180° Kathmandu, City of Temples | National Geographic

Carved into the foothills of some of the world's highest peaks, the Kathmandu Valley has been a unique witness to the development of Buddhism and Hinduism. The valley is dotted by more than a hundred sacred spots: temples, stupas, and monasteries, many shared between the worshipers of the two faiths.

Stupas are Buddhist shrines, and Boudhanath is one of the largest in Nepal. Built in the 5th century, it is meant to be an expression of the Buddhist faith. To reach the main stupa, worshipers must climb thirteen steps, one for each of the thirteen stages of wisdom needed to reach enlightenment.

The stupa sits at the center of a symbolic representation of the universe, and from the base of its tower, the Buddha's eyes gaze in each direction. The stupa is surrounded by a circuit of prayer wheels inscribed with Buddhist mantras. Pilgrims circle the complex, spinning the wheels so that the mantras are released continuously into the world.

In a sacred grove not far from the urban heart of Kathmandu, since the 3rd century, Pashupatinath Temple complex is crowded with Hindu shrines. It’s here, on the waters of the Bagmati River, that many Nepalese Hindus cremate their dead.

The Swayambhunath stupa sits perched on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. It is believed that the valley was once a lake that was drained by the embodiment of Buddhist wisdom known as the Monkey Temple. The complex draws more than just worshipers and tourists; these rhesus macaques are regarded as sacred descendants of the lice that plagued the god of wisdom.

The Buddhist shrines and Hindu temples are situated around the main stupa. Many worshipers believe the stupa sits atop an entrance to the underworld. The worshipers spin prayer wheels, light candles, and pray for protection or enlightenment.

For centuries, Buddhists and Hindus have worshiped side-by-side in the Kathmandu Valley. For both, Kathmandu is not just holy ground; it's common ground.