After a late start from the hotel due to the delayed Everest flight we alit for the town of Bungamati in the Lalitpur district of the valley. Bungamati is a Newar tribal village that specialized in woodworking. Walking through the narrow streets and watching the artisans work was great. (Yes, we did buy something.) They have an interesting festival where once every 12 years they place their temple God on a huge (several stories high) cart built by the artisans and then parade it using people power all the way down the valley to the city of Patan. This is no small feat. This village also has its local Kumari, living goddess, but we did not get to see her. The people of the village were very friendly and for the most part were not pushing their wares, a custom that we have come across daily in both India and Nepal. Lunch in Patan and then and exploration of the Durbar Square and Golden Temple. The local priest of the temple is always a 10 year old boy who is replaced yearly and we did get to see him. The reason for the young age of the priests and the goddesses is their purity and innocence. The sites and sounds of the square were again breathtaking. We witnessed a local Newar ceremony celebrating a long life of an individual. This is called Jankhu and is celebrated at age 77, 88, or 99. The person or people are paraded around the square with a band, friends and family and specially appointed ladies to escort them. It was a fun time.
We then drove up the mountains to the east to our next stop, Nagakot.
Thank you so very much for sharing your spectacular trip.
Mark
It all looks wonderful – after many hours of flying home we do feel you are truly on the other side of the world. The pictures confirm that. Our love to the gang.