Kathmandu - A devoutly religious country

On a cold February day as we land in the Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu, the distinct vibe of the place was hard to escape. From the haphazard yet simple luggage and immigration counter at the airport, to the cars outside the city with number plates in Devanagari script (only) the tiny mountain nation exudes an aura unique to its own.

A devoutly religious country, the capital city of the Himalayan Kingdom boasts of many Buddhist and Hindu religious temple and spiritual sites across the country.

Patan, PashupatiNath Temple are some of the cultural and heritage sites. Patan, Lalitpur neighbourhood has temples like the Golden Temple, Krishna Temple, Mul Chowk, Bhimsen Temple, among many others. Located in the vicinity of the Durbar Square, a part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites in Patan, the temples are marvels of distinct "Newar" architecture. Most of them were heavily damaged by the earthquake of April 2015, and reconstruction works are underway, courtesy, China Aid.

The world famous Pashupatinath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is situated at the banks of the ancient river Bagmati draws people from all walks of life. The believers, atheists or agnostics, the abode of the Lord Shiva invokes spirituality in all. The temple is of the 12 Jyotirlingams spread across the Indian subcontinent. Pashupatinath attracts pilgrims throughout the year and more so during festivals like Shivaratri when hundreds of thousands of Hindus across the world.

The Nepalese government has declared the Year 2020, as Visit Nepal Year. A friendly neighbour, Nepal has been trying to woo more and more Indian tourists to experience the country. It is well-connected by road, air, with most domestic airlines providing flight services to Kathmandu, with Vistara being the latest. Kathmandu can be reached from New Delhi within a one hour and forty minutes approx.