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Why Kathmandu
Valley is special

Kathmandu Valley in Nepal is remote and exotic. It's walled by nearby hills and, in the distance, by the ever
snow-capped Himalayan Mountains.

Kathmandu
Valley is special

The Valley is still sprinkled with villages and farms seemingly
untouched by time.

Although much of the capital city of Kathmandu has suffered
from recent characterless urban sprawl, many intricately carved Buddhist temples and an old royal
Nepalese palace survive around Durbar Square in the old section of Kathmandu City.

One building dates back to
the 12th century - and the narrow atmospheric streets even earlier.

Another local jewel is Swayambhunath Temple, which peacefully sits on a nearby hill overlooking Kathmandu
City.

Swayambhunath
Temple is crowned with a conical tower. The four sides of its base are painted
with the seeing eyes of Buddha (see photo). This image has become the travel
poster symbol of Nepal.

Patan and Bhaktapur are the two other major cities of Kathmandu Valley
- and seasoned travelers laud them.

Like Kathmandu City, Patan and Bhaktapur have magnificent ancient temples
and shrines
- and even their own Durbar Squares.

Unlike Kathmandu City, their pace is slow, as in olden days.





View my other top 100
Wonders of the World

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