I have ambled, trekked, climbed all over Nepal, from the Annapurnas and  Langtang to the length of the Solu Kumbhu. Many times! Sometimes in a group, sometimes alone or with just one porter. Always new people to meet, always new sights to see.

But one thing was consistent and enduring wherever I went: the Mani walls! 

Mani walls are made up of  Mani stones, rocks or pebbles inscribed with the six syllable Buddhist mantra “om mani padme hum”. They are intentionally placed along roadsides, paths or rivers to form mounds or walls as devotional offerings to spirits or places.

Many are fantastic carvings into massive boulders as well as smaller stones and many of the best ones I have seen were along the Dudh Kosi between Lukla and Namche Bazaar. But there is a golden rule, “always walk to the left of the Mani, keeping it on your right”. Anyone know why?

 

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Categories: Nepal, Travel

Tags: Annapurna, Buddha, Buddhism, Buddhist, hiking, himalaya, Kathmandu, Mountains, Nepal, religion, Travel, trek, trekking