Arrival at Kathmandu airport. Meeting with a guide. Transfer to the guesthouse of the Sheten monastery. Check-in at the guesthouse of the Sheten monastery. Excursion with a visit to the Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath and the palace square
Kathmandu. Excursion to the Triten Norbutse monastery, which belongs to ancient religion Bon. In the afternoon, excursion to the Hindu temple of Pashupatinath.
During the excursions you will see:
- The Buddhist stupa of Swayambhunath is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is the oldest in Nepal (built about 2.5 thousand years ago). According to legend, buried under the base of this grandiose structure is a sacred lotus that grew from a seed thrown by one of the previous Buddhas to the bottom of a huge lake that once existed on the site of the current Kathmandu Valley. The stupa is located on the top of a green hill, offering a picturesque panorama of the Nepalese capital. In the vicinity of the stupa there are numerous monasteries belonging to various directions Tibetan Buddhism.
Excursion to the Triten Norbutse Monastery, which belongs to the ancient pre-Buddhist Bon-po religion. Currently, Bon monasteries have survived only in certain areas of Tibet and Nepal, as well as in Sikkim and Bhutan. There are only about 20 such monasteries in Nepal, and they are mainly located in remote northern regions - Upper Mustang, Dolpo, Jumla, i.e. in areas inhabited by ethnic Tibetans. In the Kathmandu Valley, Triten Norbutse Monastery is the only monastery of the Bon tradition.
The Bon religion reflects the spiritual and cultural traditions of Tibet that existed for many millennia long before the emergence of Tibetan Buddhism. According to legends, the Bon teaching arose 16-18 thousand years ago in the ancient state of Shang-Shung on the territory of Tibet, i.e. in those time immemorial, when human life was in constant danger because of the spirits and other powerful natural forces that reigned over Tibet. The worldview of the Bon people inhabited any place with spirits, especially lakes and mountains, rocks and caves. And then the awakened Tonpa Shenrab appeared to teach people to resist and control these forces. For followers of Bon-po, the sacred Mount Kailash is the soul-mountain, and according to their beliefs, it was here that the founder of the Bon sect, the legendary Tonpa Shenrab, descended from heaven to earth.
A distinctive feature of the Bon religion is the recitation of mystical formulas and spells, the performance of mysterious trance-inducing rituals, dances and sacrifices to suppress evil spirits and attract good and merciful spirits to help. Characteristic feature Bon is to do many things in the reverse order (walking around stupas counterclockwise, turning prayer wheels in the opposite direction and reciting mantras in reverse), just as in the Bon tradition the rotation of the swastika is left-handed (unlike the right-handed swastika of Buddhism), which symbolizes opposition to the forces of nature and the inflexibility of the will of followers. Witchcraft and shamanic rituals The Bon religions had a significant influence on one of the 4 most important directions of Tibetan Buddhism - the Nyingma school.
Initially, the Triten Norbutse Bon monastery was built in the 14th century. in central Tibet (Tsang province), existed for many centuries and was an important center of Tantrism.
During the Chinese Cultural Revolution, i.e. in the 1950s, the monastery was completely destroyed and destroyed. Modern monastery Triten Norbutse was rebuilt in Nepal near the Swayambhunath stupa in 1977, since at that time it was impossible to restore the monastery in Tibet itself. The monastery serves the purpose of preserving the ancient cultural traditions of the Bon religion and is one of the 2 most important Bon monasteries outside of Tibet.
Excursion to the ancient temple complex of Pashupatinath (built in the 6th century; listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site) - the most sacred Shiva temple for Hindus, and we will be able to observe some Hindu customs here. Perhaps your visit will coincide with one of these big holidays like Maga Shivaratri or Tiz. Childless women come here to God Shiva. Near the temple on the shore sacred river In Bagmati, cremation of the dead takes place. Here you can see many wandering ascetics, as well as snake tamers. Our guide will tell you many stories and legends about Shiva and his beloved wife Parvati, which are also directly related to the history of the Pashupatinath temple. Overnight in the guesthouse of Sheten Monastery
Among the majestic Himalayas we lived a relaxed life in the wonderful city of Pokhara, where we were treated like close relatives.
We talked a lot with locals, learning about everyday life, concerns, problems and dreams ordinary people, ate at one “tablecloth table” on the floor. Based on the results of our stay, we compiled 55 facts about this amazing country.
1. You can come on foot. Moreover, the border between the countries is very conditional - Indians and Nepalese move freely, and foreigners need to be careful not to accidentally slip past the border service.
2. A visa for 2 weeks or a month can be obtained at the entrance to the country - at the airport or at the border crossing.
3. On some buses it is prohibited to carry large bags and backpacks in the cabin - they are carried on the roof so that more people can fit in the cabin. Since, anyway, all the passengers cannot fit inside, the remaining ones travel along with their things - on the roof.
4. One of the sacred places in Nepal is a stone in the city of Lumbini, next to which, according to legend, Buddha was born.
5. The national flag of Nepal is the only non-rectangular flag in the world (it consists of two connected triangles).
6. The difference with Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) in Nepal is very atypical - it is 5 hours and 45 minutes.
7. Due to the lack of rich natural resources, access to the sea, underdeveloped agriculture and transport infrastructure, Nepal is one of the most backward and poor countries in the world 
8. 90% of goods and products in Nepal are imported from.
