As I mentioned in the Work Edition post about the Kathmandu trip, 20% of it was a holiday experience. My colleagues and I managed to squeeze in a few touristy activities after each day's events.
One of the major highlights was the visit to Boudhanath Stupa
Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is said to be the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, which is about 7 km East/Northeast of Kathmandu. The stupa was built around 5th century AD.
Other than being a popular tourist site, the stupa is a sacred place for meditation for Tibetan Buddists and local Nepalis.
The most distinct feature of the stupa was the pair of Buddha Eyes on all four sides of the square tower. I also noticed the symbol between the eyes which looked like a question mark. From what I read, it is the Nepali character for the number 1 and symbolises unity.
Colourful prayer flags, mantras and prayers printed on them, are tired to the stupa.
The surroundings of the stupa were also a treat for the eyes. Souvenir shops, Buddhist monasteries and nunneries, a few restaurants and cafes are found around the stupa.
The other temple worth a visit is Pashupatinath, which is near the airport. It was quite close to Boudhanath but we did not get to visit it. Huhu.
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