Hazards of Walking in Kathmandu

Thamel district of Kathmandu Nepal

The narrow streets and laneways of the Thamel district of Kathmandu can be quite hazardous to negotiate on foot. Not only do you have a great deal of pedestrian traffic to deal with but you also have many other hazards. The lanes and footpaths are narrow. The walking surface is often poorly maintained so you have to watch out for holes, uneven paths and a range of other hazards, including animal excrement. I managed to step in what I think were some dog droppings one evening; it took me ages to get my shoe clean and not smelling again.

Then you have the obstacles such as people with their tiny street stalls to avoid on the footpaths. These vendors often have a small table or such to display their wares; others just spread a few baskets of fruit or vegetables on the path and sit there. All the time you have to watch out for bicycles, taxis, motor bikes and rickshaws trying to make their way through the narrow streets.

In one narrow laneway I needed to give way to what I assumed was the local council road repair gang; a truck load of workers and their tools trundling down a lane with less than a half metre to spare on either side. I actually had to retreat partially inside someone’s front doorway in order to allow the truck to pass.