9. The Thamel region is the epicenter of sewing counterfeit, mainly sportswear, clothing from world brands: Deuter, Salewa, North Face, Columbia, etc. Things are sewn quite high quality, and they cost several times cheaper than the original 
10. About a third of men in Nepal work in tourism, mostly as guides in the Himalayas.
11. Nepal is the only country in the world where the average life expectancy of men is longer than that of women. 
12. In the capital of the country, the electricity generated is not enough to simultaneously supply the entire city, so electricity is turned on alternately in different areas, according to a schedule.
13. During the winter months, houses are very cold, there is no central heating system, and, as a rule, electric heaters are not used - they are expensive, and electricity is not always available.
14. In many Nepalese houses, the windows have bars, but no glass.
15. To heat water, local residents pour it into black tanks and try to wash at lunchtime, when the water is warmest and it’s not cold outside. Wealthier residents use solar panels as an alternative source of energy, but their power is only enough to heat the water to a slightly warm state.
16. In winter, Nepalese wear hats, warm pants, and sometimes even jackets at home, and also sleep, covered with 2 additional blankets 
17. Nepalese try to do most of their household chores outside during the day to get maximum sunlight.
18. Some locals have a rather strange attitude towards staying warm - they can be bundled up from head to toe and still wear slippers, as a result of which they often get sick.
19. Some of the most popular retail outlets are pharmacy kiosks, which can be easily found on any street, and Strepsils cough lozenges can be bought at any grocery stall.
20. In winter the weather is very changeable. On a sunny day, the air warms up to 22-25 degrees and you can walk around in a T-shirt, but after sunset the temperature drops sharply and drops to 8-10 degrees.
21. On cloudy winter days, for warmth, local residents light fires on the street directly opposite the house or store where they work, where the whole family gathers to gossip or just warm up. 
22. Nepalese, even those with average incomes, often sleep on the floor, side by side with other family members.
23. As a rule, people go to bed around 9 pm and get up at 5 am in order to make the most of the daylight hours. 
24. Classes at universities begin at 6 am and end at 12 noon.
25. eat twice a day - lunch around 10 am and dinner around 7 pm.
26. Instead of breakfast, as a rule, they drink a cup of sweet tea with milk.
27. Most Nepalese are vegetarians. A typical meal is rice and dal (lentil stew) plus vegetable curries. Morning and evening meals are practically the same.
28. One of the popular local dishes in the cafe is Mo-Mo. They are shaped like dumplings, they are steamed or fried in oil, and stuffed with lamb or vegetables, and mo-mo is very rarely prepared at home. 
29. Meat is eaten infrequently, mainly lamb, goat, chicken, buffalo or yak meat.
30. Dairy products are not very popular, but are sometimes found, including buffalo milk and yak milk cheese.
31. Beef is not eaten in Nepal; cows here are sacred animals.
32. At the same time, as in, these sacred animals often walk the streets in the hope of finding food for themselves, and eat almost everything, including cardboard boxes.
33. In Nepal they only eat right hand. Left hand is considered “unclean”, therefore eating food, as well as serving or receiving anything, is not accepted for her.
34. Kathmandu is home to one of the largest and oldest, as well as most visited Buddhist temples in the world - 
35. Many monkeys live near the temples, and they clearly feel like masters and often behave very aggressively - they bare their teeth, try to get into bags and snatch food.
36. One of the stupas, Swayambhunath, located in Kathmandu, is even called that because of the huge number of primates living there 
37. Just like in Kathmandu, they are held in the Pashupatinath Temple, which is considered one of the most sacred places for Hindus, only relatives are allowed to the burning site, but tourists can also watch the whole action from the opposite bank of the river 
38. listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is home to more than 20 small palaces and temples
39. The Bagmati River, which is revered in Nepal no less than, is a rather pitiful sight, and looks more like a dirty sewer.
40. Entrance to attractions for Nepalis is free or costs pennies, but for foreigners it is 10, 20, and sometimes 50 times more expensive.
41. Many tourists, having come to the temple and looking at the locals, consider it their duty to spin the sacred drums, although few understand their purpose 
42. Despite the fact that Nepal is a very poor country, in general it is cleaner here than in India.
43. The city of Kathmandu is quite dusty, so many people walk and, especially ride motorcycles, wear bandages covering their mouth and nose. Moreover, the headbands are often not simple monochromatic, but bright, multi-colored, with various patterns.
44. Nepal is the highest mountainous country in the world. About 40% of its territory is located at an altitude of more than 3000 m. 
45. Nepal is home to 8 of the 14 “eight-thousanders” - mountains exceeding 8,000 m in height, including the highest mountain in the world - Everest (8,848 m) 
46. You will need a permit (permission to visit a protected area) and a TIMS (registration card in the search and rescue service). They are valid for one visit, but the length of stay in the mountains is not limited - at least one day, at least one year, the main thing is to describe your route and its duration in advance 
47. Everything you need for trekking - from clothes and shoes to backpacks, sleeping bags, crampons and harnesses, as well as route maps and sunglasses, can be bought in Thamel in Kathmandu or at Lakeside in Pokhara - prices are lower than in Russia. All this can also be rented on a daily basis, or bought new and then returned to the same sellers for half the cost 
48. Overnight accommodation in mountain villages while trekking is very cheap (from $1.5 per room), sometimes it is even offered for free, in exchange for a promise to have dinner and breakfast with the same hosts. Sometimes you can even find accommodation with hot water in the shower 
49. In every guesthouse in the mountains, in mandatory, there is a stove that is lit in the evening, and around which tired and cold tourists gather.
