| In the early 1850s, the English traveler,
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| | celebrated "eyes of the Buddha" looking
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| Francis Egerton, visited Nepal and
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| | in all four directions, and the whole
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| described the city of Kathmandu as he saw
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| | building is surmounted by a golden spire.
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| it then: "A picturesque and quaint
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| | Swayambhu is occasionally known as the
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| looking temple and a cluster of
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| | Monkey Temple, due to the hundreds of
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| wide-eaved houses, profusely adorned with
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| | monkeys that roam the temple confines.
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| carved woodwork, form a pretty
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| | Nepal's most important and sacred Hindu
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| foreground. In the plain below is a broad
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| | temple is Pashupatinath. It is
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| river, on the opposite bank of which
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| | dramatically located on the banks of the
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| stands the town, with its numberless
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| | Bagmati River on the eastern side of
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| Chinese-looking temples, the brass work
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| | Kathmandu. The temple is built as a
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| with which they are ornamented glittering
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| | pagoda, with some of the roofs clad with
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| in the sun."
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| | copper overlaid with gold.
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| Kathmandu has been "off limits" to most
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| | Pashupatinath is regarded as the
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| foreigners for many years since then, and
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| | important Shiva (Pashupati) temple in the
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| it was only in 1951 that tourists were
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| | world and Hindu pilgrims come there from
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| permitted to visit Nepal. Set in the
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| | all over the world, including from every
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| small Kathmandu Valley and surrounded by
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| | corner of Nepal and India. The temple
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| high mountains, Kathmandu is a medieval
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| | complex is an amazing scene to behold
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| metropolis with superb artistic and
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| | with pilgrims, semi-naked sadhus (holy
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| architectural traditions that have
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| | men), ritual bathing in the river, and
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| miraculously survived the centuries.
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| | cremation ghats.
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| The old town of Kathmandu is a
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| | Not far from Pashupatinath is Bodnath,
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| masterpiece of urban planning created by
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| | the most important Tibetan Buddhist
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| the Newar people.
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| | monument outside Tibet. Bodnath is the
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| Most traditional buildings are built of
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| | largest stupa in Nepal and is the
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| red brick and dark wood. Courtyards and
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| | religious center for Nepal's large
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| plazas abound on all sides, so that even
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| | community of Tibetans.
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| though the streets are narrow and the
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| | Kathmandu's heritage is much more than
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| population many, there is a feeling of
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| | its architecture. The visitor will enjoy
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| space and harmony. The windows and doors
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| | the festivals, the handicrafts and treks
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| of traditional houses are decorated with
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| | to the nearby Himalayan foothills.
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| lavish carvings of varied designs.
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| | Kathmandu will richly reward the visitor
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| Kathmandu's royal palace is a massive
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| | who is willing to stay for more than a
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| structure with thick mud walls, shady
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| | day or two, and who tries to explore the
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| porticoes and 55 courtyards. It is
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| | city and the culture a little more and to
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| decorated with huge quantities of gilded
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| | meet and mix with the local people. With
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| copper.
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| | the massive changes brought to Kathmandu
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| The temples of Kathmandu are everywhere.
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| | with the arrival of mass tourism,
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| Small shrines are found in courtyards
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| | democracy, globalization, and new
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| (chowks), squares and back lanes, and are
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| | technologies, much traditional life and
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| part of the everyday life.
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| | many customs are disappearing in
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| Dozens of mandirs (temples) are scattered
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| | Kathmandu, especially among the younger
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| around Durbar Square, including the
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| | generation.
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| pagoda-like Jagannath Mandir built in the
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| | Modern Kathmandu does have its share of
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| sixteenth century.
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| | problems, including poverty and
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| West of the city on a hill with
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| | pollution.
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| commanding views of the city is the
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| | But for the visitor who wants to see and
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| Buddhist stupa (mound-like sacred
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| | experience a city and a culture that is
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| structure) named Swayambhu (or
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| | quite different from the typical city in
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| Swayambhunath). This is the most ancient
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| | their home country, Kathmandu is still is
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| and sacred Buddhist shrine in Kathmandu.
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| | a remarkable and unforgettable place in
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| On top of the mound is a cube with the
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| | the heart of the Himalayas.
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