We don’t really spend time in cities, and the two biggest cities of Nepal were no exception – we used them more as transit points. But we did do a little sight seeing and of course eating.

Kathmandu

We didn’t really like Kathmandu – it’s really hectic, dirty and everybody is trying to sell you something – hash, tiger balm, tours, riksa rides, jewelry… Mostly hash and tiger balm. But then again, we wandered mostly around Thamel, which probably is the most hectic and commercial area in Kathmandu. Even the cows didn’t come there…

We did a little walk to Swayambhunath stupa, also widely known as the monkey temple. And yes, the name comes probably from the huge number of monkeys that reside there. The temple is way up on the hill and there’s a long and exhausting stairway leading there. The monkeys don’t always bother walking down so they’ve mastered the art of sliding the rails giving thrills to tourists. 

PokharaPokhara seemed like a more pleasant city, and it is a place for a little getaway for locals as well. It is located on a lake and looks at green hills covered in lush rainforest. The lake is popular for taking rowboat rides and there is even a Hindu temple in the middle of the lake. We didn’t go to that temple but took a walk to World Peace Pagoda, which sits on the top of the hill and from there you get a view over Pokhara and, if you’re lucky (which we were not), a view over Annapurna region in the distance. To get there we had to go around the lake and climb in the rainforest (hot and wet!). 

Pokhara is popular for paragliding, but in the end we did not have time for that since we went to Poonhill. Our main attractions in Pokhara were probably window shopping and eating. We found the best food in Nepal and probably the best vegetarian dish we’ve ever had in a very modest tiny backstreet restaurant called Tara’s restaurant. Another good place we found, Potala, served momos (local dumplings) and Tibetan tungba – warm millet beer.