People, airfield, child, portrait, transportation
Date: 1964-12 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Brahmin (Bahun) girl waiting on the Pokhara airstrip for a plane to arrive. The only building abutting the airstrip is the small white Royal Nepal Airlines office to the left of her head. She stayed in the middle of the airstrip until a hand-cranked siren signaled an incoming plane. As soon as the DC-3 rolled to a stop she would run out and circle around it, waving to the pilot.
People, commerce, haat, market, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Myanglung, Terhathum Description: Limbu women selling green onions at haat bazaar (weekly market). The woman's necklace is made with old silver coins from India. At that time the Myanglung bazaar was called Terhathum.
community, mani wall, shrine, stupa/chorten
Date: 1963-11 Location: Dhital, Kaski Description: Hindu shrine along a trail from Dhital to Dhampus. Small shrines like this one were places for offerings of food, fruit, flowers, and chicken sacrifice from time to time. Not known if this shrine was for one of the many Hindu deities, as trail shrines were sometimes for ancestral spirits or animistic souls who were included in Hindu ritual worship.
Gai Jatra, community, event, festival, street scene
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Gai Jatra (Festival of Cows). Two men lead a calf to the door of a house where someone in the family has died in the past year. This will help to ease the passage of the deceased to and through the next rebirth and eventual release from the cycle to arrive in heaven. Gai Jatra has many facets to help ease and face the reality of death for family and community; costumes, dancing, humor, satire, and food during and after the street processions.
People, chautara, community
Date: 1965-03 Location: Ghandruk, Kaski Description: Gurung man and his Mother-in-law dressed in traditional clothes stopped at a chautara. The man wears a headwrap, a white cotton piece over the shoulders crossed in front and open in the back like a bag to carry things in (Bhangra), and a lightweight cotton skirt (Kachad). The woman wears a wool head cap, under it a black head cloth, and a maroon cloak from left shoulder wrapped around in front. They were on their way from Ghandruk to a nearby village to visit relatives.
home life, house exterior
Date: 1964-09 Location: Faparthum, Syangja Description: The writing on this house is "Om Shanti,". a meditative mantra. It also has meaning as a simple and direct prayer asking for peace and goodness within, and to be spared from all destructive external forces. It is written on the wall for the well-being and protection of those who live here and for who pass on the footpath to see.
People, group photo, named person
Date: 1964-04 Location: Deurali, Kaski Description: Chhetri headman (Pradhan Panch) of the village panchayat with his wife, family, neighbors, and panchayat development workers.
community, ping, swing
Date: 1964-11 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Kids playing on a rotary swing (rote ping). The support structures for these are often left up all year. The rest of it is assembled for the festival of Dashain and usually kept up through the festival of Tihar.
community, ping, swing
Date: 1964-10 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Woman, girls, and kids dressed up and enjoying turns on the swing (Linge Ping) made of long bamboo poles and grass rope. This Linge Ping was set up as part of the traditional celebration of the festival of Dashain. Along with just swinging for fun, it is an old belief that getting off the ground once a year, leaving the earth behind, is good for the soul and salvation. The location is not far from the main street of the upper bazaar in Pokhara.
agriculture, footpath, landscape, river, stream, transportation, wood cutting
Date: 1964-03 Location: Puranchaur, Kaski Description: Kids carrying both fresh and straw fodder home for their family's livestock. The greens were lopped off the lower branches of fodder trees in a nearby communal forest by older family members. The river is the Seti Khola.
lake, landscape
Date: 1965-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Dugout boat passengers on Phewa Tal waiting to disembark on the very small island in the middle of the lake to visit Tal Barahi Temple (Barahi Mandir). Saturday puja meant long wait times to get to the island. The dugout dungas were remarkably stable even when packed full and low in the water.
community, pack animal, street scene, transportation
Date: 1964-04 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: On the long north-south main street of Pokhara, a Tibetan pack train of mules down from the north via Mustang, Thak Khola, and the Kali Gandaki. The mules have bells and colorful bridles and headgear. The traders bring salt and wool in exchange for grains and other goods. The location is about one-third of the way into Pokhara from the north end of town, on the main street (lower end of the upper bazaar).
airfield, airplane, transportation
Date: 1964-07 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Royal Nepal Airlines DC-3 that arrived from Kathmandu at the Pokhara airstrip. Standing under the wing was a good place to get a break from the summer heat or an afternoon monsoon downpour.
countryside, lake, landscape, named mountain
Date: 1965-01 Location: Pumdibhumdi, Kaski Description: Chettri woman in front of her family's property on a ridge overlooking Phewa Tal. Location is the southwest side of Phewa Tal, Machhapuchchhre is directly to the north. The structure behind the woman has storage for grain and baskets under the V-shaped thatch roof.
agriculture, butchering
Date: 1963-11 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Butchers (KasÄi Caste) cutting pieces of water buffalo (rango) meat on a side street near the lower bazaar in Pokhara.
building, community, countryside, handicrafts, landscape, monastery, temple
Date: 1965-05 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Young Buddhist monks from Manang (Nyeshang Valley) preparing and leveling the ground at the building site of a temple and monastery. It is now the location of the Matepani Gompa, also known as Manangi Gompa, Nyeshang Monastery, and Karma Dubgyu Choling Gompa. The view is to the west. Barely visible just to the left of the monk's hat and along the road below is the small Sitala Devi Mandir (Temple of the Goddess of Smallpox). It is about 2 kilometers from that temple to central Pokhara going west on this road (now called Mahendra Pul Road and also Ranipauwa Marg).
