Kathmandu, NEPAL
Airing Date: Apr 17th, 2006
Kathmandu has long been a cross roads in Asia, mixing an astonishing variety of cultures - Hindu, Bhuddist, Nepalese, Chinese, Indian, and hippie Westerners.
It is a modern city but in many ways it has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Local traditions and spiritual rituals makes Kathmandu one of the religious centres of the world. The historic section of Kathmandu is centred around the Durbar Square. Durbar Square is a huddle of temples and shrines, with intricately carved roofs, doors and windows. Many buildings are old, having survived the great earthquake of 1933; others have been completely rebuilt, not always in their original form.
Pashupatinath is one of the biggest Hindu shrines in the world and the holiest Hindu pilgrimage destination in Nepal. It's dedicated to Shiva, one of the main Hindu gods. There are images of Shiva along with shrines and temples dedicated to other deities in the complex. It's in Pashupatinath that you're likely to come across holy men or Sadhus. They paint their bodies, grow their hair and smoke hashish in order to reach spiritual enlightenment, like Shiva. Pashupatinath is located near the Bagmati River, along which the Hindus cremate their dead on burial ghats.
If you're into a bit of a mind-makeover, there's the Bodhnath Stupa, one of the biggest Buddhist shrines in the world and Nepal's biggest stupa, a one stop soul-shop. Buddhists believe that by walking around a stupa, in a clockwise direction, you gain merit points for this life and the next. You can also rack up some good karma by spinning the prayer wheels and by climbing the steps of the Monkey Temple. There are 365 steps, one for each day of the year.
Nepal has long been a Mecca for the adventurous traveller and this is reflected in places like the Thamel. It is full of lodges, hotels for budget travellers, restaurants, bars and other tourists oriented shops. There are lots of notice boards which have things like advertisements for trekking partners, yoga and meditation courses, language courses and cultural events.
Then there's Freak Street, Kathmandu's most famous street from the hippy overland days of the 1960s and 70s. It runs south from Basantapur Square. In its prime, the street's squalor and beauty was what attracted the less conventional western tourist: the smell of sweet incense, cheap hotels and shops selling enlightenment, epiphany - anything.
Further Information
Thai Airways International to Kathmandu from $1445 ex west coast and $1712 ex east coast
Includes taxes (subject to fluctuation). Conditions apply.
Website: www.thaiairways.com.au
11 - 25 day trekking holidays from $1610 a person. Includes 2 - 3 days in Kathmandu.
Peregrine Adventures 1300 854 500
Website: www.peregrineadventures.com
Prices correct at 17/4/06
