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CBSE Class 9 English Question 18 of 19

Kathmandu — Question 20

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20
Question
The text you read is a travelogue where the author, Vikram Seth, talks about his visit to two sacred places in Kathmandu. Imagine that you were with Vikram Seth on his visit to Pashupatinath temple, and you were noting down all that you saw and did there, so that you could write a travelogue later. Record in point form what you see when you reach the Pashupatinath temple what you see happening inside the temple what you do when inside the temple what you see outside the temple what your impressi
Answer

28th August, 20XX
Dear Diary,
Today I feel pleasure to note down my experience to the visit to Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu with Vikram Seth. The visit was indeed exciting for me, though there was too much tumult at Pashupatinath Temple. I saw crowds of priests, hawkers, devotees, tourists at the temple. We offered a few flowers to God. Inside the temple I saw a large number of worshippers trying to get the priest’s attention and some of them were elbowed aside by others who were pushing their way to the front.
Outside the temple, I saw a party of saffron- clad westeners struggle for permission to enter the temple. The policeman did not allow them to enter the temple because they were not Hindus.
There is no doubt that the place is worth visiting. We feel aesthetic satisfaction by visiting such religious place.
Mayank

Overview: Kathmandu

Vikram Seth describes visiting Kathmandu, Nepal. He contrasts two temples: Pashupatinath (Hindu — chaotic, bustling with rituals, priests, funeral pyres, and devotees) and Baudhnath/Boudhanath (Buddhist — serene, meditative, with monks and prayer wheels). He wanders through Kathmandu's vibrant streets, buys a flute, and reflects on music as a universal language. He decides to return to Delhi by bus rather than fly, valuing the journey over speed.

Key Points

  • Pashupatinath: Hindu temple — chaotic, bustling with rituals and funeral pyres
  • Baudhnath: Buddhist stupa — serene, calm, meditative atmosphere
  • Striking contrast between the two religious sites
  • Kathmandu streets: vibrant markets, cosmetics, fruit sellers, flute sellers
  • Seth buys a small flute — reflects on music as universal language
  • Decides to travel by bus instead of flying back to Delhi
  • Values the journey over the destination
  • Descriptive, reflective prose style
  • Theme: cultural diversity, music transcends boundaries
  • Theme: the value of experiencing the journey

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Seth contrast Pashupatinath and Baudhnath?
Pashupatinath is chaotic and bustling — priests, devotees, tourists, rituals, funeral pyres, sacred cows, and monkeys. Baudhnath, in contrast, is all serenity — a massive stupa with monks in robes, prayer wheels, and an atmosphere of calm meditation. Together, they represent the diversity of religious experience.
What does the flute symbolise?
The flute symbolises the universal language of music. Seth hears its sound and is calmed by it. Regardless of culture, religion, or nationality, music speaks to everyone — a theme that connects to the poem "No Men Are Foreign."

Common Mistakes

  • Not reading the text carefully before attempting questions.
  • Giving vague answers without specific textual references.
  • Confusing characters, events, or themes from different chapters.
  • Writing too much for short-answer questions (should be 30-40 words).

Scoring Tips

  • For extract-based MCQs: read the passage carefully; eliminate wrong options systematically.
  • For short answers: be concise (30-40 words), use key vocabulary from the text.
  • For long answers: structure with introduction, body, conclusion. Quote from the text.
  • Always identify the chapter/poem name and author when answering.