Deprecated: Required parameter $is_script follows optional parameter $list in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 21 Deprecated: Required parameter $handle follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 45 Deprecated: Required parameter $src_cdn follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 45 Deprecated: Required parameter $deps follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 45 Deprecated: Required parameter $ver follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 45 Deprecated: Required parameter $footer_or_media follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 45 Deprecated: Required parameter $handle follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 104 Deprecated: Required parameter $src_cdn follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 104 Deprecated: Required parameter $deps follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 104 Deprecated: Required parameter $ver follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 104 Deprecated: Required parameter $footer_or_media follows optional parameter $register in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php on line 104 Deprecated: Required parameter $path follows optional parameter $expire in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_functions.php on line 54 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php:21) in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/onecom-vcache/vcaching.php on line 614 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php:21) in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/onecom-vcache/vcaching.php on line 622 Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-content/plugins/redux-framework/ReduxCore/inc/class.redux_cdn.php:21) in /customers/5/a/f/wondersoftraveling.com/httpd.www/wp-includes/feed-rss2.php on line 8 Monkey Temple – Wonders of Traveling https://www.wondersoftraveling.com welcome to the world of an ex-world traveller Wed, 18 Apr 2018 14:23:21 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 https://usercontent.one/wp/www.wondersoftraveling.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-logo4-32x32.png Monkey Temple – Wonders of Traveling https://www.wondersoftraveling.com 32 32 7 things to do in Kathmandu https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/09/10/7-things-do-in-kathmandu/ https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/09/10/7-things-do-in-kathmandu/#comments Sun, 10 Sep 2017 15:57:12 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=732 Exactly one year ago I was exploring the ‘roof of the world’, Nepal. As I already mentioned earlier, there are a couple of things you should know before going there. In this article I may have painted a rather negative picture of the country, but that was only because I wasn’t quite prepared for what was waiting for me. Today I would like to tell you a bit more about what you can visit and do in Kathmandu; because despite the high noise and smog levels, I really enjoyed my time there.

Durbar Square

Durbar Square is probably one of the most known highlights of the capital of Nepal. This massive square is located in the heart of Kathmandu. Unfortunately, after the massive earthquake of 2015, a lot of century-old temples and buildings on Durbar Square were left damaged. This became quite clear when I was walking around on Durbar Square since lots of temples hadn’t been rebuilt yet.

However, despite the damage Durbar Square should definitely be high up on your list. You can visit or admire 50 different temples which were built in between the 16th and the 18th century. Before entering the square, all foreign citizens will be asked to buy an entrance ticket which costs 1000 rupees, or about €10. Even though the entrance fee is quite expensive (for Nepalese standards), Durbar Square is definitely worth a visit. Here you’ll find temples in which some of the old Nepalese kings resided. The ones I liked the best were: Taleju (the biggest temple), Jagannath, Kal Bhairav, Swet-Bhairav, Kaandasthamp and Nautale Durbar. Luckily, all these temples are within walking distance and you can visit them in just a couple of hours.

7 things to do in Kathmandu

Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple)

Swayambhunath Temple is located on top of a hill, 3 km west of Kathmandu city center. You can reach this hill in two ways: you can either take a cab which will drive you all the way to the top, or you can choose to climb 356 steps. I decided to go for the last option. Once you arrive at the foot of the hill, you will understand why this temple is also called the “Monkey Temple”. While making your way up, you will be accompanied by hundreds of monkeys!

Don’t underestimate the climb to the top. When I visited Swayambhunath, humidity levels were at 90% which caused me to sweat like never before. However, once you arrive at the top you will be rewarded with an amazing view all over Kathmandu. You will see hundreds of thousands of small houses all seemingly attached to each other. You’ll spot the beautiful hills surrounding the capital. It will be so worth the effort!

The Swayambunath Stupa is the oldest one in its kind and was already built in the 5th century! Take your time to walk around the massive Stupa, stroll on the surrounding square and admire the other small temples which are also located on top of this hill. Definitely one of the highlights of Kathmandu!

