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Kathmandu – Class 9 CBSE English Notes

Kathmandu

Class 9 CBSE English | Notes, Summary, and Study Material

📑 Table of Contents

✍️ About the Author

Vikram Seth (born 1952) is a renowned Indian novelist, poet, and travel writer. He is best known for his novel A Suitable Boy, but he has also written travelogues, poetry collections, and biographies. “Kathmandu” is an excerpt from his travelogue Heaven Lake, which narrates his journey across Tibet, Nepal, and India. Seth’s works are admired for their clarity, descriptive richness, and human touch.

📖 Summary

The chapter “Kathmandu” describes Vikram Seth’s visit to Nepal’s capital during his travels. He vividly narrates his experiences, observations, and feelings while exploring the city’s religious and cultural diversity.


Seth visits two temples – the Pashupatinath Temple, sacred to Hindus, and the Boudhanath Stupa, an important Buddhist shrine. He contrasts the two places: while Pashupatinath is crowded with priests, pilgrims, and tourists, filled with noise and chaos, Boudhanath radiates peace and calmness, with monks and devotees quietly circumambulating the stupa.


He also describes the bustling streets of Kathmandu – the sounds of hawkers, music cassettes playing filmi songs, shops selling various goods, and the vibrancy of everyday life. The liveliness of Kathmandu leaves a strong impression on him.


Before leaving Kathmandu for Patna, Seth listens to music at a nearby shop and buys books and magazines to read during his journey. Through this account, he captures the contrast of spirituality and modernity, chaos and peace, noise and silence in the city.

👤 Character Sketches

  • Vikram Seth – Curious traveler, keen observer, sensitive to cultural and spiritual contrasts, reflective in his narration.
  • The People of Kathmandu – Devout, vibrant, diverse; representing the mixture of tradition and modern life in Nepal’s capital.

🌟 Themes

  • Contrast between Chaos and Peace
  • Religious Diversity (Hinduism & Buddhism)
  • Travel and Cultural Exploration
  • Spirituality vs. Material Life

🎯 Moral / Message

The lesson teaches us to appreciate the diversity of cultures and religions. It emphasizes the importance of observation and reflection during travel, and how every journey enriches our understanding of life.

📌 Important Question-Answers

Q1. What differences did Vikram Seth observe between Pashupatinath Temple and Boudhanath Stupa?
👉 Pashupatinath was crowded, noisy, and chaotic, while Boudhanath was calm, peaceful, and meditative.

Q2. How does Vikram Seth describe the streets of Kathmandu?
👉 He describes them as lively, full of vendors, hawkers, music, shops, and vibrant activity.

Q3. What impression does the lesson “Kathmandu” create about travel writing?
👉 It shows that travelogues capture not only places but also the spirit, sounds, and emotions of the journey.

✨ Quick Revision Points

  • Author: Vikram Seth
  • Book: Heaven Lake
  • Main Places: Pashupatinath Temple, Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu streets
  • Key Contrast: Chaos vs. Peace
  • Message: Appreciation of cultural diversity and reflection through travel
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