⭐ 1. Chapter Summary 

Kathmandu is a travelogue written by Vikram Seth.
The writer reaches Kathmandu and visits two famous temples:

(1) Pashupatinath Temple

Here, the writer sees a lot of noise and confusion—priests, devotees, animals, tourists, and many people pushing each other. A dead body is being cremated near the Bagmati River. The atmosphere is chaotic.

(2) Baudhnath Stupa

This Buddhist shrine is completely different—calm, peaceful and quiet. Tibetan shops are around the stupa selling bags, jewelry and prints.

Life in Kathmandu

The streets are busy and full of sounds—flute sellers, fruit-sellers, hawkers, music, car horns. The writer buys food, drinks and some small items.

Flute Seller

A man sells many types of flutes but quietly. He plays them softly. The writer loves flute music because it connects all human beings.

End

The writer decides to return home directly because he is tired and homesick.

⭐ 2. Hindi Translation 

यह अध्याय लेखक विक्रम सेठ की नेपाल यात्रा का वर्णन है।

(1) पशुपतिनाथ मंदिर

लेखक यहाँ बहुत भीड़, शोर और भगदड़ देखता है—पुजारी, भक्त, tourist, बंदर, गाय सब इधर-उधर घूम रहे हैं। लोग पुजारी का ध्यान खींचने के लिए एक-दूसरे को धक्का दे रहे हैं। पास में बागमती नदी में एक शव जल रहा है। वातावरण पूरी तरह अव्यवस्थित है।

(2) बौद्धनाथ स्तूप

यह स्थान बिल्कुल शांत है। बड़ी सफेद गुंबद के चारों ओर शांत सड़कें और तिब्बती दुकाने हैं। यहाँ शांति और स्थिरता महसूस होती है।

काठमांडू की सड़कें

सड़कों पर दुकानदार, फल-वाले, postcard बेचने वाले, cosmetic की दुकानें, चॉकलेट, music, हॉर्न—हर जगह हलचल है। लेखक कुछ खाने-पीने की चीजें खरीदता है।

बांसुरी वाला

एक बांसुरी बेचने वाला शांत खड़ा है। वह धीरे-धीरे बांसुरी बजाता है। लेखक को बांसुरी की आवाज बहुत पसंद है। उसके अनुसार बांसुरी हर संस्कृति में पाई जाती है और लोगों को जोड़ती है।

अंत

लेखक घर लौटने का फैसला करता है क्योंकि वह थक गया है और घर की याद आ रही है।

⭐ 3. Tough Word Meanings (Easy Hindi)

⭐ 4. Extracted NCERT Questions with Answers (Very Easy Language)

I. Very Short Answers

1. Name the two temples the author visited.

Pashupatinath Temple and Baudhnath Stupa.

2. What does “all this I wash down with Coca Cola” refer to?

It refers to:
– marzipan
– roasted corn
– love story comics
– Reader’s Digest
– orange drink

3. What is compared to the quills of a porcupine?

The flutes on the flute-seller’s pole.

4. Name five kinds of flutes.

Bansuri, recorder, shakuhachi, reed-neh, South American flutes.

II. Short Paragraph Answers

1. Difference between flute seller and other hawkers?

Other hawkers shout loudly to sell goods, but the flute seller is calm.
He quietly plays the flute and does not call customers.
He sells flutes in a peaceful and simple way.

2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about Kaliyug?

There is a half-submerged shrine near the river.
People believe that when it rises completely, Kaliyug will end.

3. Three examples of:

(i) Febrile confusion outside Pashupatinath

• People pushing each other
• Hawkers and devotees moving everywhere
• Monkeys fighting

(ii) Things he sees

• Devotees
• Shops around the stupa
• Fruit sellers, postcard sellers

(iii) Sounds he hears

• Film songs
• Car horns
• Flute music

III. Long Answers (100–150 words)

1. Compare Pashupatinath and Baudhnath.

Pashupatinath is noisy, crowded, and full of confusion.
People are pushing, animals roam around, and rituals are happening openly.
It is chaotic.
In contrast, Baudhnath Stupa is peaceful and silent.
Its big white dome and quiet circle of Tibetan shops create a calm atmosphere.
Thus, Pashupatinath is chaotic; Baudhnath is calm.

2. Describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets.

The streets are full of people, fruit sellers, postcard sellers, flute sellers, cars, bikes and animals.
Shops sell cosmetics, chocolates, film rolls, copper items and antiques.
Music plays loudly, horns blow, bicycle bells ring—everything is noisy.
It is colourful, lively and crowded.

3. “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Explain.

The writer says that every culture has its own flute—Japanese, Indian, Chinese, South American etc.
Even though the flutes are different, the music touches everyone equally.
Flute sound is close to the human voice and uses human breath.
This makes it universal and connects all human beings.