Thursday, February 25, 2016

Trip to Bhaktapur, Nepal - Resonating Resilience


As the Ganesh Himal vignetted past my window on the Araniko Highway,the lifeline of Nepal , my thoughts pervaded through the stories of the devastation and subsequent resurrection after earthquake in 2015. These thoughts were based on the conversations and the media reports. All of them had an underlying spirit. That of Hope.


Artifacts in Nepal
Display of Artifacts

The Several brass handicrafts amplified the message of the sources of livelihood as we entered the city, that is a UNESCO heritage in itself, echoed the misery and the foundations laid by the human spirit.

Relief Camps of Nepal Earthquake
Lane across the Temporary Settlements of Relief Camps of Nepal Earthquake

After entering the kilned street, we passed by the sides of the temporary earthquake shelters and deserted motion and verve.

Relief Camps of Nepal Earthquake
Temporary Settlements of Nepal Earthquake

Relief Camps of Nepal Earthquake
Temporary Settlements of Nepal Earthquake

The blue synthetic tarpaulin sheets meticulously covered the intrinsic architecture of what once stood of marvels of Newari architecture. But, the craft and the crafted wood had to bear the brunt of nature's fury.

Buildings Damaged in the Nepal Earthquake
Buildings Damaged in the Nepal Earthquake

The epitomes of the curly haired twin Sinhas (Lions), stood guards to the nothingness of the vacuum created by the shambles of perimeter walls.

Lion Statues in Nepal
Curly Lion Statues in Nepal

The Shikhar of the temple built in its namesake architecture, the Shikhar style, was covered by the tarpaulin sheets, what otherwise would had been a sky of hope was a hope of sky.

Temples Damaged in Nepal Earthquake
Temples Damaged in Nepal Earthquake. Resurrection

The story of Bhaktapur is the story of resilience, resonating in hope against all odds, with an unmatched firmness.

Read Next : Bhaktapur Durbar Square - Melting pot of energy