Kathmandu in the Late 1960s Through Fascinating Color Photos

Kathmandu is the seat of federal government and the most populous city in Nepal. It is located in the Kathmandu Valley, a large valley surrounded by hills in the high plateaus in central Nepal, at an altitude of 1,400 meters (4,600 feet).

Kathmandu is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, founded in the 2nd century AD. The city is and has been for many years the centre of Nepal’s history, art, culture, and economy. It has a multi-ethnic population within a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu. Tourism is an important part of the economy in the city.

Kathmandu is considered the gateway to the Nepal Himalayas and is home to several World Heritage Sites: the Durbar Square, Swayambhu Mahachaitya, Bouddha and Pashupatinath. It is the largest metropolitan area located in the Himalayas. These fascinating color photos were taken by east med wanderer that show everyday life of Kathmandu in 1968.

Basket and rope shop in the Durbar Square of Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1968

A street in the old city - traffic free! Apart from the cycle rickshaw on the right, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1968

Bhairavnath Temple, Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1968

Bhatgaon, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1968

Bhatgaon, Kathmandu, Nepal, 1968

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30 Fascinating Photos Capture Street Scenes of Kathmandu in the Mid-1990s

Kathmandu is the capital and most populous city of Nepal. It is located in the Kathmandu Valley, a large valley in the high plateaus in central Nepal, at an altitude of 1,400 meters (4,600 feet).

The city is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, founded in the 2nd century AD. Kathmandu is and has been for many years the centre of Nepal's history, art, culture, and economy. It has a multi-ethnic population within a Hindu and Buddhist majority. Religious and cultural festivities form a major part of the lives of people residing in Kathmandu.

Tourism is an important part of the economy in the city. Kathmandu is considered the gateway to the Nepal Himalayas and is home to several World Heritage Sites: the Durbar Square, Swayambhu Mahachaitya, Bouddha and Pashupatinath.

These fascinating were taken by fraser donachie that show street scenes of Kathmandu in 1995.

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Porters Transport a Car on Long Poles Across a Stream in Nepal, January 1950

Instead of cars carrying workers, Nepal has workers carrying cars on the rocky, hilly trail from Kathmandu. This old German-made Mercedes was going to India as a trade-in on a shiny American model in January 1950. Some 60 men, moving to the rhythm of a chant, balance it on long poles.

(Photo by Volkmar K. Wenztel, National Geographic)

In those days, stripped down automobile chassis used to be physically carried by up to nearly 100 porters each from Bhimphedi to Thankot, because there was no motorable road to Kathmandu.

“These days vehicles get paid to carry people, back then we were paid to carry vehicles,” Dhan Bahadur Gole, a porter, told Nepali Times.

The journey took the porters more than a week as they maneuvered the load across steep and narrow mountain trails. After they reached Kathmandu, the cars were re-assembled and driven around the Valley’s few thoroughfares by Nepal’s Rana rulers. Depending on the size of the car, the porters would be hired in multiples of twelve on each bamboo pole: 16, 32, 64 or 96, carrying the load on their shoulders and wearing straw slippers.

Beautiful Vintage Photos of Old Kathmandu in Nepal in 1976

These photos were taken by Kevin Kelly during his trip to Kathmandu, the capital city of Nepal, in 1976. Here are his observations: 

“As you can see from these photographs I took in 1976, the medieval town is delicate. Not all has been destroyed, and I am sure the Nepalis will rebuild as they have in the past. Still, the earthquake shook more than just buildings.

Kathmandu was an intensely ornate city that is easily damaged. The carvings, details, public spaces were glorious. My heart goes out to its citizens who suffer with their city. As you can see from these images I took in 1976, the medieval town has been delicate for decades. Loosely stacked bricks are everywhere. One can also see what splendid art has been lost. Not all has been destroyed, and I am sure the Nepalis will rebuild as they have in the past. Still, the earthquake shook more than just buildings. 

If you look carefully you may notice something unusual about these photos. They show no cars, pedicabs, or even bicycles. At the time I took these images, Kathmandu was an entirely pedestrian city. Everyone walked everywhere. Part of why I loved it. That has not been true for decades, so this is something else that was lost long ago. Also missing back then was signage. There are few signs for stores, or the typical wordage you would see in any urban landscape today. Kathmandu today is much more modern, much more livable, or at least it was.”

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35 Beautiful Photos Capture Everyday Life of Nepal in 1980

Nepal is a country in South Asia. It is located mainly in the Himalayas, but also includes parts of the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is the 49th largest country by population and 93rd largest country by area. It is landlocked, and borders China in the north and India in the south, east and west, while Bangladesh is located within only 27 km (17 mi) of its southeastern tip and Bhutan is separated from it by the Indian state of Sikkim.

Nepal has a diverse geography, including fertile plains, subalpine forested hills, and eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. Kathmandu is the capital and the largest city. Nepal is a multiethnic country with Nepali as the official language.

These beautiful photos were taken by janwillemsen that show everyday life of Nepal, mostly in Kathmandu and Pokhara in 1980.

Temples near river

Mountain road

Craftsman

Children playing with goat shit

Himalayas border

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99 Fascinating Photos Capture People of Kathmandu, Nepal in the Early 1970s

Kathmandu is the capital city of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the largest Himalayan state in Asia. It is the largest metropolis in Nepal which includes the towns of Lalitpur, Kirtipur, Madhyapur Thimi and Bhaktapur.

Kathmandu is also the largest metropolis in the Himalayan hill region.

These amazing photos are from nick dewolf photo archive that show portraits of people in Kathmandu in 1972.

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60 Stunning Color Photos Captured Everyday Life of Nepal in the early 1980s

These amazing color photos were taken by photographer James Wired when he traveled to Nepal in 1982. They documented everyday life of people in Kathmandu, Patan, Namche Bazaar village, and several areas of East and West Nepal, also around Himalayas.

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