SHATTERED by an earthquake that killed more than 9,000 people, Nepal is now marred in dust with roads that are too primitive to bear. One would think there is nothing interesting about it anymore. But as they say, difficult roads often lead you to beautiful destinations.
Kathmandu’s Golden temples, Himalayan views and its sacred rituals and temples offer an unpresuming beauty that is quite difficult to ignore. In my 24-hour layover, burnt bodies beside the river, falcons on the Chandragiri, Momos and the majestic Himalayas greeted me.
The first one-hour ride to Chandragiri exposed the aftermath of the earthquake. Buildings were partly shattered, dust was all over the town and the unpaved roads made my journey quite unbearable.
Chandragiri Hills was a recluse from the dusty landscape I went through.
On my way up the hill, the view of the falcons that rummaged onto the forest captured me. As I reached the top, I witnessed the beauty of the Himalayas. I leveled my gaze onto the snowcapped mountain ranges and was awestruck.
The Himalayas or Himalaya is the 6th longest mountain chain in the world. 15 of its mountains including Mt. Everest are considered the highest with peaks rising to elevations of 7,300 meters above sea level.
I continued to venture up the hill and found the Baleshwor Mahadev Temple. Clad in gold and red, it paid a wide range of attention to local architecture and fine art. I saw gold carved statues of Shiva and the sacred cow at the front of the edifice. There, locals gave their offerings and prayers.
Famished by my cultural immersion, I went to a restaurant and ate the renowned momos. The nepali dumpling known as “momos” had a distinct taste to it that I loved. Whether fried or steamed, the combination of the paneer cheese, meat and vegetables in yellow garlic sauce made it irresistible.
Uncontent with my musings, I paid a visit at the Pashupatinath Temple where a religious burning ritual took place. As soon as I arrived, the pungent smell of the dead bodies across the Bagmati River welcomed me. I concentrated my gaze onto the bodies until there was none. Whatever is left of it was either swept towards the river or part of the air I breathed.
The night was fast approaching so I had to return to my hotel. On my way back, I noticed something. In the rural areas, some of the locals only lived in tents. Despite not having a house to live in, the people still greeted me with a smile. Kathmandu is the place where I understood the realness of life. Even at its imperfection, it is beautiful.