The Hindu/Buddhist Shrines/Stupas of Kathmandu, Nepal

The reclining or sleeping Vishnu is carved from a massive black stone dragged from far beyond the Kathmandu Valley area. It is one of the most revered Hindu shrines in Nepal. No one is sure when it was constructed but all estimates are at least 500+ years. Non-belivers are not allowed to enter area - but can take good pics over a brick fence surrounding the area.

Patan Durbar Square is a famous square located in the oldest section of Kathmandu. It is known as the cradle of traditional arts and architecture in Kathmandu Valley. Most of the well preserved structures here, including a palace, were built in the early 17th century. Taking tea overlooking the square with 3 female German architect students discussing the incredible structures was memorable.

Bouddhanath Buddhist Stupa is probably the single most photographed structure in Kathmandu. It is the largest Buddhist stupa in Nepal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. No one is sure when it was constructed - estimates range from the 9th to 15th century. Those are prayer flags strung from the top of the stupa. It survived a major 6+ earthquake in 1934. It is huge and impressive!

Me spinning a few of the hundreds of large (bigger than me) and small (like those pictured) prayer mills, always spun clockwise, at Bouddhanath stupa.

The Pashupatinath Shiva Shrine temple complex, this structure built in 1696 (original, 100's of years older, was destroyed by termites), is one of the holiest of Hindu shrines. Hindus from all around the world make pilgrimages to this shrine. There is a 1-month festival held in Feb/Mar when food and ghanja are offered at no cost to tens of thousands pilgrims that attend it. At the base of the stairs seen in the picture is a river (which is more like a large/very polluted creek and not shown in this pic) that is considered sacred because it connects with the Ghanges river in India. For this reason, many Hindus are cremated here 24/7 and their ashes thrown into the river. Before cremation, their souls are cleansed of bad karma by laying on a slab beside the river - not shown in this pic. Non-believers are not allowed to enter - so only photos from the exterior are possible.

There are numerous barely clothed Holy Men outside this Shiva shrine who will say prayers for you and allow you to photograph them - for a "donation". Holy Men belong to various sects - each normally focused on a single Hindu god which number in the hundreds or thousands. Each sect decorates their bodies in different ways - they all look rather bizarre and are little scary (to me anyway). The Holy Men are celibate and dedicate their lives to prayer and enlightenment.

There are 6 cremation platforms at the Pashupatinath Shiva temple complex. Cremations are performed 24/7 by "professionals" who are paid 4,000 Rupees (about $53 - a considerable sum for Nepalese) for each cremation. These are pics of 2. After cremation ashes are pushed from the platforms into the shallow river.