Kathmandu Durbar Square
it is easy to be overwhelmed by the seemingly unaccountable monuments in the Kathmandu Durbar Square. The house of the Living Goddess, the ferocious Kal Bhairab, the red monkey god, and hundreds of erotic carvings are a few examples of the sights at the Square. The buildings are the greatest achievements of the Malla dynasty, and the resulted from the great rivalry between the three palaces of Kathmandu , Patan and Baktapur. For visitors today, and for the Nepalese, it was serendipitous that they and later their offspring's began an artistic warfare trying to outdo each other in splendid constructions.
Kathmandu Durbar Square is amongst the most important sights for travelers to see.

Pashupati
One day Lord Shiva got tired of his glittering place on Mt.Kailash, his armies of ghosts and spirits, and even Parbati - his beautiful wife. Through his cosmic powers, he searched for a perfect place where he could holiday. Without telling anyone, he ran away from his place and came to live in Slesmantak Forest in the Kathmandu Valley . He gained great fame here as Pashupati - Lord of the animals - before other gods discovered his hiding place and came to fetch him.

The Pashupati where he stayed has received the attention of worshippers for at least fifteen hundred years;
it is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal . There are linga images of Shiva along with statues,
shrines, and temple dedicated to other deities in the complex. A temple dedicated to Shiva existed at this site in AD 879. However, the present temples was built by King Bhupatindra Malla in 1697. A gold-plated roof, silver doors, and wood carvings of the finest quality decorate the pagoda construction. Guheswari Temple , restored in AD 1653, represents the female "force". It is wife, who gave up her life in the flames of her father's fire ritual.

Lord Shiva once more escaped from Kailash and came back to Pashupati as a hunter, but Parbati followed him disguised as a beautiful huntress. Shiva tried to seduce her, and discovering her true identity returned home shamefully. Kirateswar Temple commemorates this rather unfortunate jaunt.

A circuit of the Pashupati area takes visitors past a sixth-century statue of the Buddha, an eighth-century statue Brahma the creator and numerous other temples. Some other places to visit are Rajrajeswari Temple , built in 1407, Kailash with lingas more than 1,400 years old, Gorakhnatemple, and the courtyard of Biswarup. There are rows of Shiva shines and Hindu pilgrims from all over South Asia offering puja worship to Shiva, the Lord of Destruction.

The Bagmati River flows close by and the Arya Ghat cremation grounds are here. We strongly advise photographers not to take photos of cremations and of bereaved families. Sadhus, sages who follow the lifestyle of Shiva, may be seen covered in ashes and loin- cloths. They ask for money in case you want to take their photos. The main Pashupatinath courtyard may be entered by those of Hindu faith only.

Swayambhu
The history of the valley, according to the legends, begins with Swayambhu, or "the self-existent". In times uncharted by history Bodhisattva Manjusri came across a beautiful lake during his travel. He saw a lotus that emitted brilliant light at the lake's center, so he cut a gorge in a southern hill and drained the waters to worship the lotus. Men settled on the bed of the lake and called it the Kathmandu Valley . From then on, the hilltop of the self-existent Lord has been a holy place.

Swayambhu's light was covered in time because few could bear its intensity. By the thirteenth century, after many layers were added to the original structure that enveloped the Lord's power, a dome-like shape had been acquired. The stupas central mast was damaged and replaced at that time. Peripheral sources of power were discovered on the hilltop as well and stupas, temples and rest houses were built to honor them. Images of important deities, both Buddhist and Hindu, were also installed. Today, ago-old statues and shrines dot the stupa complex. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri of Saraswati the goddess of learning.

Swayambhu is, perhaps, the best place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal . The stupa is among the most ancient in this part of the world, and its worshippers are diverse from Newar nuns, Tibetan monks, and Brahmin priests to lay Buddhist and Hindus. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next to the stupa. Other monasteries here have huge prayer wheels, fine Buddhist paintings, and special butter lamps, which may be lit after presenting monetary offerings.

Swayambhu is a major landmark of the Valley and looks like a beacon below the Nagarjun hill. It provides an excellent view of the Kathmandu Valley . Devotees have climbed the steps on the eastern side for centuries. Statues of the Buddha, mini stupas, monasteries and monkeys make the climb to Swayambhu - which is fairly steep - worthwhile. But for someone who is physically disabled or is pressed for time, the western road allows you to get off your transport almost at the base of the stupa.

Bouddhanath
Bouddhanath is among the largest stupas in South Asia, and it has become the focus point of Tibetan Buddhism in Nepal . The white mound looms thirty-six meters overhead. The stupa is located on the ancient trade route to Tibet , and Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many of them decided to live around Bouddhanath. They established many gompa's, and the "Little Tibet " of Nepal was born. This is still the best place in the valley to observe Tibetan lifestyle and this is one of the most beautiful place to visit .