Walking around the city of Kathmandu where many buildings collapsed in the Great Nepal earthquake

No way, there is an earthquake in Nepal ... .... Walking through the city of the capital city of Kathmandu, the claws of the big earthquake will jump into the eyes somewhere. The historical buildings "Darbar Square" and "Darahara Tower" will collapse.

Hello,Takuya Sudo @ circle around the world bicycle @ Charridermanis. I was lost a lot, but I have been traveling in Nepal for about two weeks. Since I entered Kathmandu 10 days after the earthquake occurred, both the chef and the cafeteria were open and it is more peaceful everyday than I thought. However, walking around the city scattered the affected buildings, it was clear that the earthquake struck this area.

◆ Capital Kathmandu
Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal and the center of political economy, is located at the bottom of a basin surrounded by mountains. Since the altitude exceeds 1,300 meters, the heat was not too severe compared to the plain section, and it was a bit cold at night. Everest andAnnapurnaAs a hiking base for trekking in the Himalayas such as, it is a place full of tourists.

Kathmandu is a valuable flatland spreading over mountainous areas.


◆ The situation of Kathmandu
I arrived in Kathmandu on May 5th and stayed for 5 days until departure on May 10th. There are many new buildings in the Thamel district where travelers gather, I can not feel so much abnormality. However, when the old houses gathered, the walls of buildings made of bricks were unlikely to have earthquake resistance etc., and rubble was conspicuous.

The pagoda where the top is twisted.


A truck carrying rubble of a building that collapsed.


Removal of debris by the police. I was collecting the items of the store that was operating in the collapsed building.


A mountain of rubble that flowed into the path.


Because the fence is also a brick, the collapsed part is visible.


A building whose upper floor has been flushed so that it can snow.


It is a densely land of Asia, a blank area that stands out and is conspicuous.


From the top, as crushed and crushed.


The place which was also a temple was the frontline base of the rescue team.


The gate of the entrance that broke up with a refreshment.


Let's cross the building that has become a mess.


A big crack.


The building on the first floor, Gwenri and a crooked building ...


The whole was tilted, and the rooftop part was hitting the next building.


With a huge kitchen knife, the houses where the cut surfaces remain clearly as if they were made in two.


I take cruelly the peaceful everyday.


It seemed like a new building, but the intensity was insufficient, or I could not see it.


Although the prototype remains, the damage to the whole is emerging, housing in the outskirts of Kathmandu.


Even in the suburbs, old buildings again seemed to have been heavily damaged.


Since there are aftershocks, buildings worried about collapse are reinforced by supporting with wood.


Support it with big wood so as not to fall down.


As if to surround the cracked part.


The large shopping mall in a place slightly away from the center was closed.


Even buildings that seemed not to be damaged, the walls are cracked when they look out their eyes.


Another shopping mall is also a cracked trace of glass.


◆ Durbar Square
Historic palaces and temples are concentrated, and it is also registered as a World Heritage SiteDurbar squareMany people visit as tourist sites representing Kathmandu. The surrounding area where sadness is drifting is similar to that of China. This Durbar square was also seriously damaged by the earthquake.

Because there is a danger of collapse, ropes are stretched so that they can not approach the building.


Serious damage to historic buildings.


The wall that fell off.


There are people who live in the tent whether they will also be evacuation places.


A tent on the immediate side of the square.


A mountain of brick and wood.


Many buildings were damaged.


It is becoming a ground.


Everything was crumbling down so much that I could not figure out what was once.


Dalahara Tower
It was in the immediate vicinity of Durbar Square that was crowded as an observation platform that overlooks the cityDalahara Tower. Although it was built in 1832, it will collapse in the 1934 Bihar-Nepal earthquake. Then it was rebuilt, but it collapsed again due to the earthquake this time.

The appearance of a past day.


Currently, only the root remains.


It crumbled away greatly.


◆ Evacuation Life
Those who have lost a place to live unfortunately are forced to live a tent.

Myriad tents built in the square.


The tent with the flag of China was like a house and it seemed to be able to secure enough living space.


A tent is set up in the ground of the stadium.


A small square in the city is also a shelter.


Even in the village on the way to Kathmandu, there were people who were afraid of the collapse of the building and spent their tents in the garden.


A memorial rally
To such an unprecedented catastrophe, the people of Nepal are trying to survive by uniting. As in Japan, natural disasters fall as long as I continue to live there. Even so, I can not leave that place. For the memorial, the candle was on fire.

People who march with a candle at Durbar Square in Kathmandu.


Preparation for the night.


Candlelight for memorial.


The candlelight was shaking even in the town of Bhuwar on the plain, where I felt almost no damage from the earthquake.


The candle is the shape of Nepal.


With a banner.


◆ gradually to everyday life
I could not imagine the original bustle, but Kathmandu was still staying at the cheap hotel and I was able to go outdoor shop and Japanese restaurant, too. Some shops were releasing shutters, but they gradually returned to their daily lives.

I am sorry that the cycling shop I was looking forward was closed.


Commercial district where a lot of people had come and go.


A healthy child playing in the alley.


As a result of the earthquake, nobody knows when the next opportunity will exist, although it has crossed my mind that "I do not mind doing it." Just at that time there was a means to tell it, so this time I tried it as an article like this.

(Sentence / photo: Takuya S. Narou Charriderman
Cycling around the world for a bicyclehttp://shuutak.com
Twitter@ Shuutak)