7 things to do in Kathmandu

Pashupatinath

The Pashupatinath complex is located on both sides of the Bagmati river and consists of a staggering 518 temples. The Pashupatinath temple is one of the most holy temples of Hinduism. Hindus spend the last weeks of their lives in this temple and are cremated on the river banks. According to Hinduism, people who die in the Pashupatinath temple will be reborn as humans, regardless of their karma or the way they have lived their lives. The last journey Nepalese Hindus make is one that takes them from the Bagmati River to the Ganges, the holy river.

As a tourist, it is basically impossible not to witness these cremations. Before going to Nepal I had heard about the cremations taking place here, and I actually didn’t want to see them. However, since they are taking place on the river banks, it’s hard not to accidentally witness one. Even though I didn’t want to see one, in hindsight I am actually happy I did. It was very impressive to see how Nepali people deal with death. It is so different compared to Europe. A Nepali man also told us that wives used to be cremated alive with their deceased husband! Luckily, that is no longer the case now.

Unfortunately, if you’re not a Hindu, you cannot enter the biggest temple of the complex. However, since you can visit and admire hundreds of other temples at Pashupatinath, this should also be on your to-do list. Tickets also cost 1000 rupees.

7 things to do in Kathmandu

Boudhanath

The temples and stupas of Durbar Square and Swayambhunath are not the only temples worth visiting. Boudhanath temple should also be high on your list. This temple is located 6.5 km from Durbar Square. I would recommend taking a taxi there because we tried to walk there, relying on Google Maps and ended up getting completely lost.

The Stupa is one of the biggest in the whole world and is surrounded by tons of nice souvenir shops and restaurants. For me, visiting Boudhanath was one of the best experiences in all of Kathmandu. At the time, they were still in the process of restoring the Stupa. However, even if I couldn’t see the Stupa in all its glory, it still looked incredibly impressive.

7 things to do in Kathmandu

Thamel

Thamel is a touristy neighborhood about 1.5 km from Durbar Square. A lot of tourists choose to reside in this area because it feels a bit more “Western”. You can find hundreds of shops selling Nepalese clothes, souvenirs and hiking equipment. If you’re a bit scared to try out Nepalese food, you should head to Thamel because several Italian restaurants are located here. Stroll through the windy streets of Thamel and you’ll bump into book shops, cozy bars and cafes where you can enjoy a very tasty continental breakfast. If you want to book activities or excursions, this is also the place to be. Several travel agencies are located in Thamel.

However, you will still notice you’re walking in Nepal, and not in a Western country. Hundreds of cars will constantly pass you by on unpaved roads, while several cows sleep on these same roads. It is a sight you will not see in Europe, but it definitely has its charm!

Garden of Dreams

As I already mentioned earlier, Kathmandu is a very loud and noisy city. However, there are some places you can go to if you feel like you need to flee from the chaos. Garden of Dreams is the perfect spot to go to when you need a little break. This beautiful garden is located in Thamel. Entrance tickets cost 200 rupees (about €2).

The garden will feel like an oasis of peace and quiet. You can sit down on one of the benches, stroll through the garden or have a drink in the cafe which is located within the garden.

Everest Mountain Flight

Another thing you can do in Kathmandu, is taking the Everest Mountain Flight. Spotting the highest mountain of the planet has to be one of the biggest dreams of anyone who decides to go to Nepal. We, however, were very unlucky. We had underestimated the monsoon season. The weather was never good enough for us to take the Everest Mountain Flight.

This flight leaves from the International Airport of Kathmandu and is operated by Buddha Air. The whole flight takes about 1 hour, and will give you the chance to see Mount Everest with your own eyes. This, of course, comes at a price. Tickets for this flight cost about 190 dollars per person.

#nepal #impressies

A post shared by Jolene Follens (@wondersoftraveling) on

If you have visited Kathmandu and feel like I left out something, please feel free to leave a comment!

