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Nagarjun Forest Reserve
If you continue uphill from Balaju on the road towards Trisuli Bazaar, you’ll reach the Nagarjun Forest Reserve , also known as the Rani Ban (Queen’s Forest). This protected forest is one of the last undamaged areas of woodland in the valley, providing a home for pheasants, deer an
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Akash Bhairab Temple
On the west side of Indra Chowk is the facade of the Akash Bhairab Temple, or Bhairab of the Sky Temple. From the balcony four metal lions rear out over the street. The temple’s entrance is at the right-hand side of the building, guarded by two more brass lions, but non-Hindus cann
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Bindebasini Temple
At the northeast end of the bazaar (which is the main shopping strip) this ornate, two-tiered temple is dedicated to Durga. Its ancient walls are covered in carvings and a priest opens the doors each evening. Facing the temple across the square is the Padma library , a striking 18t
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Vishwarup Temple
The steps continue up the hill from the terraces to a convenient cafe and another huge complex of lingam shrines on the edge of the forest that is well worth exploring. There are more than 50 shrines here and the variety of architectural forms is quite stunning. If you bear right a
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Uma Maheshwar Temple
From the main square, go right heading west through the village to a Ganesh shrine and a stone stairway that climbs to the triple-roofed Uma Maheshwar Temple. It’s flanked by two stone elephants, decked out in spiked saddles to discourage children from sitting on them! The temple w
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Crocodile Breeding Centre & Rhino Centre
In the park headquarters there’s a small breeding centre for marsh mugger and gharial crocodiles, as well as turtles, so you can get up-close-and-personal with the reptiles. Nearby there is also an enclosure containing Shivaram, a rhino who was injured as a baby in Chitwan. Blind i
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Silkworm Farm
An offbeat choice, a visit to Silkworm Farm takes you through the fascinating process of how silk is produced. The farm comprises orchards of mulberry plants, which are grown for worm food – the worms themselves are reared indoors, usually from August to December and March to May.
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Krishna Temple
The octagonal Krishna Temple was built in 1648–49 by Pratap Malla, perhaps as a response to rival Siddhinarsingh’s magnificent Krishna Temple in Patan. Inside there are images of Krishna and two goddesses, which, according to a Sanskrit inscription, are modelled on the king and his
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Shechen Gompa
This huge complex was established by the famous Nyingmapa lama Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche to replace the destroyed Shechen Gompa in eastern Tibet. Today, the monastery has a thriving community of over 300 monks and the main prayer hall features fabulous murals by artists from Bhutan.
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National Park Headquarters
The National Park Headquarters are inside the park at Kasara, about 13km west of Sauraha on the south bank of the Rapti River. Most people visit as part of an organised jungle safari and there’s a small visitor centre with displays on wildlife, including orphaned and injured animal
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Drölma Lhakhang
The shrine is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, who identify Saraswati as Tara. It’s accessed via a set of steps to the right of Sakya Tharig Gompa. To the right of this chapel is the Rigzu Phodrang Gompa , slightly damaged in the earthquake but still worth visiting for its impr
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Zoo
Nepal’s only zoo is in southwestern Patan by the Jawalakhel roundabout and it was not affected by the earthquake. The animals live in better conditions than you might expect and there are always crowds of local kids being wowed by such exotic creatures as elephants, tigers, leopard
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Shiva Shrines
Two footbridges cross the Bagmati in front of the Pashupatinath Temple, entering a garden of stone terraces covered in dozens of small Shiva shrines. These one-room temples are often used as lodgings by wandering sadhus and each contains a central Shiva lingam. Although the shrines
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Ka
Down a side alley, the handsome ‘white gompa’ is home to 225 monks and features ornamental gardens and a richly decorated interior with some exquisite paintings and thangkas (Tibetan religious paintings). Unfortunately the main prayer hall became unstable in the 2015 earthquake and
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Sherpa Culture Museum
Run by local photographer Lhakpa Sonam, this private museum in Chhorkung has an intriguing collection of Sherpa cultural objects, as well as photos and press cuttings covering all the Sherpa Everest summiteers. Look for the great photo from 1953 of Tenzing Norgay assessing his port
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Vajra Varahi Temple
Set in a peaceful wood, this important Tantric temple was built in 1665 and it attracts lots of wedding parties, pilgrims and picnickers who descend en masse on Saturdays. Visitors pour milk and offerings over the statue of a bull in front of the temple and make similar offerings t
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Kathesimbhu Stupa
The most popular Tibetan pilgrimage site in the old town is this lovely stupa, a small copy dating from around 1650 of the great Swayambhunath complex. The stupa is set in a hidden courtyard which saw only minor damage in the 2015 earthquake. Just as at Swayambhunath, there is a tw
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Guru Rinpoche Cave
Climb the steps behind the Drölma Lhakhang, passing a rocky fissure jammed full of tsha tsha (stupa-shaped clay offerings) and cracks stuffed with little bags of wishes and human hair. Eventually you’ll come to the walls of a large white monastery, inside which is a small cave (als
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Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve
Tucked against the Indian border, Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve covers 305 sq km of sal forest and phanta (grassland) along the banks of the Bahini River. The terrain is similar to Bardia National Park and the reserve has tigers, rhinos, crocodiles, wild elephants and Nepal’s large
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Chabahil Stupa
Right on the Ring Rd is this imposing stupa, the fourth largest in the Kathmandu area after Bodhnath, Swayambhunath and the Kathesimbhu Stupa near Thahiti Chowk. According to legend, the stupa was constructed by Charumati, the daughter of Ashoka, but it has been rebuilt numerous ti
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