Kathmandu Photo Gallery

Kathmandu photos - Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu | Nepal Travel Photography by Lorenz Berna

Kathmandu Photo Gallery

Kathmandu Valley, the Photographic Nirvana.

Kathmandu the Mountains’ Queen, the Spiritual, the Hippy… A paradise and purpose for alpinists and hikers, adventurous travellers, spiritual seekers or seventies freaks. So many have fallen for her and many more continue to do so!

You do understand why, as soon as you first step foot in the maze of its teeming and intriguing narrow old streets. When you discover the multitude of its stunning and sophisticated temples or look up for the scenic views on the surrounding Himalayan mountain range. When you first witness the strength of the People’s religious and spiritual Devotion. Or when you just wander around to immerse yourself into the daily Life or when you first sit down at some popular local tea shop or restaurant to have a taste of the real Kathmandu. The fascination of Kathmandu comes not only from the city in itself but more widely from the cultural, historical and panoramic jewels of the whole Valley of Kathmandu, an area within a radius of 1.5 hour from the city. It is therefore quite easy to get some good Kathmandu photos in a small area and/or in only a few days stay.

Kathmandu, Patan & Bhaktapur : the Queens of the Valley.

Over all, three main cities : Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur, three cities once culturally and artistically rivals under the prolific Malla Kings. Each one of them holds fascinating treasures of the Newar architecture with some magnificent temples built on several storeys and made of red bricks, carved wood and draped red fabric. And what is very singular there is that the temples are totally part of the daily life. Indeed, the endless morning processions of devotees are then followed by small markets or tea stalls settled right on its stairs. Stairs that can be otherwise, commonly used for a daily nap, some people watching or some other chatting time. The historical and cultural heritage here, belongs to the People, across the ages.

Pashupatinath, Boudhanath & Swayambunath : the Holy Icones.

Kathmandu Valley hosts several widely-known iconic temples such as the vast Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath, the impressive emblematic Boudhanath stupa in the tibetan district and the most panoramic Buddhist pagoda of Swayambunath. These are perfect places for the lovers of Architecture Photography as well as for the Street Photographers, for they are very lively frequented and full of authentic moments for the local people.
Pashupatinath is undoubtedly the most emotional one, being the place for the cremation of the dead.
Boudhanath is really a place to stay in for a few days, immersing yourself in the peaceful, compassionate Buddha eyes of the majestic white rounded stupa, merged within the Tibetan culture.
Swayambunath, for itself, is the most scenic one. Located on top of a hill dominating the whole city of Kathmandu and a big part of the valley, it is an unmissable spot for the traveller. Landscape, architecture, culture, spiritual devotion and people : it is also, obviously, a highlight for the travel photographer.

Nagarkot, the Panoramic.

At about an hour east from Kathmandu, lies the small village of Nagarkot where you get the most beautiful and scenic views on the Himalayan range and the whole valley. On top of that you also get a feeling of a still traditional village. Authentic, exotic and panoramic, Nagarkot stands as a total must for some of the best Nepal Landscape Photography you can get, especially if you only have a short time in the country.

The People, the Jewel of the Valley.

Friendly, genuine and open, the people are for us another real jewel of the place!
Every time we go back there, we feel the same : we feel at home. Warmly welcomed, without much judgement, we feel a deep connection with the locals, sharing mutual stories very simply and easily. Chatting over our commun points and our differences, we got to understand each other with genuine curiosity and respect. In our beloved Kathmandu, we exchange, we laugh, we get moved, we love, we get helped, we help, we grow… As simply as by frequenting the popular local tea shops and restaurants, you will get filled with great infos on the best spots to discover as well as get filled with beautiful stories, portraits and new friends.
Because, no need to say it -but let’s do it the same- one of the best parts of Kathmandu Travel Photography is indeed its colourful people.

Kathmandu photos : World-class Travel Photography.

Honestly, Kathmandu photos are unquestionably among the best for World Travel Photography!
A place to come, come back and come back again… Speaking of which: the best periods to come, in order to get the clearest views on the mountains and do a bit of hiking without freezing, are from mid-October to end of December (before it gets pretty cold) and March to May, while Nature is blossoming.

[ Kathmandu Photos by Lorenz Berna, Text by Florence Lepavec ]

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Old friends chatting on a covered brick platform in Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Old friends chatting in Bhaktapur.  All over the country, people use the stairs of the temples and the covered platforms as meeting points, tea shops or market stalls.

Street scene in Patan : a woman is sitting against the wall of a newari style house, next to the brooms she hopes to sell in the day.

Street scene in Patan : a woman is sitting against the wall of a Newari style house, next to the brooms she is hoping to sell in the day.

Boys in Kathmandu's streets.

A local man walking in the Sleshmantak Forest of Pashupatinath, Kathmandhu, while a monkey is walking on a electrical wire.

A local man walking in the Sleshmantak Forest of Kathmandhu where people come early in the morning to exercise, relax and enjoy nature. All together with the resident monkeys.

Two different kinds of transportation in the streets of Thamel district.

Porter in the streets of Kathmandu delivering a wardrobe on his back, Nepal.

Porter in the streets of Kathmandu, delivering a wardrobe. still today, Human transportation and delivery are quite commun in Nepal.

A father brings her daughter to school on his cart.

Boudhanath Stupa at sunrise : the first devotees are praying, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Boudhanath Stupa at sunrise : the first devotees are praying while the birds are waiting for the people to arrive and feed them as a simple way to obtain good Karma (future fruits of one's actions and thoughts).

Tibetan man praying, spinning his prayer wheel while repeating the "Om Mani Padme Om" mantra, in Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Tibetan man praying, spinning his prayer wheel while repeating the "Om Mani Padme Om" mantra, for Compassion, Peace, and Harmony.

Local man in deep prayers in front of Boudhanath Stupa.

Markets on the temples stairs in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Daily "local" markets set up on the stairs of the temples in Kathmandu Valley.

A group of porters enjoying the first rays of sun warming up the streets of Bhaktapur, entertained by a baby playing in a box in front of her father.

A group of porters before work, enjoying the first rays of sun warming up the streets of Bhaktapur, entertained by a baby playing in a box in front of her father.

Dogs gang in a wasteland resting from a whole night of wandering, race or fight, in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Dogs gang in a wasteland of Kathmandu resting from a whole night of wandering, race or fight. As in the rest of Asia, the streets in the Day belong to the People, in the Night to the Dogs.

Families gathering in the streets : grown-ups chatting and kids playing, somewhere between Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath.

Families gathering in the streets, on the way between Pashupatinath temple and Boudhanath.

Street Photography in Kathmandu.

Woman in a Newari court house in Patan.

Sadhu in Prayer at Pashupatinath Temple.

Sadhu in prayers at Pashupatinath Temple.

Tibetan prayers at Boudhanath.

Sadhu at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu.

Morning backlights in the narrow streets of the old Kathmandu, Nepal

Local man in the morning backlights that break into the narrow streets of the old Kathmandu.

Portrait of an old lady living in the Pashupatinath Retirement Centre in Kathmandhu - A Lorenz Berna Travel Photography of Nepal

Portrait of an old lady living in the Pashupatinath Retirement Centre, built by Mother Teresa for the poor people in Kathmandhu.

Boudhanath Stupa is Kathmandu's iconic monument. It is the most venerated Buddhist site in Nepal as it is believed to enshrine relics of Kassapa Buddha, the 3d Buddha.