We’re still surprised that we’re in Kathmandu. This is just one of those places that you never thought you’d see in person. Yet here we are.
Kathmandu has been inhabited for several hundred years and is the capital of Nepal. It’s situated in the shadow of the Himalayas in a valley at about 4,600 feet above sea level. It’s surprisingly green.
We knew coming in that Nepal is not a wealthy country, but we were here for the world heritage sites in Old Kathmandu and nearby. What never occurred to us is that they have no stoplights. None. Not a one in a city of 3 million people.
Instead they have traffic directors at the larger intersections and it’s a free for all at the smaller ones.
But we didn’t see a single accident, or even come close to being in one. Here’s a view from a traffic circle.
Because of the earthquake in 2015 there are piles and piles of rubble scattered throughout the city, although I suspect not all are due to the actual quake. But the result is that there is a cloud of dust rising above the city that has caused it to earn the nickname “Dustmandu”. We brought face masks based on online suggestions but only found them useful in the most extreme dust situations.
Mostly we found Kathmandu to be tremendously photogenic. So much too look at!
Flutes anyones?
The home for retired pedicabs.
How about ladies dresses?
Lunch?
The streets in old Kathmandu are very narrow and jam packed with people and animals and stuff.
Of course the people are what are most interesting as usual.
Who doesn’t need a good nap now and again?
And a smile is a smile no matter where you are in the world.
We spent most of the day climbing around the myriad UNESCO World Heritage sites at Kathmandu Durbar Square and Patan Durbar Square. Those pictures are coming up in the next posts so stay tuned!
