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काठमान्डूको साँखुबाट देखिएको सूर्यास्त

उबरमान्डू

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धेरैपछि फेरी एक पटक दिल्लीको गर्मीमा अाफैसँग सिकसिको लाग्नेगरी पसिनाले फतक्कै भिजेको डेढ दिन के भएको थियो मलाई काठमान्डूका कतिपय कुराहरू खड्किन थालेका थिए ।

१४ सय मिटरमा अवस्थित उपत्यकाको प्रशंसा गरेर नथाकिने मुख्य कुरा यहाँको मौसम हो जस्तो लाग्छ मलाई । सजिलै पुगिने र चढ्न सकिने वरिपरीका हरिया डाँडाहरूलाई पनि म यो ठाउँको सवल पक्ष मान्छु । काठमान्डू खाल्डो घेर्ने पहाडहरूको महत्व मेरालागि अाफू कहाँ छु भनि ठम्याउने कुरासँग पनि जोडिएको छ । पहाडमा पलाएका अनि हुर्केकाहरू सबैलाई यस्तै हुन्छ कि मैलाई मात्र हो मैले खुट्याइसकेको छैन । दक्षिण बग्ने लिखु खोलाको दाईने किनारबाट उम्रिएर पश्चिमतर अडेस लागेको रामेछापेली पाखोमा जन्मे-हुर्केको मेरालागि म कुन उचाईंमा या ठ्याक्कै कहाँ छु भन्ने ठम्याउन सबैभन्दा महत्वपूर्ण सन्दर्भ विन्दु हुन्थ्यो, लिखुको द्रेब्रेकिनारबाट अग्लिएर पूर्वतिर लमतन्न फैलिएको अोखलढुङ्गे पाखोको टुप्पो । पूर्वतिर फर्केको घरको अाँगनमा उभिएर त्यो अोखलढुङ्गे भिरालोमा अाँखा सार्दै टुप्पैसम्म पुर्याएर त्यो पानीढलो पछ्याउदै उत्तर बढ्दा पुगिने हिमालमै पुगेर ठोक्किएपछि मात्रै म निश्चित हुन्थे अाफ्नो अवस्थितिप्रति । काठमान्डूमा पनि पहाडी टुप्पाहरूले मलाई “ए, म यहाँनिर छु है” भनि खुट्याउन साह्रै सघाउँछन् ।

पहाडहरूसँगको सामीप्य त्यस्तो बानी परिसकेको छ ।

जब म पहाड नदेखिने ठाउँमा पुग्छु मलाई अाफू ठ्याक्कै कहाँनिर छु भनि पत्तालगाउन कठिन हुन्छ । त्यस्तो बेला अाकाश अलि धुम्म परेको छ भने त उकुसमुकुस हुन बेरलाग्दैन । कुनैबेला म दिल्लीको अस्थायी बासिन्दा हुँदा पनि मलाई पहाडहरूको अभाव खड्केको थियो । घरैमात्र देखिन्छन् जहीं पनि । त्यो पनि सम्झनलायक अाकार, व्यक्तित्व र उचाई भएका त झन् पटक्कै हैनन् ।

Likhu Mist Nepal

लिखु खोला माथि कुहिरो

सैलुङ डाँडाबाट देखिएका झन् अग्ला डाँडाहरू ।

सैलुङ डाँडाबाट देखिएका झन् अग्ला डाँडाहरू ।

हो, फोन खोलेर गुगल नक्सामा अमेरिकाले संसारलाई सित्तैमा उपलब्ध गराईरहेको पृथ्वीमा अाफ्नो भौगोलिक/शारीरिक स्थान पहिल्याउने प्रणाली (ग्लोवल पोजिसनिङ् सिस्टम/जीपीएस) मार्फत अाफू कहाँ उभिएको ठम्याउन नसकिने हैन । केही महिना अघि काठमान्डूबाट नेपालका केही ठाउँहरूमा हेलिकप्टरबाट दौडादौड गर्दा मैले फोनकै जीपीएस अनि गुगल नक्साको संयोजनले अाफू अहिले ठ्याक्कै कुन पहाड माथि छु भनि ठम्याउँदा एकखाले रोमाञ्च महशुस नभएको हैन । तैपनि नाङ्गा अाँखाले पहाडको टुप्पो हेरेर अाफूलाई पहिल्याउन बानी परेको र रमाउने मनलाई जीपीएसले पूर्ण सन्तुष्टि नदिंदो रैछ । प्रविधीका कयौं पक्षहरूसँग जीवनले पूर्णरूपेण सहजता महशुस गर्न समय लाग्दो रहेछ । Continue reading →

