Thursday Doors in Nepal 3

More doors from the Durbar Square in Patan.

Archway leading to a small courtyard

Lattice-work door

Marigold garland maker

Reminiscent of Durham Cathedral’s cloister

More lattice-work doors

On the other side of the door, a crack of light

Thursday Doors in Nepal 2

Sitting on the doorstep of the Royal Palace in Durbar Square, Patan. Great places to hang out and chill with your pals.

The weather was dull, so the shades were not strictly needed.
The central vertical bar of the door behind is called the astragal.

Not even historic buildings are immune from modern graffiti

Modern doors may have spy-holes. These doors have eyes.
Look at the design of the carving above the door.

This door needs a bit more renovation.

Door way with painted surrounds and hanging marigold garlands

The dark blue vehicle behind the statue of the buffalo is a mobile toilet. Men only.
Open door.

Thursday Doors in Nepal 1

I went to a wedding last month. In Nepal, just a few thousand miles away. The bride was my boss when I worked in Delhi with Medecins Sans Frontieres in a clinic for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence. I spent ten days in Kathmandu, Patan and Pokhara, the three largest cities in the country. There were three ceremonies – Shamanic, Buddhist and Hindu – on separate days, so there was plenty of time for door seeing.

These photographs are from the ancient town of Patan (pronounced “Pah’tn” with the emphasis on the first syllable). The locals also call it “Yala” and the official name is Lalitpur. It is also known as Manigal. Just to be clear. It was severely damaged five years ago in a major earthquake, but the Royal Palaces of Durbar Square have been repaired and several temples are clad with bamboo scaffolding.

This is a small shop, not yet open for business. The doors are typical of Patan, carved dark wood. In front of the steps there is a tiny altar, flush with the brick road, on which the owners place flowers and offerings.

Close up of the door above

An old door in Durbar Square. The lady in scarlet is watching a demonstration.
Above her right shoulder is an orange deity, covered with an orange cloak.

Close up

The door jamb and header have been intricately carved with repeated designs and images of deities.

The jambs often sweep out into the brickwork like wings of the vehicle of Vishnu, Garuda. The King of Patan was the incarnation of Vishnu on Earth.

Thursday Doors South Street 2

This post is the concluding part of last week’s submission.

So, walking further down the cobbled street, down the hill…

The white structure lower left is a boot scraper

I like the overgrown steps leading to the door

Just to give the postal delivery person backache

And again. Royal blue door with perpendicular panels

This door isn’t in South Street, but in N Bailey leading up to Palace Green