Hanuman Ghat

Both Hindus and Buddhists visit this pilgrimage site. River banks are often used by the local people to burn dead bodies. Such areas are called Ghat in Nepali. People visit such areas in the early morning to wash themselves purifying their body and then to go about visiting temples and images of gods and goddesses. Ghats usually have one or more crematories where the dead bodies are burned to ashes and the ashes in turn are thrown into the river as a part of Hindu/Buddhist culture.

There are several such Ghats in around Bhaktapur. Hunuman Ghat is very popular Ghat in Bhaktapur, it spreads to a larger area with many religious images, objects and structures scattered around in such array that even a non religious person would start feeling differently once visiting there. Tourists may find it as an alien land. The largest Shiva Lingam in Nepal, temple of Ram, numerous store sculptures, small stupas, and Shiva lingams, more can be observed in this Ghat area. Visiting this place in the early morning is recommended. One can observe how a day begins for a religious traditional Newar in Bhaktapur.