Discover Bhaktapur’s Attractions with a Juju Dhau Live Session & Optional Local Food Tasting

Bhaktapur - A tour leader from the native Newar communities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, or Patan will guide a live session showcasing the preparation of the beloved traditional dish, Juju Dhau. Known as the king of yoghurts, this dish is highly cherished by locals.

The process starts in a cool room, where a thick layer of rice bark is laid as a base. A special clay pot called Kataro is carefully cleaned and placed over the rice bark, ready to be filled with processed milk. The process involves obtaining high-quality milk from local farmers, boiling it, adding brown sugar, and fermenting it in the clay pot. The pots are then set over the rice bark, allowing the warm milk to cool and ferment gradually. The end result is a moon-like, white yoghurt ready to be enjoyed.

Siddha Pokhari - Begin the tour at Siddhapokhari, a historic pond near the entrance of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, believed to date back to the Lichhavi period. Evidence suggests its existence since at least 250 AD, making it around 1700 years old. A Shiva Linga near the pond’s center supports its ancient origins. This natural pond, one of the oldest in Bhaktapur, spans 275 x 92 meters and reaches a depth of 3 meters.

Pottery Square - After Siddhapokhari, proceed to Pottery Square via Barahi Agam Ghar, a short walk from Bhaktapur Durbar Square. This vibrant square is alive with pottery activities, as locals engage in the traditional craft of making clay pots. The square’s center is filled with freshly crafted clay wares and ongoing pottery-making. Several shrines, including the Ganesh shrine, Vishnu temple, Gorakhnath temple, Aakhandasheel Mahavihar, and Jeth Ganesh temple, can be found here.

Bhaktapur Durbar Square - Next, visit Bhaktapur Durbar Square, an ancient palace and one of Nepal’s top tourist attractions. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, legend says King Jayasthiti Malla built the original palace in the late 13th century. Visitors can explore 33 temples within the square. To fully experience Bhaktapur, stroll through its narrow alleys, courtyards, local homes, temples, and market.

Bhaktapur - Head to the Chandeshori temple, an intricately designed ancient temple with a three-story pagoda style located in Tibukchhen tole. The Chandeshwori shrine is also considered the place of the living goddess Kumari. Visitors are captivated by the stunning temple of goddess Chandeshwori, featuring a golden roof and two peacock statues, believed to be the oldest in the valley. Legend says Goddess Parvati took the form of Goddess Chandeshwori to defeat the Chandashur Demon.

Bhaktapur - After exploring the temple, there’s an opportunity to try the local food of this community. Participation in the food tasting is optional. Traditional Newari dishes in Bhaktapur are a mix of homemade items served on one plate, along with locally-made liquors, flavors, and tastes. After the Newari food tasting or observation, visit Munivihar, a renowned Buddhist monastery in Bhaktapur, significant for both Hindu and Buddhist practitioners. Muni Bihar was built in 1655 AD during King Jagat Prakash Malla’s reign, overseen by a monk named Padmadhwaj from Shigatse, Tibet.

Dattatreya Temple - After the monastery visit, head to the Dattatrya temple via Khacha Pokhari. Legend has it that King Yaksha Malla built the impressive Dattatrya Temple in the 14th century. Historical records show the entire temple was crafted from a single tree. Unlike the pagoda style, the Dattatraya temple follows a circular (mandala) design and is the only shrine dedicated to Dattatreya The Trimurti or Tridents.

Bhaktapur - After completing the tour, visit the Navadurga temple on the outskirts of Bhaktapur. These temples were built to protect the city. During the ten days of Dashain, there is a specific order for visiting these temples: starting with Bramhayani, followed by Maheshwori, Kumari, Bhadraali, Barahi, Indrayani, Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, Tripurasundari, and then Bramhayani again. These names represent all the Navadurga to which the temple is dedicated.

Discover Patan’s Attractions with a Wood Carving Live Session & Optional Local Food Tasting

Patan (Lalitpur) - Begin the tour at Patan Dhoka, the “gateway to Patan,” an ancient Newar city in the Kathmandu Valley. Patan was the capital of the Malla dynasty from the 14th century to 1768 CE. Located in the Lalitpur District, the city is home to significant temples and monuments, including the royal palace, Durbar Square, and numerous temples from the Licchavi period (4th-8th centuries CE). King Amsuvarman established the city in 327 CE, but it suffered extensive damage in a 1934 earthquake. After restoration, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entrance, dating back to the Malla era, underwent a transformation with auspicious signs of the parrot, the eye, and the kalash being painted for the first time in 1976.

