Old Newari Temple, Bungamati, Nepal
In the main square of Bungamati in the Kathmandu valley, two women are tchating while workers are busy maintaining an old Newari temple. Bungamati is a peaceful Newari village situated at around one hour from Chautara bus station in the centre of Kathmandu. It is especially known for its main temple: Rato Machhendranath Mandir. It [...]
Porter around the Manaslu, Nepal
Lamjung district, 2010 – See the photo in large – Photograph available for print Surrounded by mountains, a porter, on its way to Dharapani, is walking along a ravine. Around 100m down the ravine flows the powerful and sacred river Marsyangdi, a tributary of the Ganges river in India.
Life on the Nepalese road
I have mostly travelled towards the east of the country on each of my visits in Nepal. Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, so it is not surprising to see how bad the roads can be and how chaotic the traffic is. The highway between Kathmandu and Pokhara is one of [...]
Kshang Kshung Lama, Buddhist none at Mane Gumpa Monastery, Nepal
Kshang Kshung Lama in Mane Gumpa monastery. Following a one month walk through the Nepalese mountains, valleys and rivers, Kshang Kshung Lama travelled from Rolpa Simikod, her native village in Mustang, to Kathmandu, where she studied Buddhism for six years before settling in Pharping. She has spent the last ten years in Mane Gumpa, a [...]
Within the Gurung Christian community, Laprak, Nepal
Dabar Bahadur Gurung, priest at the church of Laprak, busy at making a bamboo mat Happiness is in the air down in the village of Laprak where the small community of protestants is gathered around Laprak church. They are waiting for the start of the Saturday morning service. A few days earlier, while wandering the [...]
The Gurung, Nepal
The Gurung, originally Tibeto Burman people, live at the foot step of the himalaya range. Surrounded by some of the highest mountains on earth, Ganesh Himal, Buddha Hima, Machapuchare, like the buddhi gandaki river, the kali gandaki river, tell the sacred stories of a Buddhist culture tribe. Legends tell that Gurung used to be nomad [...]
A Tibetan refugee in Bimtang, Nepal
Lying along the Dudh Khola river at 3720m, Bimtang is surrounded by two great mountains, Larkya peak at 6249m and Manaslu Himal at 8163m. It is the first village where porters and trekkers, coming from Larke pass (5220m) can spend the night and relax while having basic food and drinks. Bimtang can only offer lodges, [...]
The Gurung: Harvesting soya bean, Laprak, Nepal
Gurung woman harvesting soya beans in the millet field, Laprak, Gorkha district Harvest time is usually around November. During my stay in Laprak, a Gurung village situated in the Gorkha district, I helped harvest soya bean. There were a few fields with soya bean plantations, but most of the soya bean plants were scattered throughout [...]
Kali worship at Dakshinkali temple, Pharping, Nepal
Dakshinkali temple is situated just outside the village of Pharping at around 45mn by bus from Kathmandu. Dedicated to the goddess Kali, the temple is at its busiest time on a Saturday and Tuesday when thousands of Hindu devotees, mainly from Nepal and India, invade the sanctuary to worship the goddess and sacrifice animals. It [...]
Life and pollution on the Bagmati river bank, Kathmandu, Nepal
I am looking over the Bagmati river, a river worshipped both by Hindus and Buddhists. It is polluted with plastic bags and rubbish slowing down its flow. It is heartless and sad to see a holy river in such a state. I am off for a walk on the Bagmati river bank. I have always [...]
Kathmandu launderies, Nepal
When I came back to the Nepalese capital after six weeks of travelling around mostly in the Gorkha district, I had no plan but to explore Kathmandu by wandering its streets. To do this, I just bought a pocket map and started walking on my own to some areas that I hadn’t yet had the [...]
