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Cultural Heritage Sites in Nepal

By admin

Cultural Heritage Sites in Nepal

Nepal is known for the beauty of heavenly nature and its rich, diverse cultural heritage. Nepal is a multilingual nation, Having people with their own culture, lifestyle, traditions, beliefs, and religions living peacefully and respectfully. Many rulers from different dynasties have played significant roles in Nepal’s cultural heritage.

For instance, the Lichchhavis Dynasty, Mallas Dynasty, Shah Dynasty, and Kirant Dynasty have created the path to present Nepal, contributing much to the nation and its people in terms of tradition, constitution, culture, sculptures, architectural styles, and many more, leaving behind countless history and cultural heritage sites.

Nepal is a country that has the world’s highest mountain, Mt. Everest, representing the Nepalese people, the existence of the nation, and its rich history to people from all around the globe. Nepal is also the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha (birth name: Siddhartha Gautama), who was the founder of the Buddhism religion.

Furthermore, because of their historical significance and rich past, Nepal’s cultural heritage sites have been inducted into the UNESCO World Heritage List, making them popular tourist destinations that are a must-see. Nepal has ten UNESCO World Heritage sites, seven of which are located in the Kathmandu Valley by themselves. The following is a quick description of these locations that visitors to Nepal shouldn’t miss:

Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Bhaktapur Durbar Square is one of the primary tourist sites designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bhaktapur is also commonly referred to as Khwopa or Bhadgaun. Among the Kathmandu Valley’s Durbar Squares, Bhaktapur has the largest.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Bhaktapur Durbar Square

You can see landmarks like the 55-Window Palace, Barking Bell, Golden Gate, National Art Museum, King Bhupatindra Malla Statue, Vatsala Temple, Lion’s Gate, Krishna Temple, and others while you are in Bhaktapur Durbar Square. You will see the incredible artwork, sculptures, and architectural designs carved in these temples.

Similarly, Bhaktapur is the smallest city in Nepal compared to other cities. Similarly, there are major destinations in Bhaktapur such as Nyatapola Temple, Pottery Square, Dattatraya Square, and Siddha Pokhari (Pond).

If you visit Pottery Square, you can also learn pottery guided by a potter teaching you to make plates, vessels, or any materials out of clay. Similarly, one can try a wide range of Newari cuisines too.

When tourists visit Bhaktapur, almost all of them try Juju Dhau (curd). It is the king of yogurt, which is very delicious and refreshing as well as a specialty of the Bhaktapur. Bhaktapur is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in Nepal.

Boudhanath Stupa

Boudhanath Stupa is one of the biggest spherical stupas on Earth, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It is located northeast of Kathmandu. This place is a key site for both Hindu and Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims. This stupa is made with a significant quantity of gold carrying deep spiritual symbolism.

bouddhanath
Bouddhanath

Boudhanath Stupa has the eyes of Buddha on each side, which embodies awareness. In the past, Tibetan traders used this stupa as a place where they could rest and pray to continue their further journey. You can see many Tibetan monasteries, souvenir shops, cafes, and street markets, as well as local food restaurants surrounding all over the Boudhanath Stupa.

Many local monks visit here in the morning and evening daily as a part of their life routine. You can explore the Historical Pond, Ghyoilisang Peace Park, Ajima Temple, Historical Tinchuli, and other monasteries that are located nearby in Boudhanath Stupa.

One can also experience festivals like Mamla Jatra, Chechyu Puja, Temal Jatra, Lhosar, and Buddha Jayanti in Boudhanath Stupa, but they need to come here in specific months to watch these festivals. You will find a sense of spiritual peace when you roam around the stupa. Many pigeons fly over the stupa, making the surroundings more vibrant and beautiful.

Changu Narayan Temple

Changu Narayan Temple is claimed to be Nepal’s oldest Hindu temple and is located in Bhaktapur. This temple is around 7 kilometers east of Kathmandu city. This temple has its own artistic and historical significance, demonstrating exceptional wood, metal, and stone craftsmanship.

Changu Narayan Temple

Changu Narayan Temple is designed as a two-story pagoda. This temple is entirely devoted to Lord Vishnu, and there are various statues depicting him around the shrine. There is a historical pillar built by the legendary King Mandev around 464 AD.

This temple contains shrines of Kileshwor, Krishna, Chhinamasta, and Shiva. The temple has many statues and inscriptions on its walls, symbolizing gods and their incarnations with religious symbols.

One can explore nearby museums where you can see rare cultural artifacts, photos, and statues that showcase the history of the 501 to 600 BC periods. However, you cannot go inside the temple, as only priests are allowed to enter the temple. You can worship the temple from outside the main entry of the temple.

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Situated in the center of Kathmandu, Kathmandu Durbar Square is a significant cultural heritage site in Nepal. This location is very significant and rich in history. It has several temples, old palaces, courtyards, and other structures that showcase the centuries-long building prowess of Newari artisans.

Kathmandu Durbar Square
Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square’s long history and remarkable architectural features led to its inclusion as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. The Malla and Shah dynasties established this location. Similarly, after conquering Kathmandu, Kathmandu Durbar Square became the royal residence of the first Shah King.
It is divided into 2 main areas, such as the Basantapur area. and the Hanuman Dhoka Palace area. You can find around fifty temples like Taleju Bhawani, Kasthamandap, Nasal Chowk, Shiva Temple, Bhandarkal, Mul Chowk, Manju Deval, Kumari Bahal, and so on.

