CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Notes Chapter 8: Kathmandu by Vikram Seth is a travelogue in the CBSE Class 9 English syllabus. It vividly describes the author’s visit to the city of Kathmandu, capturing its spiritual essence, chaotic beauty, and cultural richness. The chapter contrasts two temples — the sacred and serene Pashupatinath and the peaceful Boudhanath stupa.
Students should focus on descriptive language, tone, and theme to score well, as per the exam pattern. This chapter enhances reading comprehension and literary analysis skills, which are key components of the CBSE syllabus and frequently tested in exams through extracts and short answers.
Kathmandu is a travel excerpt taken from Vikram Seth’s book Heaven Lake. It talks about his visit to Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, during his journey from China to India through Tibet and Nepal. The author shares his experiences and observations of the city in detail.
He first visits the famous Hindu temple, Pashupatinath. This temple only allows Hindus to enter. Seth notices the crowd and chaos around the temple—priests, tourists, beggars, animals, and pilgrims fill the area. He also sees that the Bagmati River, which flows by the temple, is being polluted by people throwing waste and bathing in it.
Next, he visits the Boudhanath Stupa, a peaceful and sacred Buddhist site. This place has a large white dome and feels calm compared to the earlier temple. Around the stupa are small shops run by Tibetan immigrants, selling handmade items like felt bags, silver jewellery, and clothes.
Seth finds Kathmandu full of life and culture. The city is dotted with many small shrines decorated with flowers. Tourists crowd the streets, and vendors sell postcards, fruits, cosmetics, and even chocolates. Loud film music plays from radios, and street noise adds to the lively atmosphere. He treats himself to local snacks like marzipan, spicy corn, cold drinks, and enjoys reading comics and Reader’s Digest.
Though he initially plans to travel back to Delhi through Patna and Allahabad, he later realizes it would be too exhausting. Instead, he books a flight with Nepal Airlines.
Before leaving, he notices a flute seller playing sweet melodies on a bunch of flutes tied to a pole. Unlike other street sellers, this man doesn’t shout but quietly plays different tunes. This peaceful moment makes the author think deeply about how the flute sounds like the human voice and why it’s loved in so many cultures.
Chapter 8 Kathmandu from the CBSE Class 9 English Beehive book offers a vivid account of Vikram Seth’s experiences in Nepal’s capital. The author presents the city's cultural richness and spiritual depth through contrasting visits to the crowded Pashupatinath temple and the peaceful Boudhanath stupa.
His observations of everyday life, local food, street sounds, and a flute seller reveal his growing sensitivity to the world around him. The chapter beautifully blends travel, reflection, and discovery, enriching students' understanding of descriptive writing.
For the convenience of students, we have provided the CBSE Class 8 English Beehive Chapter 8 Kathmandu notes in a downloadable PDF format below. These notes cover all important points, summaries, and explanations to help students understand the chapter easily and prepare effectively for their exams.
The content is designed as per the latest syllabus and exam pattern, making it useful for quick revision. Click the link below to access and download the PDF and boost your preparation.
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