Kathmandu - the familiar gateway for pilgrims from India

Most pilgrims from the Indian Subcontinent start on their pilgrimage to Mount Kailash from Kathmandu in Nepal. The city looks very familiar to the pilgrim from India and one can easily navigate one's stay and shopping and local pilgrimages when in Kathmandu. 

We stayed at Fairfield by Marriott at Thamel in Kathmandu for quite a number of days. It is better to stay together as a group at a better hotel than an inner-street guest house. We also were able to leave our excess baggage and suitcases etc at Fairfield when we started on our pilgrimage. We got our bags on our return to Kathmandu, and trust me, that is a big relief. You know that your bags have not been opened, or tampered with and that you will get your bags as you left them. 

The most ubiquitous panipuri-wala at Thamel, Kathmandu. A familiar sight in the city and one finds many local youngsters frequenting the vendor through the evening. The chutneys are almost the same except that the flavor is more fiery. Be careful if you venture for a dish... remember... you need to keep your stomach and digestive systems in control for the bigger pilgrimage. 

The cycle rickshaw is a comfortable means to travel around local neighborhoods, especially Thamel. But you do not absolutely need them if you are willing to walkabout. You have to be prepared to bargain and get to know the correct fare. The local group guide from Nepal may not be a help as most of them are reluctant to help you cut through the prices of local traders and vendors, as they should. It is better to check with Indian shopkeepers and get their recommendations for a good fare to be paid to the cycle rickshaw fellows. 

This seems to be an adaptation from the Delhi fruit-juice vendor. At Thamel, Kathmandu. He is selling pineapple juice and lemon juice as much as I could gather. But, the same distrust would stay, with the state of the water containers, the bucket to clean dishes and his general unclean appearance. Some of the local shopkeepers brought their own water jars to take away the pineapple juice. That would mean that the local and familiar shopkeepers were also wary of this juicewala.

Very dangerous for one's teeth. One hard nut could break your molars. Spicy and tangy, and traditional. Known as "Chana Chatpate" in Thamel, is a very popular dish among the locals and adventurous tourists. There are different grades of spicy dishes at each vendor and one is more popular because of it. I rarely saw a caucasian tourist venturing out to try the chana chatpate but did see many youngsters in the evening enjoying themselves.