20 Apr 2013 Roof Top Restaurant

Near Durbar Square

We took the time for lunch before visiting the Durbar Square.  There were many roof-top restaurants around and we just picked one - Kasthamandap Restaurant.  After climbing up 4 storeys, we could finally be settled at a corner table enjoying spectacular views.

We ordered a traditional Nepali dish: Momos
These little meat- or vegetable-filled dumplings are Nepal's unofficial national dish.  Popular dish that could be enjoyed in one of Kathmandu's grandiose traditional Nepali restaurants, or backstreet kitchens, etc.  It is similar to Chinese fried dumpling 鍋貼.
 

I ordered onion noodle soup, like instant noddle, yummy!




You can see black clouds building up at the western side, when compared with the bright sky on the other side.

 

Overlooking Kasthamandap (Pavilion of wood on the left above)
Kathmandu owes its name to this ancient building.  Although its history is uncertain, local tradition says the three-roofed building was constructed around the 12th century from the wood of a single sal tree.  It first served as a community centre where visitors gathered before major ceremonies (a mandap is a 16-pillared pilgrim shelter), but later it was converted to a temple dedicated to Gorakhnath, a 13th-century ascetic who was subsequently linked to the royal family.
It is one of the largest and most noted pagodas of Nepal. A central wooden enclosure houses the image if the god, which is noteworthy since Gorakhnath is usally represented only by his footprints.  In the corners of the building are four images of Ganesh.

 

Maju Deval (Hindu temple on the right above)
The nine-stage ochre platform of the Maju Deval is probably the most popular meeting place in the city.  The large, triple-roofed temple has erotic carvings on its roof struts and offers great view over the square and across the roofs of the city.
The temple dates from 1690 and was built by the mother of Bhaktapur's king Bhupatindra Malla.  The temple has a Shiva lingam (phallic symbol) inside. 

At the bottom of the temple stairway on the east side is a small white temple to Kam Dev, the Hindu god of love and desire.  It was built in the Indian shikhara style, with a tall corn cob-like spire.

Gaddhi Baithak (white neoclassical building), Tribhuvan Museum (at the back) and Basantapur Square (at the opposite side)
Gaddhi Baithak was built as part of the Hanuman Dhoka palace in 1908 during the Rana period and makes a strange contrast to the traditional Nepali architecture that dominates the square.  It is said to have been modelled on London's National Gallery following Prime Minister Jung Bahadur's visit to Europe.

Pyaphal Tole

We can see Swayambhunath at the far side

 

After our meal, it started to rain heavily.  We "evacuated" from the roof top and went down to the "indoor" part of the restaurant, waiting until it stopped raining, around 1 hour later.

 

Ashok Binayak
On the northern side of Kasthamandap, at the top of Maru Tole, stands this tiny golden shrine.  Its small size belies its importance, as this is one of the four most important Ganesh shrines in the valley.  Ganesh is a much-loved god and there is a constant stream of visitors, helping themselves to the self-serve tika dispenser and then ringing the bells at the back.  A visit to this shrine is thought to ensure safety on a forthcoming journey.
It's uncertain how old the temple is, although its gilded roof was added in the 19th century.  Look for the golden shrew (Ganesh's vehicle) opposite the temple.