Showing posts with label pashupatinath. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pashupatinath. Show all posts

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Pashupatinath - Nepal

It is my second visit at Pashupatinath, Nepal's most important Hindu temple. It is located along the banks of the Bagmati River. The Bagmati is a holy river and, like Varanasi on the Ganges, a popular place to be cremated.
It is a powerful place, only disturbed by the hords of tourists (one of them is me) and feral monkeys - ah well there is also one holy man dressed as a monkey. I sometimes don't know who is the monkey here, the tourist or the monkey itself. Some of them are barely covered and almost push the mourning people aside while they gather around their cremation gath only to get a got shot for the family album. Guys, please cover up, be discreet when taking pictures and show respect. Respect as much as you would expect when you go to the funeral of your mother. Thank you.

Along the holy Bagmati river.

Cremation ghats



Body being washed and prepared.




Monkeys everywhere


A holy man poses for some cash (or you have a long lens)



The monkey is a man

Kids fishing for offerings in the river...and the rare golden teeth.

More monkeys everywhere...

...and more...
...and more.

Sunday, 15 April 2012

Kathmandu - Nepal

Kathmandu (population 1 Million) is Nepal's biggest and busiest city. It is located within the Kathmandu valley which restricts the city to grow in density rather than in area. Dependent on the weather, the city is covered with a layer of pollution and smog hiding away the rich 2000 year history of the city. Kathmunda is the hub of Nepal and any visitor wanting to do sighseeing, trekking, rafting, mountaineering, mountain biking, kayaking... will at least cross Kathmandu once on his schedule.
The city around the tourist centre of Thamel is filled with temples, tourists, motorbikes, policemen, touts, taxis, rickshaws, outdoor shops, hotels, restaurants... well and some locals. more images
Smog cloud hiding the mountains beyond - welcome to Kathmandu.

No lack of souvenirs for the adventure tourists...(By the way, I didn't rain all day but better well equiped than...) 



Almost every temple has it own hairy population - be aware!

Walk clockwise around the temple for good karma


prayer flags



Clockwise movement