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Itum Bahal

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The long, rectangular courtyard of the Itum Bahal is the largest bahal (Buddhist monastery courtyard) in the old town and remains a haven of tranquillity in the chaotic surroundings. On the western side of the courtyard is the  Kichandra Bahal , one of the oldest bahals in the city, dating from 1381. A chaitya in front of the entrance has been completely shattered by a Bodhi tree, which has grown right up through its centre. Inside the Kichandra Bahal (or ‘Keshchandra Paravarta Mahar Bihar’) is a central pagodalike sanctuary, and to the south is a small chaitya decorated with graceful standing bodhisattvas. On the northern side of the courtyard are four brass plaques mounted on the upper-storey wall. The one on the extreme left shows a demon known as Guru Mapa taking a misbehaving child from a woman and stuffing it greedily into his mouth. Eventually the demon was bought off with the promise of an annual feast of buffalo meat, and the plaque to the right shows him sitting down
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The temple of Raktakali

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One of the most popular temples of the goddess  Kali  in Nepal, the temple of  Raktakali  is situated on the way to  Naradevi .  Raktakali  is also called  Kulabhulu Ajima .  Kali  is one of the most dangerous forms of goddess  Durga  who looks terrifying with the skull garland around her neck, her skirt made of hands and her long tongue red with blood of the demons. The area that the temple covers is big and has various other statues of  Maa   Shakti  in her different forms although the main temple is not as big. The temple is preserved by the  Jyapu  community. The devotees are allowed to build and erect a statue of the goddess in the temple if they please. The temple has two large gates and also contains  stupa  of Lord  Buddha . The looks of the goddess itself is capable of terrifying the demons. Goddess  Raktakali  is the mother who resides with the immaterial spirits. Her character is similar to that of goddess  Kali’s  and she is considered as a warrior goddess. She is
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Kathmandu Durbar Square

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  Kathmandu Durbar Square   ( Basantapur Darbar Kshetra ) in front of the old royal palace of the former Kathmandu Kingdom is one of three   Durbar (royal palace) Squares   in the   Kathmandu Valley   in Nepal, all of which are   UNESCO World Heritage Sites . Several buildings in the Square collapsed due to  a major earthquake on 25 April 2015 . Durbar Square was surrounded with spectacular architecture and vividly showcases the skills of the  Newar  artists and craftsmen over several centuries. The Royal Palace was originally at Dattaraya square and was later moved to the Durbar square. [1] The Kathmandu Durbar Square held the palaces of the  Malla  and  Shah  kings who ruled over the city. Along with these palaces, the square surrounds quadrangles, revealing courtyards and temples. It is known as Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square, a name derived from a statue of  Hanuman , the monkey devotee of  Lord Ram , at the entrance of the palace. History and construction [ edit ] The pref
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Swayambhunath

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Swayambhu  ( Devanagari : स्वयम्भू स्तूप;  Newar :  स्वयंभू ; sometimes  Swoyambhu ) is an ancient religious architecture atop a hill in the  Kathmandu Valley , west of  Kathmandu  city. The Tibetan name for the site means 'Sublime Trees' ( Wylie :  Phags.pa Shing.kun ), for the many varieties of trees found on the hill. However,  Shing.kun  may be a corruption of the local  Nepal Bhasa  name for the complex,  Singgu , meaning 'self-sprung'. [1]  For the Buddhist  Newars  in whose mythological history and origin myth as well as day-to-day religious practice, Swayambhu occupies a central position, it is probably the most sacred among  Buddhist pilgrimage  sites. For Tibetans and followers of  Tibetan Buddhism , it is second only to  Boudha . The Swayambhu complex consists of a  stupa , a variety of shrines and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. A Tibetan  monastery , museum and library are more recent additions. The stupa has Buddha's eyes and eye
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Shova Bhagwati temple

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One of the famous temples of the Hindu goddess  Durga , the temple of  Shova Bhagwati  is situated in Kathmandu. The temple is very famous, like all other temples in Nepal, for fulfillment of the wishes of the devotees. The actual name of the temple was  Shovagaya   Bhagwati,  which meant luck, ‘especially luck in married life’ but it was later changed into  Shova Bhagwati  and the temple is famous with this name and also the place is known by the name of the temple. This temple is one of the four major  Bhagwati  temples in Kathmandu. According to  Puranas, Bhagwati Durga  said ‘whoever worships me during  Chaite   Dashain  and  Nawaratri / Nauratha  will get my grace and fortune shall follow them’. The temple is built on the basis of  Ying  or female form of energy principle and has special significance in the lives of the people. The temple is visited by a large number of devotees each year and especially wives worship the goddess for good health and long lives of t
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