These images pre-date the devastating April 2015 earthquake which caused widespread damage and loss of life across the Kathmandu Valley.

Patan is my favourite of the three ancient city-states of the Kathmandu Valley. Seemingly engulfed by metropolitan Kathmandu, Patan (or Lalitpur) remains a marvellous time warp. Temples or traditional Newari brick houses with elaborately carved eaves, doorways and window boxes appear at every turn, even away from the main square. Men and women are dwarfed by the loads on their backs. People pause to clasp hands in prayer as they pass yet another shrine, walking down the street. Sometimes a single gateway facing into a narrow street opens into the courtyard which encloses a back-street temple. The distinction between Hindu and Buddhist belief and practices seems quite vague.

These images were taken with Nikon D300 using RAW format, and are available for licensing.