Kathmandu - the capital of what state? Attractions of Kathmandu

Nepal - exotic, always attractingtourists all over the world country. The capital - Kathmandu - is not only the largest city, but also the most rich in tourist attractions. The valley in which it is located, is at an altitude of 1360 meters above sea level, and around there are impressive ridges of Tibet. Like the geographically close India, Kathmandu is replete with Hindu shrines. According to local beliefs, there are 10 million spirits inhabited by adherents of this polytheistic cult. With numerous idols, the statues of a philosophically contemplative Buddha peacefully coexist side by side. The intermountain hollow of the Himalayas is cut by the Baghmati River, which belongs to the basin of the sacred Ganges. On its banks and built over 2000 years ago, the capital of Nepal.

Gaps in school geography

If we were offered a Mayakovskirhymed question quiz: "Kathmandu - the capital of which state is meant?" - not everyone, without hesitation, could give him the right answer. The vague notions of the administrative division of Indochina and the territories to the north-west of it give rise to the most unexpected answers. If we omit the mention of the capital, some former schoolchildren might even attribute this exotic name not to the geographic region of Tibet, but to the African, Australian or South American continent.

No less tricky would be the question: "What is in the Kathmandu Valley - the capital of which state and what is its name?" Meanwhile, in the territory of this Himalayan mountain range, there are seven objects that represent the world cultural value, included in the UNESCO list.

The unique nature, exotic species,able to decorate the photo album of the most demanding researcher of remote corners of the world - enough reason to set off. Independently to investigate a question, where there is Kathmandu, during the next travel, certainly, costs.

Airplane to the capital of Nepal

The way on the land from the side of India is possible, but hedifficult, if not to say thorny. It is enough to read about the various ways to travel to Kathmandu to review the tourists to understand: in the mountains surrounded by mountains the promised land is the one that is best and most comfortable for you just the plane.

For the European part of Russia, perhaps the mosta common advice - flight to Delhi by Aeroflot planes, it is not difficult to fly from the Indian capital to the terminal by local liners. Turkish airlines organize flights for Russians from Vnukovo with a transfer in their own capital. From Vladivostok, it will be easier and cheaper to travel through Beijing and Hong Kong. When transit flights, local visas will not be required. Transplantation in Delhi, Beijing, Istanbul - roughly equivalent options, so first of all decide when gathering in Katmandu, the capital of which country is geographically closer to you.

You can also fly to Nepal through Pakistan(economy) and Qatar. For those traveling from Indochina, a flight from Bangkok is also possible, it is better to book it in "Tay Air", not in "Nepal Air". You can fly to Kathmandu from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by AirAsha flights.

Count on unpredictable weather

Always need to consider when investigating the weather forecastfor Kathmandu, what country surrounds this ancient settlement. First of all, mountain, and this means that when packing suitcases, it is necessary to pack not only shorts and short-sleeved shirts. Incidentally, there will also be solid down jackets, and to them it will be superfluous to even have thermal underwear, because with the rise for every thousand meters in the mountains the air temperature drops by 6-8 degrees. Secondly, Nepal - still much closer to the equator country, characteristic of the tropics, the surprises of the weather from floods to droughts here - a common occurrence.

Combining a variety of weather conditionshigh-altitude belts with the cunning of the tropical atmosphere - a kind of "lottery", or "Russian roulette". In sunny weather, even at an altitude of 5000 m above sea level, the heat is felt, in cloudy and windy even three kilometers below it is possible to freeze in a down jacket.

The rainy season and the most favorable time for visiting

Deciding for myself how to get to Kathmanduand how to equip the upcoming trip, it is worth considering when it will be most convenient for you to visit Nepal. Beginning with the end of spring and the middle of autumn, the rainy season continues here. Therefore, tourists prefer to inspect the country in the period from October to May. To the inconveniences of winter time, you can include fogs, night frosts, low clouds. However, the temperature of the air during the day even at New Year's Eve is not too low here and is from 18 to 20 degrees Celsius against 23-25 ​​in spring and autumn.

How to navigate within the country?

