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Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath: Private Half-Day Tour of Iconic Sites
4.7
11 Ratings
Kathmandu
Explore the iconic sites of Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath on this private half-day tour. Discover stunning architecture, artistic masterpieces, and experience the religious harmony of Nepal.
Explore the iconic sites of Kathmandu Durbar Square and Swayambhunath on this private half-day tour. Discover stunning architecture, artistic masterpieces, and experience the religious harmony of Nepal.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Kathmandu Durbar Square - Kathmandu Durbar Square or Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, the plaza in front of the old royal palace of the then Kathmandu Kingdom. It is one of three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The royal palace was originally at Dattaraya square and was…
- Kathmandu Durbar Square - Kathmandu Durbar Square or Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, the plaza in front of the old royal palace of the then Kathmandu Kingdom. It is one of three Durbar (royal palace) Squares in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The royal palace was originally at Dattaraya square and was later moved to the Durbar square location. The Kathmandu Durbar Square holds the palaces of the Malla and Shah Kings who ruled over the city. Along with these palaces, the square surrounds quadrangles revealing courtyards and temples. It is known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of Hanuman, the monkey devotee of Lord Ram, at the entrance of the palace.
- Swayambhunath Temple - Swayambhunath Temple, colloquially known as the ‘monkey temple’ because of the large tribe of roving monkeys who guard the temple. Situated on the top of a hill, it provides an excellent view of the Kahmandu Valley. It is said to have evolved spontaneously when the valley was created out of a primordial lake more than 2,000 years ago. The stupa is one of the most ancient in this part of the world and its worshipers come from diverse ethical backgrounds. Huge prayer wheels and fine Buddhist paintings are displayed in the monasteries, as well as the largest Buddha statue in the country.
After visiting the temple, you will be dropped off at the airport or back to your hotel in Kathmandu.
What's Included
- English-speaking local guide
- 2 bottles of mineral water per person
- Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off
- Private vehicle transportation
- English-speaking local guide
- 2 bottles of mineral water per person
- Hotel or airport pickup and drop-off
- Private vehicle transportation
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Gratuities
Additional Information
On this 4-hour private tour, visit two of the cities most well-known attractions. Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcases spectacular architecture and the skills of the Newar artists and craftsmen over several centuries.
Swayambhunath Temple is the oldest Buddhist shrine and is the best place to observe religious harmony between…
On this 4-hour private tour, visit two of the cities most well-known attractions. Kathmandu Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showcases spectacular architecture and the skills of the Newar artists and craftsmen over several centuries.
Swayambhunath Temple is the oldest Buddhist shrine and is the best place to observe religious harmony between Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus. The stupa is atop a hill, and requires considerable walk but from here, you will see beautiful views of Kathmandu Valley,
- Adult pricing applies to all other travelers
Location
Kathmandu Durbar Square
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(11 Ratings)
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1 star
Evanp1960
Mar 11, 2025
Great time in Kathmandu - This was a fantastic tour. Our guide was very informative and wonderful. I highly recommend them and would do it again the next time I’m in Kathmandu.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Samantha_r
May 9, 2019
Great way to see Kathmandu! - We had a group of 13 people and we had a great experience on our tour! This is a great way to see Kathmandu from a local prospective.
Review provided by Viator
Srihari_g
Jul 8, 2018
Great Overview of Kathmandu - My guide's name was Bishnu, who is a Nepali national, and grew up in Kathmandu. The tour was separated into two parts: Durbar Square and Swayambunath Stupa. Bishnu picked me up in my hotel, and we started our way to Durbar, which was only about 20 mins away.
The Durbar square unfortunately experienced a lot of destruction since the earthquake of 2015. Many of the old temples have been badly damaged. The Nepali government has only recently started making repairs. Bishnu told me of the history behind most of the monuments. Even though there were quite badly damaged, they were still quite beautiful. We walked throughout the square and saw all of the interesting architecture. There was a small museum setup to display some of the artifacts found during the excavation after the earthquake. We also saw the Kumari's palace, and Bishnu told me of the history.
We then went off to see the Swayambunath temple. Although this is considered a Buddhist temple, there are several small temples dedicated to Hindu gods interspersed throughout the complex. The view from the top is simply spectacular. An almost 360 degree view of all of Kathmandu valley is visible. To reach the top, be prepared to climb up several flights of stairs. There are some nice souvenir shops at the top. I asked Bishnu to help me select a singing bowl, and he explained the differences between the cheap ones found in Thamel vs a handmade bowl.
Overall I was very pleased, would highly recommend. Great way to get an overview of Nepali culture and history in one afternoon.
Review provided by Viator
Greg_s
Apr 2, 2018
This was an excellent way to see... - <p>This was an excellent way to see Kathmandu! As a solo traveler only in Kathmandu for 2 days, having a guided tour really helped me to make the most of the city in a short amount of time. My guide was really kind and knowledgeable and we had a driver that took us around to multiple locations in Kathmandu. Highly recommended.</p>
Review provided by Viator
예림
Jan 22, 2018
super kind guide - I was not able to make the time because of the flight delay (Pokhara->kathmandu).
Moreover, I was not able to make any call becasue I did not apply for global roaming service.
However, I sent an email in the airport and the agent contacted guide.
so we were able to meet at the airport.
During the tour, guide was really kind and he explained the tour nicely.
The history of Nepal, and the current of its country.
I will not hesitate to recomend this tour to others.
Thanks to Mr. Bishnu Bhattara
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Alpine
Nov 13, 2017
Amazing place - I have traveled many time usually in the morning, i love visiting this place every time, its absolutely outstanding place t visit
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jadwiga
Aug 23, 2017
This is a tour for people who really... - <p>This is a tour for people who really want to learn about history, hidden gems/ places/statues/buildings of interest that are not so much visited by tourists because they just don't know the places exist. Professional, knowledgeble, fun and entertaining tour guide. Tell the guide ahead of time if you would like to climb all the steps on your way up the Swayambhunath Temple. There are many of them but the climb is very manageable unless it's a really hot day. If you choose to climb from the very bottom, you get to see a few artifacts more on your way up and of course the view is awesome. Your other choice is to be dropped off at another entry point, more than half-way up so much less climbing.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Peter
Apr 23, 2017
What an amazing city Kathmandu is... - <p>What an amazing city Kathmandu is. Frontier town still resonates with me, especially with the ravages of the 2014 earthquake, but the beauty still shines through. The highlight has to be a fleeting blessing from the Kumari goddess.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Pamela_p
Aug 30, 2024
Kathmandu basics - It was a good tour, we liked that it was private and could change the tour to what we wanted. Our tour guide was very informative.
Review provided by Viator
Laikian
Feb 12, 2019
very old monument of Buddhist history - A trip well worth the adventures ! ancient stupa and monuments showing the spread of Buddhism .The influence of Buddhism in the region is well shown by the existence of these religious structures.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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