Shopping in Thamel, Kathmandu
Thamel district of Kathmandu Nepal
Like so many exotic cities shopping in Kathmandu has to be one of the delights for visitors to this city. There are plenty of tourist type shops but there are also many others that are unique to Kathmandu. In the photo above I have shown just one of dozens of clothing and material shops.
Beautiful and extremely colourful gowns were hanging from every vantage point in this shop. In addition there were hundreds of different materials available for those wanting to make their own or engage the local dressmakers. I didn’t ask, but I am sure the shop keeper could arrange for one’s material purchase to be made into a gown or dress, probably by one of the family and made on the premises. In another part of the city I saw a series of tailors, each boasting their pride in their tailor-made suits.
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.
Temples of Kathmandu
Thamel district of Kathmandu Nepal
As I said in a previous article about my wanderings in Kathmandu, the religious life of Nepal is very much evident in all the temples one can see in the capital city. Some of these temples are very elaborately decorated in various ways making them not only sacred sites for the local people but also interesting photographic subjects for the visitor.
One interesting observation I made during my stay in Kathmandu was the intense trade that occurs around and near each of the temples. The buildings act as magnets for those who visit for religious purposes as well as places of trade for all kinds of vendors, from fruit though to various religious icons. Because these venues attract so many visitors, those trading there seem to do a good trade.
Bustling Life in Kathmandu
Thamel district of Kathmandu Nepal
Wherever one goes in Kathmandu one is confronted by the bustling, surging, flowing presence of other humans. And dogs. It is a busy – somewhat frenetic – city confined to a relatively small area making movement rather frustrating at times. Although it is not a great distance to anywhere in the city, traffic can be chaotic. From the moment you leave the airport the busy hustle of the city is apparent everywhere.
This is also true when you try to walk anywhere. I spend nearly a week wandering the streets and laneways of the city exploring this fascinating place. Pedestrian traffic can be heavy and even demanding in some places, especially areas like the Thamel district. Despite its overcrowding and obvious poverty in many parts, seeing life in the raw, in your face and up close and personal is an amazing way of learning first hand about a people and their culture.
Temples of Kathmandu
Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
A visitor to Kathmandu cannot possibly miss the many temples located throughout the city. This underlines the importance of religion in the daily lives of most Nepali. The people are largely either Hindu or Buddhist and these co-exist happily, with temples for each often residing side by side.
Officially Nepal is a Hindu country but in practice there is a blend of both Hindu and Buddhist beliefs in the everyday life of the Nepali. There are also smaller groups of Muslims, Christians and Shamanists in the country.