Nepal has been a popular choice for tourists from across the globe for many decades. Whether you are a fan of calm weather and mesmerizing scenery or are after exploring some great architectural marvels, Nepal has some cool places to visit. And apart from the local attractions, Nepal has a few of the most breath-taking UNESCO Heritage sites that you must cover in your next Nepal trip.
10 World Heritage Sites to Visit in Nepal:
Here, we are listing the ten popular UNESCO Heritage Sites in Nepal that you should keep on your bucket list to complete the tour of Nepal. Have a look at them and decide how many of them you can cover during your next trip to Nepal.
1. Pashupatinath Temple
If you are after the most popular place in Nepal, the place you should look for is the Pashupatinath temple. IT is one of the most popular and visited places in Nepal. Tourists, especially Hindus visit in large numbers to this temple throughout the year.
Being a popular and holy place for Hindus, this place records the highest number of visitors throughout the year. Situated near the bank of the Bagmati river, this is an excellent place to visit to learn about peace and Hindu culture. The temple is age-old and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979.
The temple has great connectivity to the main cities in Nepal and you can easily reach there by taxi or private vehicle.
- Weather: 14 – 30°C
- Timings: 4:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Full Address: Pashupati Nath Road 44621, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Main temple dedicated to Lord Shiva
- Entry Fee: NPR 1000 for foreigners, Free for Indian and Nepali Nationals
2. Swayambhunath Stupa
Swayambhunath Stupa is another ancient place to visit in Nepal. Being almost 2500 years old, this stupa is one of the oldest monuments in UNESCO Heritages of Nepal and is one of the biggest Stupas in the world. Apart from ancient architecture, the structure of the stupa also has a great meaning. The structure of the stupa represents the elements of life, earth, fire, wind, and water. The 13 rings in the Stupa represent the 13 steps to achieving Nirvana in life.
In all, whether you are after great architecture or are looking for a place where you can feel peace, Swayambhunath Stupa is going to be a worthy place to visit.
- Weather: 14 – 30°C
- Timings: 24 hours Open
- Full Address: Swayambhu Marg, Kathmandu 44620, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Stupa dedicated to Lord Buddha
- Entry Fee: NPR 200 for foreigners, Nepalese citizens and Indians : No entry fee
3. Changu Narayan Temple
Changu Narayan temple is another holy place for Hindus in Nepal. Apart from being a perfect place to visit throughout the year, Changu Narayan Temple is one of the oldest Hindu Temples in Nepal. With the excellent Pagoda-styled architecture, a temple is a brilliant place for travelers who love to explore Hindu culture and the ancient beliefs of Hindus. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is a perfect place to visit during festive times.
Apart from being an architectural marvel, the temple is also a great place for nature lovers. The calm Manohara river flows beside the hills, and you can try your hands on hiking near the temple.
- Weather: 14 – 30°C
- Timings: 5:30 AM to 6:00 PM
- Full Address: Changu Narayan Road, Bhaktapur 44812, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu
- Entry Fee: No entry fee
4. Boudhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is another brilliant place to visit for the people following Buddhism. Being a religious place, the Boudhanath Stupa also experiences a large number of visitors throughout the year.
The stupa has Buddha’s eyes and eyebrows painted on it, and in place of his nose, “Number One” is painted in Devanagari. It is believed that the Boudhanath Stupa has the remains of Lord Buddha.
- Weather: 14 – 30°C
- Timings: 5:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Full Address: Boudha, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Stupa with a large mandala
- Entry Fee: Foreign nationals and Chinese citizens: NPR 400
SAARC nationals: NPR 100
Nepalese citizens: No entry fee
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5. Lumbini
Lumbini is popular to be the birthplace of Gautam Buddha. The amazing architecture and peaceful environment of the place make it perfect for people to follow Buddhism.
Even if you are not a Buddhism follower, you will find this site attractive and peaceful enough to be once visited on your Nepal tour. The Pagoda-styled building and a great peaceful environment make it the fifth most popular place to visit in Nepal.
