April 2, 2012 @ Kathmandu, Nepal


Nagarkot is famous for its panoramic view of spectacular sunrise view of the Himalaya when the sky is clear

Breakfast @ Peaceful Cottage

Sizzling breakfast

Alex, manager @ Peaceful Cottage, is a really funny guy

Colorful paint

Pashupatinath

The Bagmati River

Bhasmeshvar Ghat, the most-used cremation site in the Kathmandu Valley

Cremation

Cremation

The main cremation site

Arya Ghat dating from the early 1900s

The only place where lustral water for Pashupatinath Temple can be obtained

Hindu cremation rituals

Hindu cremation rituals

Hindu cremation rituals

The sons go around

Then the daughters go around

Arya Ghat where members of the royal family are cremated

There is usually an animal (stone) worshipping to the temple

Pashaputi Temple*s extensive grounds

Old ladies @ temple

Young hindu

Pashupati Temple stands in the center of the town of Deopatan

Hindus alone are allowed to enter the temple premises

One of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva in the world

Hindu temples of Pashupati is one of the seven groups of UNESCO World Heritage #121

The Cow Legend

Cute baby

What is going on?

Hindu rituals

Another cute nepali girl

It stands 23.6 meters above the ground

Richly ornamented gilt and silver-plated doors are on all sides

Legend says that Lord Shiva once took the form of an antelope

Me @ Pashupatinath Temple

Hindu rituals

Free *shooes* service

Monkey on the attrack

Stealing food from the elderly

Social Welfare Center Briddhasram

Stupas @ Social Welfare Center Briddhasram

Nepali kids

Mom and child

Mom and child

Playing with the motorbike

Detail crafted door

Sadhu @ Pashupatinath

Buddhantha Stupa across from Pashupatinath

Buddhantha Stupa across from Pashupatinath

Cremations on Bagmati riverbank

Sadhu @ Pashupatinath

Local transport

Police giving out traffic ticket

View of Kathmandu Valley

Tibetan monk

Lunch!

Prayer flags around the Tibetan monastery

Swayambhunath

An ancient religious complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley

Colorful prayer flags and stupa

Bell engraved with prayers

Shrines and temples @ Swayambhunath

Shrines and temples @ Swayambhunath

Handicraft

Amazing window frames

Buddhist and Tibetan-inspired trinkets for sale

Much of Swayambhunath*s iconography comes from the Vajrayana tradition of Newar Buddhism

FF @ Swayambhunath

Quiet sleeping spot

Nepal flag in gold color

The prayer wheels

Kitty

Temple @ Swayambhunath

Buddhist gompa

Claimed to have 365 almost vertical steps to get to the main site

The stupa has Buddha*s eyes and eyebrows painted on

Stupa & Temple

Stupa at Swayambhunath

Me @ Swayambhunath

Some Hindu influence @ Swayambhunath

View on Kathmandu from the Swaymbhunath hill

Colorful prayer flags

Colorful prayer flags and stupas

Pond for coins donation

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Prayer flags hang along a mountain path in Nepal

Squeezed in this tiny car for few hours

Rush hour

Hyatt Regency Kathmandu

Hyatt Regency Kathmandu

A good hot shower is all we need

Cheers

Nepali set dinner

Yogurt dessert

Crepe and fried banana?


Hazy day @ Nagarkot, not mountain to be seen