Back to Kathmandu

Final days in Nepal - took in some sights in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu.

One of the most sacred Hindu temples of Nepal - Pashupatinath Temple is located on both banks of Bagmati River on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu.    Pashupatinath is the most important temple dedicated to god Shiva. Every year this temple attracts hundreds of elderly followers of Hinduism.

Hindus arrive here to find shelter for the last several weeks of their lives, to meet death, be cremated on the banks of the river and travel their last journey with the waters of the sacred river Bagmati, which later meets the holy river Ganges. Hindus from every corner of Nepal and India are arriving here to die. 

It is believed that those who die in Pashupatinath Temple are reborn as a human, regardless of any misconduct that could worsen their karma. The exact day of their death is predicted by astrologers of the temple.

Holy man at Pashupatinath

Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu.  A number of buddhist temples surround the Stupa and it contains prayer flags and prayer wheels.  

Swayambhunath, is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Swayambhunath occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among Buddhist pilgrimage sites.The Swayambhunath complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines and temples.  It is nicknamed the Monkey Temple.

Beautiful carved doors

On the grounds of the Monkey Temple

These statues are located on the Swayambhunath grounds, and has a few large prayer wheels there.