Extra Questions and Answers - Kathmandu

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Which two temples did the author visit in Kathmandu?
Ans: The author visited Pashupatinath Temple and Baudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu. These two monuments are among the city's most important religious sites, representing Hindu and Buddhist traditions respectively.

Q2. What signboard is there outside the Pashupatinath temple?
Ans: The signboard reads 'Entrance for the Hindus only', indicating that non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the temple

Q3. Which river flows through Kathmandu?
Ans: The Bagmati River flows through Kathmandu. The river is considered sacred and plays an important role in several religious rites observed on its banks.

Q4. How is the atmosphere at the Pashupatinath temple?
Ans: The atmosphere at the Pashupatinath temple is crowded, noisy and chaotic, full of priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists and animals, creating what the author calls 'febrile confusion'.

Q5. How is the atmosphere at the Baudhnath Stupa?
Ans: At the Baudhnath Stupa, there is a sense of stillness at the Baudhnath stupa. There are no crowds, and the quiet atmosphere contrasts with the busy streets outside.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Where did the writer stay in Kathmandu? Which two different places of worship did he visit, and with whom?
Ans: The writer, Vikram Seth, stayed in a modest, inexpensive room in the centre of Kathmandu. He visited the Pashupatinath Temple (a Hindu shrine) and the Baudhanath Stupa (a Buddhist shrine). He explored these places with acquaintances - specifically Mr. Shah's son and nephew.

Q2. What is written on the signboard outside the Pashupatinath temple? What does the proclamation signify?
Ans: Outside the Pashupatinath temple, the signboard states: "Entrance for Hindus only". It signifies that only Hindus are allowed to enter the temple, and non-Hindus are not permitted inside.

Q3. What does the author imply by 'febrile confusion' in the Pashupatinath temple? 
Or 
What made the atmosphere in and around the Pashupatinath temple full of 'febrile confusion'?

Ans: The author uses the term 'febrile confusion' to convey the feverish, hectic bustle around Pashupatinath. The scene is crowded with priests, hawkers, tourists and animals - cows, monkeys and pigeons - all moving and calling at once. Worshippers jostle to reach the priests, creating noise, urgency and a sense of disordered activity.

Q4. Why did the policeman stop the Westerners wearing saffron-colored clothes from entering the Pashupatinath temple?
Ans: The policeman stopped the Westerners because a signboard outside the temple clearly states 'Entrance for the Hindus only'. As they were not accepted as Hindus, they were refused entry.

Q5. How does the author describe the fight that breaks out between the two monkeys around the temple of Pashupatinath?
Ans: The author describes one monkey chasing another; the pursued monkey leaps onto a Shivalinga, runs screaming round the temples, and finally dives down into the Bagmati river. The episode adds to the chaotic, noisy life around the shrine.

Q6. What activities are observed by the writer on the banks of the Bagmati River?
Ans: The writer sees washerwomen washing clothes, children bathing, a corpse being cremated, and baskets of wilted flowers and leaves being dropped into the Bagmati river.

Q7. What is the belief at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
Ans: At the Pashupatinath temple there is a small shrine set on a stone platform with only half of it visible. It is believed that when the shrine emerges fully from the platform, the goddess inside will escape - an event taken to signal the end of the Kaliyug.

Q8. What are the author's observations about the streets in Kathmandu?
Ans: The author describes Kathmandu's streets as vivid, mercenary and religious. They are narrow and constantly busy, lined with small shrines and flower-covered images. Stray cows wander among hustling vendors who call out over loud music from radios. The mix of car horns, bicycle bells and shouting traders creates an energetic, noisy scene.

Q9. What picture of the Baudhnath stupa does the author portray?
Ans: The author gives a brief but clear picture of the Baudhnath stupa as a place of calm and dignity. Its great white dome dominates the square; the area is quieter than other parts of the city and the few surrounding shops (many run by Tibetan immigrants). The overall impression is one of silence and stillness.

Q10. Describing the streets around the Baudhnath stupa, why does the narrator say this is a haven of quietness in the busy streets around?
Ans: The narrator sees a settled calm at the Baudhnath stupa despite the bustle of commerce nearby. The shops selling felt bags, Tibetan prints and silver jewellery are subdued. This soft, measured activity makes the stupa feel like a haven of quietness amid the busy streets.

Q11. The writer says, "All this I wash down with Coca-Cola". What does all this refer to?
Ans: 'All this' refers to the small foods and treats the writer enjoys while at the square near the Baudhanath stupa - for example, a bar of marzipan and a roasted corn cob. He eats these simple snacks and reads some light material such as comics and Reader's Digest, accompanying them with a bottle of Coca-Cola.

Q12. Which is the longer route from Kathmandu to Delhi? Which route does the author opt for?
Ans: The longer route from Kathmandu to Delhi would take the traveller via Patna, then past Benaras, sailing parts of the Ganges to Allahabad and crossing the Yamuna and Agra before reaching Delhi. The author, however, chooses the shorter and quicker option of flying directly from Kathmandu to Delhi because he is tired and wishes to return home sooner.

Q13. Why does Vikram Seth decide to buy a ticket directly for the homeward journey?
Ans: Vikram Seth has been travelling for some time and feels exhausted and homesick. Although a longer overland route appeals to his wanderlust, his fatigue and longing for home lead him to buy an air ticket straight to Delhi.

