Day 2: Spiritual Day in Kathmandu
Starting Point: (27.7172, 85.3240)
I met with my group yesterday evening, and the plan is that we’ll be flying out of Kathmandu to Lukla on Friday morning. I’m actually pretty fortunate because it gives me an unexpected free day here in the city, which I’ll gladly take after spending most of yesterday just recovering from the trip.
Today is shaping up to be more of a spiritual day. I went ahead and booked a visit to a few Buddhist sites around Kathmandu, something a little slower paced that feels right given where I’m at physically.
The first stop is Jamche Vijaya Stupa. It’s a quieter spot, a bit removed from everything, which is honestly perfect. I’m just walking the grounds, taking in the details, not rushing through it. It’s a nice way to ease into the day.
From there, I headed up to Kapan Monastery. The views opened up quite a bit from there, overlooking the valley, and the whole place has a calm, steady energy to it. There were monks going about their day, prayer wheels along the paths, and plenty of space to just wander without any real plan. I had an opportunity to meet with and interact with the Buddhist monks while visiting.
I then went to Boudhahnath Stupa, which was a completely different experience. It’s much more active, with people constantly moving around the stupa, spinning prayer wheels and keeping a steady rhythm. It’s a cool way to take it all in without overthinking it.
To close out the day, I headed over to Pashupatinath Temple for the evening Aarati ceremony. This ceremony honors the god Shiva with an offering of oil and fire. As the sun starts to go down, the whole area along the river comes alive. There’s music, chanting, priests performing rituals with fire, and a crowd gathered to take it all in. I find a spot and just watch it unfold. It’s a lot to take in, but in a good way. Definitely one of those experiences that sticks with you.
Overall, it feels like exactly the kind of day I needed. It was incredibly spiritual in a way I didn’t quite expect and it made me have a deeper connection to this trek I am about to depart for in the morning.
