Monday, August 25, 2014

Traces of Classicism

To be updated...

Private Residence, Ason
(Exposed brick work and fluted pilasters on facade)
I'm surprised but happy to mention that most of these buildings
still stand after the devastating twin quakes of 2015

A Typical Bay, Nepal Bal Mandir
This building has suffered irreparable damages in the 2015 quakes

Cornice Details, Nepal Eye Hospital (Original Guest House?) Tripureshwor

Contrasting Styles, Basantapur Dabali with Kumari Ghar(Right) & Gaddi Baithak(Left)
Gaddi Baithak was severely damaged and as of Nov. 2016 lies in a state of ruin
Gate to the East Wing of Tri-Chandra Campus
(Below Ghantaghar)
Both the clocktower (damaged and reconstructed after 1934 earthquake)
suffered no serious damage to the 2015 twin quakes


Makhan Galli, Kathmandu (May 2016)
Kathmandu (May 2016)
Near Bangemuda, Kathmandu (May 2016)
Near Taleju Temple, Kathmandu (May 2016)
Makhan Galli, Kathmandu (May 2016)
Updated on Nov. 2016
Resthouse
Chobar, Kirtipur, Kathmandu Valley
Resthouse
Chobar, Kirtipur, Kathmandu Valley
What remains of Seto Durbar, Durbarmarg, Kathmandu

Pilasters, Cornice bands of the Hotel Yak & Yeti
(Previously Palace / Residence of Bir Sumsher)
Details of the interior at one of the Halls


Back Entry from the Garden Area
East face of what remains of Bhimsen Thapa's residence
(Jan. 2017)

North face of what remains of Bhimsen Thapa's residence
(Jan. 2017)

Connecting Chowks of Kathmandu II (South Side)


Before April 2015 Earthquake
Taken after the April 2015 Earthquake


Temple at Jaisideval (Before April 2015 Earthquake)
Picture taken at Jaisideval (After April 2015 Earthquake)


Temple at Jaisideval (Brought down by April 2015 Earthquake)



Lichhavi Period Polish visible on top (Tamralep)



A Different kind of a Water Spout

Images of the Water spout from Doleshwor Mahadev in Bhaktapur. At a time when modern city water supply often fails to provide water to the residents of this valley, these water taps have essentially been running for hundreds of years. The need to maintain and preserve these ancient water supply systems cannot be stressed more. The picture quality isn't great, took them from my phone. So bear with me.

Update on Nov. 2016 - I didn't post the picture of the main temple at Doleshwor but this temple was severely damaged by the twin quakes of 2015. I believe it is under going reconstruction and a Masterplan for the redevelopment of the Temple Complex was developed by a group from the Khowpa Engineering College. Perhaps in due time, this will truly develop into a beautiful religious place of pilgrimage that it should given its status as equal to Kedarnath Temple at Uttarakhand, India.

Carved on stone, religious motifs at the wall behind 

Some more, you can see the effaced stone

Typical Water spout, the design is consistent throughout







Sunday, August 24, 2014

The Magic of Monsoon

Basantapur Dabali drenched in Monsoon

Nautale Durbar

More of the Same #GaddiBaithak
What it looks like after the April 2015 Earthquake
(July 2015)


Colorful Kathmandu, Meru to Makhan


Rivers of Kathmandu I - Bagmati

I've been caught up with real life so came back to this blog after a long gap. In the meantime, I have managed to click some pictures around the city. Its monsoon now in Nepal and luckily the rivers have one thing in abundance, water! That has become somewhat of a novelty, finding water gushing through the river bed, and its a strictly monsoon thing. So its a nice sight away from the usual eyesore. But lets start with pictures when the water is at the lowest flow, around the peak of winter.

The following pictures were taken at the Teku area. This area not far from the confluence of the rivers Bagmati and the Bishnumati rivers is an area full of history, scattered around you can find numerous religious and social buildings - rest houses, ghats and even temples. Stories that have been passed down generations of locals survive even to this day surrounding various myths regarding monuments in and around this area which are tied with the history of Kathmandu itself.

As we go towards the confluence point, its very close to the KMC's garbage collection unit. Strange if you ask me, how planners or the City itself allowed garbage to be dumped right next to the river at the center of a city. More so at a site of such religious, cultural and historical importance.

It awaits like much of the city does for a renaissance...

Looking towards Thapathali from Teku

Looking towards Patan side

Looking towards Teku

Access routes to the river below

Another access point

And another

Remnants of a better(?) past can be found

Teen Deval Temple Complex near Ram Mandir (Teku area) Bagmati
(2013)


Some more images of the Bagmati River around Balkhu area (SW of Kathmandu)

Temporary Bamboo fencing (encroachment along bank)
(2014)

Temporary Structures along the bank
(2014)

Squatter Settlements along the SW edge near Balkhu
(2014)


Picture shows the condition of the river bank
(2014)

Updated in December 2016

Bagmati River at Chobar (South most fringe where it exits the valley) which is about 5-6 km away from Kalimati.

Steps to the river bank (2015)

Bagmati River with cremation ghats in foreground
Notice the white grime in water (mostly sewer & industrial waste)
(2015)

River bank littered with plastic (2015)

The historically significant gorge through which
the valley lake is believed to have been drained out (2015)

River bank with crumbling ghat (2015)

Public Resthouses along the river & ghat
have been damaged by the April 2015 quake
(2015)