Pimbahal - Head to Pimbahal Stupa, about 650 meters from Patan Durbar Square. It holds great spiritual significance and is well-known among Buddhist pilgrims. Next to the stupa is Jagamadu Pond, or Pimbahal Pukhu, believed to be around 600 years old. According to legend, the pond is neither natural nor man-made, with claims it was created by Lakhes (Demons in Nepali folklore). The city’s stupas have preserved precious relics and teachings of Buddhism, with Pimbahal standing out as the most mysterious and captivating. Patan is a renowned hub of Hinduism and Buddhism in the Kathmandu valley, admired worldwide for its magnificent Buddhist structures. Although its exact construction date is debated, it’s believed to be nearly 2000 years old. Some claim it’s one of the Ashok Stupas of Patan, supposedly built by Emperor Ashoka during his visit to Kathmandu.

Patan (Lalitpur) - After visiting the stupa, the next destination is Nagbahal Hiti, or Elhānani Hiti, an ancient drinking fountain dating back to the 8th century. This site is still used for cultural events. The history of Nagbahal is unclear, but the discovery of an 8th-century stele adorned with four Buddhist sculptures and two chaityas, likely from the Licchavi Kingdom (c. 400-750 AD), suggests a strong Buddhist presence in the area during that era. Many residents in the courtyard are Buddhists with ties to the sangha of the Hiranya Varna Mahavihar.

Golden Temple (Hiranya Varna Mahavihar) - The Golden Temple, or Hiranya Varna Mahavihar, is a Newari Buddhist monastery built in 1409. Despite its nickname, it’s not entirely made of gold; the name comes from tourism and a shortened translation. Located just north of Durbar Sq, this unique monastery has existed since the 12th century and maintained its current form since 1409. The temple is famous for its gold-plated facade and is considered one of the most beautiful in Patan. Access the temple through the elaborate narrow stone entrance to the east or the wooden entrance to the west, both from connected courtyards on the north side of Nakabhil. Visitors must remove shoes and leather items to enter the lower courtyard. The temple’s head priest is a boy under 12 years old, serving for 30 days before passing the responsibility to another young boy.

Patan Durbar Square - A short stroll leads to Patan Durbar Square, the highlight of the day. The ancient royal palace of Patan stands over the remarkable Durbar Square. This densely packed area of temples is perhaps the most visually stunning example of Newari architecture in Nepal. Temple construction thrived during the Malla period (14th to 18th centuries), particularly during King Siddhinarsingh Malla’s reign (1619–60). The square is a captivating blend of palace structures, artistic courtyards, and graceful pagoda temples, reflecting Newari architecture’s zenith during the Malla kings’ rule. Among its courtyards, the renovated Keshav Narayan Chowk is now a museum displaying bronze artifacts. The Sundari Chowk with the sunken bath of Tusha Hiti showcases exquisite woodcarvings, stone, and metal sculptures. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Patan (Lalitpur) - After visiting the durbar square, encounter the ancient Golden Fountain. Nepalese art expert Gautama Vajracharya has extensively studied this renowned golden fountain in Nepal. The spout, crafted with dazzling metalwork, depicts vivid animated scenes, mostly featuring aquatic animals, inspired by Vedic tales of life-giving rain. One of the most striking features is the mythical sea creature makara with a goat leaping from its open mouth. The fountain’s surfaces showcase spouts projecting horizontally, designed after the mythical makara, a creature symbolizing both celestial (rain cloud) and terrestrial water. While the makara spout is typically carved from stone, royal palaces often adorn the stone spouts with tastefully crafted, shimmering repoussé metalwork. The seventeenth-century golden fountains at the three royal palaces of the valley, in Bhaktapur, Patan, and Kathmandu, are examples of the continuation of a much earlier tradition.

Patan (Lalitpur) - As one traverses the narrow alleys of old town Patan, they will encounter remarkable woodwork crafted by the artisanal “Shilpakar” families, as known in Nepali. With a longstanding dedication to their craft, evidenced in their intricately carved windows, doors, wooden masks, furniture, statues, and more, these artisans exemplify the enduring tradition of wood carving in Patan. This generational occupation has been meticulously upheld for centuries, offering a profound insight into the dexterous skills of these professional artisan families. Exploring the lifestyle and traditions of the authentic Newari city of Patan unveils the rich heritage preserved by these master craftsmen for over a millennium.

