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Mountains Of Travel Photos

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Manaslu Photo Gallery - 1. Kathmandu

In October 2003 I Trekked Around Manaslu and the Annapurna Circuit from Dharapani to Manang

Manaslu 00 01 Manaslu From Flight To Kathmandu I watched in anticipation as the glow of the pre-dawn sun illuminated the silhouette of the Himalayan Mountains as my flight approached Kathmandu. The pilot announced that we would have to circle around Kathmandu because of low cloud cover. We had a beautiful early morning view of the sunny east face of Manaslu leading down to Ngadi Chuli (7871m, also known as Peak 29) and to the right Himal Chuli (7893m).

Manaslu 00 01 Manaslu From Flight To Kathmandu

Manaslu 00 02 Cho Oyu From Flight To Kathmandu As we waited for Kathmandu cloud cover to clear, we had a beautiful early morning view of the long ice ridge connecting Cho Oyu (8201m) to Gyachung Kang (7952m).

Manaslu 00 02 Cho Oyu From Flight To Kathmandu

Manaslu 00 03 Everest and Lhotse From Flight To Kathmandu As we waited for Kathmandu cloud cover to clear, we had a good early morning view of Mount Everest sticking up above the Lhotse south face.

Manaslu 00 03 Everest and Lhotse From Flight To Kathmandu

Manaslu 00 04 Makalu From Flight To Kathmandu As we waited for Kathmandu cloud cover to clear, we had a good early morning view of the sunlit South East face of Makalu.

Manaslu 00 04 Makalu From Flight To Kathmandu

Manaslu 00 05 Kangchenjunga From Flight To Kathmandu As we waited for Kathmandu cloud cover to clear we kept circling around the Himalayas and had a very good early morning view of the sunlit south summit (8476m) of Kangchenjunga to the right of centre. To the left of the south summit are the main (8586m) and central (8482m) summits in shadow, and the sunlit west summit (Yalung Kang, 8505m) on the left. On the far left is Jannu (7111m).

Manaslu 00 05 Kangchenjunga From Flight To Kathmandu

Manaslu 00 06 Kathmandu Airport We landed in Dhaka to refuel and to wait for Kathmandu to open up, finally arriving in Kathmandu at 10:30am. After getting my visa and changing money, I checked in at the Hotel Garuda.

Manaslu 00 06 Kathmandu Airport

Manaslu 00 07 Kathmandu Street Outside Boudhanath I quickly got another taxi and went to the most revered Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet, Boudhanath. Here is the street scene at the entrance.

Manaslu 00 07 Kathmandu Street Outside Boudhanath

Manaslu 00 08 Kathmandu Boudhanath Kathmandu’s 36m-high Boudhanath Stupa is the largest stupa in Nepal, and one of the largest in the world. It is a religious centre for Nepal's considerable population of Tibetans. It supposedly dates from 5C AD. With three square tiers surrounding the central circle of the dome, Boudhanath is built in the form of a mandala, a symbol of the universe that is often used in Buddhist meditations.

Manaslu 00 08 Kathmandu Boudhanath

Manaslu 00 09 Kathmandu Boudhanath Statue Closeup Around the base of the Kathmandu’s Boudhanath Stupa’s circular mound are 108 niches, each containing the Dhyani Buddha Akshobhya, with a decidedly Hindu flavour. Akshobhya is blue with his right hand touching the earth while his left hand holds a begging bowl. He is the Buddha of the East and is dedicated to helping you overcome hatred, anger and aversion.

Manaslu 00 09 Kathmandu Boudhanath Statue Closeup

Manaslu 00 10 Kathmandu Swayambhunath From Boudhanath I took a taxi to the ‘monkey’ temple, Swayambhunath, which shone beautifully in the late afternoon sun. The earliest record of this stupa's existence dates from a 5C stone inscription; however, scholars and archaeologists believe that there was probably a shrine here as far back as 2,000 years ago.

Manaslu 00 10 Kathmandu Swayambhunath

Manaslu 00 11 Kathmandu View from Swayambhunath From Swayambhunath on the forested hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu Valley, I had a great evening view of Kathmandu stretched out below.

Manaslu 00 11 Kathmandu View from Swayambhunath

Manaslu 00 12 Kathmandu Durbar Square Trailokya Mohan, Maju Deval and Narayan Temples Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is a complex of beautiful Hindu temples and shrines built in the 16th and 17th centuries in pagoda style embellished with intricately carved exteriors. Shining in the early morning sun at Kathmandu’s Durbar Square are Trailokya Mohan, Maju Deval and Narayan Temples. Built in 1690, Trailokya Mohan stands on a five-stage plinth with three roofs and is dedicated to Vishnu. Built in the late 17C, Maju Deval has a nine-step brick base. On the far right is Narayan Temple.

Manaslu 00 12 Kathmandu Durbar Square Trailokya Mohan, Maju Deval and Narayan Temples

Manaslu 00 13 Kathmandu Durbar Square Hanuman Statue Kathmandu’s Durbar Square is presently known as Hanuman Dhoka, named after the statue of Hanuman (1672) near the entrance of the palace. Devout Hindus circle the Hanuman statue. The kneeling figure of Hanuman, the Hindu God who is always depicted in the form of a monkey, sits on a tall stone pedestal. It was consecrated in 1672.

Manaslu 00 13 Kathmandu Durbar Square Hanuman Statue

Manaslu 00 14 Kathmandu Durbar Square Jagannath Temple and King Malla Column Pigeons fly around the three-tiered, two-storied Jagannath Temple, built in the 16C. Exquisite wood-carvings embellish the doors, windows and roof struts, depicting Hindu gods. Erected in 1670, King Pratapa Malla's column stands to the left of Jagannath temple. The king sits on a lion throne atop the lotus-shaped capital, his two wives one on either side. The King's five sons also appear, one at each corner and the fifth, the youngest son, in front.

Manaslu 00 14 Kathmandu Durbar Square Jagannath Temple and King Malla Column

Manaslu 00 15 Kathmandu Durbar Square Kageshwor, Taleju Temple and Sundari Chowk Construction of the huge three-roofed Taleju Temple in 1564 heralded a new phase in the architecture of the Kathmandu Valley. It was the first temple erected with more than two roofs and the first to be raised on a tall stepped platform. On the left is the Kageshwor Temple, and on the right Sundari Chowk.

Manaslu 00 15 Kathmandu Durbar Square Kageshwor, Taleju Temple and Sundari Chowk

Manaslu 00 16 Kathmandu Durbar Square Hindu Ascetic An ascetic Hindu asked if I wanted to take his photo. I agreed and thanked him with a small donation. As I looked back, I could see the joy and thankfulness in his eyes. We both put our hands together in a symbol of prayer and bowed our heads.

Manaslu 00 16 Kathmandu Durbar Square Hindu Ascetic