]]> https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/09/10/7-things-do-in-kathmandu/feed/ 2 Day 2: Durbar Square & the Monkey Temple https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/08/29/day-2-durbar-square-monkey-temple/ https://www.wondersoftraveling.com/2017/08/29/day-2-durbar-square-monkey-temple/#comments Tue, 29 Aug 2017 12:56:23 +0000 http://www.wondersoftraveling.com/?p=660 This is part 2 of my trip to Nepal 2016-series. Click here to read the first part.

Every Nepali has something to offer

Yesterday morning, we immediately made our way over to Durbar Square. This time we could walk around without feeling suffocated. Every 10 meters, however, we were stopped by Nepalese people who wanted to sell us all kinds of things.

“Sir, sir, do you want to buy a bracelet?”
“Sir, sir, do you need a guide? I am a very good guide, I don’t want any money. I’ll just show you around and then afterwards you can give me something!”

We’re not used to being constantly approached like that, but unfortunately we can’t hide that we’re tourists. They see us coming from miles away, approach us and even continue following us after we’ve declined their offers. When we entered the square only us tourists had to buy entrance tickets. The Nepali can just enter for free.

Durbar Square is still damaged by the earthquake

Durbar Square is filled with temples which were built between the 12th and 18th century. The square is very impressive, but it was also sad to see how many buildings, temples and stupas had been damaged by the 2015 earthquake. Certain temples were partly damaged; some of their pagodas had collapsed. Others had disappeared completely. Visiting this square also showed us how poor Nepal really is. A lot of the partly damaged buildings still hadn’t been reconstructed. Bricks were just lying on the ground; it didn’t look as if they were going to be rebuilt anytime soon. Regardless of the damages, Durbar Square is still worth a visit, especially the courtyards were very beautiful.

Day 2: Durbar Square and the Monkey Temple

Kathmandu, the city of a thousand smells

Afterwards, we decided to go to the Monkey Temple (or also known as Swayambhunath). To get there, we had to walk through the narrow alleys and backstreets of Kathmandu. This way we got to see with our own eyes how most Nepali people live. There are hundreds of thousands of houses in this city which are all built very closely together (even worse than in Malta), and which are usually in a pretty bad state. It also doesn’t always smell that nice here, which we noticed when we walked past some sort of stable which was full of animal cadavers. Tasty… We quickly walked past the stable and continued our way to the Monkey Temple.

Incredible views from Swayambhunath

Once we arrived at the bottom of the Temple, we immediately realized why they call it the Monkey Temple. Hundreds of monkeys live on the steps that lead towards the Temple. In the meantime, humidity levels had reached about 100%, which became very clear when we had climbed half of the stairs towards the stupa. Sweat was dripping down our faces and I even had to stop for a little while to catch my breath. The steps reached 60° , needless to say the climb up towards the temple was quite heavy. However, once we arrived at the top of the hill, we were rewarded with an impressive view all over Kathmandu and its surrounding hills. The stupa itself was also incredibly impressive and beautiful, as you can see on the pictures.

Day 2: Durbar Square and the Monkey Temple Day 2: Durbar Square and the Monkey Temple Day 2: Durbar Square and the Monkey Temple Day 2: Durbar Square and the Monkey Temple

Haggling is an art not everyone masters

During the descent, we realized it would be impossible to find our way back to Durbar Square. Suddenly, a taxi driver walked over to us and offered to drive us there for 600 rupees.
Because we had been ripped off several times yesterday, dad said: “We’ve already been ripped off too much!”
We wanted to leave until the man lowered his price to 400 rupees. Dad, however, still didn’t want to accept it. The man kept on insisting, but dad refused again and said: “I’ll give you 1000 rupees, not a cent more!” Both the taxi driver and I were staring at him in disbelief. “Do you mean 1000 cents?” The man asked.
Dad impatiently said: “No, 1000 rupees!”. The taxi driver looked even more lost, while I tried to explain that 400 was less than 1000. Finally, dad realized his mistake and quickly accepted the offer of 400 rupees!

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