We also took a quick trip to Nepal. This was our first view of the Himalayas and it was impressive. Our first stop was the Monkey Temple in Kathmandu. This temple rises from a hill and can be seen for miles around.
Each morning the devotees spill buckets of saffron across the white dome while the third eye of God looks on. Well, it is called the Monkey Temple for a reason, although we saw almost as many dogs as we did monkeys.
Kathmandu is made up of a number of towns, many of which have a central square containing temples done in many styles. This pagoda style is very popular. Many of the temples are decorated with images of various Hindu gods, many of which are still actively worshipped. A devotee has placed flowers on this one.
Temples often have guardians outside of them; some were elephants or other animals but some were fantastic creatures from Hindu mythology. Around the temple squares were the shops; many of these towns depend upon tourism for their major income. People selling souvenirs were sometimes a real problem as they would follow us for blocks hawking their trinkets.
One of the oddest things we saw was the Living Goddess. The young girl is chosen at about age 4 and lives her life entirely within this temple, attended by her guardians. She goes out in public only to perform religious duties. When she reaches puberty she is sent home and another girl is chosen. Upon request by a guide she will appear at the window (unless she is having lunch or is otherwise engaged) as long as her guardian does not see anyone with a camera.

While Nepal is overwhelmingly Hindu, there are many Buddhists, especially refugees from Tibet. Many of them have settled in a part of town called Little Tibet. One Buddhist art fostered in Little Tibet is the painting of mandalas. Unlike those created in sand by the Dalai Lama, these are not destroyed after they are created.
The area is dominated by a stupa that towers over the square. It is colorfully decorated with figures from Buddhist mythology and with floral and other motifs.
Cremation is practiced here by the Hindus, just as in India. The body is wrapped in muslin and covered with a colorful shroud. which is removed before cremation. The family accompanies the body but there are no outward signs of great grief. [Unlike along the Ganges, pictures are permitted here.]

 The pyre is then lit by the family (usually the youngest son) and left to burn. After the body is consumed the ashes are swept into the river below and another cremation takes place on the same spot.
As in Varanasi, you can find holy men along the river, as it is considered a particularly important place.

 We also visited a small village to get a taste of local life in Kathmandu.
Need a shave? Someone on a street corner will oblige you. Since this was a weekend, many of the men were in the streets and playing table games or gambling.
For the women, it was washday. Not all the men took the day off; this woodcarver was hard at work in his shop.
After a few days of touring Kathmandu we headed out into the countryside on our way to a Himalayan resort. That evening we watched as the setting sun lit up some of the Himalayan peaks above us.
Although it was somewhat cloudy, the view was still as awesome as the mountains. The clouds and mountains made a gorgeous sunset.
The next morning we arose early to see the sun rise over the mountains. It was a little less cloudy and the mountains stood out more clearly in the morning light. Seeing the Himalayas this close was a great experience for us; it is hard to believe that it is just routine for the people whose home it is.