landscape, named mountain, pack animal, transportation
Date: 1965-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Tibetan pack train of mules arriving and unloading wool at the Hyangja Tibetan Refugee Camp, about 3 kilometers north of Pokhara's upper bazaar. The mules always had colorful bridles and headgear. They were belled and could be heard from quite a distance. They came from Mustang through Tukuche, Beni, and Baglung via the Kali Gandaki. This refugee settlement was also called the Amdo Camp, most of the refugees were from the Amdo region of Tibet. The Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee Settlement is now located here. Annapurna South and Machhapuchchhre in the distance.
building, carpentry, community, handicrafts, school, woodworking
Date: 1965-02 Location: Lekhnath, Kaski Description: Carpenters pausing briefly while cutting lumber of various sizes for a new school. Cutting with these two-man rectangular framed rip saws was very slow and laborious.
handicrafts, other craft
Date: 1964-06 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Tibetan refugee from the Amdo region of Tibet making prayer flags. They are made with the prayers carved on the woodblock. The prayer flag cloth is placed on the print platform in front of the man and pressed with the inked woodblock. The flag colors (white, red, blue, green, yellow) represent the five basic elements. The location is the Tibetan Refugee Camp in Hyangja, three kilometers north of Pokhara's upper bazaar. This is now the location of the Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee Settlement.
People, community, footpath, group photo, transportation, water supply
Date: 1964-03 Location: Majhthana, Kaski Description: Brahmin (Bahun) women bringing water up to their village in the dry season. The water source was farther from the village at that time of year, down closer to the Madi Khola. The trail leveled out here and they began singing folk songs.
Holi, event
Date: 1964-03 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Kids and students in Matepani (about 2 kilometers southeast of central Pokhara) throwing red powder as part of celebrating Holi.
agriculture, harvest
Date: 1963-11 Location: Dhikure Pokhari, Kaski Desription: Bahun (Brahmin) women cutting and harvesting terraced millet (kodo) fields.
batti, commerce, home life, meals, porter, tea shop, transportation
Date: 1964-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Porters having a mid-morning dal bhat (lentils and rice) meal at a Thakali bhatti (inn) along a main trail northwest of Pokhara at Hyangja. The porters were carrying heavy loads of kerosene to Baglung. These temporary trail inns were run by Thakali women after the monsoon and before spring planting in their homeland of Thak Khola (Tukuche and Marpha to the north along the Kali Gandaki). Only food and raksi (rice or millet wine) was paid for, no charge for overnight lodging.
commerce, shop
Date: 1963-12 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Woman from a nearby farm in a barter transaction with a shopkeeper. She and her family had milled the flour and she was exchanging it for some store goods. The shopkeeper was singing a "counting" song as he measured out the amount of flour in the brass container.
Families, Family, People, agriculture, animal, child
Date: 1963-11 Location: Dhampus, Kaski Description: Magar woman taking in the warmth of the morning sun while baby-sitting her grandchild and pet puppy.
batti, commerce, community, footpath, tea shop
Date: 1964-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Two Thakali bhattis (inns) side by side along a main trail northwest of Pokhara at Hyangja. These temporary trail inns were run by Thakali women after the monsoon and before spring planting in their homeland of Thak Khola (Tukuche and Marpha to the north along the Kali Gandaki). Only food and raksi (rice or millet wine) was paid for, no charge for overnight lodging. The bhatti was long and narrow, cooking area in the back. Thakali women are sitting in front of both bhattis. Others along the trail are catching up on news from near and far. During an overnight stay at a bhatti, it was not unusual for there to be singing and drinking late into the night.
People, chautara, community, portrait
Date: 1965-03 Location: Ghandruk, Kaski Description: This photo of a Gurung man was taken just minutes later after he sat down on the chautara, removed his headwrap, uncoiled his 3-foot long topknot (Tupi) and proudly showed it. It had taken him several years to grow it out properly and maintain it in good condition at that length.
People, event, musician, wedding
Date: 1965-04 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Wedding procession (Janti) in Matepani (about 2 kilometers southeast of central Pokhara). Musicians, family, and friends accompany the Chhetri bridegroom. He is carried in a wedding litter to the bride's village. The large curved horn (Narsingha) was common in Kaski. Here it is C-shaped, some are S-shaped.
People, event, musician, wedding
Date: 1964-03 Location: Sarangkot, Kaski Description: Musicians, family, and friends about to form a wedding procession (Janti). The large curved horn (Narsingha) was common in Kaski. Here it is S-shaped, some are C-shaped.
agriculture, pounding, pressing
Date: 1964-02 Location: Hemaja, Kaski Description: Mustard oil press (ghani). The hardwood pestle is angled as it rotates in the hollow of the stone mortar and the load beam is weighted with stones. That increases the pressure on the mustard seeds, which are crushed against the lower sides of the hollow. The two women push on the crossbar, circling the press and rotating the pestle.
Families, Family, People, child, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Jirikhimti, Terhathum Description: Limbu mother and child taking in the morning sun next to a bamboo grove.
People, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Myanglung, Terhathum Description: Limbu woman leaving her house, on her way to haat bazaar (weekly market).
bridge, community, landscape, river, stream
Date: 1964-08 Location: Parche, Kaski Description: New bamboo and hemp rope suspension foot bridge over the Madi Khola, on the trail to Parche and Sikles.
