Kathmandu Off The Beaten Path

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For those who wish to hear Sunday Mass, you can go to the city's sole Catholic church, the Assumption Church. For directions and schedule of services, I suggest you call them at the tel. no. provided.

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When we walked to Patan we had to cross the Bagmati Bridge the area on the Kathmandu side of the bridge had a lovely temple which I cannot name as it was not even featured on my map. Behind this temple going nearer to the bridge there was an open area teeming with wild monkeys and cows. On the other side of the bridge stretched a shabby shanty town area. The temple was certainly worth a look if you have time. I would also be grateful if anyone could tell me what it was.

If you are fed up wth KTM traffic and hassles and bad air, there are a number of places on the rim of Kathmandu that has excellent accommodation. I list them here:
Nagarkot.
Dhulikhel.
Kakani.
Bhaktapur.
Buddhanlikanta.
Dakhsinkali and Pharphing.
Haatiban.
Godawari.
Try accommodation here if you are fed up! Google the names, check with travel agents, ask around!

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You may think why this is a tip? But I feel viewing Kathmandu city from The Swyambhunath is a different experience altogether! Just be there for 20-30 mts, you will feel sudden change in weather, temperature and the scenario in changing!! The setting of the camera will have to be changed and you may feel why I did not bring a sweater!

To experience all these you need to be there!

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Well at first I did not believe it. But during second visit my daughter Munu called me to show that the Monkeys are jumping in the pool, which is especially made for them. It was crowded and many leave it as this a monkey affair. But believe me we enquired with people they confirmed that at about 4.30 every afternoon they jump in this pool of Swyambhunath in group. It is worth watching believe me!

Next time you are in Kathmandu, please make sure you see this. I had never seen the Monkeys taking bath in a pool made for them just like human beings. They use the same technique we use while jumping in a pool. Who taught them? How did they know the technique? How do they calculate timings? May be it is because of God's blessings. I leave it to the fellow travellers to decide.

Just off Boudha, and another twenty minutes on a motorbike....and you reach this village right on the base of the valley hills....Sankhu...iddylic....newari...paved...sometimes I think it is even better than Bhaktapur....

Do not forget to have some Newari "Tho" (beer) and some snacks when you are there..the restaurants looks dirty...but I can assure you that you will have never tasted such good food in your lives.....ok, I admit it is a bit spicy....

hmmmmm......

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Off the beaten path on a varied trip combining three different activities. From the Bhote Kosi, the "Tibet River", a 5 day trek on the foothlls of the Himalayan range where you'll join Sun Kosi for a day of rafting. Then, 4 stages of Mountain biking through Nepali hills scattered with welcoming villages to join Kathmandu, capital of the kingdom, its temples and old areas.

while in kathmandu, try to get up very early (... yes, i know its hard, but around 7 a.m. will do) and explore the streets between thamel and durbar square, esp. around asan tole and indra chowk. It' s already busy at that time but mostly with locals, selling all kind of stuff: form kitchen utensils to vegatables and radios. There is not such a tourist buzz, like during the day and you can roam around freely without being bothered by will-be guides, dope-dealers etc.