Everyone will tell you that Thamel isn’t the REAL Kathmandu. It was once backpackers central, and today is home not only to hostels but to increasingly smart hotels. Its restaurants and shops are for the most part aimed squarely at tourists. Here you can buy a t-shirt with an ‘amusing’ slogan (‘My friend went to Nepal and all he bought me was this lousy t-shirt’). Or perhaps one that declares that you went to Everest Base Camp, even if you didn’t?!
Of course there are great souvenirs to be had too; we bought a singing bowl and I was wowed by some of the traditional art. But between these tourist-focused delights is enough local colour to demonstrate that you are indeed ‘a long way from home’.
Small shrines are squeezed into every corner. Pavements are decorated with mandalas, marking Diwali. Marigold garlands hang above doorways. A tangle of telephone wires swoop above you. Locals gossip, when they aren’t busy with chores such as washing clothes or shopping. Tourist shops are packed with colourful souvenirs, while others offer practical items for the locals. Motorbikes weave through the crowds along with the occasional car, horns sounding despite an official ban on them. And everywhere there is movement.
Fresh off a long overnight flight from London, wandering its streets on our first afternoon in the city was a wonderful way to soak up the atmosphere. And of course to indulge in one of my favourite photography obsessions, street photography. Here for Jo’s Monday Walk and Becky’s Walking Squares are some of those first impressions.
I visited Kathmandu in October 2022
37 Comments
Monkey's Tale
If I knew you were going to be there I would have suggested The French Bakery. Every sonoften I crave their momo soup!
Sarah Wilkie
Ooh, we didn’t come across that one, but we ate well elsewhere. Our favourite here was the Thamel House 😀
Alison
Such a good mix of photos Sarah, I don’t know how you manage to capture people’s expressions so well. Are you back yet? I am expecting to see photos from you of the globes in Trafalgar Square soon
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 I guess I just take plenty of photos and pick those with the best expressions! Either that or it’s just a matter of lots of luck and a little good timing 🙂 I certainly don’t get them to pose!
Yes, we got home last weekend. Haven’t been anywhere near Trafalgar Square as yet but I’ll be sure to take photos for you when I do.
Alison
It takes a while to get back into things doesn’t it after a big trip
rkrontheroad
I stayed just a short walk from Thamel, just for a day or so (on the way to a Habitat build). Endlessly fascinating. Loved these photos.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, endlessly fascinating sums it up. We stayed three nights here at the start of our trip and again for one night in the middle, as we juggled plane connections, and on every walk I saw something new and different!
BeckyB
oh these are wonderful, Robert would have loved seeing them
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Becky, I’m happy you liked them and also that Robert would have done so too 🤗
Teresa
I wonder why I am always having a hard time commenting on your blog. Anyway, just want to let you know that I really love how you capture these people in their natural space.
Sarah Wilkie
I don’t know why you have problems but this one certainly worked – thank you 🙂 Are you using Reader or the website itself?
Wind Kisses
Always facinating captures of the culture, Sarah. I loved the Mandelas, and also seeing the clothing the local people wear. The shines seem to be like treasure chests you just happen upon.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Donna 🙂 I liked how many of the Nepalese people wear their traditional dress in everyday life, especially those from different ethnic groups such as the Newari and Tharu (you’ll ‘meet’ the latter in later posts I’m sure!)
Wind Kisses
And I am sure I will love it.
grandmisadventures
I love the shrines tucked away in spaces here and there and those bright bursts of colors on the street!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, I loved those little shrines too – far more here even than I photographed!
Mike and Kellye Hefner
Loved seeing your photos of a place we will never see in person. As always, I am fascinated by your “people” shots.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Kellye 🙂 But never say never!
wetanddustyroads
Locals busy doing their everyday chores – I like that! And so much colour … without saying too much, you have captured a rather nice feeling here.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – I hoped to capture the feel of the place in these images 🙂
Easymalc
You must be in your element here Sarah, but do you know the one that captured my imagination the most? The one with all the wires 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Haha yes, those wires were quite a feature of the trip! In places they fascinated me, as here (I’d hate to be a telephone engineer here, called out to identify a problem!), at other times they were a nuisance and spoiled an otherwise good view.
bushboy
Rather fab Sarah 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – happy you liked it 😀
Forestwood
It looks just the same as it did in 1986. Apart from a few extra cell phone ads.
Sarah Wilkie
That’s interesting – I would have expected it to have changed more than that. Of course I didn’t photograph the gaps where buildings destroyed by the 2015 earthquake still haven’t been rebuilt (many have, or are currently undergoing restoration).
salsaworldtraveler
Love the street photos and the Hindu sauwastika. The streets are more deserted than I recall. I didn’t get used to all of the cars that people must walk along side.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 I think the streets were a little quieter because we arrived in the middle of the five day festival around Diwali. Quite a few of the shops and restaurants were closed or operating limited hours.
Anne Sandler
Thanks for taking me along on your walk Sarah. Your street photography is wonderful.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you so much Anne 😊 Glad you enjoyed the walk!
margaret21
Marvellous. And all these work well as squares too.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Margaret 🙂 I had lots of photos from that afternoon so I chose the ones that I could square without losing any of the main subject or ruining the composition. It’s a fun exercise!
margaret21
Yes- it can really change one’s ideas, can’t it?
restlessjo
I imagine you are knee deep in photos, Sarah, so many thanks for this.
Sarah Wilkie
You’re not wrong there Jo, but it was good to have the distraction of writing a short post as a change from sorting and editing photos 🙂
Cee Neuner
What colorful and beautiful photo you took on your walk 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Cee – it’s a colourful place!