Street stalls in Kathmandu
Street scene in Kathmandu Nepal
It is really quite amazing what you can buy from the street vendors in a city like Kathmandu. The variety is staggering. The noise is constant. The movement of people is never ending. The smells are something you can only experience first hand. And the colours are magical.
In this photo I have shown the very colourful wreaths that were for sale everywhere, especially near temples like this one. I should have asked someone there about the religious significance of them, if that is what they are for. Perhaps readers of this blog can enlighten me by leaving a comment.
Life in central Kathmandu
Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
Central Kathmandu is a mixture of modern buildings, run down older structures and a variety of temples, some dating back many centuries. Some of the prominent temples are situated at the junction of several streets, others are in a small square between medium high-rise buildings. The temple shown in the photo above is one of the latter. Much of life revolves around such temples.
Throughout the day people can be seen sitting around on the steps leading to these temples. Some of these are there attempting to sell a variety of items. Others gather there to use the taps and to do their washing. All the time there is movement, pedestrians, cyclists, taxis, rickshaws and motor bikes.
Fair Trade Handicraft shops of Kathmandu
Temples seemed to be on every corner of every street in central Kathmandu. These vary from small structures only a few square metres in size through to very large buildings. This was one of the modestly sized ones.
Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
If you click on the photo you will get an enlarged version. This will show up the sign in front of the temple which reads “Cottage Handicrafts Exhibition and Sales.” I didn’t visit this one but I did go to several others in different parts of the city. These are generally cooperatives selling handicrafts produced locally with a “fair trade” policy. I felt pleased to patronize several of these as the profits were going directly to local women in need. I’ll write more about that in another article.
Kathmandu Architecture
Looking at the many styles of architecture in central Kathmandu was a constant source of interest as I investigated the city. This varied from very modern buildings which would not have been out of place in any city anywhere through to ancient buildings many centuries old.
Many were beautiful and others were downright dowdy and run down. Some, like the one shown in the photo below, were decorated in ways we are not accustomed to here in Australia. I do not know the purpose of this building but the decorations suggest some religious connection.
Building in Kathmandu