this is what you'd look like after one nite in Katmandu !
"colors of Nepal.."
typical tourist clad in latest dry-fit wear & polariod sunglasses
Durbar Square
For many people, stepping out of the plane into Katmandu is an exhilarating shock...the sights, sounds and smells lead to sensory overload. Buzzing around the crazy polluted noisy traffic along the narrow no-system roads either in a taxi or rickshaw dodging the trekking touts or street sellers, Katmandu can be intoxicating and exhausting place.
At the same time, It's medieval and spiritual and alive. And the only way to see this chaotic cobbled stoned maze is by foot. Take a walk in the backstreets and artistic heritage reveals itself in hidden temples, courtyards and hobbit sized workshops, probably unchanged since the middle ages.
This city has been a travellers mecca since 1960s. Now you're less likely to see a tie-dyed hippy in search of enlightenment than a well-heeled Gore-tex clad tourist in search of a cuppacino!!
STREETS of KATMANDU..
Start off at Thamel, and that's where we stayed. Thamel is loads of fun and crammed with touts and colorful stalls. Hostels, Guesthouses, hotels at every corner. We stayed in a decent clean bright guesthouse called Katmandu Guesthouse, located right in the heart of Thamel,very strategic.
Heading south of Thamel's main market towards Katmandu's beating heart, Durbar Square. Winding our way thru alleys and courtyards, making many pitstops at colorful shops selling local handcrafts, eventually reached our destination at Thahiti Tole, a square with a central stupa.
Looking up, the vibrancy continues in a mash of overhead wires, shop signs and overhanging balconies.
When the shadows begin to lengthen, we head back to Thamel, find a cosy rooftop garden and relax with a local beer or Masala Tea.
At the same time, It's medieval and spiritual and alive. And the only way to see this chaotic cobbled stoned maze is by foot. Take a walk in the backstreets and artistic heritage reveals itself in hidden temples, courtyards and hobbit sized workshops, probably unchanged since the middle ages.
This city has been a travellers mecca since 1960s. Now you're less likely to see a tie-dyed hippy in search of enlightenment than a well-heeled Gore-tex clad tourist in search of a cuppacino!!
STREETS of KATMANDU..
Start off at Thamel, and that's where we stayed. Thamel is loads of fun and crammed with touts and colorful stalls. Hostels, Guesthouses, hotels at every corner. We stayed in a decent clean bright guesthouse called Katmandu Guesthouse, located right in the heart of Thamel,very strategic.
Heading south of Thamel's main market towards Katmandu's beating heart, Durbar Square. Winding our way thru alleys and courtyards, making many pitstops at colorful shops selling local handcrafts, eventually reached our destination at Thahiti Tole, a square with a central stupa.
Looking up, the vibrancy continues in a mash of overhead wires, shop signs and overhanging balconies.
When the shadows begin to lengthen, we head back to Thamel, find a cosy rooftop garden and relax with a local beer or Masala Tea.
This is where "KUMARI, THE LIVING GODDESS" lives. She appears at the window to public at about 4pm on certain days.
Not only does Nepal have many gods, deities avatars and manifestations which are worshipped, it also has a real living goddess, The Kumari Devi is a young girl who lives in the building known as Kumari Ghar, right beside Katmandu's Durbar Square.
The selection of the Living Goddess is a highly elaborate tantric ritual. Upon passing the preliminary test, this is merely concerned with the 32 attributes of perfection eg color of eyes, shape of teeth, sound of voice etc . The selected 4 - 7 year old girls are made to confront a goddess in a darkened room scattered with buffalo heads and demon-like masked dancers and terrifying noises. The real goddess is unlikely to be frightened, so the one who is calm and collected throughout the tests is the only girl who is entitled to sit on the pedestal for worship as the Living Goddess or Kumari Devi. She appears on certain festive rituals in Nepal. She remains to be worshipped till reaches her puberty, then she returns to the status of a mortal.
Our "fluid Horse-rider" is mingling with the locals...
No comments:
Post a Comment