What else should be mentioned from the "technicalspecial features "for those arriving in Kathmandu? The capital of what country awaits us? Of course, the Asian one, from the depths of the mind of a little-tempted tourist, floats through the streets between benches with spices, exotic fabrics and statuettes of rickshaws, but in Nepal even the rickshaw is more exotic than a means of transportation. Bargaining with him, you can feel for a time an important colonial nab, but in order to quickly and easily reach your destination, for example, located 6 km from the capital airport "Three Huwa "in the tourist district of Thamel, will have to take a taxi.

In addition, you can move around the capital of Nepalbuses, minivans and tuk-tukami. This original hybrid of the usual minibus and motocross car can accommodate up to a dozen passengers. A signal to stop on demand - frequent punches to the roof of an amazing vehicle. Otherwise, the driver will not understand you. Apparently, hence the internationally clear name given to the tuk-tuk. However, the advantage of such a trip around the city is its cheapness. The taxi driver will take you for the same fee only 400 m.

To travel outside the city it makes sense to takehire a car. Required requirements: age requirement (21 or 23 years, depending on the company), the availability of international driving licenses, at least one credit card and, of course, a passport. The price of the issue will depend on the car brand, and on the lease term, on average - from 30 to 120 € for one day.

What is worth seeing?

Planning a trip beforehand, Kathmandu costscombine in a single sightseeing route with the nearby cities of Lalitpur and Bhaktapur, which was the capital until the XV century. UNESCO sees them as a single cultural complex of the Kathmandu valley.

In the Russian tales of stupa - unchangedthe affiliation of Baba Yaga (whose name is, by the way, etymologically close to the name of the Yajur Veda scroll, books about sacrifices, and can be translated as "female priestess"). In Nepal, grand stupas are objects of cult worship. Bodnath, a semicircular titanic structure with the eyes of the Enlightened, depicted on it, observing the world, is the center of Tibetan Buddhism. According to the legend, the remains of the unknown Buddha, the predecessor of the founder and distributor of the philosophical direction of Prince Gautama, rest here.

The ancient rulers of Nepal found their lasta shelter in the Durbar Palace Square in the center of the capital. The entrance to the ancient tombs, the palace decorated with skilful wooden carvings, for foreigners paid. For proper mazvozdoyaniyem watches the Hanuman, who was seated at the Golden Gate, honored by the Hindus flying monkey. Here also spread out their temple of Krishna and Kumari.

Drowning in the green Tundikkhel - the area of ​​the conductionvarious festivals and local parades. Here come to picnics, for recreation with children. There are golden fountains and a sixty-meter tower of Dharakhara with a viewing platform.

Exotic sights of Kathmandu - it is located in its surroundingssafari park, where the ruling royal dynasty is hunting, and the exposition of the National Museum, the Museum of Natural History. In the park, tourists are offered elephant walks and other unusual kinds of entertainment. The halls of museums are acquainted with archaeological finds, historical collections of national weapons, and bright representatives of flora and fauna characteristic of various parts of the country.

In the Kathmandu Valley

On the other bank of the Baghmati RiverLalitpur. This name is translated as "the city of beauty" (originally it was called Patan). The main attractions here are four stupas, covered with inscriptions and a temple of Thousand Buddhas. The Royal Palace on Durbar Square unites ten courtyards, demarcated by walls. The city is simply flooded with masterpieces of Nevar architects and stone carvers. Here is the winter residence of Shiva - the temple of Kumbeshwar (in a hot, humid summer, according to popular beliefs, Shiva sits on Mount Kailas in Tibet).

Mahabuddha, lined with terracotta tilesThe building, in fact, depicts not 1000, but as many as nine-odd thousand buddhas. Each clay tablet handmade bears the image of one enlightened. The patron of Lalitpur, who brings down abundance and rain on the earth, is esteemed by both Buddhists and Hindus. The construction in his honor is called Matsyendranath, from here in April the festival procession of an idol is carried throughout the city by chariot. In June, he also goes to the summer residence, the temple of the neighboring village of Bungamati. Apparently, the idols of Lalitpur adore seasonal travel.

Attractions of Kathmanduhave a cult significance. The name of the ancient capital of Bhaktapur means "the city of believers". It is located in the foothills of Tibet on the banks of the Hanumanta River. The settlement was practically erased from the face of the earth by the strongest earthquake of 1934, all the destroyed monuments were subsequently restored in the most thorough way. The disaster, however, did not destroy the measured, centuries-old feudal way of life of local residents, which is primarily worth seeing. The earthquake and the temple of Nyatapol were spared, built in such a way that an optical illusion of floating the building in the air is created.

