Day 2: Kathmandu, Nepal

Our climbers will explore Kathmandu and spend some time having their gear check. Follow along for trek updates as they go!

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Update from the Team:

The whole group (and luggage!) arrived in Kathmandu late last night and we hit the ground running this morning with a city tour of Kathmandu after a delicious, never ending options breakfast at our hotel, Yak and Yeti. 

Our first stop was Swayambhu Mahachaitya (or Monkey Temple), an ancient and sacred UNESCO World Heritage Site perched atop a hillside in central Kathmandu. It is considered one of the oldest and most revered Buddhist stupas in the Nepal. The site also serves as profound convergence point where Hindu temples, shrines, deities are physically incorporated with Buddhist structure. Hence the nickname, “Monkey Temple,” the site is famous for its large, free-roaming monkeys. One of which we got to see take a Coca-Cola bottle from a small child, open the bottle, and lap up the delicious carbonated drink with many giggling on lookers. 

Second, we visited Boudhanath Stupa. This is one of the most iconic, spiritually significant, and largest Buddhist stupas in the world. And it serves as the epicenter of Tibetan Buddhism culture in Nepal. Lastly we visited, Pashupatinath Temple along the Bagmati River. 

This is Nepal's most sacred Hindu temple structures. Primarily at this site the scene are the stone platforms along the river which are used serve as cremation sites, and where public funeral pyres burn continuously. 

For most of us, each of these sites sparked many observations, curiosities, and an openness to receive the culture of Nepal in full during our time here. Along the way and at lunch after the tours, we all thoughtfully processed together the experience of seeing religion so immersed into the people and culture. While also experiencing how multiple major religions live deeply reconciled to one another in one place. 

After lunch we had the mountain safety briefing and gear checks with the amazing team at Shangri-La Nepal Trek and are now one step closer to taking on the trek to Base Camp!