Boudha Stupa shimmers against a grayish-blue evening sky.

A dog in Hadigaun lounges on a palanquin made for deities.

Savoring the city lights seen from Jagdol Hill at Makalbari in Rubina's company.

Veiled by alge, the placid water of Gahanapokhari is unmoved by the gentle breeze.

Blanketed by the monsoon sky at dusk.

A "Right Pack" bagpack by JanSport hangs on a hefty wooden plank doubling as seats for passerbys of the Kumari House.

A sewing machine repairman reads his morning paper in the wider Newar alley of Sankata in Newroad, Kathmandu. Above the adjacent shuttered shop, a diabolical Chepu, a mythic water creature, clutches a serpent with its mouth—believed to ward off evil and guard the house.

A budle of organic garlic hangs beneath the CGI roof of a rustic old house. These cozy, timeworn abodes in Kathmandu, now dwindling rapidly as modern larger houses replace them, reflect age-old Nepalese practices—hanging harvests like corn and garlic, and lining terraces with potted plants and bottled pickles basking in the sun.

A canopy of advertisements and closely knit shops attuned to tourists line the streets of"Thamel", an eccentric ghetto in Kathmandu.

A Sadhu plays Indian melodies on his modern Keyboard.

The intricately carved wooden façade, showcasing traditional Newari craftsmanship, adorns the residence of the Kumari—revered as the living goddess of Nepal. The religious practice of Kumari's appointment and role has also recently raised concerns about the impact of seclusion and deification on her childhood, growth, and wellbeing.

A row of marionettes resembling actors donning the masks of Hindu deities. The Chitarakars, an artist caste group of the Newars, make the masks for theater and rituals.

Houses in Kathmandu are adorned by strings of lights during Tihar, a Hindu festival of lights. The large complex is a movie hall named Jai Nepal.

Swoyambhunath Stupa, a Buddhist shrine also known to many tourists as the Monkey Temple.

Swoyambhunath Stupa, a Buddhist shrine also known to many tourists as the Monkey Temple.

The giant Dharma Bell, inscribed by Mantras in Tibetan script, hands in the Swayambhunath premise. It is rung by pilgrims to mark the start of prayers and Kora (circumambulation).

Three grand figures at Swayambhunath—Shakyamuni Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, and Avalokiteshvara, each in their distinct Mudras (pose or hand gesture)—represent core ideals of Mahayana Buddhism: enlightenment, infinite light, and boundless compassion.

A Hindu temple, "Siddhi Lakshmi Mandir" or "Lohan Dega" in Newari in Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

The Hindu temple, named "Shilu Mahadev Mandir" and also known as ”Phasi Dega” in the Newari language, is located in Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Nepal. The temple, built in the 1650s under the Malla kings, is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva.

The Boudhanath Stupa symbolizes the path to enlightenment—its white dome represents the earth, the Buddha’s eyes embody awareness, and the 13 golden tiers reflect stages toward nirvana, crowned by the umbrella of liberation.

Through a row of Shiva shrines in Pashupatinath Temple.

A duo of eccentric Hindu holy men, known as Sadhus.

A hefty metal bell hangs from an ornate frame in the premise of the Pashutnath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kathmandu.

A large brass sculpture of Nandi, the mount of the HIndu deity, Shiva seats in the entrance of the inner sanctum of the Pashupatinath (Lord of the Beast) temple.

A Hindu Sadhu and his wife—an unusual pair in the ascetic tradition, where familial and nuptial affairs are typically renounced.

Arrays of Nepalese condiments and spices for sale in Ason Bazar in Kathmandu.

A variety of sun-dried fish for sale in the oldest market of Nepal, Ason Bazar in Kathmandu