Families, Family, People, child
Date: 1964-03 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Tibetan father and son from the Amdo region of Tibet. They were living at the Tibetan Refugee Camp in Hyangja (also called the Amdo Camp), located about three kilometers north of Pokhara's upper bazaar. This is now the location of the Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee Settlement.
handicrafts, pottery
Date: 1963-12 Location: Madhyapur Thimi, Bhaktapur Description: This man is carrying an extremely large pot home from one of the Newari family businesses in Thimi that makes them. The Newari family potters (with the last name of Prajapati) of Thimi are known for their prolific production, and at that time for the largest pots made in Nepal.
footpath, porter, transportation
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Porters carrying tins of Raja Biscuits to Pokhara shops and stores. They had just been unloaded from a Royal Nepal Airlines DC-3 that had arrived at the airstrip. Depending on demand some would also be portered on to Kusma, Baglung, and Beni.
countryside, footpath, landscape, porter, transportation
Date: 1969-02 Location: Gorsyang, Nuwakot Description: Porter delivering personal belongings to a home in Gorsyang, on a trail above the Trishuli River Valley. Not much weight in the pail and bedding, but the trunk was very heavy.
Gai Jatra, dancing, event, festival
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Gai Jatra (Festival of Cows) dancers in one of the processions from the lower to the upper bazaar in Pokhara. Some of the dancers are men in female dress, many different costumes representing a variety of deities and personalities. Dancers sometimes act out comic routines and satire of all kinds, those who are well-known and powerful can be made fun of. This can provide a festive release, as Gai Jatra commemorates all those who have died in the previous year. Relatives of the deceased often lead cows or calves to the homes where there has been a death. It is believed that cows will assist the deceased through their next rebirth and on to heaven.
bridge, community, road building, trail repair, transportation
Date: 1965-01 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Construction underway on the first large bridge over the Seti Gandaki at this location in Pokhara, over a very deep and extremely narrow gorge. The abutment work is at the site of what is now the Mahendra Pul (bridge). The Magh Mela (festival) is in full swing. Colorful flower streamers are strung across the gorge, and also on the small bridge where people are crossing (on the far right side). From this location toward the southeast the road (now called Mahendra Pul Road and also Ranipauwa Marg) leads to Matepani. This photo is taken from the west side of the gorge.
chautara, commerce, community, shop
Date: 1964-07 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: The little building next to the chautara was a "convenience store", in Matepani. It was closed up until the afternoon monsoon downpour had passed. This is located on what is now called Mahendra Pul Road, also called Ranipauwa Marg. For location reference the Sitala Devi Temple is 200 meters to the west (right) on this road. The open flat area had several muddy water hole wallows that water buffalo used during the monsoon and for several months after. The old "downtown" Pokhara is about 2 kilometers going west on Mahendra Pul Road from this location.
carving, handicrafts
Date: 1969-03 Location: Chaurikharka, Solukhumbu Description: A Tibetan stone carving artisan working on a very large Mani stone. He is carving the devotional Tibetan Buddhist mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" on it. Many Mani stones were along the trails in this area, but very few of this size. He was chanting "Om Mani Padme Hum" and other mantras while he was working.
community, lake, landscape, temple
Date: 1964-09 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Tal Barahi Mandir, a small island temple on Phewa Tal.
Families, Family, People, group photo
Date: 1964-04 Location: Deurali, Kaski Description: Wife (Chhetri) of the headman (Pradhan Panch) of the village panchayat standing on the right holding her baby. Others in the photo are her kids, cousins, in-laws and panchayat development workers.
People, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Myanglung, Terhathum Description: Limbu woman in the doorway of her house at sunset.
Families, Family, People, child, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Chainpur, Sankhuwasabha Description: Rai woman with her child resting along the trail, between Chainpur and the Arun Khola.
People, named person, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Sitalpati, Sankhuwasabha Description: A British Gurkha pensioner, Ratna Bali Rai, wearing his old army jacket. He is on his way home to the Rai village of Gudel in Solukhumbu after collecting his pension in Dharan.
People, dentistry, handicrafts, named person
Date: 1969-03 Location: Gudel, Solukhumbu Description: A British Gurkha pensioner,Ratna Bali Rai, had just arrived back in his village after many days away to collect his pension in Dharan. He had a very painful infected tooth. The village blacksmith is extracting the tooth with a pair of tongs.
countryside, lake, landscape, river, stream
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Central and upper Pokhara lie along the road visible in the center of the photo. The Seti Gandaki is in the foreground, Phewa Tal is upper left in the distance. This view is looking west-southwest.
People, child, group photo, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Chaurikharka, Solukhumbu Description: Sherpa kids waiting at the Lukla airstrip hoping to see a small STOL plane arrive and land. None came that day. At that time there were no buildings or structures along the airstrip.
Families, Family, People, group photo
Date: 1969-03 Location: Jubing, Solukhumbu Description: Sherpa family in front of their goat shed.
People, commerce, haat, market
Date: 1969-03 Location: Myanglung, Terhathum Description: Bejeweled Limbu women with gold ear, nose, and hair pieces. They are at the haat bazaar (weekly market). At that time the Myanglung bazaar was commonly called Terhathum.
People, commerce, haat, market, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Jirikhimti, Terhathum Description: Limbu men on their way to the haat bazaar (weekly market) in Myanglung. The man's khukuri is held in a sheath tucked in his waist wrap.
lake, landscape
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: The pristine shoreline of Phewa Tal. There were many places along the shore where marsh grass and reeds grew, an attractive habitat for birds and fresh water life.
event, puja, religious service
Date: 1969-03 Location: Basantapur, Terhathum Description: Young boys going through the Hindu ceremony of Bratabandha. The ritual signifies the first major step in the transition to manhood. Their heads are shaved. There are offerings of rice and fruit from family and relatives. They will receive sacred threads (Janai) to be worn, symbolizing purity and religious devotion to Hindu beliefs, behavior, and ways for the rest of their lives.
