Short Questions
1. Which two temples did the author visit in Kathmandu?
Answer: The author visited the Pashupatinath Temple and the Baudhnath Stupa.
2.Who wrote the lesson “Kathmandu”?
Answer: The lesson is written by Vikram Seth.
3.Where did the author get a room in Kathmandu?
Answer: He got a cheap room in the centre of the town.
4.What sign is seen outside the Pashupatinath Temple?
Answer: The sign says “Entrance for the Hindus only.”
5.What river flows near the Pashupatinath Temple?
Answer: The holy river Bagmati flows near the temple.
6.What was being done on the banks of the Bagmati river?
Answer: A corpse was being cremated there.
7.What kind of atmosphere is found at Pashupatinath Temple?
Answer: There is an atmosphere of ‘febrile confusion’ or complete chaos.
8.How is the atmosphere at Baudhnath Stupa described?
Answer: It is calm, quiet, and peaceful.
9.Who owns many of the shops around the Baudhnath Stupa?
Answer: Tibetan immigrants own many shops there.
10.What things does the author buy in Kathmandu?
Answer: He buys marzipan, roasted corn, comics, and a Reader’s Digest.
11.What does the author drink after eating?
Answer: He drinks Coca-Cola and an orange drink.
12.What does Vikram Seth compare to the quills of a porcupine?
Answer: He compares the flute seller’s flutes to the quills of a porcupine.
13.How does the flute seller play his flute?
Answer: He plays slowly and thoughtfully, without shouting or showing off.
14.What does the author feel about the sound of the flute?
Answer: He feels it connects all humans and touches the heart.
15.Why does the author buy an air ticket instead of travelling by road?
Answer: Because he feels exhausted and homesick.
Long Questions
1. Describe the atmosphere at Pashupatinath Temple.
Answer: The Pashupatinath Temple is very crowded and noisy. Priests, devotees, tourists, animals, and hawkers move around. Some people try to push forward to reach the priest. A princess visits and everyone bows. There is also a fight between two monkeys. It is full of confusion and activity.
2.Describe the atmosphere at Baudhnath Stupa.
Answer: The Baudhnath Stupa is calm and peaceful. It has a big white dome surrounded by small shops owned by Tibetan immigrants. People sell felt bags, silver jewellery, and Tibetan prints. There are no crowds. It feels like a quiet, safe place.
3.How does Vikram Seth describe Kathmandu city?
Answer: Kathmandu is a busy and colourful city. There are temples, shrines, shops, and sellers everywhere. People sell fruit, flutes, postcards, and antiques. The air is full of sounds like film songs, car horns, bicycle bells, and vendors shouting.
4.What things did the author buy in Kathmandu?
Answer: He bought marzipan (a sweet), a roasted corn-on-the-cob, love story comics, and a Reader’s Digest. He drank Coca-Cola and an orange drink after that.
5.How does the author describe the flute seller?
Answer: The flute seller stands quietly in a corner with many flutes on a pole. Sometimes he plays them softly. He does not shout to sell them. He seems calm and content. The author feels the flute music is peaceful and beautiful.
6.What route did the author think of taking to reach home?
Answer: He thought of travelling by bus and train to Patna, then by boat up the Ganges to Allahabad, and then along the Yamuna River past Agra to Delhi. But he chose to fly instead.
7.What belief do people have at Pashupatinath about the end of Kaliyug?
Answer: People believe that when the small shrine near the river comes out completely from the stone platform, the goddess inside will escape, and the Kaliyug will end.
8.What does the author say about flute music?
Answer: He says flute music is universal. Every culture has its own flute. The sound of the flute is close to the human voice and connects all people of the world.
9.What difference does the author notice between the flute seller and other hawkers?
Answer: Other hawkers shout to sell their goods, but the flute seller does not. He plays his flute quietly and seems more interested in the music than in selling.
10.Why is the author unable to leave the flute seller’s place easily?
Answer: Because the flute music deeply touches him. It makes him feel peaceful and reminds him of how music connects all humans.
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