Sight Seeing In Katmandu

Historical Katmandu

How to describe KATHMANDU?
A medieval time capsule? An environmental disaster area? A pleasure dome? A tourist trap? A holy city? A dump? All of the above. There are a thousand
Kathmandus, all layered and dovetailed and piled on top of one another in an extravagant morass of chaos and sophistication. Though its population barely tops 700,000, Nepal's capital is far and
away its biggest and most cosmopolitan city: a melting pot of a dozen ethnic groups, and the home town of the Newars, Nepal's master craftsmen
and traders extraordinaire.





Trade, indeed, created Kathmandu – for at least a thousand years it controlled the most important caravan route between Tibet and India – and trade has always funded its Newar artisans. Little wonder, perhaps, that the city has so deftly embraced the tourist business.

The Kathmandu most travellers experience, Thamel, is like a thumping, Third World theme park, all hotels and hoardings and promises, promises, with croissants and cakes beckoning from restaurant windows and touts flogging tiger balm and hashish to holiday hippies. The old city, though squeezed by traffic and commercial pressures, is still studded with ageless temples and splendid architecture. Its narrow lanes seethe with an incredible crush of humanity, echoing with the din of bicycle bells, religious music, construction and car horns, and reeking of incense, spices, sewage and exhaust fumes. Sacred cows still roam the streets, as do holy men, beggars, street urchins and coolies..



This Buddhist temple is proudly situated on the top of a hill in the middle of the Valley. The unique architecture of Swayambhunath Temple is one of the most easily recognizable symbols of Nepal. From here one can enjoy a spectacular views of the Kathmandu City. Legend says that long long time ago the valley was a lake and it was known as the serpent's lake. The Buddha Vipaswi came to the lake and threw a lotus plant saying, "when this plant brings forth a flower, then Swayambhu, the self existent one shall be revealed as a light."


There are numerous fine rivers in Nepal which offer excellent rafting or canoeing. You can glideOn calm jade water with magnificence of scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids,In the care of expert river men. There are clear sandy beaches to camp or take a meal, and cool clear pools to bathe.




















The Trisuli River is Nepal's most popular rafting river. Impressive gorges, exciting rapids, some easier sections, and easily accessible from Katmandu and Pokhara. Recommended for intermediate kayakers and those wanting a cheap white water trip. Not far from the source the Trisuli joins the Bhote Kosi that flows from Tibet. The two rivers joining in some pretty fearsome looking gorges that are visible on the way up to the Langtang Trek. The Buri river, the Marsyandi and the Seti river ads to its flow.



When the Kali Gandaki joins it, shortly before the plains, it changes its name to the Narayani. Here, it is a truly mighty river, peak flows in the Monsoon have been measured at 25,700 cusec (extreme, instantaneous discharge) about 900,000 cubic feet per second or fifty times the typical flow of Colorado river through the Grand Canyon.



BASANTAPUR DURBAR SQUARE: Durbar Square means 'Palace Courtyard' where the king of Kathmandu once lived. It is one of the World Heritage Sites. Clustered around Durbar Square are the old Royal Palace which has been converted into a well-equipped museum.




Numerous other beautiful temples, shrines, Kumari Bahal 'House of the living Goddess', Kastamandap, a house build from the wood of a single tree and other small temples are scattered everywhere in the square. The main palace building is nine storied high and anyone can visit to the top and experience a panoramic view of the city.








Boudhanath is the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal and is one of the biggest in the world. It is the religious center for the Buddhist population of Nepal and for Tibetans. Surrounding this stupa are monasteries and many small Tibetan handicraft shops.

Experience water rapids grade 2 to 7 in a beautiful environment of colorful villages, subtropical vegetation and colorful people will be unforgettable. All things considered, though, you'd be well advised to get your business here over with as quickly as possible. You will not be disappointed. Have a nice fruitful trip!

Before I leave you, maybe you might need some tips about rafting that might be useful.

Below are some useful links to use when preparing for your trip in Katmandu.

For information on river rafting and tours available.

http://www.visitnepal.com/

For information about hotel booking.

http://www.expedia.com/

By Sean Toh

A Description Of London

I always Love London

Among the splendid cities of the world that have achieved celebrity, the city of London – seat of the English monarchy – is one whose renown is more widespread, whose money and merchandize go further afield, and which stands head and shoulders above the others.