सूर्यास्त

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Rays of the setting sun hit Mt Machhapuchhre

तपाईँलाई इमेलमै पछिल्लो ब्लग, लेख र तस्बिर पठाउन पाउनु मेरोलागि खुशीको कुरा हुनेछ । बाकसमा आफ्नो इमेल ठेगाना हाल्नु होला । धन्यवाद 🙂 

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अाैला छिनमै सकिन्छन् काठमान्डूका खरावी गन्न थाल्ने हो भने ।

जस्तो कि, अचेल काठमान्डूमा वर्षा थामिएपछिकाे घमाइलोमा सकडहरू धुलाम्ये हुन्छन् । कार्यालय समय सकिएलगत्तैको हतारोमा तिनै सडकमा गाडी र बाईकहरू अटेसमटेस गर्दै घिस्रिरहेका हुन्छन् । मानिसहरू पनि दिनैभरी जस्तो कम्युटरमा अाँखा गाडेर निस्केका हुन्छन् । धुवा र धुलोबाट बच्न बटुवाहरूले मास्क लगाएका हुन् कि मुखुन्डो छुट्याउन कठिन हुन्छ । अत: त्यस्तो प्रतिकुल परिस्थितिमा धेरैलाई एकछिन अडिएर सूर्यास्त हेर्ने फुर्सद कसरी होस् । कतिलाई त रहर पनि हुन्न होला ।

साँझ छ बजेदेखि पौने सातसम्मको क्षण काठमान्डूको पश्चिमी अाकासमा, डाँडाहरूको टुप्मैमा कमजोर घाम अस्ताउनै लागेको हुन्छ । कमजोर तर बेजोड सुन्दर । मनमोहक । नाङ्गा अाँखाले सिधै हेर्न सकिने कमजोर । अाखाँ जुधाइरहन पनि हुने र त्यसै गर्न मनलाग्ने । राअाअाअातो । रातो? पहेहेहेलो । ल ल थुप्रै रंगहरूको मिस्रण जस्तो । त्यसले फालेका किरणहरूमार्फत गर्मी हैन शितलता फैलेको जस्तो हुने के । हात लम्काएर मुठ्ठीमा बाधौं जस्तो । छाम्न सकिने भए ‘नरम रैछ’ भनिने खालको ।

होअोअोअो त्यो डुब्नलागेको घाम मलाई अौधी मनपर्छ । कतिसम्म भने यो ऋतुमा धेरैजसो दिन म त्यही क्षण पर्खेर बस्छु । सकेसम्म नछुटाउने प्रयास गर्छु । उपत्यकामा सबैभन्दा राम्रोसँग त्यो दृश्य कहाँबाट देखिएला भन्ने पत्ता लगाउन खुवै चासो दिन्छु । (थाहा भए प्रतिकृयामा उल्लेख गर्दिनुस् ।) तर समयलाई रोक्न कहाँ सकिन्छ ? केही मिनेटमै त्यो घाम अाकाशमै विलाईहाल्छ । जे होस्, सूर्य अन्धकारमा डुब्नुअघि वा भनौं मलाई अधेरोमा डुवाउनुअघि सूर्यास्तले यो शहरका सारा कमजोरी र यहाँको बसाइका सबै चुनौतीहरूलाई विर्साइदिन्छ है । त्यति चैं गर्छ ।

त्यो रोमान्चक क्षण अवेर साँझसम्मै र धेरैजसो अवसरमा त ननिदाउँन्जेलसम्म मनमै रहन्छ ।

अस्ताउदै गर्दाको पलको कुरागरी साध्य छैन । एकैछिन त मन यति फुरूंग हुन्छ उभिईरहेको थुम्कोबाट स्पाईडर म्यान झैं उफ्रिउँ अनि हत्केलाबाट सूर्य लक्षित एउटा लामो जालो फ्याँकू । सके त्यसलाई त्यही रोकूँ नभए जालोमा झुन्डिदै त्यही पुगूँ । चाहनाहरू त्यसले असीमित सिर्जना गरिदिन्छ ।

