| In the early 1850s, the English traveler, | | | | |
| Francis Egerton, visited Nepal and described | | | | On top of the mound is a cube with the |
| the city of Kathmandu as he saw it then: "A | | | | celebrated "eyes of the Buddha" looking in |
| picturesque and quaint looking temple and a | | | | all four directions, and the whole building |
| cluster of wide-eaved houses, profusely | | | | is surmounted by a golden spire. Swayambhu is |
| adorned with carved woodwork, form a pretty | | | | occasionally known as the Monkey Temple, due |
| foreground. In the plain below is a broad | | | | to the hundreds of monkeys that roam the |
| river, on the opposite bank of which stands | | | | temple confines. Nepal's most important and |
| the town, with its numberless Chinese-looking | | | | sacred Hindu temple is Pashupatinath. It is |
| temples, the brass work with which they are | | | | dramatically located on the banks of the |
| ornamented glittering in the sun." | | | | Bagmati River on the eastern side of |
| | | | Kathmandu. The temple is built as a pagoda, |
| Kathmandu has been "off limits" to most | | | | with some of the roofs clad with copper |
| foreigners for many years since then, and it | | | | overlaid with gold. |
| was only in 1951 that tourists were permitted | | | | |
| to visit Nepal. Set in the small Kathmandu | | | | Pashupatinath is regarded as the important |
| Valley and surrounded by high mountains, | | | | Shiva (Pashupati) temple in the world and |
| Kathmandu is a medieval metropolis with | | | | Hindu pilgrims come there from all over the |
| superb artistic and architectural traditions | | | | world, including from every corner of Nepal |
| that have miraculously survived the | | | | and India. The temple complex is an amazing |
| centuries. | | | | scene to behold with pilgrims, semi-naked |
| | | | sadhus (holy men), ritual bathing in the |
| The old town of Kathmandu is a masterpiece of | | | | river, and cremation ghats. |
| urban planning created by the Newar people. | | | | |
| | | | Not far from Pashupatinath is Bodnath, the |
| Most traditional buildings are built of red | | | | most important Tibetan Buddhist monument |
| brick and dark wood. Courtyards and plazas | | | | outside Tibet. Bodnath is the largest stupa |
| abound on all sides, so that even though the | | | | in Nepal and is the religious center for |
| streets are narrow and the population many, | | | | Nepal's large community of Tibetans. |
| there is a feeling of space and harmony. The | | | | |
| windows and doors of traditional houses are | | | | Kathmandu's heritage is much more than its |
| decorated with lavish carvings of varied | | | | architecture. The visitor will enjoy the |
| designs. | | | | festivals, the handicrafts and treks to the |
| | | | nearby Himalayan foothills. Kathmandu will |
| Kathmandu's royal palace is a massive | | | | richly reward the visitor who is willing to |
| structure with thick mud walls, shady | | | | stay for more than a day or two, and who |
| porticoes and 55 courtyards. It is decorated | | | | tries to explore the city and the culture a |
| with huge quantities of gilded copper. | | | | little more and to meet and mix with the |
| | | | local people. With the massive changes |
| The temples of Kathmandu are everywhere. | | | | brought to Kathmandu with the arrival of mass |
| Small shrines are found in courtyards | | | | tourism, democracy, globalization, and new |
| (chowks), squares and back lanes, and are | | | | technologies, much traditional life and many |
| part of the everyday life. | | | | customs are disappearing in Kathmandu, |
| | | | especially among the younger generation. |
| Dozens of mandirs (temples) are scattered | | | | |
| around Durbar Square, including the | | | | Modern Kathmandu does have its share of |
| pagoda-like Jagannath Mandir built in the | | | | problems, including poverty and pollution. |
| sixteenth century. | | | | |
| | | | But for the visitor who wants to see and |
| West of the city on a hill with commanding | | | | experience a city and a culture that is quite |
| views of the city is the Buddhist stupa | | | | different from the typical city in their home |
| (mound-like sacred structure) named Swayambhu | | | | country, Kathmandu is still is a remarkable |
| (or Swayambhunath). This is the most ancient | | | | and unforgettable place in the heart of the |
| and sacred Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu. | | | | Himalayas. |