During my month in Nepal, where I spent 20 days attending a yoga training, I also had several days in Kathmandu. I started by exploring the city for a couple of days and coincidentally met a girl from Hungary at the airport who wanted to be my tourist companion. It felt really safe and comforting to meet someone with whom I could share those initial experiences.
The city was completely chaotic, as one would expect from other Asian countries. I thought it was cool, and I loved the atmosphere. There was so much life. In the long run, it might be overwhelming because it was quite polluted too, but the times I was in the city, I really enjoyed it. It was filled with colors, friendly people, and shops packed with so many beautiful things that I had to be careful not to buy everything and bring it home.
During the 20 days of yoga training, we had Saturdays off, and one of those days we took a large group into Kathmandu. We visited temples, had a delicious lunch, and shopped in the streets. It was so cozy, and I remember the feeling of doing something different after 6 days of yoga, which was really nice.
8 recommendations if you’re in Kathmandu:
- Visit Swayambhunath Stupa, also known as Monkey Temple. It offers the most beautiful view of the Kathmandu Valley.
- Try the delicious Nepalese momos, dumplings filled with meat or vegetables. You can find them at many street kitchens and restaurants – so good!
- Visit Boudhanath Stupa, a spiritual center and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- If you want to try a yoga class or sound healing session, I would recommend this studio in Kathmandu center: yogaatthamel.com. I haven’t been there myself, but Yogish, who teaches there, was my instructor at Mandala Yoga Retreat, and he was really skilled. I think it would be a great experience.
- . If you consider to buy a singing bowl to take home, I was recommended this place and bought gifts from here myself: Lord Buddha Singing Bowl Center (Manufacture & Wholesale)
(Choose the handmade ones, they have the best sound and quality). - I ate several times at the cafe OR2K, which was cozy with a backpacker vibe and served really good food.
- Explore Durbar Square, with its impressive architecture and historical buildings.
- Some of the people I traveled with had been to a really cool sticker shop near Durbar Square that I wish I had visited myself: The Sticker Shop.
When my time at Mandala came to an end, I had 4 new friendships with amazing girls from all over the world: Silver from Hong Kong, Imane from France, Hebe from the UK, and Dasha from Canada <3 We had one last evening together in Kathmandu before we each went our separate ways. My friend Imane was brilliant at bargaining prices, and we had so much fun buying souvenirs in the chaotic streets. It was such a good time; thinking back on those memories makes me really happy.
