Tour Report of Kathmandu Valley by Children
An Educational and Cultural Exploration
Date: 31st March 2025 – 13th April 2025
Participants: Children of NECO Foundation
Location: Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Duration: 14 Days (We spent some time in House)
Introduction
After the completion of the Final Academic Exam, we, the children of NECO Foundation went on an exciting educational tour to Kathmandu Valley. Most of the children hadn't explored the Kathmandu Valley yet. So, we got a great opportunity to explore the cultural, historical and natural richness of the beautiful city. All the credit goes to our volunteer Ms. Caroline Babel and our president Mr. Bishow Bhatta as well as all the entire staff of the NECO.
Itinerary and Activities
Day 1-2: Arrival and Preparation
Day 1: Arrival and take a rest.
Day 2: Clean up the Resident Area and the surroundings.
Day 3: Chandragiri Hills
We went on an exciting tour to Chandragiri Hills, which is located on the southwest side of the Kathmandu Valley. This place is famous for its beautiful view of the Himalayan mountains, temples, cool weather and fun games to play on the top and especially the fun cable car ride. Everyone was very happy and excited for the adventure!
Activities:
We started our journey after having lunch. On the way, we enjoyed sightseeing of the V
alley especially Monkey Temple. After reaching Thankot, we took the cable car to reach the top of Chandragiri Hill. For many of us, it was our first-time riding on a cable car, it felt like flying in the air over the trees and hil
ls. Everyone was cheering and taking photos of the views of the city, landscape, forests and hills. It was amazing!
At the top, we visited the beautiful Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple, which was very peaceful. We found that this is a place where King Prithvi Narayan Shah prayed before unifying Nepal.
We walked around, took many pictures, and enjoyed the cool air and green nature. From the top, we could see the snow-capped mountains like Ganesh Himal, Langtang, and even Mount Everest on a clear day! But it was our bad day because we couldn't see because of the foggy weather.
Fun Moments:
According to the ages and interests, everyone enjoyed playing and seeing many funny favorite things like horse riding, zipline, slide, swings, bouncy castle, trampling jump and so many. After exploring, and playing we're tired and hungry so we had a good snack of mo.mo and cold drinks at the nice and clean restaurants and took some pictures and returned back to the bus through cable car ride and headed to NECO home, KTM with tired and happy hearts.
Fig: Having Snack
Fig: Horse Riding
Fig: Ready to do Zipline
Fig: Trampling Jump
Day 4: Swayambhunath and Pasupatinath Temple
Our first destination was Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), holy place for both Buddhists and Hindus which was located on a peaceful hilltop and it was near our living residence. So we started our journey after having snacks. We had to walk up many stairs to reach the top of the hills and to see the view of the Kathmandu valley but that's amazing!
At the top, we saw the big white stupa with Buddha's eye and many small statues, stupas, temples, pigeons and monkeys playing around.
Our 2nd and most important stop was Pashupatinath which was dedicated to Lord Shiva, temples of Hindus, not allowed to go inside for Non-Hindus but can explore the temple around.
We saw many holy sadhus, people praying and even doing cremation rituals alongside the Bagmati River. We also did pujas inside the temple to feel peace and relax.



Pic: In front of Swayambhunath, Middle of seeing the view of Kathmandu and the next one in Pashupatinath Temple
Day 5: Narayanhiti Palace and Basantapur Durbar Square
Fifth day we headed to two very important places named Narayanhiti Palace Museum and Basantapur Durbar Square.
First Place: Narayanhiti Palace Museum
Today, our first visit was at the Narayanhiti Palace Museum, which was once the royal palace of the kings of Nepal where we can see how the king's family lived.
We can see there, the throne room, royal bedrooms, banquet hall, secret hallways, special gifts, clothes and photos from the past.
Phones and cameras were not allowed inside, so we looked carefully and remembered everything with our eyes!
Second Place: Basantapur Durbar Square
Also the second point was the famous Basantapur Durbar Square, one of the oldest places with beautiful palaces, temples, statues and carvings. We saw Hanuman Doka Palace, Museum, Kumari in Kumari house, the Living Goddess, Kala Bhairav Statue, Taleju Temple and many pigeons flying around.




Day 6: Bhaktapur Durbar Square and Sanga (Kailashnath Mahadev Statue)
First Stop: Bhaktapur Durbar Square
Today, our first visit was to the beautiful and ancient Bhaktapur Durbar Square. It was far away from our residence so we moved after having breakfast. This place is known for its rich culture, temples, beautiful art, carvings and traditional Newari architecture.
There we took a local guide to explain and we saw:
The narrow streets, brick houses, and lively squares made us feel like we traveled back in time!
- 55-Window Palace, Nyatapola Temple, Vatsala Temple and Golden Gate – made with artistic stone and gold designs.
After finishing all the sightseeing we tried juju dhau (famous yogurt).



2nd Stop: Sanga – Kailashnath Mahadev
The second stop was at Sanga, which is famous for the Kailashnath Mahadev Statue – the tallest statue of Lord Shiva in Nepal and one of the tallest in the world!
We were amazed by:
- The 143 feet (43.5 meters) tall statue of Lord Shiva standing on a hill.
- The peaceful surroundings and gardens around the statue.
We clicked many photos and enjoyed walking around the area. The cool breeze and green hills made it a perfect place to relax after our historical tour.
Down the hill we went to see and experienced a beautiful suspension bridge nearby over the road. It swings when people walk on it and the wind makes it a little scary to those who didn't experience suspension bridges but very exciting and funny!


