Beehive - Class IX
Reprint 2025-26
This story takes us on a journey to the vibrant city of Kathmandu, Nepal. Written by Vikram Seth, it is an excerpt from his travelogue "Heaven Lake," which describes his journey from China to India through Tibet and Nepal.
In this interactive lesson, we'll explore Vikram Seth's observations of the sacred temples, busy streets, and cultural richness of Kathmandu, including his reflections on the universal appeal of flute music across different cultures.
Vikram Seth enjoys traveling very much. In his book, Heaven Lake, he describes a long journey from China to India, via Tibet and Nepal.
Before we dive into Seth's experiences in Kathmandu, let's think about places of worship and their surroundings.
Have you heard of places like Ajmer Sharif, Madurai, Sanchi, Varanasi, Sarnath, or Halebid? Can you name some other places like these?
What do the surroundings of a holy place in your city look like? Think about these questions as we read Vikram Seth's description of Kathmandu.
Read this sentence taken from the story:
A fight breaks out between two monkeys. One chases the other, who jumps onto a shivalinga, then runs screaming around the temples and down to the river.
The phrase breaks out is a phrasal verb. These are verbs that combine with prepositions or adverbs to create new meanings.
1. break out
2. break off
3. break down
4. break away (from someone)
5. break up
6. break into
Look at these sentences from the story:
The italicized verbs are in the simple present tense. The writer is describing what he saw and heard but uses the present tense instead of the past tense to make the narration more dramatic or immediate.
1. The heart is a pump that (send) the blood circulating through our body.
2. The pumping action (take place) when the left ventricle of the heart (contract).
3. This (force) the blood out into the arteries, which (expand) to receive the oncoming blood.
4. MAHESH: We have to organize a class party for our teacher. (Do) anyone play an instrument?
5. VIPUL: Rohit (play) the flute.