Do you know where Sagarmatha Mountain is located and what it is famous for? No? And Mount Jomolungma? Did you hear something? Well, the name of Mount Everest is probably familiar to you. But these are the names of the same mountain peak, the highest on Earth (8848,86 m). It is located in the Himalayas, on the border of the Tibetan Province of China and Nepal. Mount Everest was named after the British geographer and mathematician Sir George Everest. Jomolungma is a Tibetan name that translates as “lady of the winds” or “divine mother of vital energy.” The Nepalese call the peak Sagarmatha. Translated from Sanskrit, this name means “heavenly peak”.
There are eight mountains in Nepal, the so-called eight-thousand-meter mountains. Three of them are inside the country and five more are in the border areas. Each of them keeps its own riddles.
I was lucky enough to visit this mysterious country during a business trip. But we managed to see many sights, get acquainted with the Nepalese way of life, and understand their mentality.
Like Russia, Nepal is ethnically diverse. There are just over 100 ethnic groups living here, speaking about 90 languages and carefully preserving their traditions.
The Nepalese republic has a very peculiar national flag. This flag shape is a symbol of the southern and northern peaks of Mount Everest. The blue color of its border symbolizes peace, and the sun and moon depicted on it represent the hope that Nepal will exist as long as these heavenly bodies.
The coat of arms of Nepal is also filled with symbols. It depicts the national flag and Mount Everest. The green color reflects the hilly areas, while the yellow color reflects the fertile lands of the country. The joined male and female hands are a symbol of gender equality. The motto is inscribed on the dark red scroll, which sounds like “Mother and Homeland are greater than heaven.” The coat of arms is decorated with a garland of rhododendrons (the national flower). On top of this is a white silhouette in the shape of geographical outlines of Nepal.
There are five natural and climatic zones in a small country, and the weather in one zone may differ dramatically from another. And the capital Kathmandu is not only a political and economic center, but also a cultural and historical Mecca of the country. However, at first glance it looks more like an anthill. The building is very dense, the houses are brick, stone, and there are wooden ones. There are many religious and historical monuments in the city, which gives it a special flavor.
Kathmandu is actively under construction, but the construction debris has a negative impact on the overall appearance of the capital. But the streets here are tiled, not asphalt that smells strongly in the heat. There are small vegetable gardens and flower beds near the houses.
The image of an “anthill” is aggravated by the organization of traffic. There are almost no crossings and traffic lights here. Wires like cobwebs hang over the roads. Right-hand drive cars, numerous mopeds and scooters are moving in a dense stream below them. The traffic is chaotic, but there is no road rudeness.
But all this is only at first glance. One should get to know the capital of Nepal gradually, getting acquainted with its elaborate temples, amazing religious monuments, and examples of ancient architecture. It is not for nothing that Kathmandu means “City of Beauty” in Sanskrit. According to historians, this name was given to him in honor of the oldest Kashamandal temple, which has survived to this day in Durban Square in the center of Kathmandu. Due to its cultural and historical monuments, Nepal’s capital is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The architecture of many towns and villages takes into account the peculiarities of the mountainous terrain. The sight of them brings to mind the lines from the poem “The Living Goddess Kumari” by the great Rasul Gamzatov:
Where are the seashells on the slopes of the rocks
Nepal makes its own houses –
The miracle of Asia. Have a wonderful day –
Hundreds of hundreds of gods living
in her.
The latter is felt everywhere. Nepal is a religious country. The main religions are Hinduism (80% of believers) and Buddhism (10%). A small part professes Islam, Christianity and some other religions. Many shrines are equally revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. There is practically no religious strife in the country, which testifies to the religious tolerance and benevolence of Nepalis.
The city of Lalitpur, a few kilometers from the capital, attracts Hindu temples, pagodas, palaces with intricate carvings. Moreover, such carvings are also found on simple houses, especially on doors. The thresholds are covered with tiles with religious patterns, the doors are decorated with pendants with the face of the sun. They ward off evil spirits and uninvited guests. The city center is dominated by colorful vendors of souvenirs and religious paraphernalia. It is not for nothing that Lalitpur is called the city of arts and beauty.
And Lumbini, a small town in the south of the country, is a sacred place for all Buddhists. The future Buddha Shakyamuni was born here. According to legend, he was born about 2,600 years ago in the family of the ruling king of the region, Shuddhodan, and Queen Maya Devi of the Shakya clan. The child was named Siddhartha Gautama. The majestic Maya Devi Temple, the main attraction of Lumbini, was built over his birthplace.
Today, Lumbini Park has been turned into a memorial complex, where Buddhist temples of many countries are concentrated, whose citizens or part of them profess Buddhism. I saw both modest structures and magnificent palaces, such as a Thai temple made of white marble. Or the majestic structures of the Chinese temple complex.
Until recently, Russian Buddhists were not represented here. The situation changed when the Society for Cooperation and Friendship with Nepal took up this issue. In April 2021, the official start of construction work was given. The future temple will be a replica of the St. Petersburg Datsan Gunzachoinei. The latter was built and consecrated in 1915.
The Buddha spent the first 29 years of his life in the palaces of Tilaurakot. Here he lived in prosperity and joy until he encountered real life, after which he left the palace and began his journey to Enlightenment. Today, only the remains of ancient walls and temples can be seen here, as well as very old mighty trees.
Nepal is the only country in the world where deities reside not only in heaven, but also on earth. Nepalis believe that the goddess Taleju (Durga Kali) finds her bodily incarnation in the immaculate virgin Kumari. Moreover, there are several similar goddesses operating in the country at the same time. But the most famous of them is the Royal Kumari from Kathmandu. She lives in a special Kumari Ghar palace in the city center. It is believed that the power of the goddess is very great. Crowds are waiting for Kumari near the palace, hoping to catch her gaze in the window. Only selected petitioners visit her in her chambers.
There is a strict procedure for choosing Kumaris. The applicants are about three to five years old. They must belong to the Shakya jeweler caste of the Newari people. The selection process is based on 32 criteria. After Kumari reaches puberty, her divine mission ends.
If we talk about the people of Nepal, then in general it leaves a pleasant impression. The people here are calm, hardworking and hospitable. When you communicate with them, there is a strong desire to visit this amazing country again and see firsthand its main attraction – the Himalayas.
Kathmandu- Moscow
