Unique Things in Kathmandu: Sound Bowl Healing and Ancient Squares

The Buddha Stupa is exactly what it sounds like, a stupa dedicated to the Buddha. I wasn’t sure what we were getting into because it was hard to find information about it. I was shocked when we walked across a bustling street and through an alley to find a massive 5-story-tall stupa surrounded by a large circular courtyard. The reason there is a lack of information is that nobody is exactly sure of the history. It seems like it was first constructed in the 600s, probably by a Tibetan king, but that’s all that is certain. What I can say for sure is that this is absolutely one of the coolest things we saw in Nepal.

The stupa itself is much grander than I had thought from the pictures I saw. It completely takes up your vision with its blindingly white surface and colored flags fluttering in the breeze. The area is a large circular road that is full of souvenir shops, restaurants, coffee shops, and more. I wasn’t expecting it to be popping, but it seemed like everyone in Kathmandu had come out to enjoy the neighborhood. We spent some time walking around and even found a few ginormous prayer wheels hiding in a corner. There’s really a lot to explore in this space.

Another great surprise is that you can walk on the stupa. You have to take your shoes off, which feels amazing on the cool white ground. From on top we could see the whole square (circle?) and all the people milling around. It’s such a peaceful place to enjoy the surroundings. You can get right next to the prayer flags, which are a lot bigger than they seemed from the ground. The view of the stupa with the flags leading up was one of the best parts of our entire trip. I’m not sure if peak tourist season would change that opinion, but we’re really glad for the time we spent there. 

Before we left Nepal, we had to try Nepali beans one more time. We loved the shops we went to in Kathmandu and Pokhara, so on a whim, Yemisi found Mountbrew on Google Maps. It looked great, but we were going in blind. As soon as we arrived, the vibes were off the charts, with plenty of plants and a lovely home vibe. As it turns out, Mountbrew Coffee is a roastery and barista academy, and they REALLY know what’s up.

I struck up a conversation with the barista and a kind gentleman who must have been an owner or manager. The shop owns coffee plantations, so it’s direct to the source from growing, processing, roasting, and brewing. Not only do they do barista training, cupping classes, and small batch roasting, but they even brew their own kombucha! That, coupled with the vibe, had me sold.

Needless to say, the coffee was perfect. Nepali beans are surprisingly fruity and complex, and it was easily a 9 out of 10 cup of coffee. The kombucha was also incredible, but what really shocked us was the brownie we ordered as an afterthought. Without hyperbole, this was one of the greatest brownies we’ve ever had. Until this point, French Bastards in Paris was the only S-tier brownie we’ve had, but this one gave it a real run for its money, and I’m not sure which one is better. Everything at Mountbrew screamed perfection, and I wish I could visit every day.

A Durbar Square is a plaza area that is an ancient public space. There are three of them in Kathmandu, and they are all built in front of the palaces of the kingdoms of Nepal. These UNESCO World Heritage sites have temples, courtyards, and various religious and practical buildings. We visited Kathmandu Durbar Square on our first day in the city and loved it so much that we wanted to visit another. The third square is far outside the city, so Patan Square was the choice.

These squares are great places to hang out and get a taste of Nepali culture. Locals come and sit on the ledges around the square to enjoy the weather and architecture. There are plenty of restaurants, beautiful cafes, and markets surrounding the squares. When we arrived, we had to pay a small fee, but it was worth it to walk the grounds and see the beautiful buildings.

This square was the city of Patan, built in the 17th century. There are beautiful fountains, step wells, temples, and even a Baskin-Robbins on the square; they really have everything! Sadly, many of the buildings were damaged in a recent earthquake, but we were surprised to find that most of the buildings were intact, unlike in Kathmandu Durbar Square. This ended up being one of our favorite places in Nepal. Getting to experience the ancient architecture was so different than anywhere else we’ve ever been.

Just north of the square is Swotha Kiosk Tea, a small shop in a lovely little plaza. It’s very unassuming, but this shop sells the best tea in Nepal. Swotha Kiosk Tea and the surrounding businesses are family-owned and operated, and only sell products made in Nepal. All of the tea is locally sourced and organic, and they really know what they’re doing here. We both got a black masala tea and sat on the porch. The view of the square is beautiful, and it’s nice and tucked away so you can enjoy the surroundings peacefully.

After talking with the owner, we decided to buy a small singing bowl, which we had already planned to purchase for a friend back in the States. It felt good to know we were getting a real handmade Nepali product, and admittedly, the bowl sounds incredible. Somehow, Yemisi found out the owner does mini sound bowl therapy sessions at the shop. The sessions take about 5 minutes per person for a small fee (it was around $5). He can also come to your hotel to do full sound bowl sessions that range from 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Nepal is known for its deep Buddhist roots, but Hinduism has had a presence in Nepal for thousands of years. Pashupatinath is considered the most important Hindu site in the country, and one of the most important in the world. It is a major pilgrimage site for many Hindus from across Asia, which is convenient since it’s only 5 minutes from the airport. Pashupatinath is named after Pashupati, a Nepali version of the deity Shiva. If you’re familiar with Hinduism, you’ll understand why this is an important temple.

We admired the beautiful facade of the main entrance and made our way around the temple. The place was swarming with families hanging out by the river, people worshiping, and plenty of visitors just enjoying the area. We crossed the bridge over the river and made our way up the hill. There is an interesting grave area on the hillside, but the star of the show is at the top. Even though you can’t go inside, the best view is up here looking down. You can see the entire temple and the beautiful gold roof of the main building, all set between the river and the city. There are plenty of benches to enjoy the view, and it was best way to end the day before going to the airport.