Day 7: Dakshinkali Temple and Kirtipur
Our first visit was to the famous Dakshinkali Temple, which is located in the southern hills of Kathmandu. It is a holy temple dedicated to Goddess Kali.
We saw:
- The main temple is surrounded by trees and hills.
- People offer prayers, flowers, and animals as part of their tradition.
- Monkeys and birds around the temple area.
- A beautiful and peaceful forest nearby.
- The place felt spiritual and calm.

2nd Stop: Kirtipur
After visiting Dakshinkali, we went to Kirtipur, a small and peaceful historic town located on a hilltop. Kirtipur is full of history, culture and tradition.
We explored:
-
- Old Newari-style houses and narrow stone streets.


- Local snacks and Newari food stalls.
Day 8: Kakani
Kakani, a beautiful hill station located northwest of Kathmandu. It is well-known for its cool weather, peaceful environment, and beautiful views of the Himalayan mountains. We were very excited to enjoy nature and spend the day outdoors especially the mountain climb and strawberry farming.
After reaching Kakani, we did many fun and interesting things:
- We walked through pine forests and took lots of photos.
- Enjoyed the open field and visited strawberry farm. We picked our own strawberries and tasted fresh strawberries.
- We also experienced Mountaineering.
- We also visited the Kakani Memorial Park, which honors the Thai air crash victims.
- On the way we enjoyed picking and eating different kinds of forest berries.
The cool breeze and peaceful environment made us feel fresh and relaxed.
Strawberry farm
Mountaineering
Picking Berries
Day 9: Jump KTM Indoor Trampoline Park
Today was the day of Jump, so we visited Jump Ktm at Mandikatar, Kathmandu, the first indoor trampoline park. It offers a variety of activities suitable for all ages. It was a day filled with fun, laughter, and learning.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly staff and met one of the kind ladies of Hotel Shangri-La that sponsored us for 1 hour jump park. The park is spacious and well-maintained, with different zones catering to various interests with full music.


Day 10: Boudhanath and Aviation Museum
1st Stop: Boudhanath Stupa
Today our first stop was we visited the beautiful and spiritual Boudhanath Stupa, one of the largest and most famous stupas in Nepal.

2nd Stop: Nepal Aviation Museum
It is located in Sinamangal Kathmandu and established at 5th November. This museum is unique because it's housed inside a real Airbus A330 that once flew for Turkish Airlines. It was a fantastic opportunity to learn about aviation history and technology.
Upon arrival, we were greeted by friendly staff and given a brief introduction to the museum's exhibits. The museum is divided into several sections, each offering a different aspect of aviation:
We saw Airbus A330-300, cockpits, passengers' areas, as well as aircraft interior. Also got an opportunity to see miniature of aircraft models from the Wright brothers' first plane to modern fighter jets.



Day 11: Hiking to Shivapuri Peak
We went on an exciting hike to Shivapuri Peak starting from Budhanilkantha. Located in the northern part of Kathmandu Valley, Shivapuri is a popular hiking destination, known for its beautiful landscapes, cultural sites, and the tranquil environment of the Shivapuri National Park. The hike was a fantastic way to connect with nature while learning about the biodiversity and spiritual significance of the area.
But due to the bad weather we were stuck nearly 2 hours on the gate of the entry point due to heavy rain. We had to wait for the rain to be controlled as well as to manage the raincoat. Later, we moved.
Highlights of the Hike:
Our hike began from the gate. It took us nearly 4 hours to reach Shivapuri Peak. It was tough hike between the dense forest with seeing Rhododendron trees and monkeys.
On the way we passed Baghdwar, Nagi Gumba, and climbed a lot of steps. After 4 hours of hiking through dense forest of rhododendron, oak, and pine, we reached Shivapuri Peak. From the summit, we enjoyed breathtaking views of the Kathmandu Valley and the Langtang Himalayas. The panorama was absolutely stunning, and it made all the effort worthwhile.
Again, we had to return back, so we spent about one hour having snacks and taking some photos. It took us 3 hours to get down from up hills to the basement.






Day 12: Visit to Daman View Point and Sahid Smarak, Hetauda
It was the last day, going back to Chitwan. So we planned to go through the way from Daman to see Daman View Tower and Sahid Smarak (Martyrs' Memorial Park) located in Makwanpur District. The trip started early in the morning from Kathmandu and offered a perfect blend of natural beauty and historical learning. The drive to Daman took about 3-4 hours, passing through winding mountain roads and beautiful landscapes and forests. It was an unforgettable experience filled with breathtaking views and patriotic stories.
We ate delicious Dal-Bhat at Daman after viewing the site. After having lunch, we continued our journey towards Sahid Smarak Hetauda, which took about 2 hours from Daman. The climate challenged us, having foggy weather that can't see the view.



Pic: Seeing and enjoying the stunning 360-degree view of the surrounding hills at Daman View Tower. Others were the animals and birds at Shaid Smarak, Hetauda.
Conclusion
The tour to Kathmandu Valley was both educational and enjoyable. We returned to Chitwan in the evening, feeling inspired by the courage of our national heroes and refreshed by the natural beauty. It was a trip that taught us the value of history, culture, and the environment. We highly recommend to anyone to visit Kathmandu Valley as well as the nearby places of Kathmandu Valley. Thank you to our seniors for taking us on this memorial trip!
Report prepared by the children of NECO Foundation
April 2025

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Prepared By: Samjhana Gurung
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