Bhaktapur City
Bhaktapur is a historic city located in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. It is known for its rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and vibrant art scene. The city is home to several ancient temples, courtyards, and palaces, including the Bhaktapur Durbar Square, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bhaktapur is also famous for its traditional pottery, woodcarving, and weaving industries. 55windows palace, Bhairavnath, Nyatapola, and Dattatreya Temples and more. The city is located about 13 kilometers east of Kathmandu city center. Do not forget to taste the famous (juju dhau), yogurt here.
Pashupatinath Temple
Pashupatinath Temple is a sacred Hindu temple located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal. It is one of the most important Hindu shrines in the world and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple complex consists of numerous shrines, ashrams, and other religious buildings. It is a popular destination for pilgrims and tourists alike and is known for its stunning architecture and spiritual significance. The temple is located about 5 kilometers east of Kathmandu city centre.
By: Paige Oswald
On our first day in Nepal we met our tour guides. It was 9pm for us and around 7am for them. We got to see how lively the streets are so early in the moment with people going to work, getting morning tea, and shopping at the early morning markets for produce.
Then we saw the Pashupatinath Temple which is a very sacred temple to all who are part of the Hindu religion. People travel from all over the world to see this temple which represents the Shiva God, known as the destroyer God who rids evil from the world. We got to learn about the unique funeral process there. The sons of the person who passed away will carry the body on a bamboo bed to the river outside the temple where the cremation will take place. It was very interesting to learn about the different cultural traditions among the Nepali Hindu’s and how they differ to traditions in America.
By: Michael Cyktor
I personally enjoyed the paintings and the art activitity the most last night. I have never been an artist but the paintings looked very beautiful and I enjoyed getting to sketch them. I learned that pigeons are a sign of peace and that sometimes hindus choose to let animals eat flesh instead of cremating dead bodies. Both of which I found very interesting. I was most surprised by how similar their leisure activities are to what we are used to. I was also surprised by how upbeat the area was early in the morning.
By: Alyssa Agard
My first impression of Nepal was being captivated by the beautiful architecture, it really drew me in. I also found the cremation process fascinating, especially when the guide talked about the vultures. That part really stuck with me. I also liked the drawing activity at the end and seeing how everyone’s sketches turned out.