Übersicht
Start your day to visiting Boudhanath Stupa and Pashupatinath Temple. Pashupatinath, located on the banks of Bagmati River is the sacred Pashupati Temple. Pashupati is a manifestation of Shiva and means ‘The Lord of Animal’. This temple has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. The temple premise consists of temples, ashrams, idols, and inscription added over centuries. The temple is the ultimate destination for devotees during the Maha Shivaratri Festival, where a crowd of thousands gathers to pay homage to Lord Shiva.
The main temple within the complex is of pagoda shape with golden roof and silver doors on all the four sides of the temple. Inside the temple is a Shiva linga with four faces of Shiva, with four different names and significance. Pashupati area is regarded as one of the most important places of pilgrimages for Hindus. Thousands of devotees from all around the world come to Pashupatinath every day. The temple is barred to non-Hindus, but one can get a good view of the temple from the opposite bank of the river. Every evening aarti (light offering) to Lord Shiva is performed which can be observed from across the river. The view of Arya Ghat (cremation ground only for Hindu) is also possible from the spot.
Then continue your visit to Boudhanath, located on the outskirt of Kathmandu and one of the largest spherical stupas in Nepal. This ancient stupa of Boudhanath, on top of a massive mandala, probably is one of the largest in the world. There are over 50 monasteries around it and it was included on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It is built on the ages-old trade route from Tibet to enter the Kathmandu Valley. Under the wise eyes of Buddha gazing out from the gilded central tower seems to be watching over thousands of pilgrims gather daily to make a kora (ritual circumnavigation) of the dome. In the evening the whole place lights up with butter lamps and the wafting smell of sage gives a calming effect. The stupa is surrounded by building and monasteries. The plaza surrounding the stupa is open for people of all religion. Tibetan monks, elderly, along with other devotees can be seen spinning prayer wheels, chanting mantras, or just strolling in silence around the monument. The Stupa was damaged during the earthquake but has already been reconstructed and opens for tourists from November 2016