वितेका थुप्रै दशकयता कुरूप बन्दै गरेको शहरमा सूर्यास्त चै किन सुन्दर रहिरहेको होला ? के यो संसारकै मनोरम सूर्यास्त हो ? काठमान्डूको भ्यागुतोले त त्यही निस्कर्ष निकालिसकेको होला ।

सूर्यास्त

सूर्यास्त

साना डाँडाले घेरिएको उपत्यकामा माैका मिले सूर्योदय र सूर्यास्त दुबै हेर्न पाइन्छ । नेपालका कतिपय पहाडी भिरालोमा बस्नेहरूकालागि चाँहि ती दुई मध्ये एउटा छनोट गर्नु बाध्यतै हुन्छ । म हुर्किएका ठाउँहरूमध्येको एउटामा बस्तीमा सूर्यकिरण ढिला अाउने र छिटै जाने हुन्थ्यो । पूर्व र पश्चिम दुबैतिर अजंगका डाँडाहरू थिए । घाम अाफूसम्म अाइपुग्दा अाघा विहान कटिसकेको हुन्थ्यो । त्यो अाफूबाट छुट्टीदा अाघा दिन बाँकी नै हुन्थ्यो । तर घाम उदाउदै गर्दाको भान जो अनुभव गरिन्थ्यो पश्चिमतिरतको पहरोलाई हेरेर त्यो सहजै कहाँ विर्सिइदोरहेछ र । त्यो अनुभव एउटा रूचिपूर्ण कथा पढेजस्तै हुन्थो । कथा कतिबेला सकिएला भन्ने हतारमा पान्ना पल्टाएजस्तै घाम कतिबेला पहरो अनि पहाडको भिरालोमा चिप्लिदै अाफूसम्म अाईपुग्ला भन्ने काैतुहल हुन्थ्यो । कतिपय विहान पहरामा घाम त्यसरी सरेको हेरेरै वित्थे । धेरै बर्षपछि थाहा भयो झन अग्ला र चम्किला डाँडाहरूको बीचमा उभिदा सूर्योदय र सूर्यास्तको नियमित प्रकृया झन बढी नाटकिय, रंगीन र रौनकपूर्ण हुदोरहेछ भन्ने ।

सम्झिन्छु अन्नपूर्ण अाधार शिविरको त्यो साँझ । हामी सबै पूर्व फर्केर घाम अस्ताएको हेरिरहेका थियौं । नाजुक सूर्यकिरण माछापुछ्रेको गर्धनमा ठोक्किएका थिए । त्यो विशिष्ट पहाडको अरूबेला अप्रेरणादायी अनि हिउँ अडिन नसक्ने पहरो भाग समेत अाखै नहटाई हेरिरहुँ जस्तो राम्रो भएको थियो । माछापुच्छ्रेको सुन्दर मुहार हेरेर बानीपरेकाहरू त्यो हिमालको अाधार शिविरबाट उसको विनाकुनै व्यक्तित्वको ढाड हेर्दा म जस्तै निराशाले पिरोलिन सक्छन् । तर अस्ताउदो सूर्यका किरण ठोक्किएको त्यो क्षण त्यो ढाड समेत नयनप्रिय भएको थियो । भोलिपल्ट विहान सबैका मुन्टा सूर्योदय हेर्न पश्चिम फर्केका थिए । ताजा किरणहरू भव्य अन्नपूर्णको पूर्वी टुप्पोेमा ठोक्किदै विस्तारै तलतल सर्दै थिए । हरेक सेकेन्ड कौतुहलपूर्ण थिए । Continue reading →

Basantapur's Trailokya Mohan Temple

Kathmandu Darbar Square- A Day After the #NepalEarthquake

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A day after the #NepalEarthquake, Basantapur was crowded by people who wanted to escape the aftershocks.

A day after the #NepalEarthquake, Basantapur was crowded by people who wanted to escape the aftershocks.

A day after the #NepalEarthQuake, I went to Kathmandu’s Darbar Square. The scale of devastation was massive. Many of its attractive buildings, former palaces and temples, had either completely collapsed or were heavily damaged. The landmark Kastamandap building had been reduced to rubble. Two other beautiful temples nearby were not where they once stood. The “nau talle” darbar [the Basantapur tower, above] was still standing but it had lost its gajur. Several heritage buildings had their walls cracked. For a regular visitor of the Darbar Square, it was difficult to comprehend the sudden change brought about by the quake. A crowd had gathered at the Basantapur chowk. Most of them were lying on the ground, some facing the sky; others chatting with each other. They looked tired. Somewhat scared too. But they were generally calm. There was uncertainty on their faces. These people were very different from the ones that Basantapur used to see in normal times. Like many open spaces in Kathmandu, Basantapur too was crowded with people who wanted to escape the aftershocks.