Discover Kathmandu’s Attractions with Nepal’s Oldest Market & Optional Nightlife Exploration

Kathmandu Durbar Square - The tour begins with a walk through Thamel and the narrow alleys of Asan Tole, a popular local shopping spot, leading to Newroad Gate via Kathmandu Durbar Square. Historical evidence indicates that the market of Ason has existed since the 6th century. Asan Tole is a bustling square filled with vegetable and spice vendors from dawn till dusk. It is the busiest square in the city and is believed to have inspired Cat Stevens’ song ‘Kathmandu’.
Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is the historic heart of the old town and home to temples dating back to the third century. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and consists of three interconnected squares. Durbar Square is a significant location for Buddhist and Hindu rituals, royal events, and coronations. It’s surrounded by fountains, ancient statues, small ponds, and a series of courtyards, making it a meditative and religious site for spiritual seekers with Old Royal Palaces inner complex of Durbar Square now a museum.

Swayambhunath Temple - After exploring Kathmandu Durbar Square and its surroundings, head to Swayambhunath from Newroad Gate. The Swayambhunath Stupa is considered one of the architectural marvels of Kathmandu Valley. This well-proportioned structure rises from a whitewashed dome to a gilded spire, adorned with four Buddha faces looking out over the valley in the four cardinal directions. Historical inscriptions on a stone provide evidence that the stupa was already a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site by the 5th century AD, but its origins date back to an even earlier period, preceding the introduction of Buddhism to the valley. According to the Swayambhu Purana, a 15th-century collection of legends about the site, a miraculous lotus, planted by a previous Buddha, blossomed from the lake that once covered the Kathmandu valley.

Budhanilkantha - The tranquil Budhanilkantha Temple is nestled in a peaceful corner of the Kathmandu Valley. Also called Jal Narayan Temple, it holds great significance in Nepal’s spiritual and cultural heritage, peacefully situated at the heart of the valley. The name “Budhanilkantha” originates from the ancient Newari language, where “Budha” means “old,” “Nila” means “blue,” and “Kantha” means “throat.” The temple is not only a place of worship but also a living testament to spirituality and history. At its center lies a magnificent stone statue of Lord Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu trinity. Gracefully reclining on the coils of the cosmic serpent in the midst of a serene pond, this renowned representation of Lord Vishnu signifies the timeless harmony between nature and divinity and holds immense significance.

Buddha Stupa - Drive on the outer ring road of Kathmandu to visit Bouddhanath stupa. The first stupa at Boudhanath was likely built after AD 600, when Tibetan king, Songtsen Gampo, converted to Buddhism. Boudhanath is considered the most elegant and simply designed stupa in Nepal. The monument is perfectly proportioned, from its whitewashed dome to its gilded tower adorned with the all-seeing eyes of the Buddha. Stupas were initially built to enshrine sacred relics, and it is believed that Boudhanath houses the relics of the past Buddha, Kashyapa, or a fragment of bone from the skeleton of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha. In 1979, the Boudha Stupa was designated as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites in Nepal.

Pashupatinath Temple - After completing the circuit around the big Stupa, drive to Pashupatinath Temple, a place of worship in the Kathmandu Valley on the Baghmati River, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu, that is the holiest site in Nepal. It is devoted to the Hindu god Shiva in his form as Pashupati, protector of animals. There has been a religious foundation here since at least the 5th century BCE, though the oldest recorded temple dates from 400 CE. Pashupatinah Temple is part of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage site, inscribed by UNESCO in 1979.

Thamel - After the tour, there’s an option to experience the vibrant nightlife of Thamel and Jhamsikhel. Our escorted VIP line access will take you through the beautiful restaurants, pubs, clubs, and streets of the area for an unforgettable night out.

• Private transportation
• All Fees and Taxes
• In-vehicle air conditioning
• Professionally Certified and Experienced Local Tour Leader
• A bottle of water per day per person
• All the entrance fees and environment management fees for attractions mentioned in itinerary.

• Food (Guide will advise for the best experience)
• Accommodation (You can select from multiple brands and luxury options)
• Gratuity for service staffs(Expected)

Discover the ancient cities, authentic local lifestyle, and legendary traditional experiences with native experts. Explore the attractions of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan, guided by professionally certified and experienced local experts. In addition to visiting all the local attractions, enjoy a live Juju Dhau (a famous local dish) making session in Bhaktapur, traditional pottery and art in Bhaktapur, religious idol hand-carving sessions in Patan, and shopping experiences at Nepal’s oldest market in Kathmandu. Our detailed 3-day tour offers a distinctly premium travel experience of these historic towns in Nepal, including visits to all 7 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region. This trip is designed to provide the most authentic local experiences of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan, while typical tours only skim the surface with diluted information in each city. Learn, experience, and feel the most genuine local vibes in the world-renowned ancient towns of Nepal, with locals as a VIP guest.

• Public Toilets Available to Use

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.