Day 1

KATHMANDU ARRIVAL

Altitude: 1350M Arrive Kathmandu airport (1350mts) met at airport and get transferred to hotel. Drive across the center of Kathmandu city, taking approximate 45 minutes along the busy streets and glimpses of local Nepali market. Upon arrival at the hotel served with welcome drink and a short briefing about the country, and get checked in. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Kathmandu Valley: Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal and is also the largest city of the country. It stands at an elevation of approximately 4,265 ft (1,300 m). It is an urban and suburban area of about 2.5 million inhabitants in the tri-city area in the Kathmandu Valley in central Nepal, along the Bagmati River. The two other cities are Patan and Bhaktapur. Kathmandu is located at 27°43′N 85°22′E (27.71667, 85.36667). The Kathmandu Valley lies at the crossroads of ancient civilizations of Asia, and has at least 130 important monuments, including several places of pilgrimage for the Hindus as well as the Buddhists. The cities of Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, located in this valley, present a high style of Nepalese art and architecture. Kathmandu valley was accorded the status of a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1979. It is rich in culture and the valley itself is and has been the cultural and political hub of Nepal.

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Day 2

KATHMANDU SIGHTSEEING - FULL DAY

Highlights:

Everest Mt. Flight

Swayambunath

Patan Durbar Square

Boudhanath

Kathmandu Durbar Square

Optional Everest Mountain Flight: The next best thing to climbing mountains on foot while in Nepal is to take the awesome flight that gives you instant Everest. This unique journey-one of the few airline flights in the world that takes off and lands from the same airport-has now become a must-do for most tourists visiting Nepal. The mountain. Flight takes off, climb steeply over the Kathmandu Valley to get above the clouds, and give you a majestic fly-past of the world’s highest mountains.

Swayambhunath: Swoyambhu literally means 'Self-Existent One.' Swoyambhunath is believed to have been established more than 2,500 years ago. An inscription dated 460 A.D. states that the construction was carried out by King Manadeva. By the thirteenth century Swoyambhunath had developed into an important Buddhist learning site. The history of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started with the beginning of Swoyambhu. The largest image of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Nepal is in a monastery next to the stupa. Behind the hilltop is a temple dedicated to Manjusri of Saraswati - the goddess of learning. Statues and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities dot the stupa complex. Large numbers of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swoyambhunath. Swoyambhu is perhaps the best place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal. The stupa is atop a hill, the choice exists of walking uphill stair cases or taking road right up to the base.

Patan Durbar Square: Patan Durbar Square complex, situated in the center of Patan city, about 5 kilometers to the south east of Kathmandu, houses the residence of the former Royal family of Patan. The Square and its surroundings provide very good example of ancient Newari architecture. The palace has three main courtyards the central and the oldest is Mul Chowk, meaning the main courtyard. Krishna Temple, Bhimsen Temple, the Golden Temple of Hiranya Varna Mahavira and Sundari Chowk mark the architectural excellence of its era. Exquisite woodcarvings, stone, and metal sculptures represent the creativity of ancient Nepalese culture.

Boudhanath: The 36-meter-high stupa of Bouddhanath is one of the largest stupas in South Asia. The Stupa was renovated by the Licchavi rulers in the eighth century. The stupa is located in the area of ancient trade route to Tibet where Tibetan merchants rested and offered prayers for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Bouddhanath. Hence, a complete township has developed around Bouddhanath. The stupa is said to entomb the remains of a Kasyap sage venerable both to Buddhists and Hindus.

Katmandu Durbar Square: Kathmandu Durbar Square, also known as Basantapur, is in the heart of old city Kathmandu (Durbar meaning Royal Palace in Nepali). The complex was residence to the Royal family before the construction of the Narayanhiti Palace. The founding of the Palace dates back to Licchavi times. With considerable renovations by Malla rulers and later the Ranas, construction was accomplished progressively over many centuries. There are numerous temples in the vicinity including Taleju Bhawani. Kumari Ghar, the residence of the Living Goddess is the major attraction of the site. The Shiva-Parvati Temple, and the inner consisting of Hanuman Dhoka and the main palace, are also additional monuments to Kathmandu Durbar Square.

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Day 3

KATHMANDU - DHULIKHEL via Bhaktapur, Distance: 34km, Duration: 1 hour, Altitude: 1550M

Dhulikhel: Dhulikhel is a famous hill station for Kathmandu valley. Many tourists including local valley residents visit this place for leisure. Dhulikhel provides a great range of Himalayan scenery. The accommodation will be arranged in a cozy resorts from where the panoramic view of the Himalayan range can be absorbed.

Highlights:

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur: Bhaktapur Durbar Square is located in the center of Bhaktapur, the next ancient city about 10 kilometers towards the east of Kathmandu. The Square exhibits the most charming architectural showpieces of the Valley as it highlights some of the finest medieval arts of Nepal. The main attractions of the square such as Golden Gate, was erected by King Ranjit Malla as the entrance to the main courtyard of the Fifty-five Windowed Palace. The palace was built during the reign of the Malla dynasty. The Palace of Fifty-five Windows was built during the reign of King Yakshya Malla in A.D. 1427 and was remodeled by King Bhupatindra Malla in the seventeenth century.

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Day 4

DHULIKHEL-CHITWAN Distance: 234Km, Duration: 6 hours, Altitude: 150M

CHITWAN: We drive to "kingdom of wild animals and plants” Chitwan National Park (CNP), the natural wonders and country’s first national park, known as one the finest national park in the world. The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 sq. km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. The area comprising the Tikauli forest - from Rapti River to the foothills of the Mahabharata - extending over an area of 175 sq. km. Recognizing its unique ecosystems of international significance, UNESCO declared CNP a World Heritage in 1984. The park is home to more than 50 mammal species, over 525 birds, and 55 amphibians and reptiles.

