Archive for the 'Kathmandu' Category

Beautiful Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

The building in the photos on this page caught my attention due to the beautiful paint work and the interesting architecture. These buildings are a part of the Buddhist Stupa complex within central Kathmandu. While many of the buildings in Kathmandu – and other parts of Nepal for that matter – look run down and poorly maintained, these looked immaculate.

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Birding in Nepal – some frustrations

Feral Pigeon in Kathmandu

Feral Pigeon in Kathmandu

One of the aspects of visiting Nepal in 2006 that excited me was the prospect of seeing many birds for the very first time. This was my first trip overseas and for months before I studied field guides to help me identify the birds, first in Thailand and then in Nepal.

At first I was quite disappointed with the birding I was able to do. I soon realised that watching birds was not my main purpose in visiting these countries, so any birds I did see were a bonus. Secondly, I realised very quickly that identifying birds in a strange country is not easy. Even though I had studied the field guides for many months, getting an ID for some birds was very hard. Third, trying to identify and photograph a bird from the back of a moving elephant, or in the lurching back seat of a 4WD or bus, or while gasping for air when staggering up the track towards Mt Everest IS NOT EASY.

So, in that context, the photo above was a bonus. This Feral Pigeon (Rock Dove) posed for me beautifully on a the ledge of part of a temple in Kathmandu. Still, I didn’t exactly travel a third of the way around the world to see and photograph a common bird I can see just by stepping out my front door at home. [Sigh]

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Birds in Central Kathmandu

Near a Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Near a Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Wherever I walked in Kathmandu there were temples and special religious monuments everywhere. In many cases these are very colourful and so become focussed on by photographers like myself. Other structures are significant for other reasons.

This building is part of the Buddhist Stupa complex in central Kathmandu. The reason I took this photo was for the birds on the roof of the building. In this open public area near the temple there were literally thousands of Rock Doves (also called Feral Pigeons). They seemed to be everywhere in great numbers. It was therefore inevitable that one of them wanted to buy my hat – it left a deposit on it.

And so my hat needed a wash when I arrived back in the hotel.

Buddhist Stupa in Central Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

This Buddhist Stupa in central Kathmandu is an impressive sight. Not only that, it is extremely colourful. The hundreds of prayer flags fluttering in the breeze add to the colour and movement.

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

I found the details on some of the buildings in Nepal to be quite fascinating. Here is an even closer view near the top of the temple.

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Buddhist Stupa in Central Kathmandu

Monument near Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Monument near Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

Surrounding the Buddhist Stupa in central Kathmandu was a series of small monuments as shown in the photos above and below. Again, I do not know of their religious significance. They were rather interesting as they looked quite ancient. I know some structures in Kathmandu are known to be many hundreds of years old. This just adds another facet to the overall fascination of this exotic city of great contrasts.

At a Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu

At a Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu