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On a recent sunny afternoon, three sadhus (ascetics) sit outside one of the many temples that line the banks of Bagmati River that runs parallel to the Teku-Thapathali road stretch in Kathmandu. 

One of them is Sadhu Prabhu Sarang Das who hails from Mahottari district in southern Nepal, and has been living in this temple complex for the past 50 years. He and his fellow ascetics are talking about the shrines and other structures at the temple site that underwent extensive restoration following the destructive earthquake of 2015.    

“This place offers shelter to many sadhus who come to offer prayers at the Pashupati temple during the Shivaratri festival,” says Das. “It gives me immense pleasure to see the temple complex return to its former state.”

Most of the structures here were built during the 19th century, and carry great religious and cultural significance. The restoration works were carried out on 28 structures from Bagmati Bridge in Thapathali to Teku Dobhan. The Bagmati river improvement program has further enhanced the overall mood and atmosphere of the temple area.

Today, the temple area draws many people who come here to spend their free time. It also attracts scholars, historians and culturalists.  

The Government of Nepal has approved the Bagmati Management Plan (2009-2014) for the restoration of the Bagmati civilization and has been conducting activities related to the improvement and management of the Bagmati River. The Bagmati Civilization Integrated Development Committee and the Ministry of Urban Development are tasked with the implementation of the plan funded by the government and the Asian Development Bank. They have been carrying out several programs such as river bank improvement, encroachment removal and park and garden construction.

“These historical monuments are valuable property of the country. It is important that we preserve them in a sustainable manner,” says Udhav Nepal, deputy project director of Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project (BRBIP).

To date, the project has handed over 11 of the 28 restored monuments to Guthi (community-driven trust).

“We will soon complete the handover process of other monuments,” says Prabha Pokhrel, team leader of the project. But the handover process alone is no guarantee that this heritage site will remain safe.

Pokhrel adds it is the responsibility of the concerned Guthi to safeguard and preserve the shrines and other cultural and religious structures. 

“This is an important cultural heritage site which can generate income like Bhaktapur Durbar square and Lalitpur Durbar Square. The Guthi alone can’t manage and operate the site. There should be a proper mechanism in place.” 

The temple complex holds numerous shrines, shelters (sattals), resting spots (patis), and idols and statues of different Hindu gods and goddesses. Some religious scholars claim that in terms of the number of religious monuments and artefacts, this temple area is second only to the Pashupati temple.  

These monuments had already suffered much damage due to the elements before being razed down by the 2025 earthquake. Thanks to the restoration project, these heritage buildings now stand tall in their full glory, with their old intricate stone and woodwork. They have been built better using traditional materials and methods and are seismically stronger.

The Bagmati River Basin Improvement Project reckons that the temple area will be better managed if the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is brought in for the preservation effort. 

KMC Spokesperson Nabin Manandha says the city office will be more than pleased to oversee the management and preservation aspects of the restored heritage site. 

“The temples and monuments along the banks of Bagmati and Bishnumati rivers hold great historical and cultural significance. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City will make sure that this heritage site is preserved,” he says.  

Annapurna Post Senior Correspondent Rajkaran Mahato was walking along the roadside when a bus driver and conductor verbally abused him, employing language that disrupts communal harmony, and attempted to physically assault him. Mahato has lodged a formal complaint against them with the Baneshwar police circle.

On Sunday, around 12:00 noon, the conductor and driver of a ‘Sundarimai Yatayat’ bus (Ba 2 Kha 4534) stopped on the side of the road in Tinkune, Kathmandu. They treated Mahato disrespectfully, referring to him as ‘bhaiya’ and using obscene language. When Mahato questioned the mistreatment, both bus personnel attempted to physically harm him.

“This incident is not an isolated occurrence for me. All Madhesis have been subjected to such insults against our ethnic identity. The unfortunate reality of being demeaned with terms like ‘bhaiya,’ ‘Bihari,’ and ‘Marsiya,’ relegating us to second-class citizens based on our attire, appearance, and speech, has sadly become commonplace,” Mahato remarked.

He has urgently appealed for the immediate arrest of the culprits and their subsequent prosecution.

Various organizations, including the Madhesi Commission, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), and Madhesi Journalist Society Nepal, have called upon the relevant authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure justice for Mahato.

The traders and businesspersons of New Road area have protested after the Kathmandu Metropolitan City banned vehicle parking in the area.

The entrepreneurs protested by closing all shutters of shops in the area after the KMC announced 'no parking area' there from today. Earlier, vehicles were being parked at the New Road area.

Chairperson of Nepal National Federation of Entrepreneurs, Kumar Karki, said entrepreneurs of New Road area are in problems after the KMC decided to remove parking in an unscientific manner.

He mentioned, "Ban of vehicle parking in the area has added more problems at a time when there is no good business."

The KMC has removed vehicles parked in the New Road area from this morning. Chief of KMC Police, Raju Nath Pandey, shared that the decision to ban vehicle parking at New Road area was taken to ease the movement of people and ease crowds at the area.

He added they have made arrangements for a free parking facility at Kathmandu Tower where 300 four-wheelers and 700 two-wheelers could be parked. The KMC carried out a special cleanliness of parking prohibited area this morning.

Sareeka Neupane is the face behind the Instagram page, ‘lil.foodie_’ which has 160K followers and over 1,500 posts. She started food vlogging four years ago, after finishing her 10th-grade exams. She is just 20 years old. Currently pursuing a degree in BHM (Bachelor in Hotel Management), Sareeka aspires to own a restaurant in the future and continue exploring new places for compelling food vlogging content. Babita Shrestha from ApEx spoke to Sareeka to find out how she makes content that is relevant, interesting, and fun. 

How do you brainstorm and come up with ideas for food vlogs?

Coming up with ideas for my food vlogs is pretty spontaneous. I just chill, observe things around me, and the idea for the content kind of just pops into my head. Recently, I heard about Tamu Lhosar, so I thought, why not go all out? I rented a Gurung dress and headed out to capture some cool content. I prefer to visit locations and make content for their exceptional food menus and inviting ambiance. I also create paid promotional content for places that reach out to me. I like to mix in some information along with the visuals of food. I like to, as they say, ‘go with the flow’. If you’re starting and feeling a bit unsure, you could start by basing your content on the ongoing festivities or the time of year. Since it’s winter now, I’ve been dropping some cozy winter recipes. 

Are there specific strategies you used to attract and retain followers?

The deal on getting and keeping followers is all about being consistent with your posts. You’ve got to keep your audience engaged by regularly sharing content. I drop my reels and videos every morning and post other food-related content throughout the day. If you want to boost your followers, post some reels with trendy songs. For paid promotion, I like to do voice-overs in my reviews, and for the regular posts, I go with some catchy music. Also because people love to learn, I focus on informative content details like presentation, ambiance, taste, reviews, location, pricing, and even parking information. Gaining followers can be pretty stressful at first but if you keep updating reels and posts, exposure and followers are sure to come by.

What factors do you consider before entering into a brand partnership?

Usually, brands reach out through emails and PRs. Some brands prefer a barter system, offering freebies like food, services, or accommodation in exchange for promotional posts. While some food bloggers even approach brands for collaborations, I haven’t done so yet. If you don’t have a huge following, you can reach out to brands with persuasive pitches for mutual growth. If you’re a beginner looking to grow, I can even assist with collaboration opportunities.

How do you work on your videos?

I often take help from my mom with homemade food content. Getting recipes from family members who know their way around cultural cuisine adds a nice touch. I recently shared a video on ‘Gheu Chakhu Bhaat’, a perfect winter dish that got a good number of views on Instagram. In addition, I spice up the reels with some interesting information, sharing memories and personal stories to make each post more engaging.

If we are shooting at a restaurant, I make sure they are pre-informed and we stick to our schedule. Once we’re there, I talk to the staff to decide on what to eat, especially focusing on seasonal and special dishes. I like to capture everything so I ask them to let me know when they’re plating the food. When the dish is on the table, I take close-up shots and pictures of myself enjoying the meal. Later, when I’m editing, I add my thoughts and reviews.

Can you share any specific filming techniques or tips that you find effective while vlogging?

When it comes to filming, especially if you’re just starting, I believe that your phone is all that you need. It’s more about capturing things aesthetically with the right angles and keeping your hands steady. I’ve shifted to using an iPhone now because it helps with stabilizing motion, managing lighting, and getting those close-up shots, especially in 2x mode. I also bring along LED lights to ensure good lighting in darker places and during the nighttime. When shooting food content, it’s better if you focus on food rather than the background. Even if your phone is moving, make sure the focus on the food remains steady. For best results, shoot in natural light. Shooting in sunlight maximizes the wow factor of any shot.  

Is there a way to monetize food vlogging?

As of now, I haven’t started making money directly from my food vlogging channel. My current earnings come from brand promotions. However, if you’re looking to monetize your page, you can check the rules and guidelines on the platforms where you share your content. When it comes to featuring local places, I don’t charge them. I love to explore local cafes and help boost their business. But for small cafes and major brand promotions, I do charge a fee based on the collaboration.