km away from Kathmandu, is Budhanilkantha at the foot of the Shivapuri Hills. On this tour one can have a look at the gigantic statue of Vishnu reclining on a bed of snakes. The fifth century statue is a fine work of art and its place in the middle of a small pond makes it appear that Vishnu is floating on the water.

At the foothills of the Nagarjuna Hills and around five kilometres from Kathmandu is the Balaju Water Garden. Visit the beautifully laid-out garden which has many fountains and forms a major attraction on your Nepal tour. Here you can see the 22-headed crocodile waterspouts dating back to the 18th century. The garden also has a swimming pool.The Swayambhunath Temple is believed to be 2000 years old and is believed to be one of the world's most glorious Buddhist Chaityas. Painted on the four sides of the temple's spire are the all-seeing eyes of Lord Buddha. Situated three kilometres away from Kathmandu city, the temple - actually a stupa -- is on a hill. The stupa is linked to the myths about the creation of the valley and was declared an UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1979. The Patan Durbar Square is in the heart of Patan and is a must visit on this tour. The square has a large number of ancient palaces, temples and shrines, each one of them outstanding for their carvings in stone. The square itself comprises of three quadrangular areas known as the Mul Chowk, the Sundari Chowk and the Keshar Narayan Chowk. The Sundari Chowk has a stone bath, well known as the Tushahity, which was listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1979. The other main square and a tourist attraction is the Bhaktapur Durbar Square. The main entrance to the palace courtyard is a golden gate. Built by King Ranjit Malla, the gate is beautiful and richly carved with figures of deities and demons and is also on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Monuments.

The Pashupatinath Temple, located just five kilometres from Kathmandu, is one of the holiest spots for Hindus around the world. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath has a two-tiered golden roof. Only Hindus are permitted within the temple. People from other faiths can watch the ceremonies from the eastern bank of the Bagmati river.

The Durbar Square in the older part of Kathmandu has a variety of temples and shrines with intricately carved roofs, doors and windows. Many buildings within the square are old and survived the earthquake of 1933. There are others which have been rebuilt and many of these new structures are not in their original form.

The best place to begin your tour of Durbar Square is the Kashtamandap, a building made entirely out of wood and perhaps the oldest in the valley. The other attractions in the Durbar Square are the Great Bell, which is believed to drive out evil spirits every time it is rung, the Jagannath Temple with some provocative sculptures, the stone image of the Kal Bhirav and the Taleju Temple, one of the most majestic though not open to the public. The Hanuman Dhoka is the old royal palace is easy to place with its statue of Hanuman, the monkey God.There are lot many places that you can explore on your travel to Nepal.

There are a few places which one can visit from Kathmandu. Among them are; Dhulikhel. Around 30-odd kilometres east of Kathmandu, Dhulikhel is a charming spot. Traveling this place would be fun, with clean and fresh surroundings and the fabulous views of the Himalayan range. One can have a clear view of Annapurna in the north-west to Gauri Shanker in the north-east. Dhulikhel provides a wide range of activities and experiences. Unlike Nagarkot, there was the prosperous town of Dhulikhel on the old trade route between Nepal and China. The old town is largely intact but hardly anyone lives there now. The beautiful old buildings are breaking down although a lot of new ones are coming up.

Pokhara forms another major stopover while on travel to Nepal.If you are adventurous enough, it is the best place to visit. It is Nepal's biggest tourist destination after Kathmandu. A secluded valley connected to Kathmandu by road and air, Pokhara has snow-topped peaks, crystal clear lakes, racing rivers and picturesque villages. Situated in the lap of the Annapurna Himal, the climate is pleasant throughout the year. There are three small lakes in Pokhara: Phewa, Begnas and Rupa.Besides these there are a few tourist attractions like the Bindyabasini Temple, perhaps built around the 16th century, which can be visited on this tour.

Nagarkot is popular for its awe-inspiring sunrises and sunsets. Located on the eastern rim of the Kathmandu Valley, Nagarkot is known for its views on clear days of the Himalayan ranges. The town of Nagarkot was created by tourism. The place is quite chilly in the nights.

Lumbini, the birthplace of the Buddha. According to legend, when the Buddha was born in Lumbini in 623 BC, the site was a forest with a small body of water. Buddha's mother gave birth when she stopped for a bath at the water tank. It is said that as soon as the baby was born, he started speaking and said that he was the foremost of all creatures to cross the riddle of the ocean of existence and that he had come into the world to show the path of emancipation.

While on tour to Nepal you can visit the Sacred Garden, spread out over 8 acres, marks the spot of Buddha's birth and also contains a pillar which was erected by Emperor Ashoka. There is also the Mayadevi Temple in honour of the Buddha's mother. In it is a bas relief of Mayadevi, Buddha's mother, giving birth to him. The Lumbini Development Trust has been working to turn the place into an international centre for Buddhist pilgrimage and research.

Kakani, 25 km northwest of Kathmandu, is still untouched by commercialisation. A tour to the place would let you see some excellent views of the Ganesh Himal, Langtang and Annapurna ranges.At a height of 1,982 metres, Kakani has strawberry fields and forests of oak and rhododendron.

The Goddess Manakamana's temple is on a beautiful ridge, west of the Kathmandu valley and is important from an archaeological and historical point of view. It is a famous Hindu pilgrimage site.
Kathmandu's most famous street from its honeymoon with hippies in the 1960s and 70s is Freak Street. It was known as Jochne and runs south of Basantpur Square.

You can find local handicrafts in addition to those from Tibet, India and Thailand in the shops of Kathmandu. There are many famous shopping outlets in Kathmandu but the major ones are in complexes on New Road, Khichapokhari, Sundhara, Ranajan Gali, Pako, Basantpur, Indrachowk and Hanuman Dhoka.

Tour Packages for Nepal :

Kathmandu Tour