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SAI International School
Class IX- English
Module No. 26 - Kathmandu

Introduction

“Kathmandu” is an Extract from Vikram Seth‟s travelogue „Heaven
Lake‟ which narrates his long journey from China to India via Tibet

and Nepal via hitchhiking.This story tells us about the author‟s visit
to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu.

This travelogue gives an insight on his trip to the city and what he
feels about it. It is an account of his time spent in Nepal, visiting
two temples – the Pashupatinath and the Buddha stupa, the shrine
most sacred to Hindus and Buddhists respectively.

He not only describes the ambience inside these temples but also
records his observations about their surroundings and contrasts
the hectic activity in the Hindu temple with the serenity in the
Buddhist temple.

He notices the difference between the two temples and the

atmosphere surrounding them. Thus, through Kathmandu
summary, we travel to the city without actually going there.

SUMMARY (to be written in notebook)

 Kathmandu is a travelogue written by Vikram Seth. It is the
description of the two famous temples of Kathmandu. One is the
Pashupatinath and the other is the Baudhnath Shrine.
 The author first visited Pashupatinath Temple where he finds the
atmosphere of feverish confusion. Only Hindus are allowed to

enter inside the temple. He finds people performing different
rituals performing on the bank of the holy river Bagmati .He also
comes to know about the belief related to the end of the Kaliyug
 .Next he visited Baudhnath Shrine, there is the sense of stillness
in contrast to the Pashupatinath temple. Tibetan immigrants
selling different things on the side of the road.
 After this he roams on the streets of Kathmandu and finds it the
busiest and more religious city. These streets are crowded with
fruit sellers, hawkers of postcards etc. The shops sell western

cosmetics, film rolls chocolates. It is the noisiest city because of