Souvenir shops crowd Basantapur in normal times.

In a normal day, souvenir and curio shops occupy the open space at Basantapur side of the Kathmandu Darbar Square.

Basantapur's Trailokya Mohan Temple

Basantapur’s Trailokya Mohan Temple

Cultural hub

A top tourist destination in town, Kathmandu Darbar Square in normal times is a bustling place. People from all over Nepal and and the rest of the world can be spotted here on a typical day. Here, vendors annoyingly follow tourists to sale souvenirs and curios. Dope dealers loiter around looking for customers. Tea sellers serve thousands of cups of tea. Singers come to perform. Artists stage street dramas. Politicians and activists gather to lecture and shout. Temples and palaces fight with each-other for a visitor’s attention. Rickshaw pullers jostle with taxi drivers to get passengers.

Once a place for kings and queens, Kathmandu Durbar Square today houses Gods and criminals, in close proximity and with no discrimination. Perhaps a slight one. Convicted and suspected ones live in police custody in the notorious Hanumandhoka lockup, of course, while the Gods and Goddesses, both living and those immortalized in statues, live free. Not only inside the temples and houses but also out in the open. This is the place where rituals and ancient traditions of many kinds are performed with great enthusiasm and participation of both public and the state. This is a place of utter paradox. An oasis of calm in most days, this place also witnesses some of the most violent cultural activities. That includes slaughtering of thousands of goats and buffaloes on certain days of the year. All in all, this is the cultural heart of Kathmandu. To be precise, this is the most prominent and visible cultural centre of one among many Kathmandus that exist in Kathmandu. But today, a day after the 25th April earthquake, this world heritage site is deeply shaken. Continue reading →

Perhaps the most famous landmark of Kathmandu, the Dharahara tower is no more.

What Did Dharahara Mean to You? (#NepalEarthquake)

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Collapse of the Dharahara tower symbolized all quake-related devastations. But did the Bhimsen Stambha embody our pride and morale?

Soldiers and volunteers launched rescue efforts at the fallen Dharahara tower

Soldiers and volunteers launched rescue efforts at the fallen Dharahara tower

The #NepalEarthquake claimed thousands of lives. A million houses have been destroyed, most of them in rural villages. If there was a symbol of this destruction, it was the fall of the Dharahara tower. The tower’s collapse resulted in the death of more than one hundred fifty people. A few survived. This included some who were at the eighth floor circular balcony, enjoying the view of the city, when the quake hit.

Perhaps the most famous landmark of Kathmandu, the Dharahara tower is no more.

Perhaps the most famous landmark of Kathmandu, the Dharahara tower is no more. A pro-democracy rally in 2005.

Judging by the way people have reacted to the destruction of the eleven-story minaret with Shiva’s statue at the top, I feel that its collapse symbolized all quake-related devastations. It was as if Dharahara was somehow indestructible (though quakes had damaged it in the past too). “Even the Dharahara fell, can you imagine?,” was a typical reaction.

A man from Sikkim who had come to quake-hit Sindhupalchok with relief materials told journalist Kiran Bhandari, “We heard in the news that even the Dharahara had collapsed. We could only imagine what might have happened to Kathmandu. We were shocked.”

In most post-quake writings and social media comments, the Dharahara has been implicitly or explicitly portrayed as the pride and morale of the Nepali people. Images of the destroyed tower along with the words “we will rise” have been circulated widely. This show of affection to Dharahara greatly surprised me because the monument had largely been ignored.

After much reflection, I have reached the conclusion that the Dharahara did not represent the pride and morale of the Nepali people. Certainly not mine. My pride and morale didn’t fall along with the tower to the extent of saying ‘we will rise’ on the social media along with the image of the undamaged Dharahara.

It was made for and by the rulers. The commoners had no say in the way it was built and in the way it was used. The tower was not built for the general public to use it though it was opened to the commoners for climbing in 2005.

Having said that, the monument was the postcard representative of the city of Kathmandu. Indeed, in the hills where I was born and raised, Dharahara symbolized the city of Kathmandu.