Families, Family, People, group photo
Date: 1964-04 Location: Bhadaure Tamagi, Kaski Description: Bahun (Brahmin) extended family members taking a break from various agricultural and household chores. Typical dress for a regular working day. The boy on the left and the woman on the right are holding a common type of small sickle for cutting dry stalks, fresh fodder, harvesting, and clearing.
commerce, shop
Date: 1963-11 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Shopkeeper having a midday smoke break on his hookah.
handicrafts, spinning
Date: 1964-12 Location: Lekhnath, Kaski Description: Keeping warm in the sun on a cool winter day, the man is hand spinning wool at the front entry of his house.
bazaar, commerce, community, street scene
Date: 1963-11 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: One of the main streets in central Pokhara. Representative of much of the architecture throughout the lower, central, and upper bazaars. The white building is a Newari shop, an average size general store. Clothes and sundries are in view by the street.
batti, commerce, tea shop
Date: 1965-02 Location: Waling, Syangja Description: An above average tea shop in the Andhi Khola Valley, along the main trail between Syangja (now Putali Bazaar) and Tansen. Rice, grains, spices, onions, oranges, lentils, Sel-Roti, Jeri, candy, Raja Biscuits, Bidis, BAT cigarettes, beads, plastic bracelets, etc. etc. The small chulo (stove) is for the teakettle the woman is holding.
Gai Jatra, dancing, event, festival
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Gai Jatra (Festival of Cows) dancers in one of the processions from the lower to the upper bazaar in Pokhara. Some of the dancers are men in female dress, many different costumes representing a variety of deities and personalities. Dancers sometimes act out comic routines and satire of all kinds, those who are well-known and powerful can be made fun of. This can provide a festive release, as Gai Jatra commemorates all those who have died in the previous year. Relatives of the deceased often lead cows or calves to the homes where there has been a death. It is believed that cows will assist the deceased through their next rebirth and on to heaven.
batti, commerce, tea shop
Date: 1964-03 Location: Fedikhola, Syangja Description: A small tea shop on a ridgetop at Mattikan along the trail from Pokhara to Putalikhet (Putali Bazaar, Syangja). The woman is taking Sel-Roti that has been deep-fried in Ghee (clarified butter) out of a pan on a chulo (stove) in front of her. It is a sweet bread with sugar, banana, rice, and clarified butter mixed into the batter. A crispy treat found at many tea shops.
countryside, landscape, named mountain, river, stream
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Direction of this view is northwest. The main riverbed of the Seti Gandaki is in the center. Lamichaur is the plain and wooded are to the right. Hemja (Hemaja) is the wooded area in the center of the valley in the far distance. In 2012 there was major flooding in this area.
community, street scene
Date: 1964-06 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Street in Pokhara, view from south to north. This street is to the west and not far from the main street of the lower bazaar. Small shops, typical in-town architecture. Corrugated iron roofing was often used instead of thatch over ground floor entries and porches.
bazaar, commerce, community, street scene, water supply
Date: 1964-07 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Main street in the central bazaar of Pokhara, looking from south to north. Women washing clothes and filling water jars (gagro) to take home. Pokhara had a limited piped water system that supplied a few public water taps along the main streets. Typical in-town architecture, showing some variation in 2 and 3 story building design. Balcony upper right, and a roof deck with railing over a ground floor entry (center, above the water buffalo).
community, event, festival, street scene
Date: 1964-01 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Lots of people in town from all over Kaski during the Magh Mela. It was a time for festive food and family get-togethers, ritual bathing in the Seti Gandaki, special market days. Corrugated metal roofing over ground floor entries and porches was often used for drying laundry. There were many in-town chautaras for porters, visitors, travelers, and shoppers to rest on like the one at the right.
countryside, landscape, named mountain
Date: 1963-12 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: View north from a road in Matepani that is now called Mahendra Pul Road, also called Ranipauwa Marg. For location reference, Sitala Devi Temple is 200 meters to the west on the road. Annapurnas and Machhapuchchhre in the distance. Just north of and along the road in this part of town (Matepani) all the land was cultivated for various crops. Houses on the far side of the fields to the north are representative of architecture and building style in this area.
agriculture, animal, community, street scene, water supply
Date: 1965-04 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Public water tap in the upper bazaar of Pokhara. Pipal trees at some of the taps and chautauras throughout the town were very large. Pokhara was the only town in Kaski with a piped water system that supplied a few public taps. Excess spillage from tap usage was an in-town source of water for cows and water buffalo.
bazaar, commerce, community, street scene
Date: 1965-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: A Newari store at the junction of three streets in central Pokhara. It was a busy market day. Typical style of architecture through much of the bazaar areas of town. Three story buildings, usually having plenty of roof overhang and overhead protection between ground floor and first floor (often using corrugated metal) over porches and entry-ways.
event, festival
Date: 1964-01 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Big crowds from all over Kaski District at one of the maidans (large open public area) in Pokhara during the Magh Mela (festival). The Magh Mela is a time for ritual bathing in the Seti Gandaki, festive food and family get-togethers, and special market days. The women are nicely dressed and bejeweled for the occasion.
handicrafts, weaving
Date: 1965-03 Location: Thumki, Kaski Description: Magar woman setting up to begin a morning of backstrap weaving in her yard.