The endangered fauna found in the park are:

Mammals and reptiles:One-horned rhinoceros, Gaur, Royal Bengal tiger, Wild elephant, Four horned antelope, Pangolin, Gangetic dolphin, Gharial crocodile, Golden monitor lizard, Python

Birds: Bengal florican, Lesser florican, Giant hornbill, Black stork, White stork, etc.

People: Tharus are the main indigenous ethnic groups in Chitwan. They are well known for their resistance to malaria. Traditionally they are farmers and practice their own unique tribal culture.

Highlights of the day:

Breakfast in the hotel Kathmandu

Lunch at the Resort in Chitwan

Tharu Village walk

Local cultural dance followed by Dinner.

Tharu Village Walk:  A stroll through the village will provide an opportunity to see their traditional farming, relics and way of their daily life of this unique society of the Tharu people.

Local cultural Dance: Traditional Tharu stick dance gives an insight into their culture. As per the legend this is part of an effort to fend off and frighten wild animals away from valuable crops.

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Day 5

Full day jungle activities, CHITWAN 5:30 am our hotel boy will give you wake up call, get ready for tea and coffee and here starts the day.

Highlights of the day:

Elephant ride

Canoeing

Elephant Breeding Centre

Elephant Ride: Seated high on the back of a trained elephant exploring the grasslands and forest, you become a part of the life of the jungle. It is an experience of lifetime approaching closely but safely to some of the world's rarest animals.

Canoeing: A journey down the river Rapti in a traditional 'dug out canoe', offers you the chance to quietly observe the exotic species of birds and animals that come for a sip at the water’s edge.

Elephant Breeding Center: Elephant-breeding center provides an opportunity to retain traditional wisdom of training elephants and their handlers and to better protect the wild creatures from extinction.

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Day 6

CHITWAN - POKHARA, Distance: 196 Km, Duration: 4hours, Altitude: 85M

Pokhara: Pokhara is 200 kilometers west of Kathmandu. This small city is not as old as Kathmandu but is full of natural beauty, with small lakes from both east and west sides. Pokhara is one of the tourist hub of Nepal. It is a combination of nature and culture. Lakeside, is one of the happening places of Pokhara, where tourists can find everything. Since this city is quite a modern city with only few touristic attractions inside the town itself. Most interesting is the old centre in the north of the city (purano bazaar) where still many old shops and warehouses in the Newari style can be found. Mule caravans still arrive there from Mustang. On a hill overlooking Phewa Tal from the south is the World Peace Stupa (at 1,113 m) built in 1996 with a nice view of the lake, across the city and of the snow peaked mountain range consisting of namely, Fishtail, Annapurna and Dhaulagiri Himals (mountains).

Highlights:

Birds Watching (Chitwan)

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Day 7

POKHARA SIGHTSEEING - FULL DAY

Highlights:

Sarangkot

Boating on Fewa Lake

Davids Fall

Sarangkot: Get up early morning and head up to Sarangkot, the view point to the sun rise over the Himalayan Ranges. Sarangkot is 20 kilometers north to Pokhara main city, a hill top point from where the sun rise is best viewed. Absorb the views and drive back to hotel.

Boating: Enjoy the 1 hour long boat ride on this romantic Fewa Lake, shadowed by the gigantic range of Mt. Annapurna. .Your feelings get transformed into a joy of living. With a beautiful Barahi temple in the middle makes the lake more holy and religious. Every day thousands of visitors visit the temple. Surrounded by the green forest and lakeside city, Hundreds of hotel and restaurants around it makes the evening very romantic. Pokhara will always remains in your heart and tempts you to visit again.

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Day 8

POKHARA - KATHMANDU Distance: 200 Km, Duration: 6hours, Altitude:1350M

Start driving back to Katmandu, with plenty of stops en route, laisurely drive. Check into hotel on reaching to Kathmandu, dinner and overnight.

Highlights:

Pashupatinath

Thamel

Dinner with cultural program

Pashupatinath: Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for Shiva devotees. Pashupatinath, dedicated to Shiva the Destroyer, is the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal. Although the Pashupatinath Temple was only built in the fifth century and later renovated by Malla kings, the holy site is said to have existed from the beginning of the millennium. Pashupatinath is the other popular name of Shiva. Shiva in the form of Rudra was imagined by the early Aryans and later was worshipped in the form of a Linga, a Phallus, a vertical piece of stone placed in an upward position on a round pedestal. The Indus Valley civilization in Pakistan has shown that the people there worshipped Shiva in the form of a Linga in about the 3rd century BC. Besides south Asia, archaeological excavations in some ancient cities of Europe have revealed that the linga-worship cult existed there too. Behind the temple is the River Bagmati. On the banks of Bagmati are raised platforms used as cremation sites for Hindus. Pashupatinath, in a limited sense, literally means the Lord of the Animals. But animal is also a term that denotes the animal like instincts in human beings. Capable of destroying instantly every evil force either with his trident or the third eye, when it comes to his devotees, the Lord Pashupatinath destroys their ignorance.

Thamel: Thamel is the most happening place, no tourist returns home without entering to this place. It is equally popular among tourists as other places in Nepal. Thamel offers plentiful tourists shops, restaurants and bars. It is worth hanging around for a while

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Day 9

DEPARTURE