Read all the way to find the video directions.
okay, a small public service announcement: My novel of Nepal, The Sacrament of the Goddess, is available via Amazon. As a recent reader put it:
This love story that began in a small village in Nepal-and life’s journey of two individual ‘s from opposite side of the world intertwined with political situation and traditional believes of the two countries make reading interesting.
After ten years of separation and meeting of the two lovers again in the same village , destiny has them face many challenges that force them to flee the village. The description of the village, family structure of the two, family expectations and believes being so different yet the two individuals bound by love find similarities in each other to become life partners. This story leaves one with the feeling that the world is becoming a global village. People of opposite side of the world seem to be so different on surface but in reality all human beings have same feelings and are more alike than different.
The Bead Bajaar
This is a must-see for any tourist to Kathmandu, esp if you have a camera. it is one of the most colorful spots in Old Kathmandu, which is a very colorful place to begin with. But – you can walk right past it. Some Canadians staying at my same Guest House went looking for it twice and couldn’t find it; that’s when I realized it’s like the railway station in the first Harry Potter book where they need to find “Platform 9 3/4”
The Bead Bajaar, curiously enough, is an enclave of Islam in Kathmandu. Not the only one. Click here for a link to a terrific article in Nepali Times ( with pictures!)
The actual directions:
Step One: Go to Indra Chowk. there you will find an imposing Mandir (Temple) with the four dogs leaping outward from the second floor, the Akash Bhairab Mandir. see picture. stand in front of the temple and gaze upon it.
Much of the time, by the way, they will allow non-Hindus to visit the inside of this particular temple and it is well worth it.
While you are here, there are two Lassi shops in the vicinity, and one is located on the first floor, a bit to the left as you face the temple. The other (and better) one is at the beginning of the street that goes north to Thamel out of Indra Chowk. 30 nrs for a small one, 50 nrs for a big one. Always crowded!
Step Two: turn around. across the chowk, you will see a building that looks like this:
This photo was taken in late afternoon and the plastic was there to shade from the sun. look both ways while crossing the street!
step three: shift your gaze a bit to the right. and up. you will see an electrical transformer. the sign on it says “NEEK”
It’s not the prettiest landmark but they had to put it somewhere.
Step four: directly under the transformer is the entryway to the Bead Bajaar. There is no sign. The only indication of what is to be found within, is a couple of brightly colored red, green and yellow beaded potay, hanging on a peg.
Step Five: go over there, and cross the threshold under the plastic, into a world of beads.
Here is a video.
While you are at Indra Chowk, enjoy a cool lassi!
The Sacrament of the Goddess - a Novel of Nepal 