Any suggestions for Kathmandu?

M

maroonandwhite

Joined
Jan 13, 2012
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Hi all, I'm not a frequent poster in this forum, but I've been purchasing (for myself and others) and using HI khukuris over the last couple of years. They are, put simply, awesome. Like many of you, I obsessively check for DOTD posts every day to see if I see anything I "need". :)

However, that's really my closest/only connection to all things Nepali (I'm a US expat living in the middle east). So, I'm hoping that some of you with deeper connections there have any suggestions for me. I am somewhat unexpectedly going to be in Kathmandu for the next several days, as a tourist. Any suggestions for "must see's" or "must do's"? Since sharp things are of particular interest to me, are there any khukuri shops/museums/manufacturing facilities in or accessible from Kathmandu that I should check out?

Thank you!
 
Poke around in the Thamel area. There are lots of shops with tourist goods, including specialized khukuri shops. Look into a couple before you buy anything to get an idea of prevailing prices. After a while you will notice similarity of merchandise in many of the shops. Keep your eye open for out-of-the-way "second-hand stores." There are some dark and smokey cubbyholes where there are very interesting items that were gathered back in the hills and brought to the big city to sell.

Check out the various Durbar squares in the area. All the while in Kathmandu you will be walking through history, but the feeling is very evident in the squares.

Take a trip to the bottom of Swayambhu and walk up. You could make a day of this, as there are shops and restaurants to poke around in on top, as well as the stupa. Relax and talk to people, and don't be in too much of a hurry.

You might consider stopping by The National Museum of Nepal (Rashtriya Sangrahalaya). I haven't been there but there's information on some of the knife displays in this old post by Bill.

I suggest not being too tied to an itinerary. Part of the magic of Kathmandu is discovery. It is a city of nooks and crannies.

Afterwards, please report back about your trip. I lot of us will be interested in what you see.
 
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Yeah i would certainly be, I dont travel at all, so love to hear from those who do!
 
Thank you VERY much for that thoughtful and helpful response Howard-- I really appreciate it. I won't be in a hurry for sure, as heading somewhere without an itinerary or obligations is precisely my goal for this trip. :) And poking around in the dusty corners of some hidden away shops for cools stuff is right up my alley!

And I will definitely take lots of pics and share my experience here. Which reminds me, I need to post on BF my pics and stories from my trip to Oman shopping for khanjars and buying a gerz earlier this year, which has been on my to-do list for a few months. I won't hold out that long on you guys though. :)

Thanks again!
 
I'd send an email to Auntie. Probably knows more about the area than anybody and might have some good tips.
She told me she goes "home" at least once every year.
I too anxiously look forward to pictures and words about your visit. I'll never get there so go forth as our representative and take it all in nice and slow as Mr. Wallace so wisely recommended.
 
omg maroon next time you go on adventure take orders! i want some arcane jinn from a shop or a blade made from a baby crocodile ( i actually saw that on a website)
 
If you have time before your departure, you might try visiting the virtual tours at Nepalopedia to see what areas are most attractive to you.
 
Here's a restaurant recommendation at Swayambhu. At the top.

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This is quintessential Nepal to me. After you squeeze through the narrow door and navigate through a dark kitchen area, you get to the stairs which lead up to a rooftop dining area with an open and expansive view of the city. I always think back to this when I remember how little tiny doorways can lead to amazing things, in Nepal especially.

Nearby you may find this guy. He runs a shop but is also a teacher of a kind of sound yoga. He showed me his albums of different yoga studios across the world where he has been invited to teach. He also gave me a demo, which I muct admit induced some remarkable internal sensations. You only get a faint idea through the speakers. I could physically feel the vibrations as it was occurring, not just in my ears. Be open and prepared for the unexpected.


Some Thamel pics

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bhairab -ask about him

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You may be able to pick up a tricked out khukuri truck!

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Have fun!
 
Doesn't look very wheelchair friendly. Very narrow doors and wow are they big on signs. Kind of busy. Bet it's just a blast to wander around and check things out.
 
wow howard wonderful posts ! can you tell me what the bowl the guy was using was made of? bronze?
 
I don't see the bowl? Still looking.

If I find a 50" Khuk, I'll find a way to hang it on the chair, no problem there. Sure like to wander around over there. Don't relish the logistics of getting there though one bit. I'll happily rely on good pics like Mr. Wallace posted. Thank you.
 
it was in the video for "sound yoga" he tapped on a bowl and harmonized wallace!
 
Missed that, wondered what the "this guy" referenced to. Interesting video. I gotta pay attention to some of these semi hidden links. You guys are pretty computer smart for sure.
 
Probably a Tibetan singing bowl.They are made of many different types of metals layered and hand hammered out and can be used to make really nice sounds by rubbing them along the rim or sometimes tapping sides. I would love to have one! BTW... I want that Truck!!!
 
Gehazi said:
wow howard wonderful posts ! can you tell me what the bowl the guy was using was made of? bronze?
Click to expand...

Not quite sure. He had a lot of bowls of different metals. They were not the ordinary singing bowls in most of the tourist stands. Some were quite large. The one he is using with me was one of his medium sized ones.

I have a little handsized singing bowl I brought back. You can stimulate the resonant frequencies by rubbing a wood stick around the rim.
 
WOW! I missed the link as well .but just found it. That i can imagine would be really cool! I bet you could feel it in your bones, your brain, and everywhere else! They must have the dimensions thickness and everything else just right to get it to resonate and sustain like that. I have heard they use like 7 or more? different metals, copper, steel, silver, gold etc. Always thought they were beautiful instruments! You supposedly have to hold it just right to keep it resonating and such?? Upright bell i guess? Maybe Tirtha could make one!
 
lol yeah that link got me interested in those bells, I orderd one relatively cheap from a guy claiming he was from nepal -- we will see! , and i would totally buy a HI hand hammered song bowl.
 
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