Kathmandu

September 29th

We spent a day with our trekking group on a guided tour around Kathmandu.  There we were taken to two temples - Pashupatinath, a Hindu temple, and Boudhanath, a Buddhist stupa.  The country of Nepal is majority Hindu though the mountain areas are mainly inhabited by Buddhist people.  Often the two religions are intertwined in Nepalese culture with some Buddhist elements being co-opted by Hinduism and vice versa.

Pashupatinath

The Pashupatinath temple is one of the most sacred Hindu temples in Nepal.  It has Ghats going down to the river, some of which are used for cremation.

A powedered dye seller outside of the temple.  Dyes are used for many of the rituals at Pashupatinath.

Cremation pyres at the ghats.  This side of the temple is where ordinary people are cremated.  To the right there is a bridge, and the other side is reserved for government officials and other important people.

The architecture of Nepal is very different to what we are used to in South India.  There is definitely more of a Chinese influence as you can see from the Pagodas of the Pashupatinath temple.

On the "important" side of the bridge we saw a body covered in cloth and draped in flowers, being readied for the cremation pyre (which is also draped in flowers).

A line of small temples.

Interesting sculpture detail on a corner of one of the small temples.

A sadhu at Pashupatinath.

More sadhus, some covered in ash and paint.  These Hindu holy men allow people to take pictures of them, but only if they give a donation.

Boudhanath

Stupas are dome-shaped Buddhist shrines (which I think are particularly cool-looking).  Stupas in Nepal generally consist of a dome above which Buddha's eyes look out in all directions.  Above the Buddha's eyes is a conical stepped section.  Boudhanath is the largest stupa in Nepal.

The entrance to Boudhanath.

There are many Buddhist monasteries around Boudhanath.

Mandi and Boudhanath.

Prayer flags surround one of the smaller stupas at the Boudhanath complex.

Inside another monestary in the Boudhanath complex.

A giant prayer wheel inscribed with the mantra, "Om Mani Padme Hum" which translates roughtly to "Behold Buddha in the lotus flower".  Prayer wheels come in all sizes and are spun to the left.

Around the whole Boudhanath stupa are smaller prayer wheels.  As prayer wheels are supposed to be spun to the left, you are also supposed to circle the stupa in a clockwise fashion (this is true of any Buddhist or Hindu temple).