Windsor Castle is an architecturally distinguished, historic attraction and not to be missed. It is one of the Queen’s official residences and captures almost a millennium of British Royal History. Windsor Castle is very large and requires several hours to tour. From its magnificent St. George’s chapel to the impressive State Apartments, Windsor Castle provides important glimpses into Royal Britain.


Piccadilly Circus is a London landmark that like many signature locations, doesn’t offer much more than a dazzling view. Piccadilly Circus reminds the traveler of Times Square or Ginza, due to the preponderance of huge, glitzy, advertising adorning many of the building in the intersections.





















The Tower Bridge (next of the Tower of London) is one of the most photographed images of London and was an instant hit after its construction in the nineteenth century. The Bridge was built with elevated walkways that allowed pedestrians to cross it while the Bridge was open to barge traffic along the Thames. The top of the Tower Bridge is a great place for impressive views of London. You will have to pay for access to the touristy “Tower Bridge Experience”, a tour that will provide more detail about the bridge and access to the engines that move it.


Take a walk-by of the Palace on your trip down the Pall Mall to Buckingham Palace or during a walk through Green Park or Saint James's Park. St. James's Palace is not open to the Public but is a building that exudes history and deserves a walk-by. Built in the early sixteenth century for Henry VIII, the Palace was the home to British monarchs for over three hundred years. It still houses some of the Royals but has been replaced by Buckingham Palace as the Official Residence of the Monarch. Religious services in the Chapel Royal are open to the public between October and Easter. Most tourists are attracted to the Changing of the Guard ceremonies that take place in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The event starts at 11.30 AM and lasts about 45 minutes. The ceremony, officially called the "Guard Mounting", does not occur during extremely wet weather. During the autumn and winter, Guard Mounting takes place on alternate dates.


Oxford Street, traditionally one of London’s premier shopping streets, has been taken over by chain stores featuring lower quality goods than were available in the past. If you are looking for casual "British style" clothing, this is the place to shop. Selfridges, an enormous but traditional department store, near Marble Arch is an interesting store to start your trip along Oxford Street If you shop on a Saturday, you will be enveloped by crowds looking for bargains and you might begin wondering if the claim that this is the busiest street in Europe is true. Oxford Street is a good but not great area for shopping since it is similar to shopping at home.


Harrods, a large, multilevel, Department Store, which has a reputation as the supplier to “upper crust” , is a London institution that draws thousands of tourists to Knightsbridge and Brompton Road. Most tours start or end with the magnificent “Food Halls” - shopping was never like this at home. The rest of Harrods does not drop the baton, featuring exquisite goods and high priced services. If you are interested, head for the home furnishing areas and compare it with what you find at your mall. Harrods has a number of good quality restaurants. Have a snack or a meal at Harrods; it is likely that you will not regret it. Finally, for some curious reason, most of us will find a way to depart Harrods with one of their green shopping bags filled some goodies. On the other hand, maybe it was just the desire to take one of those bags home to show the folks?


The buildings of Parliament are intricately detailed and you should take some time examining this delightful architecture. The famous clock tower at the end of Parliament houses the bell Big Ben (and at thirteen and a half tons, it is big) that has become one of the most familiar symbols of the London and the United Kingdom.

The British Museum is one of the world’s great museums. The venue is so large and complex that to tour it to advantage, you need to take a guided tour, rent an electronic guide, or purchase a print guide. If you really like museums, you could spend days here, as the museum has an incredible breadth of worthy exhibits. Madame Tassaud's (formerly Madame Tassaud's Wax Museum) appeals to many and repels others. If you are a fan, this is the original and worth seeing.

London is such an exciting city that I would never able to describe it all here. There are too many places that I could not cover due to a short stay, you have to experience it understand the experiences that I have been through. Below are links that you might find useful to get started. You will be thrilled by London!


Sean Toh

London Pass - http://www.londonpass.com/

Directory of London - http://www.netlondon.com/

Hotels and Air Tickets Deals - http://www.tripadvisor.com/