For Stunning Glimpses of 20th-Century Nepal, Check Out ‘Nepal in Pix’ on Twitter · Global Voices
Porters carrying the first car to the Kathmandu Valley. Image via Twitter/NepalInPix
Throughout history, Nepal has represented a land of mysticism to travellers from abroad. Nepal’s high Himalayas with the world’s highest mountains, the mid-hills and valleys abundant with rare rituals and traditions, and the southern plains with dense forest and wild animals have always attracted curious visitors to this landlocked country.
Though Nepal is not untouched by modern development, images from only few decades ago take you to a different world. The Twitter account Nepal in Pix publishes images from that era, providing an idea of what life was like not that long ago.
To start with, here’s an image of Nepal’s Public Service Commission (Lok Sewa Aayog) examinations, the mode of entry into government jobs, being held in open fields in the Lamjung District of Western Nepal.
Nepali youths giving Lok Sewa Aayog exams on a sunny chaur in Lamjung in 1975. #Nepal pic.twitter.com/0S8hoo8bcE
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) May 1, 2016
The television set was a rare item in the 1980s. This image shows young men with a television, posing for a picture in the alleys of Kathmandu Valley.
Young Newar men bringing home their first TV, in 1987. #Nepal pic.twitter.com/3GCxe07lwV
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) May 10, 2016
In the 1960s, hippies frequented the Kathmandu Valley. Marijuana and hashish was legally sold here and even a street near the Kathmandu Durbar Square was named ‘Freak Street’.
गाजा र चरेस येहा पाइन्छ | Marijuana was legal in Nepal during 1960's. pic.twitter.com/6NVkVJ0Q3D
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) April 22, 2016
The below image shows how the party scene in Kathmandu looked like in those days, depicting the fashion trending among young people:
Time to party like it's 1969. 206
#Nepal pic.twitter.com/KV3YLAKq9D
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) April 21, 2016
When monarchy was at the helm, the king and queen were considered a beacon of hope, and people waited in long queues to get a glimpse of the rulers.
People waiting for the arrival of the king & queen at Jumla Bazaar in 1978. #Nepal pic.twitter.com/ryyz2P0ROz
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) May 4, 2016
The New Road leading to the Kathmandu Durbar Square in the heart of Kathmandu was really new with very few vehicles around.
New Road, Kathmandu 60 years ago. #Nepal pic.twitter.com/u98IQ3mMhM
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) May 8, 2016
Cars, the possession of rich and powerful, were rare for the general public and so were the car dealers. The below image shows one such car dealer:
Vintage cars! The Ford car dealer at Lazimpat, Kathmandu in 1930s. #Nepal pic.twitter.com/XL3Ioi6u0G
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) May 6, 2016
While the Kathmandu Valley was advancing towards modernization, the southern plains was still a dense forest and a haven for hunters and guests of royal families. The below image is from one of the historic royal hunts with British royals as guests – killing several wild animals.
King <PERSON> with the day's kill in Dec 1911. A total of 39 tigers, 18 rhinoceroses & 4 bears were killed. #Nepal pic.twitter.com/aLjGeBe4jR
— Nepal In Pix (@NepalInPix) April 30, 2016
The <PERSON> clan of prime ministers held power in their hands for almost 104 years until 1951, reducing the <PERSON> kings to figureheads during their rule. For their part, the <PERSON> dynasty's rule came to an end in 2008. Here’s an image of Prime Minister <PERSON> with his brothers. 765