Kathmandu is quite the intense city.  The transportation is insane, as I’ve come to take as par for the Asian course, and it is unfortunately quite dirty, dusty, and polluted.   The smaller, older streets are packed tight with local markets, tourist shops, street vendors, and more people than you could imagine all flowing together to form a mass that literally pulses and breathes.

In the midst of all the energy lie some of the holiest sites in the Hindu and Buddhist faiths.   Huge temples and stupas lie almost hidden from sight – one at the top of an ardous set of hundreds of stairs guarded by monkeys, another found down a quiet winding lane that a passerby wouldn’t give another look.  These are the jewels of Kathmandu, places where, no matter what your beliefs, you can take respite from the insanity around you and marvel at the humbling power of faith.

Swayambhunath Stupa (a stupa is buddhist building of faith and worship) requires a serious hike to reach, but the sweeping views of Kathmandu valley are well worth it.  A description from my guide book: “According to legend, the Kathmandu Valley was once a lake – geological evidence supports this – and the hill now topped by Swayambhunath rose spontaneously from the waters, hence the name swayambhu, meaning ’self-arisen’”

Each of these Buddha statues is about the size of three Mack trucks stacked on top of one another.

Boudhanath stupa is one of the largest stupas and holiest sites in the world.  The area is particularly sacred to Tibetan Buddhists, and a visit to the site is assured to come with the sight of crimson-clad monks circumambulating the stupa.

At Boudhanath, the eyes of Buddha gaze serenely from every facet of the gilded tower as prayer flags flap over head.

May you always have your own peaceful places.

xo,

klc