World Heritage sites included in the UNESCO special list are of enormous interest to the entire population of the planet. Unique natural and cultural sites make it possible to preserve those unique corners of nature and man-made monuments, which demonstrate the richness of nature and the capabilities of the human mind.
As of July 6, 2012, there are 962 sites on the World Heritage List (including 745 cultural, 188 natural and 29 mixed), located in 148 countries. Among the objects there are individual architectural structures and ensembles, for example - the Acropolis, cathedrals in Amiens and Chartres, historical city centers - Warsaw and St. Petersburg, the Moscow Kremlin and Red Square; and there are also entire cities - Brasilia, Venice along with the lagoon and others. There are also archaeological reserves - for example, Delphi; national parks - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Yellowstone (USA) and others. States on whose territory World Heritage sites are located undertake obligations to preserve them.
In this photo collection you will see 29 objects from different parts of our planet that are included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
1) Tourists examine the Buddhist sculptures of the Longmen Grottoes (Dragon Gate) near the city of Luoyang in the Chinese province of Henan. There are more than 2,300 caves in this place; 110,000 Buddhist images, more than 80 dagobas (Buddhist mausoleums) containing relics of Buddhas, as well as 2,800 inscriptions on rocks near the Yishui River, a kilometer long. Buddhism was first introduced to China in these places during the reign of the Eastern Han Dynasty. (China Photos/Getty Images)
2) Bayon Temple in Cambodia is famous for its many giant stone faces. There are more than 1,000 temples in the Angkor region, which range from nondescript piles of brick and rubble scattered among rice fields to the magnificent Angkor Wat, considered the world's largest single religious monument. Many of the temples at Angkor have been restored. More than a million tourists visit them every year. (Voishmel/AFP - Getty Images)
3) One of the parts of the archaeological site of Al-Hijr - also known as Madain Salih. This complex, located in the northern regions of Saudi Arabia, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 6, 2008. The complex includes 111 rock burials (1st century BC - 1st century AD), as well as a system of hydraulic structures dating back to the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, which was the center of caravan trade. There are also about 50 rock inscriptions dating back to the Pre-Nabatean period. (Hassan Ammar/AFP - Getty Images)
4) "Garganta del Diablo" (Devil's Throat) waterfalls are located in the Iguazu National Park in the Argentine province of Misiones. Depending on the water level in the Iguazu River, the park has from 160 to 260 waterfalls, as well as over 2000 species of plants and 400 bird species Iguazu National Park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984 (Christian Rizzi/AFP - Getty Images)
5) The mysterious Stonehenge is a stone megalithic structure consisting of 150 huge stones, and located on Salisbury Plain in the English county of Wiltshire. This ancient monument is believed to have been built in 3000 BC. Stonehenge was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
6) Tourists stroll at the Bafang Pavilion at the Summer Palace, the famous classical imperial garden in Beijing. The Summer Palace, built in 1750, was destroyed in 1860 and restored in 1886. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1998. (China Photos/Getty Images)
7) Statue of Liberty at sunset in New York. "Lady Liberty", which was given to the United States by France, stands at the entrance to New York Harbor. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Seth Wenig/AP)
8) "Solitario George" (Lonely George), the last living giant tortoise of this species, born on Pinta Island, lives in Galapagos National Park in Ecuador. She is now approximately 60-90 years old. The Galapagos Islands were originally included on the World Heritage List in 1978, but were listed as endangered in 2007. (Rodrigo Buendia/AFP - Getty Images)
9) People skate on the ice of the canals in the area of the Kinderdijk mills, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located near Rotterdam. Kinderdijk is home to the largest collection of historic mills in the Netherlands and is one of the top attractions in South Holland. Decorating holidays taking place here with balloons gives a certain flavor to this place. (Peter Dejong/AP)
10) View of the Perito Moreno glacier located in Los Glaciares National Park, in the southeast of the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. The site was listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 1981. The glacier is one of the most interesting tourist sites in the Argentine part of Patagonia and the 3rd largest glacier in the world after Antarctica and Greenland. (Daniel Garcia/AFP - Getty Images)
11) Terraced gardens in the northern Israeli city of Haifa surround the golden-domed Shrine of the Bab, founder of the Baha'i faith. The world administrative and spiritual center the Baha'i religion, which has fewer than six million adherents worldwide. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 8, 2008. (David Silverman/Getty Images)
12) Aerial photography of St. Peter's Square in. According to the World Heritage website, this small state is home to a unique collection of artistic and architectural masterpieces. The Vatican was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1984. (Giulio Napolitano/AFP - Getty Images)
13) Colorful underwater scenes of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This thriving ecosystem is home to the world's largest collection of coral reefs, including 400 species of coral and 1,500 species of fish. The Great Barrier Reef was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. (AFP - Getty Images)
14) Camels rest in the ancient city of Petra in front of Jordan's main monument, Al Khazneh or the treasury, believed to be the tomb of a Nabatean king carved from sandstone. This city, located between the Red and Dead Seas, is at the crossroads of Arabia, Egypt, and Phenicia. Petra was listed as a World Heritage Site in 1985. (Thomas Coex/AFP - Getty Images)
15) The Sydney Opera House is one of the most famous and easily recognizable buildings in the world, a symbol of Sydney and one of the main attractions of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was designated a World Heritage Site in 2007. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP - Getty Images)
