1987
Kathmandu
Kathmandu Street Scenes
Narrow streets and rickshaws everywhere.
Textiles hanging out to dry.
Face at a window.
Slow day at the market.
Selling vegetables in the rain.
Funeral pyre at a Bagmati River ghat.
Swayambhunath Stupa
The eyes of the Buddha painted on Swayambhunath Stupa, an
important center of Buddhist
learning by 1234, rebuilt in 1346 after destruction by a Bengal sultan's troops.
Kathmandu Valley
Field workers.
Patan
Durbar Square
Durbar Square is crowded with spectacular examples of Newari
architecture. Dating from the 17th Century,
a golden statue of King Siddhi Narsingh Malla can be seen praying on top of the
large pillar
Tantric Temple Carving
An image depicting sexual union is called yab-yum.
Tantrism is a legacy of the Indian subcontinent's medieval culture which has
lived on in
Nepal. Tantra is originally a Sanskrit word, referring to the basic
warp of threads in weaving. Literally, Tantrism reiterates the Buddhist
philosophy of the interwoveness of all things and actions. Opposed to
contemplative meditation, Tantrism substituted concrete action and direct
experience. It soon evolved into esoteric practices, often of a sexual
nature, purportedly to go beyond one's limitations to reach perfect divine
bliss.
Kodari
Kodari Guesthouse
On the Nepalese side of the border with Tibet,
this guesthouse was a convenient place
to spend the night before crossing the border and traveling on to Tingri West.