Situated at nearly 1400m (4400 ft) above sea level, Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital and largest metropolis is the beating heart of the country’s tradition, culture and arts. The city, a collection of tall, red-brick buildings clustered around holy temples and royal palaces, is the urban center of the valley with its eponymous name. The Kathmandu Valley designated a UNESCO World Heritage region, embraces Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Patan to form a region rich in historic sites, ancient temples and shrines, golden pagodas and fascinating villages.
Durbar Square
The spirit and soul of Kathmandu rests in its Durbar Square, the palace square, where Hindu temples and Buddhist Pagodas reflecting a 2000 yr. history cluster. Durbar Square, actually a series of three squares, is the finest remaining example of Kathmandu’s traditional architecture. Wind your way through the labyrinth of alleys and you’ll come upon architectural wonders at every corner – bahals, (monastery courtyards), central stupas (shrines), and bustling stalls with hordes of Buddhist prayer flags, glittering glass bead shops and the odd straying cow. The Nateshwar Temple depicts peculiar creatures playing musical instruments; the Ugratara Temple – its triple roof; the Kathesimbu stupa radiates with colorful prayer flags.
Nateshwar Images
Swayambhunath close-up
Situated on the top of a hill west of the city, Swayambhunath Temple, surrounded by a number of other stupas and gopas, illustrates Nepal’s history of tolerance. Also known as the monkey temple after the large tribe of monkeys that guards the hill, the temple is instantly recognizable from a distance. Built during the Malla kingdom, the huge stupa is characterized by its gold top from which Buddha’s eyes gaze out across the valley. The Buddha’s nose, almost in the form of a question mark, signifies the Nepali number EK, or one, a symbol of unity and religious harmony. The complex of stupas and temples is witness to the many Tibetan monks, Brahmin priests and Newar nuns who come together here to worship.
Night View of Swayambhunath
Originally settled by the Newars, a people shrouded in mystery, Kathmandu Valley arrived at its name from an ancient legend, by which the valley, originally a lake, was drained by a Buddhist deity to worship a lotus he admired. This led to the settlement of the valley, whose name, derived from Sanskrit, means ‘beautiful shaded wood’.
On the outskirts of the city, Boudhnath Stupa, a magnificent shrine buzzing with pilgrims from around the world, is believed to house a fragment of Buddha’s bone. In contrast, Pashupatinath, the temple of the lord Shiva, the lord of animals, is the holiest of Hindu temples and the center of Hindu Pilgrimages throughout the world. The temple features a pagoda with a gold-plated roof, silver doors and stunning wood carvings and is appropriately set in a thick forest near the Baghmati River, where birds, monkeys and other wildlife freely roam.
Pashupatinath Temple
The only way to explore Kathmandu’s chaotic maze is by foot. The Thamel, crammed with colorful stalls, exotic produce, overhanging balconies and shouting touts is an experience not to be missed. This is a fascinating place to just relax with a cup of tea and watch the myriad and bewildering mixture of people –Gurkhas from the Pokhara region, traders from India, Tibetan women and holy Hindu priests on their way to a pilgrimage in the valley.
Busy Thamel
A walk into the back streets of Kathmandu provides an enchanting introduction into the history, architecture and culture of this city and highlights the medieval character and spiritual heritage of a country at the forefront of religious tolerance and cultural harmony