16) Rock paintings made by the San people in the Drakensberg Mountains, located in the east South Africa. The San people lived in the Drakensberg region for thousands of years until they were destroyed in clashes with the Zulus and white settlers. They left behind incredible rock art in the Drakensberg Mountains, which were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. (Alexander Joe/AFP - Getty Images)
17) General view of the city of Shibam, located in the east in the province of Hadhramaut. Shibam is famous for its incomparable architecture, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. All the houses here are built of clay bricks; approximately 500 houses can be considered multi-story, as they have 5-11 floors. Often called "the world's oldest skyscraper city" or "Desert Manhattan", Shibam is also the oldest example of urban planning based on the principle of vertical construction. (Khaled Fazaa/AFP - Getty Images)
18) Gondolas along the shore of the Grand Canal in Venice. The Church of San Giorgio Maggiore is visible in the background. Island Venice is a seaside resort, a center of international tourism of world importance, a venue for international film festivals, art and architectural exhibitions. Venice was included in the UNESCO World Heritage program in 1987. (AP)
19) Some of the 390 abandoned huge statues made of compressed volcanic ash (moai in Rapa Nui) at the foot of the Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island, 3,700 km off the coast of Chile. Rapa Nui National Park has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Program since 1995. (Martin Bernetti/AFP - Getty Images)
20) Visitors walk along the Great Wall of China in the Simatai area, northeast of Beijing. This largest architectural monument was built as one of the four main strategic strongholds to defend against invading tribes from the north. The 8,851.8 km long Great Wall is one of the largest construction projects ever completed. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP - Getty Images)
21) Temple in Hampi, near the South Indian city of Hospet, north of Bangalore. Hampi is located in the middle of the ruins of Vijayanagara - the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi and its monuments were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986. (Dibyangshu Sarkar/AFP - Getty Images)
22) A Tibetan pilgrim turns prayer mills on the grounds of the Potala Palace in the capital of Tibet, Lhasa. The Potala Palace is a royal palace and Buddhist temple complex that was the main residence of the Dalai Lama. Today, the Potala Palace is a museum actively visited by tourists, remaining a place of pilgrimage for Buddhists and continuing to be used in Buddhist rituals. Due to its enormous cultural, religious, artistic and historical significance, it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994. (Goh Chai Hin/AFP - Getty Images)
23) Inca citadel Machu Picchu in the Peruvian city of Cusco. Machu Picchu, especially after receiving UNESCO World Heritage status in 1983, has become a center of mass tourism. The city is visited by 2,000 tourists per day; In order to preserve the monument, UNESCO demands that the number of tourists per day be reduced to 800. (Eitan Abramovich/AFP - Getty Images)
24) Kompon-daito Buddhist pagoda on Mount Koya, Wakayama Province, Japan. Mount Koya, located east of Osaka, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2004. In 819, the first Buddhist monk Kukai, the founder of the Shingon school, a branch of Japanese Buddhism, settled here. (Everett Kennedy Brown/EPA)
25) Tibetan women walk around the Bodhnath Stupa in Kathmandu - one of the most ancient and revered Buddhist shrines. On the edges of the tower crowning it are depicted the “eyes of Buddha” inlaid with ivory. Kathmandu Valley, about 1300 m high, is a mountain valley and historical region of Nepal. There are many Buddhist and Hindu temples here, from the Boudhanath stupa to tiny street altars in the walls of houses. Locals say that 10 million Gods live in the Kathmandu Valley. The Kathmandu Valley was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1979. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
26) A bird flies over the Taj Mahal, a mausoleum-mosque located in the Indian city of Agra. It was built by order of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The Taj Mahal was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983. The architectural marvel was also named one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World" in 2007. (Tauseef Mustafa/AFP - Getty Images)
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27) Located in north-east Wales, the 18-kilometre long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a feat of Industrial Revolution civil engineering, completed in the early years of the 19th century. Still in use more than 200 years after its opening, it is one of the busiest sections of the UK canal network, handling around 15,000 boats a year. In 2009, the Pontkysilte Aqueduct was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as a "landmark in the history of civil engineering during the Industrial Revolution". This aqueduct is one of the unusual monuments to plumbers and plumbing (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
28) A herd of elk grazes in the meadows of Yellowstone National Park. Mount Holmes, to the left, and Mount Dome are visible in the background. In Yellowstone National Park, which occupies almost 900 thousand hectares, there are more than 10 thousand geysers and thermal springs. The park was included in the World Heritage program in 1978. (Kevork Djansezian/AP)
29) Cubans drive an old car along the Malecon promenade in Havana. UNESCO added Old Havana and its fortifications to the World Heritage List in 1982. Although Havana has expanded to a population of over 2 million, its old center retains an interesting mixture of Baroque and neoclassical monuments and homogeneous ensembles of private houses with arcades, balconies, wrought iron gates and courtyards. (Javier Galeano/AP)
Many of China's landmarks are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, with a total of 47 sites.We want to tell you about the 10 most popular of them.
2. Temple of Heaven
3. Forbidden City Beijing
4. Terracotta Army
5. Giant Buddha statue in Leshan
6. Emeishan Mountains
7. Avatar Mountains – Zhangjiajie National Park (Wulingyuan Region)
8. Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Nature Reserve
9. Classic Chinese gardens in Suzhou (The Humble Official's Garden and the Fisherman's Garden)
10. Temple complex Qianfodong
The length of this structure is about 8852 km. Construction of the Great Wall of China began in the 3rd century BC during the Warring States period (475-221 BC). The wall was destroyed and rebuilt several times. In the beginning it was built from compacted earth, stones or wood. Later, more modern materials began to be used - brick, lime and stone.
