Kathmandu—Bhaktapur—Patan—Kirtipur

Kathmandu Valley is verdant valley was once a huge lake, legend dictates that in the middle of the lake was a brilliant flame emanating from a Lotus flower. People would come from miles around to wonder and worship the flame. A Chinese disciple Bodhisattva Manjushree, wishing to worship the flame more closely sliced a portion of the hills with his sword draining its waters and thus the fertile Kathmandu valley was created.

Chovar gorge, where the valley waters drain today remains the focus of the legend. In the years since, the Kathmandu valley has seen many dynasties and empires come and go, each leaving their own mark on the valley's mystique.

The valley incorporates three major cities, all have their own distinctive character with outstanding temples, works of art and architecture and a varied calendar of feasts and festivals, their roots in being capital cities of the valleys three principality's in times gone by. Between them they boast the highest density of World Heritage Sites to be found anywhere in the World, seven in total. There are many other fascinating settlements in the valley offering their own reasons for being there.

Kathmandu city sightseeing provides an opportunity to explore the historically and culturally rich Kathmandu city as well as the surrounding cities like Patan and Bhaktapur. Kathmandu is also known as city of temples in religious aspect. The green hills which surround the valley is another highlights which offers sightseeing views and hiking options. Hills near Kathmandu such as Nagarkot, Dhulikhel, Phulchowki and Kakani are the major hill stations for sightseeing around Kathmandu and sunrise and mountain views.