Cultural Kathmandu

It is very easy to put away Kathmandu as a mismanaged city of dust with dangling wires. You will be forgiven to forget it is also known as city of temple. That is what we are on the quest to show you. Beneath the seemingly chaotic city, it holds wonderful story of a civilization which reached it penultimate between 15th and 17th century.

The old city’s lay out and planning has a strong community feeling for vibrant life, rather than what the towering new development suggests. It has many “public theaters”, narrow alleyways that leads to wonderful hidden gems, and courtyards for the people to hangout. It is in this vibrant community unfathomable stories exists, weave through people’s lives and combines facts with myths until the distinction becomes blur.

Symbolism of Vajrayana Buddhism is very prevalent through-out the old city with centuries old important monasteries still in existence. Together with Buddhism, Hinduism is also equally prominent in Kathmandu with the followers of both religions calling the same deity by different names. For instance Ganesh is worshipped as a God that brings good luck by Hindus, while Buddhists call him Dharmapal. This co-existence of two religions is rare to find elsewhere. But more than religion, Kathmandu is special spiritual place. Many enlightened masters such as Guru Padhmasambhava, Naropa, Tilopa meditated in the caves here and got enlightened. Even Guru Nanak Dev – the founder of Sikh religion has meditated along the banks of Bagmati river. This is perhaps why Kathmandu has been blessed with unparalleled sacred places such as Boudha, Swayambhu and Pashupati to name a few and 2200 year old Prajna Paramita that is still intact and recited every year in an unassuming monastery.

The old and the new ways have so far meshed together and found a new balance. Don’t let the outer appearance of Kathmandu deter you from exploring this mystical place, let us help you explore the old city Kathmandu.