Some sections of the Great Wall of China resemble very steep and high steps, the wall has defensive structures (towers-forts) and watchtowers (signal) towers along its entire length. The walls are decorated with battlements, which were used to observe the enemy and as cover for the soldiers.
There is still ongoing debate about whether the Great Wall of China is visible from space. The Great Wall of China can be seen from space, but only under excellent visibility conditions and if you know where to look.
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987 as one of China's greatest historical sites.
2. Temple of Heaven
The complex is located on the southern outskirts of Beijing. It was built in 1420. The main structures - the "Temple of Rich Harvest", "Temple of Heavenly Majesty" and "Altar of Heaven" - are located along a straight axis from north to south. Here, twice a year, imperial services were held with sacrifices, which were performed according to a very complex ritual."In the Temple of the Bountiful Harvest" they prayed for rain and a rich harvest. This is a true masterpiece of architecture, built on a three-stage marble terrace: wooden pillars hold up the ceiling without nails or cement. The height of the building is 38 m, diameter is 30 m.
In the courtyard of the “Temple of Heavenly Majesty” there is a “Whisper Wall”. Turning to face her, you can hear words spoken very far away.
The “Altar of Heaven” consists of snow-white marble terraces rising up. On the upper platform of the Altar you are left alone with the sky. The Altar of Heaven is a round stepped pyramid with a diameter of 67 meters. The echo of the Altar is amazing - thanks to the peculiarities of construction, which closer person stands towards the center, the louder the sounds it makes are heard.
Included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.
3. Forbidden City of Beijing
In the very center of Beijing stands a luxurious “palace city” with golden roofs. This palace complex was home to China's reigning emperors for 560 years. Lived here in different times 24 emperors. Ordinary citizens were prohibited from entering and entering here.The Forbidden City is an architectural masterpiece and the largest palace complex in the world. This applies to the layout of the entire complex and to the exquisite design of buildings and premises.
The territory of the Forbidden City is a square. There are about 800 buildings on an area of 720 thousand m2. The city lies on the so-called Beijing axis (from north to south) and is surrounded by wide moats and walls 10.4 meters high. Behind them are symmetrically located palaces, gates, courtyards, streams and gardens. There are only about 9,000 rooms in the palaces of the Forbidden City.
Currently, the Forbidden City is visited by about 7 million people annually.
It was the first Chinese site to be included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.
4. Terracotta Army
The Terracotta Army rested underground for more than 2,000 years. In 1974, farmers in Xi'an Province were digging a well and accidentally stumbled upon one of the world's greatest archaeological sites - the Terracotta Imperial Army. The army was buried in 210-209 BC. e., together with Emperor Qin Shi Huang, on whose initiative they began to build the Great Wall of China. The purpose of this army was to protect their emperor after death.About 8,000 full-size figures were found in underground halls or pits, each of which is unique and none is similar to the other. In the ranks there are infantrymen, archers, crossbow shooters, cavalrymen, military chariots with horses, there is even a command headquarters, which is located separately...
Initially, all warriors had real weapons - swords and bows, which were stolen by looters in ancient times. The height of the warriors is from 1.6 to 1.7 meters. The faces of the people represent different nationalities - Chinese, Mongols, Tibetans, Uyghurs, etc. The warriors are depicted in different poses - someone is holding a sword, someone is on their knees, pulling the string of a bow, someone is standing at attention.
Excavations continue in our time.
This find is also valuable because it allows us to understand what the Chinese army was like in those days.
In 1987, the Terracotta Army was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the "Tomb of the First Emperor of the Qin Dynasty" complex.
5. Giant Buddha statue in Leshan
This is a 71 meter statue Buddha Maitreya, carved into the rock, has been the tallest piece of sculpture in the world for over a millennium. It is located in the Chinese province of Sichuan, near the city of Leshan, at the confluence of three rivers, the oncoming waters of which create dangerous whirlpools. The work was carried out in the 8th century AD.Buddha sits with his hands on his knees and his half-closed eyes look at one of the 4 sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism - Emeishan, and his feet rest against the river.
More than 90 stone images of bodhisattvas are carved on the southern and northern walls relative to the Buddha, and a temple complex with a small park is built at the head of the colossal monument.
The Buddha statue in Leshan is one of the oldest in the world.
It was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
6. Emeishan Mountains
The highest peak of the Emeishan Mountains (3099 m) is called the "Ten Thousand Buddhas Peak" - one of the four sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism. The name translates as “High Eyebrow”, “Beauty Eyebrow”. Located on the slopes of the mountain great amount temples. Here a person comes to a feeling of awareness of how many petty things there are in his life... What does he spend his life on? How small and insignificant he is among these majestic peaks.According to legend, a local bodhisattva flew from this peak into the sky on a white three-headed elephant. In memory of this event, a huge statue of this saint was built on the top of the mountain, seated on an elephant with four heads, of which the observer from his perspective can see only three heads. The Temple of the Golden Peak and the Silver Temple are also located here.
Here you can observe the famous “Buddha Halo” of Emeishan, which is created by the refraction of sunlight in the fog. At noon, the rays, refracted through the clouds, form a circle of different colors: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, indigo...
In 1996, UNESCO awarded the area World Cultural Heritage status.
