Tuesday marks two years since the Nepal Earthquake 2015, but the scars and wounds left behind by the disaster, particularly at various heritage sites in the Valley, still remain massively uncured, if not unattended altogether. While a couple of sites have been rebuilt to their former glory, especially in Patan and Bhaktapur, others still resemble a war-zone. The Kathmandu Durbar Square is a case in point.  

Rebuilding the Valley’s heritage sites undoubtedly needs to be a deliberated process. But with Nepalis notorious for their take-it-easy, “Ke Garne” approach to fixing problems, is it time to wonder how long is too long, and how slow is too slow? 

In this series, I have compiled photos that show the progress, or the lack there of, that has been made in the span of 24 months since the quakes brought down so much of what defines Kathmandu. In it are some images that provide a glimmer of hope of what concerted efforts can bring, but most others are a rude reminder of our collective inefficiency.

Kathmandu wasn’t built in a day, and it won’t be rebuilt in one either, but the longest of journeys begin with the first step; steps that hopefully will be forthcoming as we head into the third year since the quakes shook us to our core. 

Instagram: @sanjogm

Text and Photos: Sanjog Manandhar