Top Five City Tour of Nepal

Wonderful Five City Tour of Shepherd Holidays

Nepal is an emerging travel destination gracefully decorated by nature and geography. In this Wonderful Five City Tour, the itinerary revolves around the five graceful cities of Nepal including Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan, and Palpa. Traversing through these cities allows you to explore the different dimensions of life thriving amidst their contrasting themes.

One can observe the epitome of human craftsmanship throughout the Kathmandu Valley. While Pokhara resembles a bride decorated with different ornaments of natural possession. Lumbini is a charming heavenly harmonious home of Buddhist disciples. Chitwan glows with wise forests and notorious wildlife likely Palpa dances with sizzling sound in the solitude corner of Kali Gandaki River.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu Valley consists of three ancient cities: Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur, which were once independent states ruled by Malla kings from the 12th to the 18th centuries. The three cities are home to seven UNESCO World Heritage shrines, which collectively form a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Culture). The valley also contains hundreds of other exquisite monuments, sculptures, artistic temples, and magnificent works of art that serve as reminders of Nepal's golden age of architecture.

According to legend, the valley was once home to a primordial lake surrounded by lush mountains.  Giant serpents lived in this pristine lake until one day, when saint Manjushree, the Bodhisatva, raised a mighty sword and cut open the side of a mountain in Chobar. The lake's vast water flowed out, leaving behind a fertile valley capable of supporting large urban settlements for millennia. The Gopala and Kirati dynasties were the first rulers here, followed by the Licchavi (300-879 A.D.), who cultivated trade and crafts.

However, the valley's remarkable cities, with their ornate palaces, superbly crafted pagodas, and monumental stupas, are testimony to the artistic genius of the Newars, the valley's original inhabitants, whose skills were praised by the Malla kings and admired even by the Mongol rulers of 18th century China.

Pokhara

Pokhara's tranquil beauty has inspired many travel writers. Its fresh air, the amazing background of snowy peaks, blue lakes, and rolling greenery make it 'the jewel in the Himalayas', a place of outstanding beauty. With the magnificent Annapurna range in the background and the serenity of the Group of 9 Lakes, three of which are major - Phewa, Rupa, and Begnas - Pokhara is an ideal destination for both a weekend getaway and a long relaxing holiday. Pokhara Valley, the gateway to the Annapurna region, where many trekkers find their Shangri-la, is high on the list of "must-see" places in Nepal.

Pokhara was once on an important trade route between India and Tibet. Mule trains continue to set up camps on the city's outskirts, transporting goods from remote Himalayan regions such as Mustang. Gurungs and Magars, who have gained worldwide recognition as fierce Gurkha warriors, are the dominant ethnic groups here. Thakalis, who are indigenous to the Thak Khola region of Mustang, are known for their entrepreneurship and operate tea houses along Annapurna trek routes. Pokhara is best known for its breathtaking view of the Annapurna Range. It is one of the few places on Earth where mountains above 6,000 m can be seen unobstructed from an altitude of 800 m at a distance of 28 kilometers.

Machhapuchhre's sharp-edged "Fish Tail" peak, pointing to the horizon or reflecting on the still waters of Phewa Lake, is often cited as the most memorable sight in Nepal. In recent years, Pokhara Valley has become a popular destination for adventure sports like paragliding and ultra-light aircraft flights. Other attractions in Pokhara include boating, bird watching, trekking, and mountain biking.

Chitwan

Chitwan translates as "heart of the jungle". The famous Inner Terai Valley is named after Chitrasen, the Tharu King who previously ruled here. Chitwan is located in the southwest part of Bagmati Province, between the Himalayan foothills known as the Mahabharat and Siwalik mountains. In older periods, the location known as Chitra Ban was a thick forest teeming with wild animals, where reclusive sages meditated deep within the trees.

In the past few years, Chitwan National Park has risen to the top of the list of Asian tourist attractions. It is an amazing jungle adventure that includes jungle safaris, bird viewing, canoe rides, and a variety of other nature and jungle activities. While exotic creatures such as tigers, leopards, and rhinoceros roam the woods, gharial and marsh mugger crocodiles bathe in the sun beside the marshes and rivers.

You may also spend some time visiting elephant and gharial breeding centers, which is an excellent chance to teach children about these creatures and their life cycles. Visit a Tharu village to observe local indigenous life. You will be invited into their traditional mud huts and treated as treasured guests. After viewing the Tharu stick dance and listening to their relaxing folk tunes, relax by the campfire.

Lumbini

Lumbini, the Buddha's birthplace in Rupandehi, Nepal, is one of the world's most sacred locations, attracting Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world. Today, you may visit over twenty-five Buddhist monasteries erected by nations ranging from Vietnam to France, learn Buddhism, meditate, and see the birthplace in the revered Mayadevi Gardens.

The Mayadevi Temple is the most important place in the Lumbini Garden, and archaeologists discovered the precise location where Lord Buddha was born. Inscriptions on the neighboring Ashoka Pillar also mention his birthplace. It is supposed that the newly born Prince Siddhartha (later known as the Buddha) took his first seven steps and delivered his peace message to humanity here.

The birth took place in the lovely Sal Grove, which is now the centerpiece of the Lumbini Garden. Mayadevi, the Queen of Shakya King Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu, took a bath in the Sacred Pond Pushkarini while traveling through the Lumbini Garden on the day of Baishakha Purnima (the full moon day of May in 623 BC) and shortly gave birth to Prince Siddhartha.

Visit the stunningly magnificent monasteries erected by countries like China, Japan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Germany, France, and many more; marvel at the outstanding and unique architecture on display. Soak up the serene ambiance and, most of all, see the 2,200-year-old Mayadevi Temple.

Walk around the grounds or find a quiet location to reflect. Pilgrims are drawn to a sandstone carving representing the Buddha's birth, which is thought to have been left here by Malla King Ripu Malla in the 14th century when Mayadevi was revered as an incarnation of a Hindu mother goddess. The Ashoka Pillar was erected by the renowned Indian Emperor Ashoka, who became a devoted Buddhist after visiting the Buddha's birthplace in 249 BC.

Visit the Panditarama Vipassana Center for some yoga and meditation, and connect with the monks who reside nearby, dedicating their lives to establishing tranquility and peace for all beings on earth through devotion and religious worship.

The Lumbini Garden measures 2.56 square kilometers and is divided into three zones, each covering one square mile and connected by pathways and a canal. The region has a subtropical climate with scorching summers, an extremely rainy monsoon, and comfortable winters. Winter is the ideal season to visit.

Palpa

Palpa District offices and the center of the midwestern culture are located in the charming town of Tansen. Time seems to go more slowly in Tansen, an old hill village, and the people there have a laid-back attitude that is contagious.  In the Magar language, the word "Tansen" originally meant "northern settlement." 

Tansen's well-known sights include Shreenagar Hills, the ancient market with its cobblestone pathways showcasing a lifestyle very different from Pokhara's Lakeside, and Rani Mahal, an elegant palace that was originally situated on the banks of the Kali Gandaki River. Tansen is home to a few historic, beautifully designed Newari homes. Newar traders from Kathmandu moved to Tansen centuries ago in order to trade, bringing their artwork and architectural designs with them.

The closest airport is located 62.1 kilometers away in Lumbini, from whence visitors may take a bus to Tansen, which takes around two hours. Tansen, Palpa offers lodging options in the form of moderate hotels and lodges.

We Shepherd Holidays; are eager to welcome you into this realm of beauty and adventure. So, grab your passport and embark on the journey to clear your bucket list and add a book of bittersweet memories to your library of adventure.