7. Avatar Mountains – Zhangjiangtse
Zhangjiajie is the oldest national natural park in China, where you can walk endlessly. This is an amazingly beautiful place and at the same time a natural zoo, botanical and geological reserve. The place is famous for its quartzite rocks, up to 800 meters high. The highest peaks of Wulinyuan reach heights of more than 3 km above sea level. The mountains are a picturesque sight: huge stone pillars above the tropical forest, rugged sharp peaks, waterfalls, a giant cave system, powerful rivers suitable for rafting.Mount Jiankunzhu, whose name translates as “Southern Sky Pillar,” became the prototype for some of the landscapes of the planet Pandora shown in James Cameron’s blockbuster film. It was recently renamed “Hallelujah Avatar”...
Local attractions you should definitely visit:
The Yellow Dragon Cave has four levels and a unique landscape. This is a huge karst cave, one of the largest in the world. It reaches a height of 140 meters. There are underground rivers, pools and even waterfalls.
Here is the picturesque Mount Tianzu with the peak of Kunlun - “Abode of the Gods”. It is believed that the wisdom of Tao philosophy was brought to people from Kunlun. In order to gain immortality at the top of the mountain, the same conditions must be met as for entering the mysterious Shambhala. Only one who freed his mind from selfish thoughts about himself could become one of the inhabitants of the divine world of Kunlun.
And at an altitude of more than 1 km is the Yellow Lion Village. The original inhabitants of these places live here - the Tujia, Miao and Bo national minorities, they speak their own languages and preserve their traditions and rituals.
Mount Tianmen Shan (height 1518 meters) is considered one of the main attractions of the park. Many legends are associated with this mountain. Here is the picturesque Heavenly Gate Cave. The longest cable car in the world (its length is 7455 m) leads to the top of the mountain. As you climb along it, unforgettable panoramas of the surrounding mountains and forests open up.
For thrill-seekers, an observation glass bridge has also been built here. Its width is 1 m and length 60 meters. The bridge seems to be attached to a vertical cliff face at an altitude of 1,430 meters, which creates the feeling of walking on air and allows visitors to look at the peaks of the mountain peaks located below.
The park was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
8. Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Nature Reserve
In the highlands of Sichuan Province is the famous Huanglong Nature Reserve, which means “Yellow Dragon”. This is a very picturesque area with unusual natural landscapes. Here are high-mountain valleys bound by thousand-year-old glaciers, beautiful mountain waterfalls carrying the purity of mountain rivers and a large number of thermal springs.But the most interesting thing here is the natural rapids of travertine terraces (made of calcareous tuff), which twist like the scaly four-meter back of a giant golden dragon. It is also interesting to visit the numerous lakes pure water, various colors and shapes. The reserve is home to a number of rare animals such as the giant panda and the golden snub-nosed monkey.
The Huanglong area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
9. Classic Chinese gardens in Suzhou (The Humble Official's Garden and the Fisherman's Garden)
These garden and park ensembles are an internationally recognized example of impeccable Chinese landscape design. In 1981, the landscape of the "Fisherman's Garden" ("Masters of Fishing Nets") was recreated in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art as best example Chinese classical garden. Water, living plants and stones of various sizes and shapes are the essential elements that make up any Chinese garden. Their combination fills the atmosphere that so impresses tourists.You need to walk through the gardens, dissolving in their beauty and harmony. This is the place where the soul rests. Where you can hear silence.
The classical Chinese gardens "The Humble Official's Garden" and "The Fishnet Master's Garden" were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1999 and 2000.
10. Qianfodong Temple Complex (“Cave of a Thousand Buddhas”)
This early Buddhist cave complex was erected in 353-366 AD. and unites 492 sanctuaries, which have been decorated for a millennium unique frescoes and sculptures.The largest cave in this complex is Mogao Cave, which translated means “Cave not for tall people.” Its area is 42,000 square meters. meters.
Unlike later cave temples, the decoration of Mogao is dominated not by sculpture, but by fresco painting.
At the very beginning of the 20th century, a huge warehouse of ancient manuscripts written in different languages that time. There were religious texts, treatises on philosophy, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, history and geography, dictionaries, and recordings of folk songs and classical Chinese poetry, as well as official documents of those times. The most famous of them are the “Book of Fortune-Telling” and the “Diamond Sutra”.
The Mogao Cave Temples have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
China: upcoming tours
The vast majority of tourists arrive in Nepal through the air harbor of this country - Kathmandu Airport. Therefore, we start with what you need to visit first in the vicinity of the capital of Nepal - Kathmandu. We are sure that when visiting these places you will plunge into a completely different world, they are so unique. There is an explanation for this - Nepal has been a country lost in the mountains throughout its entire history (in many ways even now). It was inaccessible to many conquerors and was never (!) under the rule of another state. Its own culture and art, unlike others, were born here, and the country’s monuments were not destroyed by conquerors. Unfortunately, on April 25, 2015, the strongest earthquake in 80 years caused significant damage to Nepal.
So, in the Kathmandu Valley there are 7 objects announced World Heritage UNESCO. Below are photographs I took in 2005 and 2008 and descriptions of these objects. Big number unique monuments, alas, lost to humanity forever. See the links to see what they looked like before the earthquake in April 2015.
Squares and streets in Bhaktapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu Durbar Square in Patan
Also in Nepal, the Chitwan Nature Reserve and the Everest region with the highest peak in the world are under UNESCO protection.
