Questions inhabit us while writing the first article on this fabulous trip to Nepal. How are we going to make the atmosphere of this country, of this city tangible? How to tell you about the kindness of its inhabitants? How do you share all the smiles received, the emotions experienced, the great moments of wonder in the face of the beauty of the landscapes? How to make you feel the serenity of the temples? How to make you vibrate like we did? And what about all these beautiful encounters? There is perhaps a single word to express our feelings and to describe this amazing people. One word that will shine through in our photos, we hope, is joy! So let’s start today with a visit to the temples of the Kathmandu Valley. Let’s dive together into the world of Kathmandu and soak up the atmosphere that reigns in the thousand and one places of pilgrimage offered to men and women who come to gather from all over the world.

Let’s start with a small ascent to discover the temple of Swayambunath.

Immediately on arrival, we are immersed in the gaze of the Stupa which dominates the city of Kathmandu. The eyes drawn on the four sides of the stupa are there to remind all visitors that the Buddha sees everything. This site is undoubtedly one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the city. It overlooks the whole city which gives us the opportunity to discover the immensity of it. The Swayambudnath means that the place is born by itself. Legend has it that the temple hill was born following the appearance of a lotus flower in the middle of the lake which then covered the entire Kathmandu valley.

Upon entering the park, we immediately face magnificent statues. Pilgrims have fun throwing coins into the Fountain of Peace here and making wishes like in so many other places around the world. Here is an opportunity for laughter and fun.

Around, the statues are brightly colored and immediately give a very special touch to this place.

In the 1970s, this temple was baptized by hippies from all over the world, the Monkey Temple. It is enough to spend two minutes in these places to understand the origin of this name; monkeys are everywhere.

Some corners of the park invite serenity and we are quickly carried away by the charm of the place.

As for the monkeys, they do all the pirouettes possible and unimaginable to capture the attention of visitors

Under the rays of the sun, the shimmering colors of the deities turn out to be even more beautiful

Their size is impressive.

The places are superbly well maintained and the statues are all regularly repainted.

The pilgrims are also dressed in bright colors and very often show a pleasant smile at our attention. The faithful turn the prayer wheels which are in large numbers around the stupa.

Here, as in most of the places we will visit in Nepal, we let ourselves be lulled under the light prayer flags which wave in the light breeze, thus sending the prayers of pilgrims to the four corners of the world.

The face of the Buddha as well as his gilded and finely chiseled arrow emerge behind the flags which float on both sides.

For some, it’s time for meditation. This one will be all the more pleasant if you are sitting on stones heated by the rays of the spring sun of this month of March 2023.

The whole surrounding hill is bathed in the undulating waves of the famous Tibetan flags which send messages of peace and love to the world.

New flags, brightly colored flags rub shoulders with flags already worn out by time and the heat of the sun.

Here a smaller stupa drowned under a forest of flags placed by pilgrims.

It’s delicate and relaxing at the same time and we let ourselves be gently rocked while taking a look at the magnificent valley below. It is now time to reach the city and discover other world-famous gems.

We invite you to visit the Bodhnath Stupa together, another major site in Kathmandu, very popular with Buddhists. Built in the year 600, this magnificent building looks down on us from its height of 36 m.

Here again, we are surrounded by colors and the flags dedicated to prayer are waiting to be hung on the ridge of the Stupa to broadcast the prayers with the wind.

Pilgrims, Tibetan monks, walkers, tourists, everyone revolves around the Stupa clockwise while some turn the prayer wheels that encircle the perimeter of the Stupa.

Serenity is everywhere and we are already beginning to forget the frantic rhythms of life in our Western world. These places are so peaceful that they already invite us to slow down.

On the immaculate dome, we can see the traces of saffron deposited as a sign of blessing. This place is a high place of Tibetan culture in Nepal.

The view from the terraces of the surrounding restaurants is quite fascinating.

Nicknamed the « little Tibet » Bodhnath, this place was an important point on the busy trade route between India and Tibet.

Moving away a little, we arrive at the Schechen Monastery, the famous monastery of Matthieu Ricard. Our eyes are once again captured by the bright colors of the representations that welcome us from the entrance.

Created in the year 2000 by the famous writer who himself became a Buddhist monk, the monastery tends to give the keys to each of those who stay there to build a more human and altruistic world.

We are swept away by the peace that reigns in this place and by the ambient tranquility, each vacant to his occupations in the greatest calm and without haste.

It’s our turn to turn the prayer wheels that they are small…

or very large…

Let’s take the time to admire every detail and soak up the joy that this shade of color brings us.

It is undoubtedly a place that we recommend to those who wish to escape the sound of horns and the tumult of the city of Kathmandu for a while.

Calm, beauty of the place, tranquility…

Wonderfully maintained chortens…

Garden of flowers with a thousand colors and scents…

It is also a meeting place where you can talk quietly with a good old friend…

Impossible for us to remember all these places without having a thought for our friend Buddhiman who allowed us to discover them in full consciousness. Thank you for sharing your spirituality and the joy that dwells in you, we really had a great time together.

By Nathalie and Jean-Yves – happy to have had the chance to make such a great trip