The Essence of Bhaktapur: A Celebration of Culture through Photography
Bhaktapur, a city that tells stories of history, culture, and tradition has came alive through the lens of five talented photographers. ImagePasal, in collaboration with the Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee, presented The Essence of Bhaktapur – A Photo Exhibition. This visual journey captured the essence of Bhaktapur, showcasing its vibrant lifestyle, heritage, and rich traditions.
The exhibition featured the works of photographers Amit Machamasi, Rojan Shrestha, Saurav Thapa Shrestha, Chandra Chakradhar and Nandu Shrestha who has grown alongside Bhaktapur’s beauty over the years. Each photographer brought their unique perspective, telling visual stories that celebrate Bhaktapur’s timeless beauty.
Bhaktapur continues to feel authentic on so many levels. Women dressed in traditional Hakupatasi and men in Daura Suruwal are sights unique to Bhaktapur, rarely seen elsewhere in the Kathmandu Valley. The heritage here is another standout— houses and their façades are carefully preserved and even reconstructed to maintain the old-times charm.
What’s even more remarkable is how traditions and culture thrive here. From elderly men to young children, everyone participates in festivals and rituals with great enthusiasm and excitement. These elements embody why Bhaktapur retains its spirit so naturally—a quality that should ideally be mirrored in all historic cities across the valley. Patan, for instance, still holds pockets of this kind of authenticity, making it remarkable.
These cultural moments and portraits of people in the photographic display has shown Bhaktapur a treasure worth cherishing. They were windows into the essence of a city that remains timelessly authentic.