Before the Earth Cracked: Patan, Kathmandu, Nepal

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Before the Earth Cracked:
The Temples of Patan, Kathmandu

On April 25, 2015 a 7.8 magnitude earthquake broke open the soil of Nepal. The violent shaking of the earth was felt not only in Nepal but also through to India, China, Bhutan, Tibet and Bangladesh and causing the most deadly avalanche ever reported on Mount Everest. At least 8,000 casualties were reported, though at this time the number is expected to rise, and the destruction is said to have surpassed that of the last violent Nepal-Bihar earthquake of 1934. Aside from the loss of life, the loss of livelihoods and the loss of entire villages (there is one reported village where 4 homes remained standing out of 507) there was a great loss in historical and spiritual holy places. Nepal was known for its stunning collection of 7 UNESCO world heritage sites, four of which sustained irreparable destruction in the earthquake. Patan Durbar Square, Kathmandu Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square sustained the most damages and in many cases entire temples were brought to dust.

I had the great fortune of spending time in Kathmandu on my last visit to Nepal in June of 2014. Had I known then that I would not have the privilege to walk amongst these great historic temples I would have taken many more photographs. This is what I have to share, to document of this magical place. The majority of these images are from one evening while meandering through Patan Dubar Square and Kathmandu Durbar square at sunset.

It remains one of the most warming memories I have.