- Weather: 21 – 37°C
- Timings: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Full Address: Lumbini, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Birthplace of Lord Buddha
- Entry Fee: NPR 200 for foreigners
6. Kathmandu Durbar Square
Nepal has three major Durbar squares, and the Kathmandu Durbar is one of the most popular and most visited Durbar squares in the valley.
Also known as Basantpur, this is a perfect place to explore Nepali architecture and specialties. The place has numerous temples and if you are looking for the true colors of Nepal, you should once visit the place.
- Weather: 14 – 30°C
- Timings: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM every day
Closed on Saturday - Full Address: Kathmandu 44600, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Historic royal palace complex
- Entry Fee: Foreigners – NPR 1000,
SAARC country citizens – NPR 200,
7. Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Another popular Durbar square in Nepal is the Bhaktapur Durbar square. Situated at 13Km east of Kathmandu, this is a great destination to explore in Nepal.
It has the Royal Palace of the Bhaktapur Kingdom in Nepal, and if you are looking for amazing architecture, Bhaktapur Durbar Square is the right place to visit. Numerous temples, Nyatapola, and Golden gate are among the most visited places near Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
- Weather: 14 – 28°C
- Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Full Address: Bhaktapur 44800, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Ancient royal palace complex
- Entry Fee: NPR 1500 for foreigners
8. Patan Durbar Square
For travelers who are looking to visit a place where they can experience the real combination of Hinduism and Buddhism, Patan Durbar place is the right place to explore.
Patan is the oldest Buddhist city on the globe, and you can easily explore the stupas and temples here that make it a perfect place for knowing these two religions.
- Weather: 14 – 29°C
- Timings: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Full Address: Patan, Lalitpur 44700, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Historic royal palace complex
- Entry Fee: NPR 1000 for foreigners
9. Sagarmatha National Park
Sagarmatha National park is one of the most popular national parks in the region, and if you are a wildlife lover and want to explore the animals in their natural habitat, Sagarmatha National park is going to be the best place to visit in Nepal.
Spread over 1000 km in the Khumbu region of eastern Nepal. The area covers two major rivers Dudhokoshi and Bhotekoshi. You can see the endangered animals including the snow leopard, musk deer, and red panda in the national park.
- Weather: 14 – 28°C
- Timings: Open 24 hours (for entry)
- Full Address: Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal
- Sanctum Sanctorum: Home to Mount Everest and other peaks
- Entry Fee: NPR 3000 for foreigners
10. Chitwan National Park
Chitwan National park is the first national park in the country, and though it is smaller than the Sagarmatha National park, you can easily find tons of animal species here, and you are not going to regret choosing the park to visit during the trip. The Chitwan National park is a perfect place to visit throughout the year, and you can enjoy Safari and explore endangered species like one-horned rhinoceros, and Asian elephants.
So, these are the ten most popular word heritage tourist spots in Nepal that you should include while traveling to Nepal. It will make your trip one of the most memorable trips of your entire life.
Most of these places are relatively close distance, so discovering them in a single day won’t be a hard thing to do. If you are looking for more detailed information about these places, you can easily book a local tour agency in Nepal to reach these places without an issue.
Additional Information:
- How to Book Safari: You can book the safari from any local tour operator, the park’s headquarters in Sauraha, or the hotel you are staying in.
- Safari Pricing and Budgeting: The cost of the safari varies depending on the duration and number of participants.
- Seasonal Considerations: The safari is inaccessible during the monsoon from June to September. You can only visit the buffer zone during this time.
- Washroom inside the Park: Washroom facilities are available at the Gharial Breeding Conservation Centre.
- Shared Jeep Safari: 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM (Rest timing changes with season and availability of vehicle)
- Private Jeep Safari: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Elephant Safari: Happens in the morning, mid-morning, and evening and is for 1.30 hours
- Canoeing: 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Elephant Breeding Centre Visit: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM
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