Kathmandu Durbar Square

Kathmandu Durbar Square is a historic plaza and UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the heart of Kathmandu, Nepal. It was originally the site of the old Kathmandu Palace where the Nepalese royal family resided until the 19th century. The square contains a dense cluster of palaces, courtyards, and temples that date from the 15th to 18th centuries. Notable attractions include the Kumari Ghar which is home to the living goddess Kumari, the Taleju Temple, and the Kasthamandap temple. The square bustles with tourists, pilgrims, sadhus, and vendors selling souvenirs and food. Many of the buildings were damaged in the 2015 earthquake but reconstruction efforts continue. Kathmandu Durbar Square offers an intriguing glimpse into the religious and cultural life of the Kathmandu Valley and the heritage of the old Nepali kingdom.

Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath Temple is a highly revered Hindu temple complex located on the banks of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal. Dedicated to the deity Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is considered one of the most sacred temples in the Hindu faith and attracts thousands of devotees and sadhus from across South Asia each year. The main temple dates back to the 5th century and is built in a unique pagoda style with a gold-plated roof and intricately carved wooden doors. Non-Hindus cannot enter the main temple but there are vantage points around the complex to observe the daily rituals and ceremonies. The cremation ghats next to the temple along the river are an important site for Hindu cremation rites. Pashupatinath exemplifies the devotion to Shiva in Nepal and remains a site of living heritage where death, life, and faith coexist.