The beauty of Nepal (No points please), a photo from Bagmati, Central

Photographer's Note

I post this photo as a tribute to the people and culture of Nepal, which was hit by a devastating earthquake today. For that reason I don't want any green smileys for this photo, but feel free to write comments.

The reports from the quake area are still sketchy, but obviously the damage is great and hundreds of people have lost their lives. Unfortunately the figures are likely to rise.

Many ancient buildings in the Kathmandu Valley also seem to have been destroyed. I have no idea what happened to this particular temple which was one of the most famous in all of Nepal. It is the Nyatapola Temple, built in the early 18th century in the city of Bhaktapur, also known as Bhadgaon, a short distance from Kathmandu.

I took this photo in the autumn of 1972 and have scanned it from a Kodachrome slide. You can see a larger version here.

danos, Miguel82, Stefanoaq, cornejo, PaulVDV, Hansaphotos, tyro, bukitgolfb301, worldcitizen, kasianowak, ourania, ChrisJ, jcpix, jhm, nikkitta, Royaldevon, Fis2, adores, serp2000, CLODO, Cricri, Gigidusud, PiotrF ha contrassegnato questa nota come utile

Critiques | Translate

rychem (72187) 2015-04-25 9:04

Today, I also heard the sad news of a strong earthquake, so many victims and devastation, I feel sorry for these people, I hope that it will be no more victims and that all houses and monuments will survive
regards Ryszard

danos (110407) 2015-04-25 9:10 [Comment]

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Stefanoaq (128) 2015-04-25 9:50 [Comment]

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No_One (4) 2015-04-25 10:26

Hi Gert,
What a place this is, such impressive stature and standing against this vivid blue sky, one cannot but be amazed at it. It truly is a building at touches the sky. A beautiful scan and a fine image to note this sad day. I have heard an update on the news just recently and it does not sound positive at all, many people have died and a lot of buildings destroyed. I'll keep the people of this magical amazing place in my thoughts.
Kind regards from Ireland
Noel

cornejo (61504) 2015-04-25 10:27

Hello Gert, very good and nice gesture of solidarity that high myself with these lyrics.

Good afternoon and happy Sunday.
Warm greetings from southern Spain.
Angel.

pajaran (115911) 2015-04-25 11:23

Dobro vece.
Interesantan i donar tekst ...
Dobar rad skeniranjem slajda, lepo pokazan hram.
Lep hram.
Prijatno vece sa lepim secanjem na 1972.
Paja.

Good evening.
Interesting and good text ...
Good work by scanning slides, a beautiful temple shown.
A beautiful temple.
Have a nice evening with nice memories of 1972.
Paja.

unclehotshot (4004) 2015-04-25 11:41

Well said Gert.
Just this morning I wrote that I want to go and see the exotic country. I thought to my self that it had changed from 1972 to today. All ready now it's a lot different from this morning.
Cheers
Frank

PaulVDV (62920) 2015-04-25 11:55

Hello Gert,
A very beautiful tribute to this country and its habitants.
I heard the news of the earthquake early this morning. Meanwhile, the number of victims continues to rise. And there will still be so many smaller places in the mountains that haven't been reached yet. Hopefully the international solidarity action starts very rapidly.
This colourful picture with a very lively scene on the foreground can easily convince me to visit this country. Honestly I have several times thought at it. However, I can not take a holiday in the best season to visit Nepal.
Best regards, Paul

emka (158172) 2015-04-25 13:29

Hi Gert, How tragic and sad news. I have read that the death toll is over 1300, but probably many more people are trapped. How helpless we are against powers of nature. When it will be possible to foresee and at least to evacuate people before the eartquake. And how sad when you remember the places and people there. I ws in some such places that not a long time later suffered- Sichuan, Pisco in Peru (2007), Thailand before tsunami, and Japan. I have read that many historical buildings in kathmandu were distroyed, so maybe some places you have shown here do not exist anymore.
Beautiful tribute to the victims

MAlgo

Hansaphotos (11381) 2015-04-25 13:41

Hei Gert

Med det samme jeg hørte disse tragiske nyhetene tenkte jeg på deg og dine bilder fra dette flotte fjellandet i øst. Ødeleggelsene ser ut til å være store, og det er mange som er rammet og det rapporteres om mange omkomne. Det er fint at du på denne måten bidrar til å rette fokuset mot den pågående katastrofen.

Hilsen Erling

Gerrit (62042) 2015-04-25 14:22

Hello Gert,
Another great historical view from Nepal.
I like the colors in this series a lot. The brown and deep red tones are beautiful and so is the deep blue sky,
Thanks andregards,
Gerrit

tyro (30513) 2015-04-25 14:41

Hello Gert,

As the news unfolds of today's terrible tragedy in Nepal, this is a most fitting tribute to all those who have died, those who have lost family members and friends and those who have suffered - and not only in Nepal but also in India, Bangladesh, Tibet and even on Mount Everest.

