A day trip away from the chaos of Kathmandu

Kathmandu might indeed feel like a mystical city with its unique vibes, but it’s also a bustling city in the developing world which unfortunately means that it’s also very chaotic. I have my own childhood memories of the city being much greener and much less chaotic but the reality is different today.  Every time I am about to land in Kathmandu, I am disheartened at the window view of the city that looks like a million of concrete pieces jumbled randomly, with no green patches to be seen. All that to say that I was understandably desperate to get out of the city for some peace after nearly a week of feasting and visiting relatives.

Luckily for Kathmandu citizens, there are a variety of options for short day trips. Kathmandu is located in a valley surrounded by green hills on all sides, and lies at an altitude of 1400 meters. It just takes venturing a little further from Kathmandu to actually witness the natural beauty that Nepal is known for.

A Buddhist monastery complex near Kathmandu

This time the destination along with my family was a Buddhist monastery called Namobuddha, just 40 kms outside of Kathmandu. Reaching there is a bit tricky without a private vehicle with the roads clogged with traffic jams at the beginning and gradually getting dangerously narrow and snaky until Namobuddha.

Not too far from Kathmandu

I had my first dose of immense culture shock looking at just how crazy the road culture (or lack thereof) is.  I was holding on tight and counting on my sister’s driving skills as the noise of Kathmandu faded away and gave way to rolling green hills and villages.

Namobbudha monastery shines on a perfect autumn day

Namobuddha has a main monastery complex that has a stunning facade and colorful, intricate carvings in the interiors that are in line to the Tibetan style of Buddhist monasteries. We were lucky to be there during the afternoon prayers, which was surreal and beautiful.

Explosion of colors

The monks chanted prayers in Tibetan as the sound of traditional instruments filled the prayer hall. The worship hall was gorgeous with all of its grand walls covered in colorful, gorgeous art depicting various legends.

Smaller temples in the area

Besides the main complex, there are also smaller temples in the site, with most of them overlooking the gorgeous green valley below. One of such temples is built on the site that’s believed to be where Buddha as a prince fed his flesh to a hungry tigress and her cubs.

Prayer wheels in the monastery

We found it refreshing to just walk around, enjoy the panoramic views of the valley below and just enjoy the stunning architecture of the monastery.  When walking around, we discovered a trail that had walls clad with colorful prayer flags which made for some great photos.

Quite photogenic

Prayer flags are used extensively by the Buddhist community in Nepal and can be seen everywhere. The flags are primarily in five colors: blue, white, red, green and yellow, that represent sky, air, fire, water and Earth respectively. The flags contain Tibetan prayers and are believed to spread goodwill and positivity as they blow in the wind.

A zoomed photo of nearby dreamy farms

Namobuddha is not only for the religious, but it’s also a good place for enjoying the nature and culture of the area. There is a hiking trail that connects the nearby town of Dhulikhel to the area. While on the way down to parking, we stopped for lunch at a small cafe run by the local monks enjoying the stunning views. It had been several years since I had last visited, so it was great taking a break from Kathmandu at this beautiful place, enjoying the nature and the monasteries and reminiscing old memories.

Spotting one of my favorite flowers

 

 

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