Art + Travel Adventure to Nepal – Kathmandu
Discovering Kathmandu
Discovering the allure of the Kathmandu valley with its ancient history is all-embracing. It is small and compact covering an area of 220 square miles. There are seven World Heritage Sites declared by UNESCO which is a number unrivalled anywhere else in the world.
We travel to Swayambunath, a 2000 year old Stupa situated on a hill and surrounded by temples and shrines, we come upon The Monkey God – the guide tries to impart the great religious significance of such monuments and their role in the predominantly Hindu and Buddhist belief system.
We see Durbar Square, a World Heritage Site, the Old Palace, Hanuman Dhoka, Kal Bhairav and Kasthamandap, a temple built from the wood on one tree.
We hear stories of the hippie paradise Kathmandu became in the early 1960’s when the Beatles came to find Nirvana leaving with a trail of musicians in their wake.
It is clear at this stage that the warm Nepalese friendliness and hospitality more than makes up for the country’s poor infrastructure and shortcomings particularly in relation to hygiene.
Kathmandu is exciting!