Kathmandu Valley – Two gems

Just outside of the Kathmandu ring road are two very different, but culturally and religiously important, sites; Pashupatinath (Hindu) and Bodhnath (Buddhist).

Pashupatinath
Nepal's most important Hindu temple stands on the bank of the Bagrati River and is as sacred here as Varanasi on the Ganges is to the Indians; the temple is closed to non-Hindu people so we could not enter, although we did mingle with the crowds. At the side, by the river and two bridges, are the cremation ghats. There were interesting views of all proceedings from the other side of the river.
After this, we walked up the hill past lingam shrines and other temples and descended to the other side and headed for Bodhnath.

Bodhnath (aka Boudha)
Thia is Asia's largest stupa, covering approx 6,700 square meters, and was built originally about 600AD when the Tibetan king converted to Buddhism. It is surrounded now by a huge circle of shops, monasteries and other buildings. We walked round and visited the Guru Lhakhang and tiny Ajima temple before climbing the stupa and circling around it.Read more