KATHMANDU
DURBAR SQUARE Kathmandu's most impressive sight, Durbar Square is a colourful hotch-potch of temples and palaces. It is also home to Kathmandu's Kumari, or "living goddess", a young girl believed to be a reincarnation of the goddess Durga.
SWAYAMBHUNATH
Known as the "monkey temple" because of its resident swarm of apes, this spectacular Buddhist Stupa, from which the Buddha's eyes gaze serenely down, lies on a hilltop only 2km from Kathmandu. The views down over Kathmandu and the surrounding valley are superb.
BOUDHANATH
8km from the city centre, this is Kathmandu's largest Stupa. It's especially colourful on Saturdays, when Tibetan refugees flock here to pray.
PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE
On the bank of the sacred Bagmati River, this Shiva Temple is famous for its two-tiered golden roof and silver doors.
PATAN
The ancient city of Patan faces Kathmandu on the southern bank of the River Bagmati. It's a colourful place, with Hindu temples and Buddhist monuments jostling side by side in its narrow, winding streets and unexpected squares.
DURBAR SQUARE
Exquisitely carved palaces, temples and shrines litter the square, which is dominated by the ancient Royal Palace. Nestling in one corner is the triple-roofed octagonal tower of the 17th Century Teleju Bhawani Temple.
KRISHAN MANDIR
The first of its kind to be built, this 17th Century temple is the only one in Nepal with entirely stone-carved shrines.HIRANYA VARAN MAHAVIHAR A 12th Century, three-tiered Golden Pagoda of Lord Buddha.KUMBHESHWOR A Shiva Temple with an unusual five-tiered roof.
BHAKTAPUR
One of the three ancient cities of Nepal, Bhaktapur is the home of medieval art and architecture, as well as thriving local pottery and weaving industries DURBAR SQUARE This spacious, beautiful square is packed from end to end with ancient temples and monuments. These include the colourfully named "Lion Gate" and "The Bell of the Barking Dogs." It's a g reat place to explore for an hour or two and absorb the local life.
NYATAPOLA TEMPLE Dating back to 1702, this five-storey pagoda is an impressive sight. Staring down a t you from the terraces are intricately carved figures of wrestlers, elephants, lions and griffins