Walking around Kathmandu- the capital of the country with a population of 850 thousand (2005). The city was founded in the 8th century and was called Kantipur. Then it became an independent principality. In 1769, the Shah of the Principality of Gorkha captured the entire territory of modern Nepal and proclaimed Kathmandu as the capital. Earthquakes of 1833 and 1934 greatly destroyed the city. Centuries of isolation helped preserve the city in its original form. Buddhist and Hindu temples, the architecture of houses located on narrow stone-paved streets fill the city mystical energy. In terms of its simple way of life, the city is a bit like a large village with bad roads, low red brick houses and tiled roofs. The yards are filled with livestock and small animals. The wooden elements of the old houses are covered with fine carvings, and many of the houses are presented in the form of a pagoda. In fact, the capital merged with the neighboring town of Lalitpur - the formerPathanor "city of arts" - founded in 229.See the photo of Patan Durbar Square.
Thamel- areaKathmandu is where most foreign tourists live. Here they find everything they need: restaurants and bars, souvenir shops, bicycle and moped rentals. Many stores sell good equipment for outdoor enthusiasts. Hotels in this area are of different categories. You can find a room even for $7 per night. Most people in the rooms only sleep, as there is so much to see in the surrounding area. It is from here that the road to the foot of the highest point in the world - Mount Chomolungma (Everest) begins.
Durbar Square in Kathmandu
Iis both the center of the capital and the center ancient architecture cities. It is located 15 minutes. walk from Thamel. Paid entrance. There are many temples located in Durbar Square, Royal Palace Narayanhiti, palace and temple complex Hanuman Dhoka 15th-18th centuries. The largest temple in the square is called Taleju in the form of a pagoda of 9 floors and is dedicated to the patron deity of the Malla dynasty. The temple is open only to Nepalese once a year. Beautiful wooden pagoda Katha Mandirbuilt in 1596 From Bhimsen Tower(1834) the entire city can be seen. Wooden royal palace now a museum. Lives in a special palace living goddess Kumari. Since the 18th century, she has protected kings and blessed them for the kingdom. Kumari is chosen from girls aged 4-5 years with special facial features and horoscope. Kumari takes up residence in the palace with her entire family and lives until she reaches puberty, the age until which she is believed to remain innocent and pure. Only once a year is she allowed to go outside, when she is driven across the city. They take care of her, teach her, and have guests visit her. When 10 years later Kumari leaves the palace forever, she is paid a large sum of money and she continues to live as a private person. Nobody marries her because her ex Kumari brings misfortune.
Swayambhunath Stupa
built ontop of Monkey Mountain. The path for believers to the stupa has 365 steps up. A highway has been built for tourists. Entrance 200 NRs. Top - the best place for a panoramic view of the entire city. It is known that the first large stupas in Nepal were built during the reign of the Indian emperor Ashoka in the 3rd century BC. e. Although archaeological research places of worship prohibited in Nepal, there is no doubt that the Swayambhunath stupa is about 2 thousand years old! It is a huge white hemisphere, the upper part of which is decorated with a cube with a cone ringed with 13 belts. On all sides of the cube there are huge all-seeing eyes Buddha. Between them is a certain symbol denoting virtue. Numerous other buildings located around are temples, columns, small stupas and statues of gods. The walls of the temples are covered with erotic frescoes and sculptures. Bronze figurines depicting a wife enjoying love simultaneously with her seven husbands can be bought on every corner. On the square there are several dozen spinning drums, lined up one after another. The drums are engraved with prayers and inside are packages containing sayings of the Buddha. Believers walk side by side clockwise and spin the drums with their hands, thereby seeming to say prayers.
National History Museum- located behind Swayambhunath Hill. It houses a unique collection of butterflies, fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, plants and various fossilized creatures collected from all over the country.Kaiser Library- is the main center of rare and valuable books and manuscripts. It is open to the public every day except Saturdays and holidays.
Buddhanath Stupa built in the 3rd century. This one of the largest Buddhist shrines in Nepal is located 10 km northeast of Kathmandu and makes an indelible impression. Entrance 100 NRs.
Krishna Mandir Temple was built in 1723 in memory of the eight wives of King Narendra Malla, who took the rite of sati (self-immolation) after the death of their husbands.
Pashupatinath Temple Complex
founded in the 8th century. The main temple of the complex is dedicated to Shiva and has a two-tiered golden roof and silver doors. In front of the entrance there is a huge statue of the bull Nandi - the vehicle of Shiva. This is the most revered Hindu temple in Nepal. There are many pilgrims here, but white tourists, unfortunately, are not allowed entry. A ritual of burning bodies is performed near the river near the temple. dead, according to customs. Other temples in Kathmandu are Muktinah and Mahndranath. Budhanilkantha from the 5th century is a stone statue of the god Vishnu lying on the coils of the snake Shesha.
Bhaktapur-
second largest city in the valleyKathmandu. Translated from Sanskrit it means “city of believers in Vishnu”. In the 14th-16th centuries, it was the capital of the entire valley, which was reflected in the grandeur of its architectural monuments (mostly from the 17th century), which are perfectly preserved. There are more than ten Vishnu temples in the city, most of which are priceless in their own way. historical significance. In the Palace Square of Bhaktapur there is a former palace of the kings of the Malla dynasty with 55 windows, and not a single window has the same carving pattern. Next to the palace is the Golden Gate, leading to a Hindu temple. Another decoration of the city is the five-tiered Nyatapola Pagoda. Durbar Square entrance tickets are the most expensive in Nepal and cost 750 NRs.