The living goddess of Nepal lives in the temple of Taleju Bhawani, who is worshipped in the form of Kumari. You can explore this place and learn more about it. Similarly, Hanuman Dhoka used to be the home of the Shah and Malla kings.

This place offers a wide range of worthy things to explore. You can visit the museum to see the lifestyle, tradition, and history of Kathmandu Durbar Square. Moreover, there are a lot of cafes and restaurants in the Basantapur area where you can try multifarious dishes, drinks, and food recipes. You will surely adore this place once you visit here.

Lumbini

Lumbini is one of the most important sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Nepal. Gautam Buddha was born here in Lumbini in 623 BC. Therefore, it is one of the oldest historical and popular sites in Nepal, signifying to spread of peace in the world. Situated in Nepal’s Rupandehi District, this location spans 4.8 kilometers in length and 1.6 kilometers in width.

mayadevi temple lumbini
Maya devi temple – Lumbini

You can also find the Maya Devi Temple in the main area of Lumbini, which is believed to be the exact spot marked by a stone where Lord Gautam Buddha was born. There is also a sacred bathing pond, which is also believed to be where Lord Buddha used to bathe.

Explore a variety of sights in Lumbini, including monasteries, museums, temples, historic ruins, a Bodhi tree, the Ashoka Pillar, and more. Numerous monasteries that were constructed by other countries, including China, Thailand, Indonesia, Germany, Myanmar, and others outside of the Lumbini’s main area, include the Thai Monastery, Cambodian Monastery, Thrangu Vajra Vidya Monastery Crane Sanctuary, and others.

You can also find the ancient ruins of historical sites like Gotihawa, Ramagrama, and Kapilvastu. Archaeologists discovered ancient ruins at the Maya Devi Temple of the 6th century in 2013.

When you visit this place, you will enjoy the serene environment surrounded by monasteries, meditation centers, and beautiful gardens. You will also see the flame that never extinguishes, which is called the Eternal Peace Flame, representing peace and harmony in the world.

Patan Durbar Square

Patan Durbar Square was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1979. It is located in Patan, which is the center location of Lalitpur city. This place was believed to have been built in the 3rd century by King Ashoka.

Patan Durbar Square
Patan Durbar Square

Though smaller than Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Durbar Squares, Patan Durbar Square is still home to numerous important temples, such as Taleju Bhawani, Krishna, Vishnu, Biswanath, Ganesh, Shiva, Bhimsen, and Vishnu temples.

The cultural capital of the state of Nepal, Lalitpur, is regularly referred to as an Artisan city since it is home to a variety of traditional arts and crafts. The main palace serves as a focal point for a collection of temples, chinaware, and fine-statue with their strong and large bells.

Patan Durbar Square consists of red brick paved squares and an old-style Newari house with roofs made of slanted tile. Among the other notable features of Bhimsen Temple are its three windows made of solid gold. Similarly, Taleju Bhawani Temple has triple roofs and a five-story structure.

You can also visit the Patan Museum to witness the history and culture of the ancient city. You can also explore a stone tap called Manga Hiti and three courtyards such as Lumjyal Chowk, Sundar Chowk, and Mul Chowk here. So, if you are in Kathmandu Valley, you better not miss this place to view the beautiful architectural design of temples.

Pashupatinath Temple

One of the holiest Hindu shrines to Mahadev, or Lord Shiva, is Pashupatinath Temple. Asia’s largest gathering of devotees travels to Pashupatinath to worship Lord Shiva. Situated near the Bagmati River 3 km northwest of Kathmandu, this 5th-century temple is among the planet’s primordial temples.

Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple

The main temple has a distinctive square, two-tiered pagoda design with gold-plated roofs and four silver doors. There is a unique holy Shiva Linga set in a silver yoni inside the temple. It has four doors and a golden pinnacle. According to myth, Sati Devi’s head, the wife of Lord Shiva, fell here, so he resided here. Pashupatinath Temple has very deep religious values.

You can find around fifteen Shiva Layas, twelve Jyotirlinga, and around four hundred and ninety-two temples in the Pashupatinath area. UNESCO listed Pashupatinath Temple as a World Heritage Site in 1979. This place also serves as a cremation site for Hindus. So, you see many funeral rituals when you visit here.

If you visit in February or March, more than 7 lakh people will come to this place during the Maha Shivaratri festival. It is the major festival to worship Lord Shiva for Hindus. You can also explore many ashrams, inscriptions, and images of deities in this place.

Swayambhunath Stupa

Swayambhunath Stupa is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites in Nepal, located in western Nepal, 4.8 kilometers from Central Kathmandu city, sitting on a hill. Swayambhunath Stupa is also called Monkey Temple because it is home to many monkeys that have been living for centuries strolling around this area.

Swayambhunath Stupa

King Mandev built this temple in 250 BC or the 13th century. This setup was fully renovated in 2010, covering 20 kilograms of gold in the stupa’s dome. The dome represents a pure gemstone of Nirvana, which is a great example of Buddhist architecture.

Similarly, this pilgrimage site is not only important for Buddhists but also for the Newar community people and Hindus. You can see prayer wheels surrounding the whole Swayambhunath Stupa at the bottom part, where people can walk around it. The stupa is white with Buddha’s eyes painted on it, which represents wisdom and his ability to see in all directions.

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