I was surprised by the poverty in Nepal and how similar Kathmandu is to India. There are many Indians in the capital as there’s an agreement between the two countries that allows them to settle more freely.

In Nepal, Hinduism and Buddhism are interwoven. There are shared deities yet fundamentally these are two distinct belief systems. In Nepal’s more remote areas and up in the high mountains, ancient religions like Bön and Buddhism dominate. Here too, the countryside is completely different from the capital.

We stayed in the Boudha district of Kathmandu which is the center of the local Tibetan community. For me, Tibetan culture is uplifting: I feel very much at home in it. We also encountered Tibetan medicine, a science thousands of years old based entirely on herbal remedies.

The center of Kathmandu is Thamel where many bazaars are found. Scarves made of yak wool, Kashmiri wool, singing bowls, sacral tools, thangka paintings, sound bowls etc. are sold in a massive amount.

Surprisingly, there are many trekking gear shops too. Brands like The North Face, Salomon and Columbia are available for cheap, though they’re not original but locally made imitations. While the quality is decent, in the mountains something like a well-functioning zipper can be critically important.

Interesting that Kathmandu has a lot of crows! The whole city lies in a vast valley. The surrounding mountains offer stunning panoramas in every direction. The only downside is that they obscure the view of the 6000–7000 meter peaks. But that’s eventually a luxury problem, isn’t it? 🙂

Kathmandu is a busy city with skilled drivers who pass each other with just 1–2 centimeters of clearance on narrow streets. Everyone is selling something, even if it’s just a few vegetables. It’s a lively, bustling city. Unfortunately, during the dry season it gets quite dusty.

There are several squares called Durbar Square, with UNESCO world heritage temples dating back even to the 12th century. Due to the central role of religion the city is full of Hindu temples, Buddhist temples and monasteries. Seeing monks on the streets is a common sight.

And here, from this city all the Himalayan adventures of travelers arriving in Nepal from all corners of the world begin ⛰️🙂