Changunarayan Temple
built in honor of the god Vishnu in the 3rd century AD. e. Since Buddhism and Hinduism are largely mixed in Nepal, the temple is revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. Located 10 km north of Bhaktapur on a hill 1541 m above sea level. It has been documented that Changunarayan is the oldest structure in Nepal. Entrance 100 NRs. There are many shops near the temple where you can buy magnificent products made of wood and metals at reasonable prices.
Nagarkot - mountain resort at an altitude of almost 2000 m above sea level, 37 km. from Bhaktapur. Several hotels have been built here for vacationers (one of them is ****), from the windows or roofs of which you can, in clear weather, enjoy a breathtaking view of the great mountains, including Everest, and breathe the purest mountain air.
Other interesting cities and regions of Nepal
Mustang or Lo is a kingdom inside Nepal. One of the most exciting and mystical adventures in Nepal. Mustang is located in northwestern Nepal north of the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri massifs, on the border with Tibet. The capital of the kingdom is located on a high plateau with an altitude of about 4000 m and is lost among rivers and gorges. It was not until October 1991 that the site was opened to tourists with permission. You can get to Mustang by plane from Pokhara. 20 minutes. flight and you are in Jomsom. Then tourists begin hiking and in 5 days reach the capital of the kingdom of Lo Montang. Along the way, the group spends the night in tents; cargo and food are carried on horses.
Chitwan National Park since 1973. The reserve covers an area of about 1000 km² and is located between the Narayani and Rapti rivers, 150 km from Kathmandu and 160 km from Pokhara. Chitwan used to be a favorite hunting ground of Nepalese kings. The reserve is home to: about 120 Bengal tigers - now the rarest animals listed in the Red Book, wild elephants, about 400 one-horned rhinoceroses, 4 species of deer, wild boars, antelopes, buffaloes, bears, gharial crocodiles, alligator caimans, monkeys, jackals , wild dogs, mongooses, pythons, cobras and other snakes, several species of hares, jungle cats, squirrels, bats and more than 400 species of birds. The best way to experience jungle life is from the back of an elephant. The smell of an elephant overcomes the smell of humans and wild animals continue to do their business without fear. Car safaris and rafting trips are available. Tourists are invited to spend the night in huts with all amenities. A walk into the jungle of the reserve is absolutely safe.Shivapuri is another national park. Even a leopard and a rare Himalayan bear are found in this reserve.
Excursion to the Chitwan Nature Reserve, departing from Kathmandu or Pokhara. Cost: 2 days and 1 night - 60 $, 3 days and 2 nights - 70 $, 4 days and 3 nights - 80 $. Included: bus transfer, accommodation in a ** and *** hotel, meals, entrance tickets. Additional payment for individual transport. The excursion must be purchased in advance. Buses from Pokhara depart daily at 07:30 am from the Tourist Info Center, near Phewa Lake and the airport.
Pokharais a wonderful city in the very center of Nepal, located at an altitude of 827 m above sea level at the foot of the grandiose Annapurna massif on the shores of the beautiful large Lake Phewa. Pokhara gets a whole pageon our website.
Lumbini is the most sacred place for Buddhists around the world. Lumbini is located in the very south of Nepal on the border with India. Here in the 6th century BC. Prince Sidhartha Gautama or Buddha was born - great philosopher and founder of Buddhism. Here you can see ancient stupas, a column of the famous Emperor Ashoka, ruins ancient monastery and images of Buddha's mother Maya Devi. Each Buddhist country contributed to the creation of the memorial park and the construction of Buddhist temples in Lumbini. From Kathmandu you can get here by bus in 7 hours.
Namo Buddha Monastery- another of the many places of worship is located northeast of Kathmandu. According to legend, Buddha fed his flesh to a hungry tigress so that she could feed her cubs. There is a small hotel at the monastery where tourists can stay for a few days.
Tours from Nepal to neighboring countries Bhutan and Tibet
T ibet - an autonomous region of China, which was re-annexed to the country in 1950 after 39 years of independent existence. Tibet is a high mountain region, the birthplace of Lamaism (a branch of Buddhism) and the Dalai Lama, a land with sparse vegetation and many monasteries. The way of life of local residents is truly unique.
The tour to Tibet begins and ends in Kathmandu. It is for 7 days and 8 nights. You go there via Kodari by bus. Return from Lhasa by plane. Price: $905. The price includes: bus and airfare ($420), standard DBL accommodation with breakfast, guided tours, entrance fees to monasteries, Tibetan visa ($60). The visa does not give the right to travel within China. Not included: Nepalese visa if the previous one expires, airport tax of $20, insurance and evacuation in force majeure circumstances, porter. Discounts are available if the group consists of more than 3 people.
Kingdom of Bhutan a land completely lost in the Himalayan mountains. Because it is not known to many people. In 2005, only 13 thousand tourists visited the country. Here, it seems that time stood still 500 years ago and left everything intact. Television appeared here only in 2002! You can plunge into the past world, if we talk about the life of people and at the same time into eternity, meaning the wonderful nature, during a tour with a departure from Kathmandu.
Tour cost (minimum 3 days): $220 per day per person for standard accommodation, $260 for luxury accommodation. DBL number. For single occupancy you will have to pay an additional $40-50 per day. In addition to accommodation, the price includes full board, guided tours, and entrance tickets. Not included: air ticket Kathmandu - Paro - Kathmandu ($455) and visa $30.
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