Best Places to Visit in Kathmandu Valley

Kathmandu Durbar Square

For over a century, Kathmandu Durbar Square has been the major attraction in Nepal. Kathmandu Durbar Square lies in the heart of Nepal, also known as “Basantapur Durbar Square”. The word "durbar" means "palace" or "a court presided over by a prince". Likewise, the durbar squares of Nepal are significant locations for religious festivities, royal occasions, and kingly coronations. 
Therefore, Kathmandu Durbar Square is enlisted as a “UNESCO World Heritage Site” due to its cultural significance. Perhaps, Kathmandu Durbar Square was built by King Prithvi Narayan Shah in 1770 A.D. Likewise, the majority of the architectural designs in the area are in the pagoda style. Besides, the monuments in the area date back to the 15th to 18th centuries.
Similarly, here is the list of different structures/sites to tour around Kathmandu Durbar Square.   

• Kumari Bahal - The residence of the living goddess "Kumari" is known as the Kumari Bahal. Similarly, the word "Kumari," which means "virgin," is the reincarnation of Taleju, a Hindu goddess and one of Durga's manifestations.
• Swet (White) Bhairab - The “swet” bhairav means the “white bhaiorav", which is the most dangerous form of Lord Shiva. Perhaps, the statue of Swet Bhairav in the Kathmandu Durbar Square is the biggest idol of Bhairav in the world. However, it is kept concealed beneath a wooden curtain throughout the year and only brought out during Indra Jatra.
• Taleju Temple - Taleju Bhawani, the family deity (kul deuta) of the royal dynasty, is worshipped at Taleju Temple. Additionally, the Goddess Taleju temple's building is designed like a yantra. It is claimed that Taleju Bhawani herself manifested and provided guidance for constructing the temple.

Patan Durbar Square.

Patan, also known as "Lalitpur", is the oldest durbar square among the three squares of Kathmandu. Perhaps, it is the oldest buddhist city in the world and enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage. Similar to this, Patan is recognized for its excellent arts and culture. Likewise, the city's main square is likewise called "Yala" by Newars.
Therefore, the major attractions of Patan Durbar Square are:

• Patan museum - Patan Museum is one of the best museums in Asia. The former residence of the Malla Dynasty has now been converted into a beautiful museum. Likewise, the museum consists of various bronze statues and religious objects. 
• Golden Temple -  The golden temple is one of the most astonishing attractions of Patan Durbar Square. Likewise, the golden temple was built in 1045 by King Bhaskar Deva Varma and completed in 1409. Perhaps the golden temple is also known as the “kwa Bahan” or “Hiranya Varna mahavihar” by the locals. whereas the word “hiranya Varna Mahavihar” means the monastery with a golden color.
• Krishna Temple - Krishna Temple is also called “Chyasin Dewal", which is dedicated to the other temples of Lord Krishna. Likewise, “Chyasin” means the eight sides of its octagonal structure. The Krishna Temple was built in 1723 by Yogmati, the daughter of King Yoganarendra Malla. Additionally, the entire temple was built as a tribute to the 32 women who committed sati. The 32 women, consisting of 8 wives and 24 concubines, who went sati following the king's death. “Sati” was an ancient practice where the widows were burnt along with their deceased husbands.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square. 

Bhaktapur, also known as "khwopa" in Nepal Bhasa (Newari), is the site of a previous Malla rulers' royal palace. Bhaktapur's square is regarded as the largest and grandest of all three in Nepal. 99 country yards formerly made up Bhaktapur Durbar Square, but they were damaged by the earthquake. In addition to that, there are still 15 of them left as of now.
Bhaktapur also features massive woodcarvings and sculptures, as well as a rich artistic and architectural heritage. Bhaktapur Durbar Square may be well-known for its palace with 55 windows and its delectable yogurt known as "juju dhau." Additionally, it is a city of art where pottery, weaving, woodcarving, etc. were once common occupations.
Therefore, the major attractions of Bhaktapur Durbar Square are:

• 55 windows - The 55 windows define the masterpiece of art and architecture of Bhakapur Durbare Square. Perhaps it is the major attraction in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, built in 1677 by King Bhupatindra Malla.  
• Nyatapola temple - Nyatapola is the tallest monument in the central part of the Bhakapur Durbar Square. It is one of the only two five tired temple of kathmandu with its unique architecture. Perhaps the temple is dedicated to the goddess of supreme power and success, “Sidhilaxmi”.  
• Golden Gate - The Golden Gate, built by King Ranjit Malla, serves as the primary entrance to Bhaktapur Durbar Square. Alternately, the Malla dynasty made its final contribution with the construction of the Golden Gate in 1757 AD. Perhaps the golden gate symbolizes the distinctive fusion of historic deities, animals, and antique art and architecture.

Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath is the prehistoric sacred palace in the hills of the Kathmandu valley, which literally means “self-sprung”. When the entire Kathmandu valley was a lake, Swayambhunath emerged from the lotus blooming in the middle of the lake. Besides that, it is also known as the “monkey temple” of Nepal. 
Likewise, later, the swyambhunath stupa and the entire territory were built by King Manadeva in the 13th century. The three massive golden statues of Padmasambhava, Amitaba Buddha, and Avalokiteshwara can be seen when approaching Swayambhunath from the ringroad. Perhaps there are many chaityas, chivas, and statues of Buddhist and Hindu dieties in Swayambhunath.

Pashupatinath

The word "Pashupatinath" is a combination of the words "Pashu," which means "animals," and "Natha," which means the Lord. Similar to that, Pashupatinath, meaning "lord of all animals", has a history that goes back to 400 A.D. Perhaps it is Nepal's oldest and holiest temple. Due to their strong religious beliefs, Hindus from all over the world visit this location to express their devotion.
Every year on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, the temple expects thousands of visitors from around the world. Likewise, as the lord of all creatures, you may see different creatures around the temple. The different creatures include monkeys, dears, humans, pigeons, birds, cows, and dogs. 
In the 17th century, the old building of Pashupatinath was rebuilt and made into what it is today. It is the most sacred holy place in Nepal where people from around the world visit the temple to show the Devotion.

Boudhanath

Built in 14th century boudhanath stupa is the largest  spherical stupa of Asia and the buddhist pilgirmage site. Perhaps it is also held to be true that the stupa was constructed following the death of Gautam Buddha. The boudhanath stupa is surrounded by enormous tibetan refugees and 50 gompas. Likewise, the stupa now has been enlisted as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. 
Additionally, the matras and Tibetan chanting around the Boudhanath stupa elevate the atmosphere to one of elegance and spirituality. Besides the current location of bouddhanath was the important trading route. Alternatively, the stupa is now the important tourist attraction to the buddhist around the world.

Garden of Dreams

The late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana constructed the Garden of Dreams, a traditional historical garden, in the early 1920s. Perhaps the park's notoriety as the "garden of six seasons" stemmed from having pavilions dedicated to the six seasons of Nepal. Besides, it was the private garden of Kaiser Sumsher which was later handed over to the government after his demise and later opened to the general public. 
Therefore, the Garden of Dreams is now one of the famous tourist attractions with high aesthetic values. People visiting Kaiser Garden are attracted by the peace and tranquility. Besides, it is also the home of Nepal's biggest library, the Kaiser Shumsher Rana, where one can read in peace.

Narayanhiti Palace Museum. 

The word “Narayanhiti" means "Narayan,” meaning Lord Vishnu, and "hiti,” meaning “water spout.” Perhaps you can witness the temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu inside the palace. Additionally, the royal kings of Nepal are also regarded as the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. In fact, along with the Narayanhiti, the Kathmandu Durbarr Square also has a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.  
Likewise, Muesum was the former palace of the Shah kings, built by King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 1963 A.D. Furthermore, after the declaration of Nepal as a Federal Democratic Republic country, the last king, Gyanendra, left the palace. Hence , it has been almost 10 years since the building was open to the general public as a museum. 

 Aason Tole

Aason, or Asan, is one of the city's oldest markets, perhaps the  main market place since ancient times. Historically, Ason was the trading route between India and Tibet. It is the home of the Newari indigenous people. You can experience the authentic Newari culture at the center of the capital. Furthermore, as Ason is the main market for the people, you can always witness the crowd there. It is a small, historic place with small alleys, rich in its own culture and the Newari house architecture. Additionally, the shops that line both sides of the roads add color and life to the palaces.

Thamel 

There is no doubt that Thamel is the tourist hub in Nepal, which was formerly known as Tabitha Bahal. Located at the center of Kathmandu, Thamel is home to hundreds of trekking agencies, tour operators, and trekking stores. Not only that, it is a place with small alleys providing everything a tourist requires within walking distance. From the taste of Nepal to the taste of various international cuisines, Thamel literally is the tourist hotspot. 
Moreover, Thamel is also the place where one can explore the nightlife of Kathmandu. Perhaps, it is not just a place but a whole tourism industry inside the Kathmandu valley. When you're in Thamel, you’ll be mesmerized by the hustle and bustle of the tourists and locals.