lake, landscape
Date: 1964-07 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Dugout boats arriving at the small island on Phewa Tal, filled with passengers to visit the Tal Barahi Temple (Barahi Mandir). The dugout dungas were quite stable even when full.
handicrafts, spinning
Date: 1965-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Tibetans hand spinning wool at the refugee camp in Hyangja, about 3 kilometers north of Pokhara's upper bazaar. It was sometimes called the Amdo Camp, as most of the refugees were from the Amdo region of Tibet. Prayer flags are placed on tall poles throughout the camp. This is now the location of the Tashi Palkhel Tibetan Refugee Settlement.
countryside, lake, landscape, named mountain, river, stream
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: This is a high resolution photo taken from a hill above Bhalam. The upper and central portions of Pokhara bazaar are visible as a string of buildings along the road on the left. Phewa Tal is barely visible near the upper left edge. The Sarangkot-Kaskikot ridge is in the upper center. The main riverbed of the Seti Gandaki River winds its way through this view. Bagar is the small wooded area and fields in the center. Lamachaur is the plain between the rivers on the right side of the photo. Hemja (Hemaja) is the wooded area in the far distance in the upper right.
community, home life, house exterior, street scene
Date: 1964-09 Location: Tukuche, Mustang Description: Street in Tukuche (Tukche). Traditional Thakali carved wood balconies, windows, doors, and arched stone doorways. Roofs stacked high with large supply of wood for fuel. Heavy beams used to support flat roofs.
community, home life, house exterior, street scene
Date: 1964-09 Location: Marpha, Mustang Description: Side street in Marpha. Thakali mule train carrying baskets of dung to be used for compost and fuel. Open channels for sewage along the side of the street were bridged with stone for access to doorways. Wood for fuel stacked on roofs.
People, batti, commerce, soldier, tea shop
Date: 1964-09 Location: Jomsom, Mustang Description: Tibetan Khampa guerrilla fighters resting in front of a teahouse in Jomsom. Tibetan Khampas had several active camps at that time in Upper Mustang. The camps were safe havens for cross-border raids into Tibet on the Chinese Army.
Families, Family, People, pack animal, transportation
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Manangi (Manang Bhotiya) family on the trail from Jomsom to Jharkot (Dzarkot). They were on their way home to Manang District. The mule carried their belongings and walked with a limp. The old man was hunchbacked and walked slowly. They were returning to Manang via Muktinath and Thorung La Pass (Altitude 5416 Meters, 17,769 feet).
landscape, town, unknown structure/ruin, village
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: View of Jharkot (Dzarkot) from the southwest. Ruins of the palace of the kings of Jharkot rising above the town in back and to the right.
People, agriculture, child, harvest
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) children in the town of Jharkot (Dzarkot) harvesting potatoes.
home life, house exterior
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Main Trail along the south side of Jharkot (Dzarkot). Houses of stone and mud often built with adjoining walls. The flat roofs composed of mud, straw and pebbles are of varying height, used for storage of wood and household work areas.
landscape, unknown structure/ruin
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Old main gate into the town of Jharkot (Dzarkot). Above the gate in the background are the ruins of the palace of the kings of Jharkot.
agriculture, countryside, field, landscape, town, village
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Looking west from the village of Purang, located about one kilometer below and west of Muktinath. Jharkot (Dzarkot) is the town visible above and just beyond the irrigated fields of buckwheat, barley, mustard, and wheat. These fields were farmed by residents of both Purang and Jharkot.
People, child
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) baby having a morning nap on the roof of a house in Purang, a village between Muktinath and Jharkot (Dzarkot).
home life, house exterior
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Roof of house in Purang, a Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) village between Muktinath and Jharkot (Dzarkot). Wood and brush stacked on roofs of all houses, prayer flags on long poles. Flat roofs used for household working space. Good example here of rooms built on and above roof levels, with a great variety of placement and height.
agriculture, countryside, harvest, landscape
Date: 1964-09 Location: Muktinath, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) women harvesting buckwheat in the irrigated fields below Jharkot (Dzarkot).
event, funeral, landscape, unknown structure/ruin
Date: 1964-09 Location: Kagbeni, Mustang Description: Buddhist funeral procession and ritual for some important person. The body had been disposed of several days before, (not known if by sky burial or cremation). An effigy of the deceased is visible under the umbrella, propped up on a horse (not visible). Later the effigy was ritually dismembered and tossed into the Kali Gandaki. In the background are the tall ruins of the palace of the King of Kagbeni. As an old fortress town, many of the structures were built with massive tall and thick stone walls.
handicrafts, home life, house exterior, spinning
Date: 1964-09 Location: Kagbeni, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) mother and child spinning wool on their first floor roof, accessed by a carved log ladder. Roofs were used for a household work area as well as for stacking wood and brush for fuel. As an old fortress town there were many taller structures built with thick stone walls having few windows. This also provided protection from the elements, especially wind and cold weather.
footpath, transportation
Date: 1964-09 Location: Chhusang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) women carrying dung used for fuel and compost, on the main trail between Chhusang and Chele (Tshele). The steps had been cut into soft sandstone and were well-worn with use, but footholds were deep and solid.
bridge, community, countryside, landscape, river, stream
Date: 1964-09 Location: Chhusang, Mustang Description: On the old main trail to Lo Manthang, this is the location at which the Kali Gandaki river bed narrows between canyon walls. The small wood cantilever bridge crossed the river from east to west here where the river goes through a natural rock tunnel. it is one kilometer north of Chhusang and half a kilometer southeast of Chele (Tshele).
