Kathmandu class 9 solutions

Kathmandu class 9 solutions

Kathmandu class 9 solutions : Kathmandu is the lesson no 10 from class 9 English NCERT main text book Beehive. The lesson Kathmandu is written by Vikram Seth.Here you'll get Kathmandu class 9 solutions. 

Kathmandu class 9 summary

In this lesson Kathmandu, author Vikram Seth describes about his travelling experience at famous Pashupatinath Temple, where a febrile confusing atmosphere remains outside.

There priest, hawkers. devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, pigeons and dogs roam through the ground. When a princes of the the Nepalese royal house appears, everyone bows and  makes way.

There only hindus are allowed to enter in the temple. Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary and religious place with small shrines.

There are fruit sellers, hawkers of post cards, shops selling western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolates, copper utensils  etc.

The author goes to Nepal Airlines Office and buys a ticket to Delhi. There he saw a flute seller. The flutes are made of bamboo and its sound is very pleasant. The author enjoys the flute music for some time.

There is no culture that does not have its flute the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese Shakuhachi, the deep bansuri of Hindustani classical musical etc.


The flute is a common musical instrument. It is found in almost every culture and it strengthens the cultural relationships among the people.

Kathmandu class 9 questions and answers

Thinking about the text
Q1. Draw the following map mark out the route, which the author thought of but did not take to Delhi. 
Ans: [ Take help from your text-book, page no 131 ]

Q2. Find out the possible routes (by rail, road or air) from Kathmandu to New Delhi / Mumbai / Kolkata / Chennai.
Ans: [ Take help of an Atlas to find out the routes ]

• I. Answer these questions in one or two words or in short phrases. 
Q1. Name the two temples the author visited in Kathmandu. 
Ans: Pashupatinath temple and Baudhanath Stupa.

Q2. The writer says', 'All this I wish with cocacola'. What does all this refer to ? 
Ans: All this refers to corn-on-the-cob and Marzipan.

Q3. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine ? 
Ans: The flute tied on the top of the flute seller pole in all directions are compared to the quills of a porcupine.

Q4. Name five kinds of flute. 
Ans: The name of the five kinds of flute are the reed neh, the recorder, the Japanese Shakuhachi, the deep bansuri, the breathy flutes of South America.

• II. Answer each question in a short paragraph. 

Q1. What differences does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers ? 
Ans: The author finds a difference between the flute seller and the other hawkers in selling the articles. The flute seller does not shout out his waves. They make a sale, but in a curiously offhanded way as if this were incidental to his enterprise. But the other sellers makes a loud noise in selling their goods.

Q2. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug ? 
Ans: At Pashupatinath, people believe that when a small shrine emerges fully on Bagwati river, the goddness inside will escape, and the evil period of the Kaliyug will end on earth.

Q3. The author has drawn powerful images and pictures. Pick out three examples each of
(i) the atmospherer of 'feblic confusion' outside the temple of Pashupatinath. 
(ii) the things he sees. 
(iii) the sounds he hears. 
Ans: (i) The author describes the monkey's fight. A fight breaks out between two monkeys in the temple side. One chases the other, who jumps on to a Shivalinga, then runs screaming  around the temple and down to the river.

(ii) The author sees that a princes of the Nepalese royal house. When she comes everyone bows to her. The author sees monkeys, felt begs, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery. He saw flute sellers, hawkers of post card etc.

(iii) The author hears film songs from the radio, car horns, bicycle bells, vendor shout out their waves. He also listen the flutes played by the flute seller.

• III. Answer the following questions in not more than 100-150 words each. 

Q1. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple. 
Ans: At Pashupatinath temple, there is an atmosphere of complete choas. Priest, hawkers, devotees, tourists, cows, monkeys, dogs roam through the ground. There are many worshippers that some people trying to get the priest attention are elbowed aside by others pushing their way to the front.

At the Baudhnath Stupa, there is a sense of stillness. Its immense white dome is ringed by a road. Some small shops stand on its outer edge. Most of the shops are showed by Tibetan immigrants. There are no crowds and this is a heaven of quiteness.

Q2. How does the author describe Kathmandu's busiest streets ? 
Ans: The author describes that Kathmandu is vivid, mercenary, religious place along with some narrowest and busiest streets. There are fruit sellers, flute sellers, hawkers of postcards, shops selling western cosmetics, film rolls and chocolate and Nepalese antiques. There film songs blare out from the radios, car horns sound, bicycle bells ring, vendors shout out their wares. The author bought roasted corn on the pavement.

Q3. "To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind." Why does the author say this ? 
Ans: The author says, this because music gives pleasure to every listener. The flute seller sells various types of flutes of different customs and culture. The flute seller does not shout out his wares. He plays melodious tunes, which fascinate other people. Mankind does not have multiple appearance and shapes. Music soothes everybody's heart irrespective of their cases, colour and creed. So the author says like this. As the sound of flute is very sweet and it create a sense of unity among the people of different castes.

Kathmandu class 9 extra questions answers

Q1. How does the author describe Kathmandu ? 
Ans: The author describes Kathmandu as a vivid, mercenary and religious place. At Kathmandu, the streets are narrow and very busy.

Q2. What can be heard in the streets of Kathmandu ? 
Ans: In the streets of Kathmandu film songs, car horns, bicycle bells ring and vendor's shout can be heard.

Q3. Why did the author like Baudhnath Stupa ? 
Ans: The author liked Baudhnath Stupa because of its stillness. There was no crowd and the places were very quiet.

Q4. Which route did the author wanted to take ? 
Ans: The author wanted to go by bus and train to Patna, then sail up the Ganges past Banaras to Allahabad, then up the Yamuna, past Agra to Delhi.

Q5. Why did the author change his mind regarding his returning journey ? 
Ans: Regarding return journey from Kathmandu the author changed his mind because he was too exhausted and homesick. So he decided to return home by air.

• The fun they had
• The road not taken
• The sound of music
• Wind
• The little girl
• Rain on the roof
• The Bond of love
• The lake Isle of innisfree
• The snake trying
• A legend of Northland