Nepal Day 7: Boudha Stupa, Pashupatinath Temple & Swayambhunath

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The first thing we do right after we woke up to a very cold weather in Nagarkot is to take a peek of the view outside of our hotel room. Oh boy! It's absolutely amazing and beautiful. Immediately we changed our clothes and put on extra and thick jackets before stepping out from our room. All of us were keep shivering but it can't stop us from keep taking the excellent view of the mountain range. Glad that we chosen to stay in Hotel View Point of Nagarkot cause we can get an equally good view just from the rooftop of the hotel without going further. 

#1: Excellent view of the mountain range from the rooftop of the hotel we stayed in Nagarkot


#2: View of other hotel guests standing on the rooftop waiting for the sunrise.


#3: In case you miss out my previous post, Hotel View Point is where we stayed in Nagarkot.

Without wasting any time, we packed our bags and check-out cause we only left one-full day to do sightseeing before leaving Nepal on the following day. This round, the ride was shorter than the rest of our journey as it took approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from Nagarkot heading down to Kathmandu. 

Boudha Stupa

Located 8km to the east of downtown Katmandu, Boudhanath Stupa is not just one of the most imposing landmarks of the city but it also enlisted as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The 36-meter high white stupa of Boudha is massive and dominates the skyline in the area making it is the largest spherical stupa in the Kathmandu Valley. 

#4: The white inspiring Great Stupa

The location of the stupa is pretty interesting as it once lay on the ancient trade route to Tibet and it was here that Tibetan merchants have a rest and offered prayers for many centuries. It is one of the major pilgrimage sites for Buddhists around the world. Till today, you will see many monks and people ritually walking around the stupa. Some even lighting up the butter lamp and give their prayer. Whereas for visitors like us, we prefer to stroll around looking for some catching-eye souvenirs and even observe the stupa from a nearby rooftop restaurant for lunch. Boudha is not just one colourful sight, but it always full of live and energy. 

#5: Not just colourful, Boudha is always full of live and energy.

#6

#7: The Eyes of Boudha Stupa


#8

Travel Tips of Boudhanath Stupa:

• Entrance fee for the foreign visitor is 400 rupees. 
• Do remember to walk clockwise around stupa.
• Keeping the stupa to your right. 
• Prayer wheels should also be spun clockwise. 
• You are allow to enter the stupa and climb up to the white dome for a view of the entire square.

#9: One of the best lunch we had in Nepal. We went to a restaurant where it has a view of the stupa from the rooftop. 

Pashupatinath Temple

Claimed to be the oldest, largest and holiest Hindu temple complex in Nepal, Pashupatinath Temple is situated on both banks of Bagmati River and on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu. Built in the 5th century, Pashupatinah Temple is one of the four most prominent religious site in Asia for devotees of Lord Shiva. The main pagoda style temple has a gilded roof, four sides covered in silver and exquisite wood carvings.  However, only Hindus are are allowed through the gates of the main temple. 

#10: The main temple of Pashupatinath - only Hindus are allowed to enter. 

One thing that caught our surprise here is there were a rituals of cremation performed here. Don't say I never warn you - the rituals of cremation is not for the faint hearted as we able to see pretty clearly of a dead body fully wrapped in yellow or gold by the river bank. Some of the foreign tourists were indeed watching curiously from across the river from the hillside, but not for us. We ain't ready for it, neither do we're expecting for it and so, immediately we walked away from standing still and watching the whole funeral rituals. 

#11: Pashupatinath Temple is also a cremation site where the last rites of Hindus are performed. 


#12: Interesting and fascinating Hindu culture but not for the faith-hearted one.

The thing that really caught our attention are the sadhus. Sadhu is a holy person in Hinduism and Jainism who has renounced the worldly life. It literally means one who practices a "sadhana" or keenly follows a path of spiritual discipline. But do make sure before taking any of photos of the sadhus, seek for permission or else, it comes with a price. Yes, they were asking for money from us when we took photos of them.  

#13: Sadhu, a holy person in Hinduism. 


#14: Some of sadhus covered their body with ashes from firewood and faces painted with Tikala.

Swayambhunath Stupa

Our final stop of the day is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the Kathmandu Alley - the Swayambhunath Stupa. Mobbed by monkeys and soaring above the city on a lofty hilltop, the "Monkey Temple" has stood as a hallmark of faith and harmony for centuries with Hindu temples and deities incorporated in this Buddhist site. 

#15: Swayambhu, one of the holiest Buddhist stupas in Nepal.


#16: Visiting the temple at night.


#17: Swayambhu also known as the Monkey Temple. Now you can figure it why.


#18: Spin the prayer wheels clockwise.

It was indeed one long and exhausted day for us after covering three attractions in a day. Can't wait to check-in to our last and final night hotel in Kathmandu, do some last minute shopping and then, have a good rest. 

#19: Bag Packer's Lodge of Kathmandu - It's not that bad but because it's facing the main street, so it can be quite noisy and if you are light sleeper, probably you will be having some sleeping issue.

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