AROUND THE KATHMANDU VALLEY - Pashpatinath

As suggested in my guide book, I walked from Bodhnath to Pashpatinath. This is Nepal'smost important Hindu temple; although non-hindus cannot enter the main temple.

 

Temple entrance for Hindus only

Many Nepalis choose to be cremated on the banks of this holy river. I personally found the holy Bagmati and site in general extremely polluted and monkeys have definitively taken ownership of the place ;)

In Pashpatinath even the dogs worship Shiva

Holy Bagmati River

Non-hindus entrance after paying 1500 NPR allowing to wander around but not enter the main temple

AROUND THE KATHMANDU VALLEY - Bodhnath (Boudha)

After Kathmandu craziness, Bodhnath felt like a little oasis of peace and quietness. This is the place of Asia's largest stupa, beneath the watchful eyes of the Buddha. 

I sat for a few hours simply enjoying the serenity of the place. Tibetans monks with maroon robes waking by, what it seemed like billions of pigeons taking off and flying back, pilgrims spinning prayer wheels around the stupa, all chaos free.

Historically, the stupa was an important staging post on the trade route between Lhasa and Kathmandu, and Tibetan traders would pray here for a safe journey before driving their yaks on to the high passes of the Himalaya. Today's inhabitants of the village of Boudha are mainly refugees from China after 1959. If interested in learning Boudhisme, this is a great place for Western dharma students.