Pictures and words

It was a sudden surprise, the water mill. I had never seen one before. Water mills have been in existence since a long long time. They use the flowing water to grind the grains using two stone sills. In most of the places, it's a community driven system. The community builds it and maintains it. In return, the users keep some amount of flour as a contribution. According to  Nepal times , 'There are an estimated 30,000 water mills all over Nepal, traditionally used in villages to grind grain.'  Today, a master artisan, Malaram ji was with us. He had rebuilt a similar community driven water mill once in Uttrakhand, India. He showed us how this worked. Believe me, it was awesome! I wish to study more about it now. The water is channelised through a small canal. The flow is controlled by a small check-dam. As soon as the flow becomes sufficient to rotate the turbine below the stone sill, it needs a small push and the mill starts! check out the videos and the pho

The most versatile piece in a building, [the door] has been a mode of expression [for] ages. The door in apartments and modern societies is just a mode of a transition from outside to inside. In traditional cities and neighborhoods, like that of Kathmandu, it’s much more than that. It’s the place where people spend most of their time. Sitting at the Chaukhat, socializing and chatting. The door is not just a tangible unit, it’s the respect you give to your building. Below are the photos I clicked during my site visits and explorations in and around Kathmandu, Nepal. The collection will keep on updating.  Update: A wonderful poem by my ex-professor, mentor and friend, Saurabh Tewari द्वार नहीं हैं ये बस लकड़ी के। सदियों से चल रही संस्कृति के। बस रंग नहीं हैं, अभिकल्प नहीं हैं, प्रमाण हैं ये नेपाल की हस्ती के।  नेपाल के दरवाज़े देखिए, निपुण प्रभाकर की आँखो से। There is a tradition of offering prayers at the door every morning. The two red dots are the