We visited a couple of different places on Saturday, the Pashupatinath Temple is a world heritage site, being the oldest Hindu temple in Nepal, established in the 5th century. It was originally dedicated to Lord Shiva and is where the cremations take place. The temple is in a pagoda style and non-Hindus are not allowed entry.
Nuns sit around the courtyards and yogis with their dust covered bodies intermingle with the crowds.
To the side is a elderly care home, little cells where old people who have no family to take care of them can live; a charity takes care of their needs. Interestingly, the first time I saw a cat was in this shelter, it must be something about old people and their feline companions.
It is so obviously a mixture of Tibetan and Indian in Nepal. You can guess people's origins by studying their faces, some look very Indian and others have the more Tibetan look that you expect in Nepal.
The other place we went to was the Swayambhunath Buddhist temple also known as the 'Monkey Temple'. It's an amazing structure thought to have been established as a place of worship by 460 AD. Legend tells that Kathmandu valley was originally a lake (the mountain surround would concur with this) and the temple was built on a mound in the middle of this lake. 'Swayambhu' means self-risen.
You really can't visit a temple like this and not be tempted to use the prayer wheel! It stands about 3 metres in height and the bell makes a lovely resonant sound when the wheel is turned.
Fascinating!
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