countryside, footpath, landscape, transportation
Date: 1964-09 Location: Chhusang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) man and mules carrying Juniper brush and branches. Juniper is used for animal bedding, then in compost. It is also used medicinally and for fuel. This point on the clifftop trail is about halfway between Chele (Tshele) and Samar. The terraced fields of Ghyakar are just across the Ghyakar Khola Canyon.
agriculture, threshing
Date: 1964-10 Location: Charang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) field workers spreading wheat on flat smooth ground for threshing. Houses in the background are part of Charang (Tsarang), downtown Charang is about a kilometer from here.
agriculture, threshing
Date: 1964-10 Location: Charang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) taking a break from threshing wheat, waiting for water to be brought to them. The girl is holding a traditional bone ring flail. Piles of yak, dzo, and horse dung in the background. Houses in the background are part of Charang (Tsarang), downtown Charang is about a kilometer from here.
agriculture, landscape, threshing, town, village
Date: 1964-10 Location: Charang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) field workers threshing wheat. Piles of yak, dzo, and horse dung in the background. Houses in the background are part of Charang (Tsarang), downtown Charang is about a kilometer from here.
agriculture, community, drying, home life, house exterior, mani wall, shrine, stupa/chorten
Date: 1964-10 Location: Charang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) family in open area in front of their house in the center of Charang (Tsarang). The chorten is one of several in the town, fields in the distance were primarily for wheat and barley.
People, agriculture, group photo, wood cutting
Date: 1964-10 Location: Lo Manthang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) resting on the trail to Lo Manthang near Lo La Pass. They were on their way home to Namgyal, a village close to and north of Lo Manthang. Their baskets were filled with wood and branches collected in the area to take home for fuel.
agriculture, community, drying, landscape, mani wall, shrine, stupa/chorten, unknown structure/ruin
Date: 1964-10 Location: Lo Manthang, Mustang Description: Loba (Mustang Bhotiya) woman on the second floor roof of her house in Lo Manthang. Yak and dzo dung drying for use as fuel, roofs stacked with fuelwood. Reddish wall is one of the gompas (Buddhist temple) within the city walls. 14th century ruins of Ketcher Dzong (fortress) and Rani's Fort on the hilltops.
countryside, footpath, landscape, named mountain, transportation
Date: 1964-10 Location: Chhusang, Mustang Description: Looking south toward Nilgiri Himal from Samar. Just across the deep Ghakar Khola Canyon are the terraced fields of the town of Ghyakar. The trail (center right) eventually leads to Tiri Gaon on the west side of the Kali Gandaki just north of Kagbeni.
pack animal, transportation
Date: 1964-10 Location: Jomsom, Mustang Description: A Thakali yak and dzo train heading north along the Kali Gandaki, carrying rice and other foodstuffs to towns in Upper Mustang.
community, home life, laundry, water supply
Date: 1964-10 Location: Marpha, Mustang Description: Water channel for public use along the main street in Marpha. Thakali women and kids washing clothes, bedding, dishes, rice, and grains.
People, child, community, footpath, temple
Date: 1964-07 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Kids in the Matepani neighborhood of Pokhara, two of them with special tikas on their foreheads for Saturday puja. The wide trail they are on is now Mahendra Pul Road. For location reference the Sitala Devi Mandir (temple) is visible upper left. From here it was about 2 kilometers west to a footbridge over the Seti Gandaki to reach the old "downtown" central bazaar of Pokhara.
People, child, home life, play time
Date: 1969-03 Location: Chainpur, Sankhuwasabha Description: Limbu kids climbing and playing on the limbs of a tree near their house, Arun Khola valley below.
agriculture, field, landscape, town, village
Date: 1964-07 Location: Dhikure Pokhari, Kaski Description: The village of Paundur. Harpan Khola valley below has several feeder streams into Phewa Tal. The view is south, along a trail from Pokhara to Kusma (Kushma, Parbat District). The trail at this point is very close to the present location of the Pokhara-Baglung Rajmarg.
agriculture, field, landscape, town, village
Date: 1965-04 Location: Puranchaur, Kaski Description: Field of mustard almost ready to harvest, the houses are in the northeast part of the village of Puranchaur.
event, festival, landscape, river, stream
Date: 1964-01 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Residents of Pokhara and nearby villages coming to the Seti Gandaki at Ram Ghat for ritual bathing during the Magh Mela. This view is from the east side looking west at the point where the Seti Gandaki emerges from a deep gorge and widens out (Ram Ghat).
bridge, community
Date: 1964-03 Location: Bhadaure Tamagi, Kaski Description: Villagers from Paundur (now in Dhikure Pokhari VDC) using crowbars to move a boulder from the spot where an abutment for a small footbridge was built. The footbridge was built to span a tributary of Harpan Khola, the main feeder river into Phewa Tal.
countryside, landscape, river, stream
Date: 1964-06 Location: Shankar Pokhari, Parbat Description: View looking northwest up the Kali Gandaki river valley. The Modi Khola is at the bottom of the gorge beyond the fields in the foreground (not visible) where it flows into the Kali Gandaki. The plateau on the other side (center right) is a small part of the present location of Kushma (Kusma) Municipality, headquarters of Parbat District. A small segment of the Kali Gandaki is visible. Just to the left and above and beyond it along its west bank is the current location of Narayansthan VDC. There is now extensive urban development in this area.
bridge, community
Date: 1964-03 Location: Bhadaure Tamagi, Kaski Description: Villagers from Paundur (now in Dhikure Pokhari VDC) working at the site of a small footbridge project. The sand and lime was used to make mortar for the stone abutments. The footbridge was built to span a tributary of Harpan Khola, the main feeder river into Phewa Tal.
