Tour of Kathmandu

The AVI arranges an In-Country Orientation Program for newly arrived volunteers in Nepal. This includes meeting the staff who arrange the volunteer placements (their roles and responsibilities), a security briefing at the Australian Embassy, gender and social inclusion, transport orientation and a tour of the city so you don’t get lost. I will be working 6 hours from Kathmandu ... but I still scored a free tour.

The city is rich in what can probably be best described as medieval architecture. Ancient buildings of small red bricks crowd over twisted narrow lanes that were never intended to carry motor vehicles. Every so often, these lanes converge on a chowk (marketplace) or Hindu temple. One of the oldest areas is Durbar Square in Patan (on the south side of Kathmandu) with several 15th and 17th century Hindu and Buddhist monuments.

Hindus and Buddhists both worship in each other’s temples. How is that for social and religious integration?

In addition to the small red bricks, another feature of the local (Newari) architecture is the intricate wooden carving. This appears mostly around window frames, roof struts and the tympanum of temple and shrine entrances.

The same heavy, dark hardwood is used to make furniture. In fact the dining room chairs in my hotel are so heavy that I worry about popping a hernia every time I move one!

Another worry is whether the wood is sustainability forested.

Pashupatinath Temple complex is a World Heritage Site. It is a huge collection of 518 temples and monuments. Hindus are cremated at one of the temples that is situated on the banks of the Bagmati River. 250 kilograms of wood are used for each pyre and the remains are cast into the river which eventually makes its way into the Ganges. The atmosphere here is reverent, quiet and peaceful; although there were hundreds of people attending several concurrent cremations.

Boudhanath is also a Word Heritage Site. It is one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world.



One of the features of Buddhist temples is the line of prayer wheels that worshippers turn as they approach the temple.



One section of the huge mandala on which the temple sits, contains row upon row of bowls of water with floating flowers.

Of course we passed a few cows on the road back to our hotel ...




Namaste!