Kathmandu Adventure: Temples and Culture

Michael was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed his pour over, which was a light, fruity roast. Here, I decided to try the first of many Nepali masala teas, which is a milk tea with spices. It tasted very similar to chai tea that I used to have in the States, but it had a slightly stronger taste with the dash of cinnamon. On our last day in Kathmandu we went to Mountbrew coffee, which was even more specialty than here. We were so happy to find great coffee thriving in Nepal. Mira’s Coffee had a few cute dogs as well, making it a great way to start our adventure in Kathmandu.

Swayabhunath is one of the most sacred sites in Nepal. This UNESCO site is also known as Monkey Temple, because of the swarms of monkeys that call the temple home. Swayabhanath is a pilgrimage site for both Buddhists and Hindu worshippers. The temple is home to the famous Swoyambhu Mahachaitya, a stupa said to have been the pilgrimage site of the primordial Buddha. It’s obvious why this location is spiritually important, placed on a large hill in the center of the valley.

Entering the temple, we were greeted by hordes of dogs. We joked that this should be named Dog Temple instead of Monkey Temple. There were so many locals coming to worship and enjoy the environment. Our taxi dropped us off at the top of the road, but it still required a small climb to get to the top of the hill. As I reached the top, I understood why it’s called Monkey Temple, as seemingly hundreds of monkeys were swarming the buildings. The view of the city here is incredible, and you can see all the way across the valley on all sides.

I loved being at this temple. I have never seen a stupa like this before, and the vibe was very different from any temple we’ve visited in Asia. Eyes are one of my favorite parts of the body, since they’re so expressive, so I loved the design and symbolism of the stupa. The area has both Hindu and Buddhist shrines, which were very cool to see. Religious harmony is always great, and I loved witnessing it in person as we saw both Hindu and Buddhist monks side by side in the temple.

I hate monkeys, and I see too many around Asia, so I was pretty hesitant. Monkeys can be very mean, especially when they’re used to humans. Thankfully, these monkeys are not aggressive, although you should still never approach them, offer them food, smile at them, or have loose belongings. If you have a true monkey phobia, maybe skip this location since they are really everywhere. That being said, it was one of the most beautiful and unique places on our Kathmandu adventure, so I’m so glad I pushed through.

Nepal is an ancient country, with various kingdoms stretching back for thousands of years. There have been several kingdoms that settled in the Kathmandu valley, and at the center of their cities were the Durbar Squares. These city centers were the heart of culture, trade, and politics in the ancient kingdoms. There are three Durbar Squares in Kathmandu, and Kathmandu Durbar Square is the closest to the modern city and remains a hub for locals. The plaza consists of temples, shrines, and palaces, and the surrounding neighborhood is full of great restaurants, cafes, and markets.

The area was settled as early as the 3rd century. However, most of the structures date to around the 16th-17th century, making the square over 800 years old. There is a palace that you can enter to see more of the buildings, however we came too late to get inside. Thankfully, the exterior of the square has most of the structures, and we were more than satisfied. In 2015, a devastating earthquake hit the city and damaged or destroyed many of the buildings. They have been hard at work repairing the buildings, and it’s still so worth it to visit this incredible historic spot.

Nepal doesn’t just have ancient architecture. Located in Thamel is Kaiser Mahal, an oddly out-of-place palace built in a classical style. Constructed by Chandra Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana, a prime minister of the Rana dynasty of Nepal, and taken over by the modern Nepali government in 1951. While the palace is now used by a government office, the opulent gardens of the palace have been opened to the public. Now, tourists can explore these beautiful classical gardens themselves. In the corner is the Kaiser Cafe, where you can enjoy upscale Western dining in the beauty of the garden.

Walking into the gardens was strange. One moment, I was on the busy streets of Thamel with motorbikes whizzing by, then I was in a serene garden with beautiful plants and fountains. This is the perfect place to take photos, because every corner of the garden is perfectly manicured and maintained. It honestly felt like an attraction at Disneyland because it was a bit too nice. They don’t allow tripods, but we didn’t mind because there were plenty of places to prop up a phone and get a pic together.

45 minutes from Thamel is one of Kathmandu’s popular attractions, the Chandragiri Hills Cable Car. Riding up the cable car offers stunning views of the Himalayan mountain range, as well as a great view of the city. The cable car ride is 12 minutes one way as you go up to 2,551 meters in altitude. The cable car reminded us of Ba Na Hills in Da Nang, Vietnam. There is so much to do up here, it’s like a small village. At the top, there is a resort, a temple, hiking courses, and an amusement park.

Since there was nothing else to see, we decided to at least check out the temple before heading down. Bhaleshwor Mahadev Temple is located on Chandragiri Hill, is dedicated to lord Shiva and is also a pilgrimage site. It’s a pretty small temple, and I wouldn’t recommend coming here just for that. Of course, there are plenty of other activities at the top, like sky bikes, a cafe, and a restaurant, but we had other things planned for the day, so we threw in the towel and hoped to get a better view in Pokhara.

Nirvana Boutique Hotel is a three-star hotel located in the heart of Thamel. Although it is a loud and busy neighborhood, Nirvana is tucked away and quiet. As soon as we arrived, we were greeted kindly with a warm towel and welcome juice. The room was a lot bigger than we expected, and the view was nice as we saw prayer flags draped outside.