Kathmandu-An Interesting Present And A More Interesting History

The old times was, it seems, is simply preserved under a dust cover in Kathmandu valley. A few yellowing autograph cards in the bakeries recall famous monuments of the past.

The gods are as present everywhere in Nepal; at least the stone sculptures. After Hinduism, Buddhism is widely followed religion and has created the gods a lively home in Kathmandu. So vivid that most of them even show believers and onlookers.

What makes Kathmandu so alluring, are not only the temples and heritage sites and not the eventful past or famous visitors either. What makes it a place that absorbs most tourists is life between stones and legends. The snowy mountains that surround the city are mesmerizing too.

Tourism has changed over the last 40 years, and has found a new center. This is in Thamel - the shops, cafes and menus are accurately made to cater what the tourist needs.

But in Nepal's capital, even if you see in the maze of streets crowded not only with pedestrians and cattle trucks, but also motorcycles - the feeling of serenity that wafts through the streets has remained.

The view of the Kumari, the girl supposed to become the incarnation of the goddess Durga, is to bring good luck and health. A rigorous selection process determines the reigning "living goddess". Until her first menstruation she remains in her temple palace on her palace.

At the Boudhanath Stupa in the northeastern city of waking Buddhas; almost 40 meters above the maze of temples flags and prayer wheels, Tibetan exiles and other believers circumnavigate in the clockwise direction.

To the west of Kathmandu, the all-seeing eyes perched even higher over the metropolis. 365 steps to be overcome, then you can reach Swayambhunath, the monkey temple from where you can see the entire Kathmandu valley.

Kathmandu is the center for tourism in Nepal. It is the gateway to other similar cities and mountains. This place has an interesting present and a more interesting history of its own.