People, event, funeral, musician
Date: 1965-04 Location: Leknath, Kaski Description: Funeral procession led by musicians, carrying the body of the deceased (under the red cloth) to the Seti Gandaki river for cremation.
agriculture, animal, threshing
Date: 1964 Location: Hansapur, Kaski Description: Team of oxen threshing rice around the center pole of a circular threshing floor.
bus, transportation, truck
Date: 1964 Location: Tistung Deurali, Makwanpur Description: Accident on the Tribhuwan Rajpath, but only a two hour delay.
agriculture, bridge, community, wood cutting
Date: 1964-04 Location: Salyan, Kaski Description: Villagers from Paundur (now in Dhikure Pokhari VDC) cutting down a tree in a communal forest. The tree was carried to Bhaduare Tamagi VDC to be used as part of the span for a footbridge.
agriculture, drying, winnowing
Date: 1964-10 Location: Chapakot, Kaski Description: Brahmin (Bahun) woman winnows the chaff from millet with a flat basket, then spreads the millet out to dry before storage.
People, event, musician, wedding
Date: 1964-04 Location: Thumakodada, Kaski Description: Musicians playing narsinghas, flutes, and cymbals along a trail on the way to the bridegroom's house to begin ritual wedding festivities.
agriculture, drying, handicrafts, roofing
Date: 1964-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Vegetation being spread out on the roof of a livestock and storage shelter. Some of it is fodder for livestock, some will be used later for rough patching of the thatch roof.
People, child
Date: 1965-03 Location: Leknath, Kaski Description: Kids carrying dried dung patties to be used for fuel.
bathing place, community, home life, landscape, laundry, river, stream
Date: 1964-05 Location: Siddha, Kaski Description: Along the west bank of the Madi Khola, a Brahmin (Bahun) man is doing his morning washing, cleansing, and purification ritual. The woman is doing laundry, beating clothes with a wooden washing paddle.
People, doctor, event, vaccination program
Date: 1964-02 Location: Ramgha, Lamjung Description: Vaccinating children from Ramgha and many other nearby villages against smallpox. There was a major epidemic of smallpox in some parts of Nepal at that time.
pack animal, transportation
Date: 1964-05 Location: Dhampus, Kaski Description: Tibetan mule train bringing salt and wool down from Mustang. They were on their way to Pokhara.
People, fisherman
Date: 1965-04 Location: Chapakot, Kaski Description: A tributary of Harpan Khola, an inlet river that feeds into Phewa Tal. After setting his fish trap basket, the man is attempting to catch a few small fish by hand.
community, mill
Date: 1965-02 Location: Mauja, Kaski Description: Water mill (ghatta) located over a diverted stream just before it feeds into Bijayapur Khola.
event, lake, landscape, puja, religious service
Date: 1965-02 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Tal Barahi Mandir island on Phewa Tal. Saturday visitors to the temple are waitng for dugout dungas (boats) to get them back to the lakefront.
airfield, airplane, transportation
Date: 1969-03 Location: Chaurikharka, Solukhumbu Description: Small STOL plane landing on the Lukla airstrip, now the location of Tenzing-Hillary Airport. At that time there were no buildings or structures along or close to the landing strip.
community, landscape, named mountain, school
Date: 1964-01 Location: Ramja Deurali, Parbat Description: Start of the school day for village kids. Annapurna Himal in the background. At that time Ramja Deurali was in Kaski District.
pack animal, transportation
Date: 1964-04 Location: Dhikure Pokhari, Kaski Description: Pack train of mules owned by Thakali traders, transporting goods north to Thak Khola and other towns in Mustang District.
bridge, community
Date: 1964-03 Location: Bhadaure Tamagi, Kaski Description: Villagers from Paundur (now in Dhikure Pokhari VDC) admiring their work just finished on a stone abutment (lime and sand mortar) for a footbridge. It was built to span a tributary of Harpan Khola, a feeder river into Phewa Tal.
agriculture, plowing, tilling
Date: 1964-04 Location: Leknath, Kaski Description: Man plowing field with a team of oxen, using a traditional wooden yoke for the oxen and a single wooden plow blade.
batti, commerce, handicrafts, sewing/knitting, tea shop
Date: 1965-01 Location: Fedikhola, Syangja Description: In front of the entrance to a small tea shop at Mattikan, along the trail from Pokhara to Putalikhet (Putali Bazaar, Syangja). The tailor (darji) is sewing and repairing clothes. He walked from village to village carrying the Singer treadle sewing machine on his back.
Gai Jatra, event, festival
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Some of the many costumes in the processions and dancing through the main streets of Pokhara to celebrate Gai Jatra (Festival of Cows).
carpentry, community, handicrafts, school, woodworking
Date: 1965-02 Location: Leknath, Kaski Description: Carpenters (sikarmi) working on a new school building. The foundation and walls were built with various sizes of stone that were matched, fitted, and secured with sand and lime mortar.
bridge, community
Date: 1964-04 Location: Salyan, Kaski Description: Villagers from Paundur (now in Dhikure Pokhari VDC) using wood and hemp rope slings to carry a very long span for a footbridge. One of the tallest trees suitable for the span was selected from a communal forest in Salyan. It was a slow and laborious journey to get it to the footbridge site, especially when maneuvering the span around sharp turns in the trail.