May our thoughts and prayers be with all of them.

Another of your wonderful photographs of a beautiful temple surrounded by ordinary people going about their daily lives in happier times.

Many thanks for this, Gert.

Kind Regards,

John.

carlo62 (81265) 2015-04-25 15:47

Ciao Gert
un triste omaggio, fatto da una persona che ha conosciuto questi luoghi e che ne porta un po' ancora nel suo cuore.
Abbiamo detto proprio ieri che ci sono luoghi che non hanno cambiato molto il loro aspetto nell'arco degli anni, purtroppo in pochi minuti tutto ciò che non è mai cambiato, può drammaticamente cambiare.
Grazie per averci fatto riflettere su questa dolorosa devastazione.
Carlo

bukitgolfb301 (54014) 2015-04-25 17:14

Hi dear Gert

Another great archive, but I am afrid that this precios regacy was collapsed by last earthquake--
I am sorry for you and Nepal people.

All the best and have a good Sunday! Takero

worldcitizen (16072) 2015-04-25 18:21 [Comment]

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abmdsudi (95869) 2015-04-25 20:44

Hi Gert
A very sad news with a great capture as I'm struggling to find the words to say about such a devastating event, it's always so sad to see many ancient historical buildings being leveled into heaps of rubbles. I could imagine with hundreds of people sitting on the steps of that structures, I shudder to think of the unthinkable with many people being buried underneath. But what an absolute catastrophe. An interesting and informative narrative supported by a great image of this awesome treasure of mankind & beautiful location, SadSadSad, Tx for posting
Regards

kasianowak (17676) 2015-04-25 21:04

Hi Gert
I spent the whole day away from the news, internet etc. and only now opened TE and found out from your post what happened. Now busy trying to contact people I met in Nepal.
This is Patan today:
http://s3.india.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/before-and-after.jpg
Best wishes
Kasia

macjake (98456) 2015-04-26 4:18

Hi Gert
sadly, this is what happens when I work Night shifts at the hospital for 12-14 hours...I didn't even know about this earthquake until i read your note.

what a disaster, I just looked it up, they're saying approx 2000 dead.

one could only imagine the devastation of the city with the old buildings, probably easily crumbling to the ground. Terrible news.

Makes me think about the "Big One" that experts say will hit Vancouver - we are due as well - infact OVER due for a large scale earthquake. and we sit on a major fault line. To be honest, I still think about it every time I drive over one of our many bridges in the city.

Nice to see India come with plenty of Aid, to help out their neighbour.

thoughtful post today for sure
Craig

ourania (51103) 2015-04-26 6:12

Hello Gert,
the scale of the earthquacke and its aftermath are so shocking, sad news keep reaching audiences around the world, those who survived and are trying to help others with their bare hands are real heros but they need help too. Recording human and cultural heritage losses will take time and all the people in that area will need enormous amounts of faith and courage to keep going. I saw a photo from Nepal on Facebook last night which showed a collapsed building in the foreground and I think that in the background to the left stood the temple of your picture without evident damage. The international community must aid the people afflicted in anyway it can.
All the best, take care,
Ourania

saxo042 (38078) 2015-04-26 10:28

Hej Gert,
En passande bild vid en händelse som denna. Trots detta en mycket intressant och vältagen bild. Dessutom intressant att notera att somliga inte alls läser texten till bilden...
Hälsningar
Gunnar

ktanska (44766) 2015-04-26 10:30

Hej Gert,
Your archives are a superb source of information. And provide a view for giving appreciation to the people that have now faced the catastrophe. A truely historical looking landmark. I wonder too if it has survived.
Kari

ChrisJ (171822) 2015-04-26 10:41

:-( :-( :-(

Hi Gert,

I too was shocked at the level of destruction and the horrendous loss of life. I have been to Nepal twice, in 2000 and again in 2002. I saw evidence in Patan of the 1934 earthquake. To date, almost 2,600 people have been killed. Your photos now form an important archive of what Nepal used to look like. I guess to a certain extent, some of mine and other TE members do too, now. Btw have you read any reports on damage at Patan? Haven't seen any news from there. Hoping Nepal recovers quickly.

jcpix (14030) 2015-04-26 11:04

Hi Gert,

Heartbreaking to see the images on t.v. and knowing the loss of life and history from the earthquake. Your pictures can at least keep in mind what was for many of these places with fond memories, a record of the past, despite the current conditions.

An impressive site no doubt, and we all hope and pray for a quick recovery. Thank you for sharing these photos, it's our small way of supporting those affected. Hope all has been well. Take good care.