In the valley, in addition to the Buddhist complex Bodnath mentioned, there is his "brother" Swayambhunath, as well as Hindu majestic temples of Pashupatinath and Changu Narayan.

Nepalese souvenirs

Appearing elegant trinkets, sellinghere, the little things also have a hidden sacred meaning for the European. What character is possessed by the image of the gods, acquired from local craftsmen, what tricks he has for the idol who has dared to touch him, it is better not to guess. Suffice it to confine ourselves to the contemplation of bright rows of cult masks, figurines, strange objects of mysterious purpose. For memory, you can make them a colorful photo, but let the original remain contemplated by the painted eyes flooding Kathmandu temples of strange cults for a foreigner.

Interesting and practical acquisitions will bepashmina, silk, chiffon and other fabrics, silver jewelry and bronze casting, leather goods, woolen carpets, ceramic utensils and imperishable Lokta paper, bags, all kinds of accessories, household items, spices and aromatic oils.

The capital of Nepal Kathmandu differs little in culturemarket relations from other countries of the East. Here it is customary to bargain, and the prices are lower, the further from the tourist district of Tamel you negotiate with the next seller.

Local Holidays

The dates of celebrations are regulated here.astrologers. The Hindu holiday of the lights of Diwali is celebrated on the darkest day of autumn and is considered the beginning of the local New Year. The colorful religious mysteries of Indra Jatra with sacrifices on the last day take place on Palace Square during the rainy season. The military parade and bloody idolatry with the slaughter of animals signify the action of Dougra Puja, called by mystical witchcrafts, to protect residents from accidents involving motor vehicles, the use of weapons in the coming year. Relatively quietly there is a holiday of the sacred thread, associated with the ritual immersion of Indians in the sacred waters of rivers and spinning by hand a sacred cotton cord.

A sad mystery rite is a choiceNepalese "living goddess" Kumari, the embodiment of the spirit of Taledzhu. For these purposes, on the central square, the elders define the "divinity" of candidates of three to five years of age belonging to the Buddhist family Shakya. In translation, "Kumari" means "virgin", all strictly selected from the hundreds of pretenders, thirty-two girls in the future are doomed to celibacy. The little ones are placed in a room filled with the severed heads of buffaloes, around them begins the demonic dance of men in masks of unclean spirits. Those girls who are least likely to show their fear, and become doomed to bear the title of goddess. Perhaps, it is impossible to remember, except for Kathmandu, which capital of a state systematically, with universal popular approval, catches up such horror on its own young children.

With all the abundance of golden sculptures, balconies,spiers, colorful, skilful architectural design of mystical structures and the sacrificial content of local cults can leave a somewhat painful impression. Therefore, it is worthwhile in advance to think about the advisability of contemplating Nepalese rituals, choosing between the tourist's keen curiosity and the tranquility of the spirit.

Tourist district Tamel

Having explained on own experience, where isKathmandu, first of all it is necessary to be defined: and where in it to stop? For these purposes, specifically there is a kind of tourist ghetto with a mass of cafes, guesthouses, tourist offices and stores of mining equipment. In a word, the European will find here for comfortable living and providing forays into the exotic environment everything that your heart desires, at the quite acceptable price.

Search for housing is best to begin with the area of ​​TamelChok. Do not trust the taxi drivers who enter into paid collusion with the owners of the "best hotels". A good double room with windows not facing the roadway, hot water and shower can be rented here for 500 local rupees per day.

Hungry hospitable Nepal you just will not leave. It is worth trying Nepalese wines and tinctures on the herbs of the Himalayas, and to them - a local analogue of pelmeni - mo-mo and a kind of soup-puree from beans - gave. The cuisine here is not modern, spicy, with an abundance of dry broken rice and meat. Beer lovers can taste local varieties of Everest and Gorkha. Restaurants of the Tamel region on the roofs and terraces, with live music playing in the evenings - a great place to relax after excursions to the mountains to distant places of interest in Nepal.