People, community, gompa, landscape, monastery, named mountain, priest/monk/lama/nun
Date: 1965-05 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Young Buddhist monks from Manang (Nyeshang Valley) preparing and leveling the ground for the foundations of a temple and monastery. It is now the location of the Matepani Gompa (also called Manangi Gompa and Karma Dubgyu Choling Gompa) and Nyeshang Monastery. Annapurna South and Machhapuchhre in the background.
event, vaccination program
Date: 1964-02 Location: Ramgha, Lamjung Description: Parents and relatives waiting in line with children to have them vaccinated against smallpox. There was a major epidemic of smallpox in some parts of Nepal at that time.
agriculture, porter, produce, transportation
Date: 1964 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Women bringing sugarcane from Dhital to market in Pokhara.
event, puja, religious service
Date: 1963-11 Location: Chapakot, Kaski Description: The three rocks in the center of the trail mark a special offering site. There were remains of rice, colored powders, incense, and bird feathers. A passerby told me something bad must have happened here, therefore ritual offerings were made to placate an angry deity or spirit.
handicrafts, roofing
Date: 1965-04 Location: Thumakodada, Kaski Description: Men working on laying and securing new thatch for the roof of a house in the village.
community, home life, house exterior, pack animal, street scene, transportation
Date: 1964-09 Location: Tukuche, Mustang Description: One of the main streets in Tukuche (Tukche). Thakali mule pack train arriving in town from southern hill towns carrying rice, foodstuffs, spices, and other merchandise. Traditional Thakali carved wood balconies and windows.
agriculture, drying, home life, house exterior
Date: 1964-11 Location: Kalika, Kaski Description: Family courtyard used for a variety of household economic activities. Grains are spread out to dry, also dung patties to be used for fuel.
event, wedding
Date: 1965-03 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Wedding procession in Matepani, about 2 kilometers southeast of central Pokhara. The woman is being carried in a wedding palanquin, accompanied by musicians, family, and friends. The Hindu marriage rituals have just been completed at her family's house. She is now on her way to live with her husband at his house.
agriculture, wood cutting
Date: 1965-02 Location: Lumle, Kaski Description: Women carrying heavy loads of wood back to their home in Lumle. The wood was cut in a nearby communal forest.
agriculture, countryside, field, landscape, threshing
Date: 1964 Location: Salyan, Kaski Description: Team of oxen threshing rice, circling the tall pole. The pole is topped with ritual decorations, expressing gratitude for and protection of present and future harvests. Elevated storage of rice straw on the left. The view is to the west. The hills in the background are in Deupurkot in Parbat District, on the other side of the Modi Khola valley from this location.
bridge, community
Date: 1964-04 Location: Salyan, Kaski Description: Villagers from Paundur (now in Dhikure Pokhari VDC) had just cut down this tree in a communal forest in Salyan. The tree was carried to the current location of Bhadaure Tamagi VDC to be used as part of the span for a footbridge. The man wearing the topi and squatting is Bal Badura. He was the Pradhan Panch (headman) of Paundur.
People, commerce, haat, market, portrait
Date: 1969-03 Location: Myanglung, Terhathum Description: Limbu woman at haat bazaar (weekly market). At that time the Myanglung Bazaar was commonly called Terhathum.
Gai Jatra, event, festival
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: One of the many costumes in the processions and dancing through the main streets of Pokhara to celebrate Gai Jatra (Festival of Cows).
People, community, countryside, gompa, landscape, monastery, priest/monk/lama/nun, road
Date: 1965-05 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: In the Matepani neighborhood of Pokhara, young Buddhist monks from Manang (Nyeshang Valley) are preparing and leveling the ground for the foundations of a temple and monastery. It is now the location of Nyeshang Monastery and Matepani Gompa (also called Manangi Gompa and Karma Dubgyu Choling Gompa). The houses and Sitala Devi Mandir(barely visible) just below are along a trail that is now Mahendra Pul Road. Two kilometers west (to the right) along this trail there was a footbridge over the Seti Gandaki to central "downtown" Pokhara.
agriculture, community, drying, home life, house exterior, street scene
Date: 1964-09 Location: Putalibazar, Syangja Description: The main "downtown" street of what was then called Syangja-Putalikhet or just Putalikhet. This street is the approximate location of what is now the Syangja-Sataun Road..
People, handicrafts, portrait, spinning
Date: 1969-03 Location: Gudel, Solukhumbu Description: Rai woman carrying wool in the basket on her back and hand spinning it while walking back to her house.
aerial view, airfield, landscape, town, transportation, village
Date: 1969-03 Location: Chaurikharka, Solukhumbu Description: Aerial view of the Lukla airstrip, village of Lukla on the left. At that time there were no buildings or structures along or close to the landing strip. This is now the location of the Tenzing-Hillary Airport.
People, priest/monk/lama/nun
Date: 1969-03 Location: Khumjung, Solukhumbu Description: Buddhist monk at Tyangboche (Tengboche) Monastery.
commerce, haat, handicrafts, market, pottery
Date: 1969-03 Location: Myanglung, Terhathum Description: Selling clay pots at haat bazaar (weekly market). At that time the Myanglung Bazaar was commonly called Terhathum.
countryside, lake, landscape, river, stream
Date: 1964-08 Location: Pokhara, Kaski Description: Direction of this view is south. It includes much of Pokhara, including Phewa Tal (upper right) and Ram Ghat (where the Seti Khola emerges from a deep gorge). To the far side of Ram Ghat the Pokhara airstrip is visible (just barely, not distinct). On this side of Ram Ghat the line of houses and structures that runs across the photo is the trail that is now Mahendra Pul Road (also called Ranipauwa Marg). From the center of the photo along that trail/road to the left and on both sides of the road is the general area they called Matepani in those days.