Friendly wishes from the desert,

Jason

lousat (139286) 2015-04-26 15:01

Hi Gert,no points but a pray for this people and for the tourists too that are disappear in this terrific tragedy,i like your choice for the today post...thanks a lot! Luciano

jemaflor (147156) 2015-04-26 23:29

Hi Gert,
Beautiful photo and architecture, well presented with pleasant colors, good idea about the sad news ...

jhm (211736) 2015-04-27 5:29

Hello Gert,

On your question I shall not give points.
I reads now more than 4000 victims, I want only be in my memory at the family of the victims, almost not to believe but the nature is unpredictable
Thanks for the solidarity.

Upload the same picture the next time Gert.

Greetings,
John

nikkitta (17070) 2015-04-27 15:06

Hola Gert
So sad news about Nepal, temples could be repaired, it happened before, but the loss of so many lives is moving, still is not known the number of them
Good contribution to this terrible subject

Well done, kind regards
Maria

Royaldevon (85932) 2015-04-28 0:45

Hello Gert,

The news is quite grim about the plight of the people in Nepal. There have been some heart breakingly graphic scenes rom the region.
Little rays of happiness do emerge as people are rescued from collapsed buildings, airlifted to safety or airlifted to hospitals but the whole country is a state of unbelievable need.

Thankfully help is arriving from other countries and I know that a big appeal has been launched in the U.K. Let's hope the aid arrives swiftly to save any further losses.

Your photograph shows a time of utter peace and tranquillity so different from today's scenes.

Thank you for sharing this,
Bev

Matyas (0) 2015-04-28 1:07 [Comment]

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Nicou (193806) 2015-04-28 2:16

Hello

très très bel hommage à ce terrible évènement qui s'est passé an Népal, sueprbe iamge de ce temple quelle vue avec le personnage, c'est terrible la situation de ce gens.
Bravo et belle journée
Nicou

mesutilgim (0) 2015-04-28 11:54

Dear Gert,
I'd missed this one !
Very weell thougth and realised. A perfect reminder to that disaster the Nepalese people have faced.
TFS and best regards
MESUT ILGIM

Fis2 (170779) 2015-04-28 12:34

Witaj Gert!
Bardzo piêkna budowla.
Trzêsienie ziemi wiele zniszczy³o :(
Dobre zdjêcie jako symbol po¶wiêcone tragedii Nepalu.
Znakomita praca z Twojego archiwum
Dobrej nocy!
Krzysztof

mkamionka (74447) 2015-04-28 12:34

Hi Gert,
very suitable way to mourn the tragedy. Again I see you have been there in the year I was born :) I will probably never be able to afford going there :(
Older photos in the light of the tragedy made me think what of the things which you have photographed so many years ago has changed and what was destroyed in the earthquake. This photo may have a great documentary value in this respect.
Very interesting structure and the presence of local people adds a nice touch.
Very well done,
M

adores (46979) 2015-04-28 16:27

Hi Gert!
It was a real tragedy and looks numbers are really high. Millions have been affected in such a poor country and where places can be so hard to reach. Hope they can get as much help as possible.
Nice tribute with this beautiful photo of a peaceful day.

serp2000 (47063) 2015-04-30 5:39

Hello, Gert,
I was not active last week here, but the breaking news reminded me about your photos from Nepal. It's strange I waited for an earthquake in Japan (they said about big seismic activity near the Japanese islands), but Nepal was the first in this case. ... I agree with you, the green points are not the best way to show the emotions .

Serghei

Serghei

eldancer1 (36343) 2015-05-01 7:29

So sad about what is happening in Nepal, my prayers goes to those people. And I hope they will be able to rescue more people. Thank you for sharing wonderful image of this temple which is now in ruins.

CLODO (45116) 2015-05-01 8:08

Hi Gert

Good memories, RIP for the poor died people and courage for the remaining alive
Good yellow hues and a fascinating temple
Cheers
CLODO

Cricri (176) 2015-05-02 23:26

Hi Gert
Bel hommage de cette terrible catastrophe, une pensée aux familles et amis des victimes a ce jour dans la douleur.....bon choix de l'image, .......excellente couleurs et format
beau dimanche
cricri

Gigidusud (21679) 2015-05-15 13:04

Hello Gert,
A beautiful tribute to this country affected by this terrible disaster. We haven't imagine that when you started your series Fortunately there has your photos to preserve these beautiful architectures and everyday life of the people.
Thanks for sharing.
Gigi

PiotrF (54698) 2019-12-12 14:01

Hello Gert,
A nice street scene from Bhaktapur.
I like beautiful details, exactly shown in the photograph.
Interesting note.
Good work from your archive.
Regards
Piotr