“So what will you see in Kathmandu?” That was the question grown-ups asked kids who were about to leave for the capital.
“Dharahara!”, excited kids would scream back.
“So what did you see in Kathmandu?” Adults would ask kids who had just returned from the Valley.
“Dharahara!”, the kids would reply. Continue reading →

The #NepalEarthquake Day

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Severe cracks on Kaushaltar-Lokanthali section of the Japanese-built highway. The quake not only inflicted damage on the sturdy road but sunk the residential area the size of about 10-15 football fields by about 1.5 feet. A few concrete houses in the area have suffered serious damage.

Severe cracks on Kaushaltar-Lokanthali section of the Japanese-built highway. The quake not only inflicted damage on the sturdy road but sunk the residential area the size of about 10-15 football fields by about 1.5 feet. A few concrete houses in the area have suffered serious damage.

Like everyone else, I knew it was coming. But I didn’t know when. I had no idea about its magnitude. It’s devastating impact. That’s because, like a generation before me, I had not experienced a strong earthquake. Like most Nepalis, I wasn’t prepared for it. Also, no one can predict an earthquake. So why think about it when you never know when it will strike.

My go-bag (given to me) was gathering dust somewhere in a corner of my house. I wasn’t sure that I would find time to grab the bag before running out in the event of a quake. Would I be even at home? As it turned out, I was several kilometers away from my house when the earth shook violently on 25th April (12 Baishak 2072). Instead of a go-bag, I had in my hands a bundle of investigative newspaper articles that were to be judged for a competition. I was in a teashop that was fortunately only a meter away from an empty road.

Within hours, most of open spaces in Kathmandu had been occupied. Even the VIP area at the Tundikhel military parade ground which is normally restricted for the public was opened. I had never stepped into that part of the parade ground before.

Within hours, most of the open spaces in Kathmandu had been occupied. Even the VIP area at the Tundikhel military parade ground which is normally restricted for the public was opened. I had never stepped into that part of the parade ground before.

The restricted area of Tundikhel's Military Area provided safe heaven to people terrified by the earthquake.

The restricted area of Tundikhel’s Military Area provided safe heaven to people terrified by the earthquake.

What I remember of those 40 seconds is a strange noise. The sound of structures colliding or something to that effect. I was struggling to stand upright in the middle of a blacktopped road. It was as if I had suddenly found myself in a small boat in rough seas. A woman nearby started to cry. Her husband held her. She continued to scream. A group of people gathered on the road. A few of us tried to console her. By the time the earth had stopped shaking, the people around me had been thoroughly shaken.

One of the first things that came to my mind during the first few seconds into the quake was to be aware of the buildings around me. The building that housed the teashop looked particularly threatening. At one point I thought it would collapse. But it didn’t, like many concrete buildings in Kathmandu. A pleasant surprise. There are many explanations floating around for this. The epicenter was too far. The earthquake wasn’t shallow enough. Houses were built strongly. My own observation is that we were just too lucky this time around.

Immediately after the quake I rode across the city. Except for some old houses with load bearing walls and heritage buildings I saw that most residential concrete houses had survived. The perimeter walls of several landmark buildings had crumbled over hundreds of motorcycles that had been parked by the walls. The collapse of the compound walls of the Nepal Police headquarters, the Prime Minister’s official residence and the Narayanhitti Palace Museum looked particularly astounding. But, by and large, Kathmandu had remained intact at the first glance. Later in the day, reports of substantial damage to recently built high-rise apartment buildings started to come in. As people regained composure, they also noticed cracks, small and big, in their still standing concrete houses. Continue reading →

Tucked between her mama and papa. Kathmandu. Originally spotted by George Georgiou.

Tucked between her mama and papa. Kathmandu. Originally spotted by George Georgiou.

Kathmandu

Kathmandu

A Selfie by a Masked Man #PatanDarbarSquare

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A selfie at Patan Darbar Square

A selfie at Patan Darbar Square by a masked man.

Thursday 24th April.

Around Kathmandu: Champadevi Hill [काठमान्डू वरीपरी: चम्पादेवी डाँडो]

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A woman carried a brick to build a temple at the top of Champadevi hill.

A woman carried a brick to build a temple at the top of the Champadevi hill.

