This beautiful country, Nepal, which covers an area of only 0.03% of the Earth has the great distinction of its topography being comprised of mountains in the north, hills in the middle, and plains in the south. The naturally favored country is known as a sovereign country throughout history and holds immense values which have been passed down from generation to generation. Some of their value and their significance have been portrayed through their festivals whereas some of them have been portrayed through the magnificent temples and their staggering architecture and scriptures that date back centuries ago.

We are listing a handful number of holy shrines you must visit and the best part of the tour is the religious cultural and historical facts that these ancient temples tow even today with some astounding stories behind their origin. An interesting fact is they are equally sacred to Hindus and Buddhists living here and those living in different parts of the world.

Pashupatinath:

Enlisted under UNESCO's World Heritage Sites, Pashupatinath was built back in the 17th century by the Malla Kings. However, the pilgrimage is believed to be there since the Mahabharata period which serves as a home to Lord Shiva and is considered to be one of the holiest shrines for Hindu pilgrims all around the world. For the same reason, the gold-coated shrine is visited by thousands of pilgrims from all over. The Bagmati River flows alongside and the evening aartis by the river is to make everyone awestruck. There are numerous other shrines within the premises such as Hanuman, Budhanilkantha, Surya Narayan, etc.

Swayambhunath Stupa:

The 2500 years old stupa is also called the Monkey Temple and was built by King Mandev. The word Swayambhu literally means "Self-existent one" and follows many ancient tales about its origin. This is one of the most visited stupas by Buddhist monks. The stupa is located at a hilltop that offers a great view of the entire Kathmandu Valley. Honored as the land of Lord Gautam Buddha, the beckoning eyes of Lord Buddha will have you in awe of its majesty. The place also has a lake where people toss coins and believe their wishes to come true. This white-domed stupa is a great place to observe the religious harmony Nepalese share with each other.

Muktinath:

Renowned as it is located on the laps of the Himalayas, at the highest altitude i.e. 3800 meters above sea level. Revered in the 7th century, the place is known as the place of salvation where all the five basic elements of life exist in perfect harmony. Home to Lord Vishnu, the Muktinath has 108 waterspouts where devotees take a bath even in freezing temperatures as it is considered sacred. Besides Hindus, it is equally important for Tibetan Buddhists as they consider Muktinath to be one of the 24 important tantric places. Tibetan Buddhists consider this holy place as one of the most important shrines and for hundreds of years, many Tibetan have also been trekking for several days to visit the shrine.

Ram Janaki Mandir

The place being the birthplace of Goddess Sita and the very place where Lord Ram and Goddess Sita married, it is known as the City of Lovebirds. It is a Hindu shrine located at the heart of Janakpur in the plains. It was built in the 19th century and is said to be the largest temple in Nepal in the area. Since it is built in the Mughal style, it is of great attraction and is visited by thousands of people. Couples tie knots here as it is believed that after offering prayers, they will live happily henceforth.

Changunarayan:

The temple serves as a home to Lord Vishnu a two-storied sanctuary residing four kilometers away from Bhaktapur. It is considered one of the oldest shrines in Nepal as it was built 3000 years back. The idols of Gods and Goddesses, inscriptions, metalwork, woodwork, and scriptures have been preserved and they make it stand out amongst the rest. Since they hold immense value, efforts have been put in to list them under UNESCO as some of the masterful accomplishments that make Kathmandu Valley an enriching Heritage Site.

Although these remain to be only a tiny glimpse of the rich heritage sites these destinations are definitely a must-visit for anyone traveling to the country. Nepal is regarded as the hub of Hindu and Buddhist religious practices and for thousands of years monks, sanyasis, and hermits of these religions have been traveling to the sacred places in seek of truth and peace. Even today many tourists visit Nepal seeking to understand the ancient practices of Dharma.