All good things come to an end – our final days in Nepal

After our return to Kathmandu we had 11 days remaining of our stay in Nepal before our return flight to India. We used that remaining time scouring the local shops and markets for our final shopping needs (have sent an ENORMOUS box home) and visiting places in Kathmandu and the Kathmandu Valley that we had yet to see.

Garden of Dreams

I think all the pictures speak for themselves.

The gardens are the perfect escape for a few hours!

 

 

Just a short stroll from the mayhem of Thamel, where we are staying, is the beautiful serene Garden of Dreams. Described as a neo classical historical garden it was created by late Field Marshal Kaiser Sumsher Rana (1892-1964) in early 1920. After his death (I guess), the garden was handed over to the Government and allowed to fall into decay for decades. Seven years of an extensive renovation project, a joint Nepali/Austrian effort, revived the gardens.

 

I have a new respect for the humble Marigold

- it is the festival flower of Nepal and grown everywhere at this time of year.

Today, only half of the original garden is in existence but it is a perfect oasis. Outside its walls is the urban bustle of Kathmandu city with all the noise that accompanies it. Inside is calm and peaceful, a tranquil setting in which to spend a few hours relaxing on the grass, strolling the gardens and enjoying a little afternoon tea of coffee and cake. The gardens include pavilions, an amphitheatre, ponds and fountains, pergolas, urns and gardens (of course).

Patan

When we returned to Kathmandu it was the festival time of Dashain. This is a family time and the streets of Kathmandu almost became deserted. It was a perfect time for driving out of the city as there was no traffic.

One of the gates into the old city

- on the inside looking out

 A doorway into a courtyard.

Neil has had to mind his head a lot here in Nepal

 Outside the Golden Temple

 Pigeons taking advantage of every opportunity!

Patan, one of the 3 royal cities in the valley (they are Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur), is only a half hour away from Thamel and is a centre of Buddhist and Hindu culture. The city is full of religious art, temples, and monasteries. During the Dashain festival activities take place at the Palace Complex to commemorate a victory by the gods over wicked demons. One of those activities includes kite flying and during this time we have seen kites in the air everywhere.

Patan's Durbar Square

The taxi driver dropped us off at one of the gateways into the old town and we spent the next 2 to 3 hours wandering the small lanes and alleyways and the Durbar Square.

Outside of the Royal  Palace

 The men's quarters at the palace

 Each morning during Dashain animals are sacrificed to the gods

The monk with the ipad created a bit of a stir amongst the crowds in the square