Q14. What difference does the author note between the flute seller and the other hawkers? 
Or 
How is the flute player's way of selling flutes different from that of the other hawkers around?
Ans: Unlike other hawkers who shout to attract buyers, the flute seller sells quietly. He plays his flute slowly and meditatively, allowing the music itself to attract attention rather than loud calls or showy displays. His calm manner and the beauty of the sound set him apart.

Q15. What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine? 
Or 
Where did Vikram Seth find the flute seller? What did he compare his flutes to?
Ans: Vikram Seth found the flute seller in a corner of the square near his hotel. The seller's pole had some fifty to sixty flutes fixed at the top, sticking out in all directions. Seth compares these clustered flutes to the sharp, standing quills of a porcupine because of the way they bulge out from the pole.

Q16. Name four kinds of flutes. 
Or 
Listening to the music of the flute in the square, the author is reminded of various kinds of flutes. Which kinds does he describe?

Ans: The author mentions the Indian bansuri, the Japanese shakuhachi, the Chinese flute and the Western flute.

Q17. What is the impact of the music of the flute on Vikram Seth?
Ans: The music of the flute has a hypnotic effect on Vikram Seth. He finds it hard to leave the square because the sound draws him in; it seems to connect him to a shared human feeling and to echo qualities of the human voice.

Q18. Why does the author describe the music of the flute as "the most universal and most particular of sounds"?
Ans: The music of the flute is called most 'universal' because versions of the instrument occur in many cultures worldwide, often made from hollow bamboo. It is most 'particular' because each tradition and each instrument produces a distinct tone and style, so the sound is both widely found and individually unique.

Q19. What did the saffron-clad Westerners want?
Ans: The saffron-clad Westerners wished to enter the Pashupatinath temple. The policeman, however, refused them entry because the temple restricts access to Hindus only.

Q20. How did the author want to return to Delhi? What made him change his mind?
Ans: The author originally considered a long overland route via Patna, Benaras and river travel on the Ganges to Allahabad, then onward across the Yamuna and past Agra to reach Delhi. Feeling very tired, he decided instead to return by air for a quicker, more comfortable journey.

Q21. Describe how the flute seller sells his wares.
Ans: The flute seller carries some fifty or sixty flutes tied to a pole. Rather than shouting, he periodically plays a flute, doing so slowly and thoughtfully. He remains composed and patient; occasionally someone buys a flute, but he does not seem hurried or anxious to sell.

Q22. To hear any 'flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.' Explain.
Ans: The flute appears in many cultures and its sound often resembles the human voice, including pauses and breaths that mirror speech. This shared musical quality makes the flute feel familiar across cultures and so its music draws listeners into a sense of common human experience.

Important Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. How does the author describe the flute seller? What does he say about the flute music?
Ans: The author presents the flute seller as a calm, unhurried figure in a corner of the square near his hotel. The seller's pole holds about fifty to sixty bamboo flutes arranged so they bulge out like a porcupine's quills. Rather than calling out to passers-by, he plays the flute quietly and meditatively; the sound cuts through the street noise and draws attention on its own merits. The author is fascinated by both the seller's relaxed manner and by the music, which he finds moving and universal - a sound that links many cultures and resembles human speech in its breathing and pauses.

Q2. Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with that in the Pashupatinath Temple.
Ans: The Pashupatinath Temple is crowded, noisy and disorderly; priests, worshippers, hawkers and animals all contribute to a hectic scene of devotion and commerce. People jostle and the activities are feverish. By contrast, the Baudhnath shrine is calm and peaceful. Its vast white dome dominates a quieter square. While Pashupatinath is full of bustle and ritual intensity, Baudhnath offers quiet reflection and an overall sense of stillness.

Q3. How does the author describe Kathmandu's busiest streets?
Ans: The author depicts Kathmandu's busiest streets as a lively, colourful mixture of the sacred and the commercial. Narrow lanes are crowded with sellers of fruit, postcards, flutes and various goods, alongside tourists and pilgrims visiting shrines. There are shops selling Western cosmetics, Nepalese antiques and copper utensils, while radios blare film songs and car horns and bicycle bells add to the clatter. Amid this bedlam, cows and motorcycles move through the crowd, creating a scene that is noisy, bustling and full of life.

Q4. " To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind." Why does the author say this?
Ans: The author believes the flute is both widely present across cultures and closely linked to human expression. Different kinds of flutes - from the Japanese shakuhachi to the Indian bansuri - all require pauses and breaths similar to speech. Because the sound often resembles the human voice and because flutes exist in so many traditions, their music creates a feeling of shared humanity, drawing listeners into a common emotional space.

Q5. What ideas do you get about the author from the extract "Kathmandu"?
Ans: The extract shows the author, Vikram Seth, as a sensitive and observant traveller who notices small details of place and people. He appreciates both lively city life and quiet spiritual corners, enjoys local foods and reading for leisure, and is drawn to music. He is a keen observer who notices details of people, places and sounds, and shows a deep appreciation for music and travel.

Q6. Where does the author find the flute seller, and what are his observations about him? What draws the author to the music of the flute?
Ans: The author finds the flute seller in a corner of the square near his hotel. The seller does not shout; instead he plays softly and lets the music speak for him. He carries many flutes on a pole, which look like porcupine quills. The author is drawn to the music because it is clear, intimate and strangely like the human voice; its simplicity and quiet beauty hold his attention and create a feeling of shared human connection.