Kathmandu, Nepal

Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal, located on Kathmandu Valley at an altitude of 1300 meters and surrounded by the icy peaks of the Himalayas. The metropolitan area totals about 1.5 million inhabitants.
The capital of pilgrims and hippies is a city full of mystery in which countless beliefs influence each other. It is called the "city of 1000 temples": Hindu temples, with three level roofs alternate with Buddhist pagodas and pavilions decorated with images of gods and demons masks. The contrast between modern and traditional in Kathmandu is pushed to the limit, with the medieval atmosphere from the Old Town, very different from the modern area. Nepal's capital has a university, museums and factories. A specific image seen everywhere: temples, palaces, pagodas, shops with traditional items, narrow streets - the promenade place for sacred cows.
The Durbar Square is a place of reference in the Old Town where you feel like time stood still. You can find here the royal palace built in the sixteenth century and dedicated to the monkey king Hanuman. Believers address prayers and bring him offerings, believing that the god protects them against diseases. Here is worshiped the elephant-headed god Ganesha as well who brings wisdom and wealth.
The Nepal kings were crowned in the courtyard, in which you enter through a golden gate. Nearby there is another courtyard where offerings such as cows or chickens are brought to mother goddess Durga in order to appease her.
7 of the 10 monuments of the country included in the UNESCO World Heritage can be found in Kathmandu. Hopefully we have given you enough reasons to visit this open air museum. You will discover the rest on the spot...Less