trip 1 Boudhanat – Pashupatinath, Bhaktapur

Boudhanat -(Bodnath – Baoudha)

This tour, a must on the UNESCO World Heritage Site, begins with a visit to Asia’s largest stupa, teeming with life as thousands of pilgrims gather daily to perform the ritual circumambulation around the dome, under the watchful eyes of the Buddha, who observes them from the central golden tower.

In the past, the stupa was an important stopover on the trade route between Lhasa and Kathmandu: Tibetan traders would come here to pray before setting off on the Himalayan routes with their yaks.

Pashupatinath

Nepal’s most important Hindu temple stands by the sacred waters of the Bagmati, amid stalls selling flowers, prasad (food offerings), incense, rudraksha beads, conches, images of Hindu deities and temples, tika powder in every color of the rainbow, glass lingams and other religious objects.

Devotees and ‘sadhus’ come here to Pashupatinath from as far away as the Indian subcontinent, and many Nepalese are cremated on the banks of the Bagmati.

The main temple is forbidden to non-Hindus, but the complex of shrines, lingams and ghats is very interesting.

Bhaktapur

3rd of the valley’s medieval city-states, Bhaktapur is also the best preserved. Many Nepalese still use its old name, Bhadgaon or Khwopa, which means “city of devotees” in Newari – a fitting name, as the city boasts no less than 3 squares lined with some of the finest temples in the country.

All around Bhaktapur stretch huge basins built in medieval times for storing water, drinking, bathing and performing religious rites. These pools play an important role in the town’s social life.

In Bhaktapur, be sure to try the ‘juju dhau’ (king of yoghurts) as it is certainly one of the richest and creamiest yoghurts in the world!

A visit to the potters’ square may give you the chance to try your hand at this traditional local craft and make your own personalized pot.

Last but not least, a visit to the traditional Lokta tree paper factory will give you the chance to rediscover your souvenir cards or the good old paper notepad and make lasting memories. All this, plus a visit to some of the city’s oldest woodcarving creations, some of which are several hundred years old, and rich in historical and religious diversity.