Basantapur Durbar Square is one of several must-visit places in Kathmandu.

Durbar Square is a generic term for plazas and old royal palaces in Nepal; there are several famous ones, particularly in nearby Bhaktapur. But I only visit Kathmandu’s Durbar Square.

It’s full of color, shopkeepers hocking goods, and so many pigeons. In other words: a photographer’s delight.

I remember doing this very same thing to seagulls on the beach in Florida with my sister circa 1990.

When I finish taking photos of Durbar Square, I turn to my Lonely Planet guide book. They offer directions for a truly great walking tour in this area of Old Katmandu. In fact, I run into several other tourists holding the same book, clearly on an identical path. I really appreciate the walking tour directions, as this city is so sprawling that I’d have trouble figuring out which areas to navigate on my own. Each turn of the Lonely Planet tour leads to another great spot — temple, statue, juice stand — and I have a great time photographing the walk. (I think there are two walking tours in the Lonely Planet book and I picked the first one.)

I’ll be quiet now and let you enjoy the photos in silence!

At the end of the walking tour, I reward myself with freshly squeezed pomegranate juice from a tiny shop.

I hope these photos communicate the bustle and color of Kathmandu. This city has a lively energy that is captivating.