A tour begins with a stop at Pashupatinath, temple of Lord Shiva, the God of destruction and regeneration. Some come to breathe their last while the deceased are brought to the river Bagmati at the foot of the temple for cremation. The next stop is at one of the largest stupas in the world, Boudhanath. Here, you will find Buddhist pilgrims from around the globe circummbulating the stupa. The Boudhanath area has become the center for Tibetans and Tibetan Buddhism. Swayambhunath, yet another important stupa sits perched on a hill, west of the city. It is believed that Emperor Ashoka paid a visit to this ancient shrine more than 2000 years ago. The Durbar (palace) Squares of Kathmandu and Patan are repositories of Newari art and culture. The exquisite woodcarvings and superb architectural designs of the pagodas have fascinated visitors for centuries.