nepalese

Time-worn temples and the abode of snows Nepal is a country of stark geographical and cultural diversity. The historic center of Nepal is in the Kathmandu Valley. Two of the world's great religions, Hinduism and Buddhism, mingle here in jumbled and busy towns. In dramatic contrast to the valleys and plains are the high mountains of the Himalaya that rise in the north of Nepal. Despite an inhospitable landscape of towering icy peaks, the Nepal Himalaya harbors remote Buddhist shrines and monasteries. These are revered by people who live by their culture and faiths in this harsh but pious region.

Swayambhunath Buddhist Stupa near Kathmandu.

The Kathmandu Valley Nepal is a very spiritual country where Hinduism and Buddhism have become intermingled in a way that is often impossible for the visitor to understand. The old parts of the towns of the Kathmandu Valley are packed with extraordinary temples and shrines that reflect this complex system of religious beliefs. The time-worn temples and shrines of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal, like these in Bhaktapur, are infused with detail and symbolic meaning. These ageing buildings and monuments are dedicated to a plethora of gods and goddesses. They are still used by the many people of the Kathmandu Valley towns who worship as part of their everyday lives. The finest buildings were constructed during a golden age of religious architecture that lasted for five hundred years after the Malla Kings came to power in the thirteenth century. Image of Kala Bhairab in Kathmandu - Shiva at his most fearsome. Most of the finest buildings in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal were the work of builders and artists of the Newar culture. Their pagoda style of temple architecture dominates the old parts of the towns.

Sadhus at Pashupatinath: Searching for salvation The temple complex of Pashupatinath stands on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River just outside Kathmandu. Dedicated to Shiva, the destroyer and creator of the Hindu pantheon, it is the most important Hindu site in Nepal and is always alive with activity. Pashupatinath attracts many sadhus - wandering Hindu holy men seeking religious salvation.

Buddhist stupas A stupa is a sacred Buddhist shrine. Two major centuries-old stupas in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal are those at Bodhnath and Swayambhunath. Stupas are built to a structure that symbolizes Buddhist beliefs. Pilgrims walk clockwise around the stupa while spinning the prayer wheels that are set at its base. Many Tibetans have settled in Nepal since the Chinese occupation of their homeland. While political and religious oppression continue in Tibet, their Buddhist culture can still be practiced in the Kathmandu Valley. Buddha's eyes look out from below the spire of Bodhnath Stupa while colorful prayer flags cast their mantras into the breeze. The stupa at Bodhnath is a religious center for Nepal's population of Tibetan Buddhists.

People of the Kathmandu Valley The Kathmandu Valley is more than an open-air museum of fascinating temples, it is home to a large population that is a diverse mix of cultures and ethnic groups. Over thousands of years, many people have settled in this area of Nepal after migrating from India to the south and Tibet to the north.

	The mountains of the Himalaya
	Beyond the temples and bustle of the towns of the Kathmandu Valley rise the mountains of the Nepal Himalaya - the 'abode of snows'. These photos were taken in the Khumbu area of the Himalaya, in the shadow of Mount Everest. This harsh but spectacular region is the home of the Sherpas, and an area of deep cultural and religious traditions.		Mount Everest The peak of Mount Everest behind the Nuptse-Lhotse ridge. The world's highest mountain straddles the border between Nepal and Tibet. Mount Everest is known by the Nepalis as Sagarmatha ("Head of the Sky") and by the Sherpas as Chomolungma ('Mother Goddess of the World').

A dramatic panorama of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam at sunset.

Home of the Sherpas Many Sherpas and other people of the Khumbu region of the Nepal Himalaya are Buddhists. This compassionate religion shapes lives and culture in these high places. Remote Buddhist monasteries and gompas in the area are a riot of colorful decoration, artifacts and statues. In most villages and alongside many mountain passes are prayer flags and chortens - small monuments that often contain relics.

A Buddhist chorten alongside a mountain pass in the Khumbu. Surrounding the chortens and alongside many trails are numerous mani stones carved with prayers

Sunset on Everest. The view from Tengboche Monastery as the sun sets on the peaks of Everest and Lhotse.