[This is a bilingual post. यो पोस्ट दुइ भाषामा छ ।]

नयाँ वर्ष २०७१ को दिन म साथिहरूसँग २२८५ मिटर अग्लो चम्पादेवी डाँडो गएँ । हामी किर्तिपुर नजिकैको र चम्पादेवीको फेदमा अवस्थित मच्छेगाँउमा रहेको पुष्पलाल स्मृति पार्कबाट उक्लियाै । बाटो साँघुरो थियो, धेरैजसो ठाडो उकालो र दुइतर्फी अावतजावतकालागि चुनाैतिपूर्रण । तर हिड्नै अप्ठेरो चाँही होइन । बाटो धेरैजसो ठाउँमा झांडीले छोपिएको थियो जसले गर्दा कुनै सुरुंगमा हिंडेजस्तो भान हुन्थ्यो । घमाइलो दिनमा त सुरुंगले गज्जवको शीतलता प्रदानगर्ने नै भयो तर उपत्यका र हिमालयको दृश्यबाट चै त्यसले बटुवाहरुलाई बन्चित तुल्याउथ्यो ।

नयाँ वर्षको दिन चम्पदेवी जाने सर्वाधिक उपयुक्त दिन थिएन  किनकी त्यो दिन चम्पदेवीको शिखरमा लाग्ने जात्रातिर जाने या त्यहाँबाट फर्किने मानिसहरूले बाटो भरिएको थियो ।

हामी गएकै बाटो फर्किएनौं । हामी हात्तीवन हुँदै फर्पिंग झर्यौं । यो बाटो चैं राम्रो थियो– फराकिलो, खुला र कम उकालो . साथै त्यति चर्को घाम पनि लागेको थिएन जो गज्जव थियो ।

योजना चांही फर्पिंगबाट सार्बजनिक बस अठ्याउने थियो । तर सबै बसहरु दक्षिणकाली मन्दिर या चम्पदेवी डाँडोबाट फर्किएका मानिसहरूले पुरै भरिएका थिए । तेसैले हामीहरु थप ४-५ किलोमीटर हिड्न बाध्य भयौं पिच बाटोमा– गाडीहरूले फालेको धुलो र धुँवा खाँदै । त्यो रमाइलो थिएन ।

——-   —————–             ———————-

On the New Year Day 2071 BS, I went to the top of the Champadevi Hill (2,285m) with friends. We started the walk from the Pushpalal Memorial Park located at the base of the hill (Machhegaun village, near Kirtipur). The trail was narrow, mostly steep and challenging for a two-way commute but not difficult to walk. It was covered mostly by the bushes giving the feel of walking in a tunnel. In a sunny day the ‘tunnel’ provided a great shade to hikers but blocked the view of the valley and mountains. Continue reading →

Couples at Taudaha

Couples at Taudaha

Did you notice a recent tweet by veteran journalist Kishore Nepal? This post, particularly its timing, is inspired by his tweet.

Yesterday he tweeted: “Suggestions to young lovers of Kathmandu. Taudah is not a good place for romance. Better to visit somewhere else to avoid do & don’t.”

And a genuine question by @Ushaft: “where else, for example? Kathmandu doesn’t have friendly spaces for couples and young people.”

सपनाको बगैचामा

सपनाको बगैचामा

[Here’s a related article (सपनाको बगैचामा), btw, from 2008.]

Wondering why Kishore Nepal said that? A big noticeboard at the entrance of Taudaha lake says the following:

Discipline is the identity of civilized citizen.

If you are found doing the following restricted activities inside the lake area you will be fined as per the following:

Restricted activities

Hugging: Rs 1500
Kissing: Rs 2000
Entering into the lake area in student uniform: Rs 500
Drinking alcohol and doing drugs: Rs. 5000
Fishing: Rs. 15,000
Swimming: Rs. 10,000

By Karkotak Nagraja Nagrani Habitat Taudaha Society

Check out these photos taken in September:

Taudaha noticeboard
Discipline is the identity of civilized citizen. If you are found doing the following restricted activities inside the lake area you will be fined as per the following: Restricted activities Hugging: Rs 1500 Kissing: Rs 2000 Entering into the lake area in student uniform: Rs 500 Drinking alcohol and doing drugs: Rs. 5000 Fishing: Rs. 15,000 Swimming: Rs. 10,000 By Karkotak Nagraja Nagrani Habitat Taudaha Society
“Introduction and importance of the Taudaha pond”.
Couples at Taudaha
Taudaha (daba=lake)

If you want to know what Taudaha is (from Wikipedia):

Taudaha Lake is a small lake in the outskirts of Kathmandu, in Nepal. The name comes from a combination of Newari words ‘Ta’, meaning snake and ‘Daha’, which means lake. Continue reading →