Category Archives: Kathmandu Life

Hated Airport and the Mighty Himalayas #Nepal #Travel #Tribhuvan

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Kathmandu’s (and Nepal’s) Tribhuvan: One of the World’s Most Hated Airports (!)

A plane is about to take off from Tribhuvan International Airport's runway.

CNNgo recently put Kathmandu’s Tribhuvan in a list of 10 “world’s most hated airports” along with JFK, LAX and Heathrow detailing correctly the shortcomings of Nepal’s only international airport. But the travel site also said correctly, at the end, this: Never mind. The city’s markets and surrounding mountains are lovely.

I agree with both the criticism of the airport as well as the praises for the city of Kathmandu. A few days ago clouds disappeared from above the green hills of Kathmandu valley providing us the stunning view of the mighty Himalayas that overlooked the airport. Fliers must have seen those snow-capped mountains from close and relished the view. That must have helped them to forget all the hassles that they might have gone through at the airport before boarding in the planes. Here are more photos and the detailed entry on the subject: Kathmandu’s (and Nepal’s) Tribhuvan: One of the World’s Most Hated Airports (!)

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Last day of Constituent Assembly [...if not extended]

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As seen outside the Constituent Assembly complex in New Baneshwor, Kathmandu today. The CA’s term will expire today (midnight) if it is not extended. There are have been signs that it could be extended for a few months.

Four ‘restive’ legs and several ‘resting’ leaves
For the people, by the people, of the people?
Man is indeed the descendant of monkey: But who cares about plants and garden when your “rights” are at stake, hoina?
RPP Nepal: I am tempted to say “bunch of thugs”but I’ll not because most of these people are poor and have been brought here from various parts of Nepal BY a bunch of thugs. Thugs-in-chief? Kamal Thapa.
A riot control vehicle…equipped with water canon

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A trip to rural Lalitpur (outside Kathmandu Valley)

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Bus ride: definitely not a joy ride.


Challenges of driving on a single lane ‘highway’.

I had gone to some rural villages of Lalitpur last week to see and experience the life there. All these villages are outside of Kathmandu valley though many people may think that the entire Lalitpur district lies inside the Valley. My colleague at Kantipur, Krishna Gyawali who covers Lalitpur for the newspaper, accompanied me. The trip started from Lagankhel where we took a bus to Chapagaun, the largest village of Lalitpur. At Chapagaun we bought tickets up to Chhapele, Bhattedanda. The first bus had already left by the time we reached there (8:30 am). This one was supposed to leave at 9 am but, as it happens with most things in Nepal, the bus finally left Chapagaun at 10:30. Rest of the travelogue, in Nepali, as published in Saturday’s Kantipur: यस्तै छ साथी हाम्रो हाल

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Cycling their way home. #Kathmandu

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Two middle-aged men drag their bicycles on the slope leading up to Koteshwor, Kathmandu this evening. In these times of “environmental consciousness” I can safely assume that they are not trying to make any statements like “we are toiling because we care for our environment” and “we prefer cycling because we dislike traveling in vehicles that consume fossil fuel”.

Motorbikes are the most preferred form of transportation in the city for those who can afford them (and those who can’t afford a car). I don’t think people put their concern for environment before their desire to travel comfortably. Bicycling could be fun (or even fashionable) during the bandas in Kathmandu but this city is not bicycle-friendly. Not just because there are no separate lanes for bicycle on roads. There are far too many slopes in the city which means bicyclists have to get off their cycles and drag them, like in the photo above, every kilometer or two.

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